Queer Philadelphia Elopement at The Woodlands| Nic + Whitney

Nic and Whitney had a queer Philadelphia elopement under the shade of the trees at The Woodlands–joined by their two best friends; their 7-year-old; and goldendoodle, Honey.

When I asked them their favorite things to do together, Nic and Whitney shared how they love doing Wordle every day, having long-running values-based conversations over days, doing puzzles, and escape rooms.

The marriers had tattoos instead of wedding bands, which was lovely to see as a creative way of symbolizing their commitment to each other. I loved Nic’s dark purple suit and how Whitney had matching jewelry with her daughter.

The Woodlands: A More Accessible Philadelphia Wedding Venue

If you’re disabled or LGBTQ+ marriers or allies looking for a queer-affirming, accessible wedding venue in the Philadelphia area, I highly recommend The Woodlands. It’s consistently a joy to spend time there. The cemetery’s landscape is always expanding and blooming in vastly different ways every time I visit (plus their events & communications manager, Hann, is a total gem to work alongside).

The amount of care The Woodlands takes on making their Philadelphia wedding venue more accessible and accommodating is very impressive. This includes: Gender-inclusive restrooms (which are ADA accessible); on-site, ADA accessible parking; a ramp available on-site for access to the mansion; and a getting ready space on the first floor not labeled by gender.

Flexible Philadelphia Elopement Photography Coverage

Nic and Whitney wanted 2.5 hours of photos to document some getting ready moments prior to the wedding ceremony; the ceremony itself; photos with their two witnesses, daughter, and dog; and couple portraits to follow.

When folks–especially those who are uncomfortable in front of the camera (which is basically most people I work with)–hire me for less than 3 hours of coverage, I’m eager to challenge myself to build rapport while photographing a whirlwind of special moments along the way. Some trans, gender non-conforming, and non-binary marriers don’t necessarily like being perceived (which I find relatable), so this can add another layer of nuance, especially the more marginalized folks are.

Consent-driven Family Photography

On a somewhat related note, consent is super important to me, which is why you rarely see me sharing family photo sessions in the Philadelphia area, despite the fact that I happily do them often! If you’re considering having a Philadelphia elopement or family photography session in the area, please reach out!

Documenting queer Philadelphia elopements with consent in mind usually means taking additional wedding photos with the back of a child’s head, to be mindful if the marriers want to share any on social media.

Thanks to Nic and Whitney for trusting me to document their wedding at The Woodlands in Philadelphia, alongside those closest to them.