August 3, 2024 | Philadelphia
Please join us for our wedding on August 3, 2024 in Haverford, Pennsylvania as we celebrate our love for each other and for all our friends and family.
We believe nothing is more transformational and more special than love. When we love every part of ourselves, and when we, in turn, love others for their fullest, truest selves, we are bound to continually advocate for ours and others’ humanity. We have found that sort of love in each other, and we can’t wait to celebrate that with all of you.
This isn’t the marriage between a bride and a groom and it isn’t a marriage between two brides, either -- it’s a marriage between Leah and Caroline, two people who love each other deeply, and want to celebrate their love with all of you. We ask that you leave your preconceived notions of what a wedding should look like and how the couple should act and dress behind, and celebrate with us and our fullest selves.
We are excited to enter this next chapter by bringing together all our friends and family in one place. We hope that at our wedding, you connect with new people from each other's lives and take this opportunity to celebrate togetherness and love -- and have a hell of a good time!
welcome party
Friday, August 2, 2024
8:00pm
Twenty One Pips
24 Cricket Avenue, Ardmore, PA 19003
CEREMONY & Reception
Saturday, August 3, 2024
5:00pm
Jaharis Recital Hall
Haverford College
Please plan to arrive between 4:30 and 4:45, as parking is a 10 minute walk from the ceremony site. Those needing to be dropped off in front of the ceremony building will be able to do so, and there will be a small number of accessible parking spots available next to the ceremony site.
post-wedding brunch
Sunday, August 4, 2024
10:00am - 12:00noon
Enjoy Haverford Dining Center catered brunch from 10:00am-Noon before heading home at Founders Hall on Haverford's campus. All are welcome, but please be sure to RSVP for it so we can order food correctly.
When you ask us when our love story began, there are three possible answers:
From Caroline's Perspective:
From Leah's Perspective:
It was my third time seeing Caroline “as friends” since the pandemic had started. We were supposed to watch “Love in the time of Corona” on my roof, so needless to say, there were some flirty undertones. When it ended up raining, we found a covered outdoor restaurant instead. The dead giveaway that Caroline liked me was when they clumsily knocked not one but three things to the floor. I wasn’t able to stop smiling for the whole week after: I had a feeling that there would be many broken glasses, and no broken hearts, in our future.
From Our Collective Perspective:
These past few years building our life together have been better than we could have ever imagined — a blur of teaching each other our passions, dancing with four left feet, and standing by each other through the changing world — and we feel so lucky to have found our forever persons in each other. Each day, we look forward to our time together - whether we're going on an adventure in the city or just talking through our days before bed. We still spend six hour car rides chatting without stop and are so excited to be driving off into the sunset together this summer.
TRAVEL
Dorm rooms at Haverford College will be available for guests who want to stay on campus. This will be the most convenient lodging option with no travel required once you've arrived for the weekend! The dorms include air conditioning and linens.
We have also reserved a block of rooms at a local hotel. Please confirm reservations no later than June 30, 2024.
Residence Inn Philadelphia Conshohocken
191 Washington Street
Conshohocken, Pennsylvania 19428
FAQS
Attire (What should I wear?)
What Should I Do Around Haverford?
- ⭐White Dog Cafe: Fancy farm-to-table restaurant that could not be closer to campus
- Jules Thin Crust: Great spot for pizza take-out
- ⭐Tired Hands: Local brewery, that Leah is guilty of once realizing she had gone to five nights in a row (Mom, Dad, I promise I learned things in college, too!). Two locations with slightly different hours and menus, so make sure you're going to the one you want (both are good!)
- Maido! A Marketplace of Japan: Japanese market with some great hot food options.
- Bam Bam Kitchen: Delicious Korean food
- Not Your Average Joe's: American restaurant that has been a staple for both Caroline & Leah ... Leah's brother, Danny, used to love the Massachusetts location and went almost weekly!
What should I do in Philadelphia?
We're including a few recommendations for people who are adding on days in Philadelphia, a city we both truly love. If you're just coming for the weekend, however, it may be harder to fit in these options since Haverford is in the suburbs (~20-30 minute drive or train ride from Philadelphia) and we have a packed schedule!
One general note is that a lot of the top restaurants in Philly book up ahead of time, so I would make reservations ahead of time if you're hoping to eat out. While we recommend everything, we added a star next to the stand-outs.
Tours:
- Guided Tours: Check out ⭐Beyond the Bell Tours, run by two Haverford alums with tours that focus on justice and equity themes, such as the Badass Women's History tour or LGBTQ walking tour.
- Mural Tours: Explore the "Mural Capital of the US" with either guided or self-guided mural tours.
Neighborhood Highlights:
- South Street: Discover the eclectic vibe of South Street, known for its thrift stores and iconic Philly cheesesteaks. Enjoy drinks at Wine Dive or Tattooed Mom, and don't miss the bustling Breakfast Den for a Vietnamese-inspired brunch. Check out Philly AIDS Thrift for a giant thrift shop, with proceeds going to the Philadelphia AIDS fund. Check out Cry Baby Pasta for a nicer Italian meal.
- Passyunk: Indulge in a culinary adventure with numerous dining options, including famous cheesesteak spots like Pat's and Geno's.
- 9th St Market: Just south of Passyunk, has lots of delicious Italian and Mexican food, among others. Alma del Mar was featured on the Philly season of Queer Eye. We personally recommend Blue Corn (cash only).
- Rittenhouse Square: Rittenhouse is on the pricier side for Philly (although probably about average for Boston). There's tons of great restaurants, so you can't go wrong. Some top Italian spots are ⭐ Ambrosia Ristorante BYOB and Trattoria Carina.
- Chinatown: Lots of amazing spots, but the stand-out is Terakawa Ramen
- 13th Street / Gayborhood: Recommended area for night life. Also some delicious vegetarian & vegan food at ⭐ Vedge (fancy + DELICIOUS), Charlie was a Sinner (drinks + small bites), or Monster Vegan (a strange but fun experience). ⭐ Book an immersive Harry-Potter-themed cocktail making experience if you truly want to make Leah jealous.
- Old City: The historical part of the city! See the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and Betsy Ross's house. We love Lucha Cartel and Morimoto (fancy sushi) for food in the area.
- Spring Garden, Northern Liberties & Fishtown: Make a DIY brewery tour, check out Leah's favorite brunch spot ⭐ Café La Maude (avoid weekend times unless you want to wait >1 hour!), and local shops like Harriet's Bookstore.
Entertainment and Activities:
- Board Game Cafes: Queen & Rook (where Caroline's proposal to Leah began) or Thirsty Dice (better food if you aren't vegetarian)
- Museums: the Barnes (impressive art collection), Franklin Institute (science), Wonderspaces (immersive art)
Nature and Outdoor Activities:
- Hiking: Explore nature trails in the Wissahickon, just a short 15 minute drive or Uber ride away.
- Walking: The Schuylkill River Trail offers scenic walks within walking distance of Center City.
Getting Around:
- Public Transportation: To get from Haverford to Philadelphia, take the regional rail line from Haverford Station. Within Philadelphia, you can use the SEPTA Market Frankford Line for east-west travel, the Broad Street line for south-north travel, and Philadelphia's extensive bus system. Consider using Indego city bikes for Leah's favorite transportation option
Is this a Pittsburgh wedding? Will there be cookies?
Those of you from Pittsburgh already know what I'm talking about, and I'm happy to report that the answer is yes! For the rest of you, in Pittsburgh, we have a wedding tradition called the cookie table. Close families and friends of the couple bakes batches of cookies, which they bring to be shared at the wedding. All guests are encouraged to fill a plate, and then take a bag of cookies home with them afterwards. The saying goes, "In Pittsburgh, we don't ask 'How was the wedding?' We ask, 'How were the cookies?' Leah and Caroline and their immediate families and wedding parties will take care of the baking, but if any others would like to bake some cookies for the wedding, you are more than welcome (but definitely not obligated) to do so. We look forward to sharing this Pittsburgh tradition, even in Philly, with you!
registry
YES! to Consent
A Philadelphia-based organization which provides anti-oppressive and shame-free sexuality education through a social justice lens to people of all ages.
SisTers PGH