A Chic, Urban Wedding at Front and Palmer in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

A typical banquet hall simply wouldn’t do for Samantha Kuntz (27 and a historic preservationist) and Brian Lace’s (28 and an accountant) early September nuptials. Wanting a spot that was truly one of a kind, the couple tapped into Samantha’s creativity and began seeking out venues that had a rich past and a chic, industrial vibe. After their first venue fell through, Samantha and Brian quickly came across Front and Palmer, a former barrel factory in the heart of the South Kensington arts district in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. “It was at once gritty and soft, and we loved it immediately,” Samantha says. Inspired by the industrial elements of the urban space, like concrete walls, original wood floors and exposed pipes and vents, the couple chose a palette of cool natural hues, like charcoal, ivory, blue and green and focused on creating an intimate, almost-whimsical mood for the evening, rather than choosing a theme. Amy Young of Leaves of Grass was instrumental in putting the couple’s personal mark on the space, infusing the room with energy and life with arrangements of ivy, ferns and wildflowers in soft pastel colors, as well as a beautifully lit canopy that hung over the aisle. The couple passed on a number wedding traditions to make the day their own and incorporated both Jewish and Catholic customs into their ceremony to make all their guests feel included and comfortable. Feast Your Eyes catered the affair, delighting guests with an assortment of inspired passed appetizers, as well as a variety of stations, including Mediterranean, Asian and farm-to-table cuisine. JSV Entertainment provided the tunes that fueled the festivities—including plenty of dancing—and at the end of the night the couple sent friends and family home with homemade soy candles, which Samantha made herself. A tip from Samantha: “ Don’t focus solely on the end product. Our wedding-related memories have nothing to do with the actual wedding. As crazy as it sounds, when I think of the wedding, I think of sitting on the couch with Brian, surrounded by a dozen menus, and trying to choose stations. I think of making 200 candles in my tiny kitchen while trying to keep the cats away from the hot wax. I think of sending my big sister and maid of honor ideas for bridesmaid dresses. And I think of Brian trying on his suit for the first time. Those planning memories were the ones that we had time to savor and enjoy before the mayhem of the wedding day itself.”