Within three months of their first date, Kiersten and Anthony both knew they’d met their match. The catalyst? A football game. Shares our bride, “We spent our first weekend away visiting my alma mater—Penn State—for homecoming football weekend. His Alma Mater vs mine—Illinois vs Penn State. I didn’t know anyone there, I was nervous. If it didn’t go well, I was stranded out there far from home. It poured rain. The game broke all college football history—NINE overtimes. In the rain. I don’t love football, or rain. But I had the best time. When we looked at each other from across the room, it was like we could read each other’s minds. That night he told me he loved me.”
Fast forward to another trip, this time to the Outer Banks in North Carolina. As Kiersten, Anthony, and their dog walked along the beach, the sun’s waning rays glittered on the water, and the sea rushed and receded. Then, Anthony saw his moment and proposed.
“We celebrated back at the beach house with my immediate family. Then we spent the whole week at the beach on cloud 9!”
The moment they walked into the Inn at Fox Briar Farm, they knew it was the perfect place for their wedding. They’d envisioned a crisp fall day in a place that showcased the beauty of the Philadelphia countryside and felt warm and welcoming. Plus, says Kiersten, “I have a long family history of fox hunting. Fox Briar Farm does as well, and from the moment we stepped inside the venue, it reminded me of my grandmother’s house (full of fox hunting effects and paintings, historical and very Pennsylvania rooted).”
Additionally, they loved that the Inn was family-owned, and the charming village nearby would be the perfect place for their guests to enjoy a weekend in Pennsylvania hunt country.
At first, Kiersten hoped to wear her grandmother’s wedding dress, which was the first she’d put on after getting engaged. “As I shopped for a dress, I was comparing them all to hers, and nothing modern could come close. I was in love with the timeless silhouette, so my mom and I worked with a seamstress to rework my Mommom’s 1961 wedding gown—with Chantilly lace cap sleeves and an organza and lace skirt—unfortunately the task was too much and did not work out.”
Now searching for a gown that echoed her Mommom’s with her wedding six months away, Kiersten was in something of a panic. At Gamberdella, she found the combination that felt right—a Lea-Ann Belter portrait-neck lace jacket over a Tara Keely for Larazo gown.
“I wish I had found Lea Ann right from the start—her jackets and sleeve options were EXACTLY what I had been searching for all along. And it was not easy to find a designer that was so versatile, kind, timely, and used real lace. Although I did not wear my Mommom’s dress—the off-the-shoulder jacket and sleeves model the same feminine, timeless look that her dress had. I have no regrets; it was perfectly made for me.”
Read on for more about this duo’s dreamy fall wedding day from our sweet bride below.
How did the two of you meet?
“We met the new age way—on Hinge. I replied to his comment about frozen gummy bears being his favorite late-night snack. I thought I was clever—since all his other photos were of his impressive worldly travels. Our first date was the first and only blind/dating app date I ever agreed to. When we left our first date, he hugged me and said, seemingly generically, that he had a great time and we should do it again. I thought he was feeding me a line and I’d never see him again. I was wrong, our second date was 9 hours long—we stayed up all night until the sun came up, talking. Now that I know him well, I know he never says anything he doesn’t mean. Ever.”
How did you know the other was “the one”?
“After our first weekend away at a football game when we knew, Anthony spent the next year and a half traveling for work on and off (nearly a year in total away), so we spent so much time talking, every day, connecting. He is the most genuine, kind, steadfast human. He keeps me grounded. He calms my soul in the most effortless way. Needless to say, he doesn’t travel for work anymore. Instead, he says he’s found his home with me.”
Any special ways you incorporated your family or family history into your wedding day?
“I carried my great-grandmother’s purse with me. She loved a cute “pocketbook” and it was very sentimental to have a piece of her there with me.
I walked down the aisle to “Can’t Help Falling in Love” because my Poppop taught me to love Elvis as a young girl. I still know all the words to his songs, and they always make me think of him. It was my way of having him walk me down the aisle with my dad even though he is no longer with us.
My uncle was our officiant, and my other uncle did a reading—I chose an untraditional route—I asked him to read an excerpt from a local newspaper that highlighted my great great, great grandfather and his wife on 50 years of marriage. It was very grounded and a special way to reflect on the impact love can have on future generations.
I did a first look with my grandparents. It was special to have a moment with them before the craziness of the day.
I chose my mom as my matron of honor. She is the most honorable, incredible woman I’ve ever known. I am the luckiest girl to be her daughter. We dedicated the first toast of the night to her. She helped me plan every single detail of the entire day. She retired a year before the wedding and instantly jumped headfirst into the full-time job of wedding planning. I specifically had chocolate lace flowers in my bouquet because they are her favorite—Queen Anne’s lace always makes me think of her.”
Tell us about your outfits! How did you choose your gown?
“The dress itself is Carolina by Tara Keely for Larazo. I LOVE pleating and fell in love with the lightweight skirt and the way the buttery shimmer to the gown was the perfect complement to the lace on the jacket.
Anthony wore a velvet jacket—it was perfect on him. I had pheasant feathers in my bouquet, and he had them as well in his boutonnière as a nod to the hunting lodge/scene.”
Why did you decide to get married where you did?
“We wanted a crisp, fall day. My whole life, I have admired the Pennsylvania/Delaware countryside in the Philadelphia suburbs (my dad grew up here, in Buck’s County). The stone farmhouses and rolling hills—it’s like a Wyeth painting everywhere you look.
We wanted our wedding day to show the best side of the landscape and its niche beauty. We fell in love with Foxbriar immediately. The inn is family-owned, and when I say family-owned, I mean she literally grew up there! It feels like you’re her family in that inn. It’s full of impeccable detail and nods to her upbringing and we just could not get over how incredibly grounded and homey it felt. We loved the idea of spending the whole weekend with our immediate family in one place rather than rushing through the event. Looking back, we still can’t imagine anywhere else for our day.
The inn is near a village full of locally-owned shops, and it just made sense to have our family from out of town come enjoy the most incredible little slice of small-town Pennsylvania! Our wedding weekend was the 49th annual apple festival there in Peddler’s Village (think Gilmore Girls, Stars Hollow vibes). It’s the biggest event of the year, and it added a fun buzz and excitement for all our guests.”
What was the funniest moment of your day?
“The incredible portrait of our dog at the bar. Everyone thought it was great!”
What’s one detail you couldn’t live without?
“There isn’t one detail that feels important enough to call out. But I do think it was really special that we prioritized having a local, sustainable florist that was excited to collaborate with my vision. I spent a whole year thrifting antique candlesticks, silver and crystal accents, and pheasant feathers. She incorporated all of them into her floral tablescapes and designs and it was a dream come to life. Also, we highlighted our dog at the bar!
I also love our guest book. We gave our guests Polaroid cameras—we thought it would be something fun for them to do. But I don’t think either of us expected it to be such a hit! The whole guest book is full—over 200 photos! There are so many incredible photos and kind messages. It’s definitely a unique window into our guests’ experience/eyes.
We left the after party and cozied up with a bottle of champagne and chocolate chip cookies and went through all the pictures and sweet messages from everyone. We were left teary-eyed. I don’t think either of us will ever forget how special that was. We are so thankful for that keepsake.”
What parts of your wedding day were most important to you?
“We wrote our vows ourselves and we thought it would be kind of corny, but it actually turned out to be the most incredible, moving moment of the entire day. Everyone was crying. It was something we weren’t sure we wanted to do but we are so glad we did. It felt special to proclaim our love to everyone we love in a very vulnerable way.
We are so deeply connected to our family that we tried to incorporate and highlight them as much as possible. Keeping the day grounded in the people and values that mean the most to us. We loved the idea of spending the weekend at the venue/inn so that we could make the most out of the weekend. Lots of venues have a time limit, in and out, like a wedding factory. We prioritized making memories, all weekend, at the small inn, with our siblings, parents, and our very best friends.”
Any tips for couples getting married?
“Fight for the details you want and envision. It’s worth it. Sometimes you’ll feel like nobody is listening or your vision isn’t being seen. Remember, it’s your day and they are working for you! Put your voice out there and be heard. Your vision matters.
Find vendors that instantly make you feel like you have been friends for your whole life. Surround yourself with people that are more than just doing their job—they are good-hearted humans that are cheering you on just like family. That connection means so much. It’s a stressful, heightened day and the people you surround yourself with make all the difference.
Ditch the big wedding party. Keep your special people close and intimate.
Take dance lessons—wedding planning is SO stressful but dancing was an amazing way for us to reconnect and center our relationship in the midst of planning. And we felt so confident on our wedding day.”
Kiersten + Anthony’s Inn at Fox Briar Farm Wedding Vendors
wedding gown + jacket: Lea-Ann Belter Mackenzie lace jacket and Lazaro gown via Gamberdella Bride | photographer: Aubrey Elizabeth Photography | venue: The Inn at Fox Briar Farm | music: Ryan Cook Music | video: Perfect Form Video | florals: Branches and Blooms Design | hair: Bridal by JB | makeup: Mad Makeup | rings: Andria Barbone Jewelry, Mouse’s House Antiques | desserts: The Lucky Cupcake Company | stationery: Invited by Lamaworks
