If you’ve seen “Sex and the City,” you have an idea of how romantic a public library wedding can be. With its stately architecture and Art Deco vibe, the Enoch Pratt Free Library’s Central Branch was a dream backdrop for this stunning couple to exchanges their grandparents’ wedding rings and celebrate becoming husband and wife. Enjoy all the thoughtful touches (including the book cart escort card display!), courtesy of Audra Wrisley, in the gallery.
From Audra Wrisley… Melissa and Jack’s elegant Pratt Library wedding was one held on one of the prettiest October days of the season. Their elegant color scheme of classic black and ivory with green accents was chic and perfect for their city wedding in the bride’s hometown of Baltimore. Full of beautiful Jewish traditions, the wedding ceremony was intimately designed under a beautiful floral huppah. The evening ensued with hors d’oeuvres on the library’s balcony, intertwined with the library’s Maurice Sendak exhibit, and later lots of dancing, toasting, and celebrating under the dreamy ceilings of the Pratt Library.
From the Bride… We wanted to have a wedding that was meaningful to us and a blast for our guests, so the Enoch Pratt Free Library’s Central Branch in downtown Baltimore was a perfect location. I love all things literature and Jack wanted to create a special event — a one-stop-shop where we could get married and throw a great party. A functioning library during the week, it makes for a stunning event space, with marble columns, painted frescoes, and a three-story atrium. We held the traditional Ketubah signing in front of a small group of close family and friends in the stately Edgar Allan Poe room before the main ceremony in the atrium. A rabbi I’ve known since childhood married us using our grandparents’ wedding rings, and later we heard special blessings from some of our favorite family members. We love the outdoors, so we kept all of our details in a green, white, and gray palette. There was also a subtle nod to the library’s romantic Art Deco feel in many of our small details, such as the picture frames, invitations, my dress, place cards, and accessories. During the cocktail hour, guests looked out over the main hall from decorative iron windows, and during the reception, they received drinks from the book check-out desk.
One of my favorite memories was when we were taking pictures at the Washington Monument before the ceremony. Jack was waiting for me in a small courtyard, and although we’d decided to have a first look, we hadn’t thought much about it at all. We’d spent so many months agonizing over planning, but that simple moment was an exciting start to a truly beautiful day. Jack loved when we spontaneously got into a second-floor window and got a big cheer from our friends (and some shrieks from our parents). Sharing our celebration with the special people in our lives was extraordinary, and it’s so fun to remember that joy through Audra’s beautiful pictures.
Photography: Audra Wrisley Photography | Wedding Coordination: Elle Ellinghaus Designs | Floral Design: Bella Fiori Flowers | Catering: Zeffert And Gold | DJ: Matt Daughaday | Ceremony Music: Two Rivers Chamber Music | Venue: Enoch Pratt Free Library