James + Samantha by Bobbi Phelps

The vision for our wedding was an elevated garden party, blending textures, colours, patterns, and lighting to create a warm, inviting atmosphere.

Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love…

Samantha, the bride, is a dedicated member of the Free People team at their Home Office in Philadelphia, where she oversees new store openings and special retail projects. Her passion for fashion has been a lifelong pursuit, which led her to study Design and Merchandising at Drexel University in Philadelphia, where she first met James.

James, the groom, is a Mechanical Engineer with the U.S. Navy.

As a couple, we share a love for travel, and over the years, we’ve developed a tradition of collecting postcards from each place we visit together. These postcards are proudly displayed in our home, a house we bought together in 2021. This shared passion for exploration and memory-making served as the inspiration for our Escort Board at the wedding, adding a personal touch to our celebration.

How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?

We first crossed paths at Drexel University in 2016, brought together by mutual friends and the proximity of our brownstones, which were located right next to each other. Jim was a member of the Ice Hockey Team, while I was on the Cheerleading Team. Though Jim is two years younger than me and a five-year Engineering student, while I had just graduated as a four-year Design & Merchandising major, we quickly formed a connection. Once we began spending time together that fall, our relationship blossomed, and we’ve been inseparable ever since.

When did you first realise that this was someone you’d like to spend the rest of your life with?

We both knew quite early on, after only a few short months of dating, that our connection was something special. Though we are opposites in many ways, it is precisely these differences that strengthen and enrich our relationship. We genuinely enjoy each other’s company, and at the heart of it all, we are truly best friends.

Tell us about the vision you had for the mood and style of your wedding.

The vision for our wedding was an elevated garden party, blending textures, colours, patterns, and lighting to create a warm, inviting atmosphere. We wanted the day to feel authentically “us,” which is why we included several personal touches throughout the celebration. These included hand-written postcards for the escort board, as well as a homemade limoncello shot, an Italian tradition—crafted over the course of two years by my dad—that guests enjoyed upon entering the tent. We also incorporated vibrant pops of colour and dramatic florals, ensuring that each corner of the tent offered something new and visually exciting to discover.

What styling and visual elements worked best for you?

Mixing prints and textures has always been a favourite design element of ours, and we found it to be particularly effective in creating a unique atmosphere for the event. This approach, which we often embrace in our home, served as a key source of inspiration. The lighting we designed for the tent was also highly intentional—every detail was considered to create a captivating ambiance. We carefully paired rattan pendants with paper lanterns to evoke warmth and texture, while aiming to draw guests’ gaze upward and throughout the space as they entered the tent, enhancing the sense of depth and intrigue.

What did you enjoy most about the planning process and do you have any tips for couples starting their wedding planning journey?

What we cherished most during the planning process was the quality time we spent together, nurturing our creativity. My parents, who work in the wedding industry, were with us every step of the way, offering guidance and support. We made a point of turning each task into a memorable event—whether it was a venue site visit followed by a celebratory dinner or a cake tasting with both sides of the family. Each moment was filled with joy, and it only heightened our excitement for the big day.

As a tribute to my mom, I created a scrapbook titled “The Journey”, which captures the last two years of planning. It holds photographs from key moments such as the design process, wedding dress shopping, invitation assembly, and more. Looking back on it now, it’s a precious keepsake—one that reminds us of the joy we shared while bringing our vision to life.

Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, is there a story?

My wedding dress was a stunning creation by Lee Petra Grebenau, sourced from Spina Bride in New York City. It was the final gown I tried on after visiting six other bridal boutiques, and it instantly felt like “the one.” The gloves and detachable skirt were an immediate hit the moment I slipped them on, adding the perfect touch of elegance and drama. My veil, a meaningful heirloom, was graciously lent to me by my cousin’s wife, Jordana, who wore it at her own wedding in 2023. It became my “something borrowed” and will be passed on to the next family member for her upcoming wedding in 2025.

I’ve always been drawn to the colour pink and anything delightfully feminine, so when I discovered my after-party dress on Instagram, I knew I had to find it. The dress was a rare find, being the only one ever made by a now-defunct designer. Thankfully, it was available for rent at Janet Mandel in New York City, where I was able to secure it for the evening. It was incredibly fun to wear a dress with such a rich history, knowing that other women had worn it and created their own cherished memories.

In keeping with the celebratory mood, Jim and I weren’t the only ones to change for the after-party. Our bridal party also swapped their attire, with the bridesmaids exchanging their elegant chocolate brown dresses for fun, colourful outfits of their choosing. We then made a grand entrance down the mansion’s stairs to the upbeat sounds of “If You Wanna Be My Lover,” by the Spice Girls. The groomsmen, too, had their own moment, entering alongside Jim in matching black knit short-sleeve button-ups.

Jim’s tuxedo was rented from Sagets Formalwear, where the owner is a dear family friend, making the experience all the more special.

What was one, or two elements that were most important to you both that you were happy to spend a little more on?

Food was a central element of our celebration, given that my father is a caterer and has always had a profound influence on our appreciation for fine dining. Rather than a traditional plated dinner, we envisioned a more dynamic and interactive experience for our guests—a culinary journey offered through various food stations. These stations—From the Garden, From the Sea, From the Countryside, and From the Farm—each showcased the talents of four distinct chefs and featured farm-to-table delicacies such as lobster, tomahawk steak, fresh salads, and hand-made pasta.

It was incredibly gratifying to see our guests engaging with one another, bonding over shared meals, and exploring the different stations throughout the tent. This approach not only allowed them to enjoy a variety of flavours but also encouraged them to move through the space, creating a vibrant, social atmosphere that was as memorable as the food itself.

Did anything happen on your wedding day that you laugh about in hindsight (even if it was stressful at the time)?

Honestly, not really. It unfortunately rained when the cocktail hour was supposed to be outside, but it was moved inside the mansion and was totally fine.

BRIDE Samantha Savino, @sammy_slamma GROOM James Mikalic, @jimmikalic CEREMONY LOCATION St. Anthony’s of Padua Roman Catholic Church RECEPTION LOCATION The Highland Mansion and Gardens, @thehighlandsmansion PHOTOGRAPHER Bobbi Phelps, @bobbi.phelps VIDEOGRAPHER Tim Sudall at Allure Films, @allurefilms PLANNER Sarah Zaun at All About Events, @allaboutevents_phl FLORIST Garden of Eden, @goedenevents ENTERTAINMENT Cocktail Hour Band – Hepners Rebellion, @hepners_rebellion; Reception Band – Jellyroll Band, @jellyrollbandphilly; After Party DJ – Schaffer Sounds, @schaffersounddjs HIRE Vision Furniture, @visionfurniturephl; Lilac & Lace Co., @lilacandlaceco; The Party Center, @the_party_center CATERING The Drexelbrook, @drexelbrook; John Serock Catering, @serockcatering; Chef’s Expressions, @chefsexpressions; Pink Garlic Beth, @pinkgarlicbeth; Barnegat Oyster Collective, @barnegatoyster; Espresso Martinis: LeTish Coffee, @letishcoffee CAKE The Master’s Baker, @themastersbaker STATIONERY I Do! Invitations, @idoinvitationsandannouncements SIGNAGE Our friend, Reece Schepperd, @d_reece RINGS Lionville Jewellers, @lionvillejewelers WEDDING DRESS Lee Petra Grebenau, @leegrebenau via Spina Bride, @spinabride AFTER PARTY DRESS Ashish Pink Sequin Bow Dress – Janet Mandell, @janetmandell BRIDE’S SHOE Lulus, @lulus BRIDE’S ACCESSORIES Vintage diamond earrings – Passed down from her mom; Veil – Passed down by the bride’s cousin’s wife MAKEUP Sofia Serrano Beauty, @airhairandmakeup HAIR Moxie Queen, @moxiiequeen BRIDE’S FRAGRANCE Jo Malone London, @jomalonelondon TUXEDO & SHOE Sagets Formal Wear, @sagetsformalwear GROOM’S AFTER PARTY SHIRT Tombolo, @tombolocompany GROOM’S FRAGRANCE Jo Malone London, @jomalonelondon BRIDESMAIDS DRESSES House of CB, @houseofcb; Revolve, @revolve; Amazon, @amazon; Hello Molly, @hellomolly; Oh Polly, @ohpolly; Bardot, @bardot; BHLDN, @bhldn