Lark Philadelphia Restaurant Wedding in November
All photos by Justin Johnson Photography
High school sweethearts L + M have always carved their own paths when it comes to love. They focused on building a family before ringing the wedding bells, which allowed their 23-month old son to be a part of their big day on a bright November day. Details from their 20-year love story were highlighted by the union of traditions shared with 120 of their closest friends and family members in a Philadelphia restaurant wedding. It was an honor to provide this family with full wedding planning services as they went through many changes and milestones during the planning process — including a venue change 6 weeks out from the big day! Their choice to go with Lark was a stunning decision from the modern ambiance of the space to the service and, of course, the delicious food.
Why Lark Restaurant Is a Perfect Philadelphia Wedding Venue
As a foodie couple, L + M were always leaning towards an intimate Philadelphia restaurant wedding. Helmed by Top Chef winner and James Beard Award finalist Chef Nicholas Elmi, Lark restaurant is within the historic Ironworks at Pencoyd Landing in Bala Cynwyd, PA. The industrial ceremony space along the Schuylkill River was the perfect backdrop to warm-toned November foliage colors. Inside the restaurant, the moody ambiance embraced the modern vision they were going for in addition to its highly acclaimed food and bar programs. Restaurant weddings have become increasingly popular due to their approachable feel, no guesswork about the quality of food, and often impeccable interior design. Imagine a spectacular dinner party with all your favorite people!
The Vision: A Warm November Sunset
For L + M, their vision was centered on creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Rather than leaning into overly literal fall motifs, we focused on a feeling of vibrance, balanced with soft candlelight and understated elegance. The color palette was inspired by a romantic November sunset highlighting warm neutrals, muted tones, and natural textures that complemented Lark’s existing interior. The result felt romantic and refined, without feeling too formal.
Tables were designed to encourage conversation, with low floral arrangements by Caroline Florals and taper candles to add depth and a cozy vibe. Every design choice still allowed the food, the space, and the people to take center stage. That intention is always a hallmark of truly great restaurant weddings.
Our design approach proves that an intimate wedding celebration doesn’t need excess to feel special. By letting the venue’s beautiful interior lead, it all felt effortlessly elevated, which is the guest experience L + M wanted to create.
A Thoughtfully Planned Multicultural Wedding Timeline
L + M honored their marriage by blending different meaningful customs throughout their wedding seamlessly. Both the Western vow ceremony and Chinese tea ceremony took place beneath the same floral arch in different locations. Signage was available throughout for non-English speaking guests, from translated petal toss bags and menus to the seating chart and place cards in the guests’ primary language. While Lark's signature menu is described as a coastal Mediterranean concept, one of the couple's favorite cuisines, Asian flavors made their way into the food and drinks too. The cake was a traditional Chinese sponge cake with whipped cream, and the signature drink was inspired by a lychee martini.
In Chinese culture, red is an auspicious color. The color served as representation in the details that encompassed their diverse vision. For the tea ceremony, L changed into a red traditional qi pao dress by US-based brand Beth and Brian. During cocktail hour, red envelopes were handed out to younger or unmarried relatives as they nibbled on charcuterie and zaatar skewers. At the end of the evening, guests were given favors of Chinese candies wrapped in a red box accompanied by a bottle of California red wine. This wedding truly represented the blended union of a beautiful family.
A Word From the Couple
One of the most meaningful parts of this wedding was hearing how the day felt to our couple:
“My experience with Belmont Events was absolutely amazing. My planner, Victoria, was incredibly detail-oriented, efficient, and creative. She always gave me her honest opinion about what would and wouldn’t work, which saved me from so many headaches, not to mention time and money.”
Read the rest of their review on our Zola page.
A Dream Philadelphia Wedding Vendor Team
We were honored to collaborate with the fantastic Philadelphia wedding vendors to bring this celebration to life:
Venue: Lark Restaurant
Wedding Planner: Belmont Designs
Photographer: Justin Johnson
Florist: Caroline Florals
Ceremony Arch: Roots Home
DJ / Music: Luv’dup DJs
Hair & Makeup: Air Hair and Makeup
Dress: Anthropologie
Suit: Suit Supply
If you’re dreaming of an intimate, design-forward wedding in Philadelphia, especially at a restaurant or non-traditional venue, I’d love to help you bring it to life. Let’s get started today!
