Styled Spotlight: Carrie Denny, Editor, Philadelphia Wedding Magazine
It is time once again for our monthly series, Styled Spotlight, where we are asking one creative wedding professional a series of questions so you can learn how they got started, why they love what they do, what they love most about Philadelphia, and more. Today we talk with Carrie Denny, Editor, at Philadelphia Wedding Magazine and author of The Bride’s Instruction Manual: How to Survive and Possibly Even Enjoy the Biggest Day of Your Life
Let’s get to know you! Tell us a little bit about your background.
I grew up in the Philly ‘burbs, where I went to high school at Notre Dame in Villanova, and then Penn State, where I studied English. Because I knew I wanted to be in magazines and just didn’t feel that pull, after graduating college, to move to New York, I decided that Philadelphia magazine was the place for me. I persisted my way into an editorial internship, got hired less than three months into it, and just celebrated my ten-year anniversary last year! I work with the most amazing people.
How did you know that the wedding industry was the right fit for you?
When I first started working at the magazine, I worked on a lot of different titles—the monthly and Wedding, but we also had a Home magazine at the time, and produced several ancillaries for Boston magazine in the Philly office (we are sister publications under Metrocorp Media). I always gravitated towards the wedding stuff—it was fun and pretty, and because any female by that age is highly aware of just how inspiration- and information-hungry brides are when they’re trying to put together an amazing wedding day, I knew that what we were producing was actually helping people do just that, and that’s a great feeling.
Once I was fully immersed in it, too, I found I was always just so inspired by the unbelievable talent I found both in the Philly wedding industry, and in the people—photographers, stylists, etc.—who help us put each issue together. It’s challenging and fulfilling each time around.
What do you love most about weddings in Philadelphia?
I think one of the most special things about getting married in Philadelphia is the wealth of one-of-a-kind venues. It’s an old city, and the architecture and history here just can’t be beat, from the historic and newer landmarks to the old theaters, estates, clubs, banks, factories and warehouses that can now hold weddings.
How would you describe your aesthetic?
It’s pretty classic! And not overdone. When it comes to both fashion and home décor, I tend to go for simple, beautiful things that I know I will love, wear and use for years and years to come without getting sick of, no matter how the times or trends change—and I think that’s the way to go with the aesthetic of a wedding, too; the dress, the colors, the flowers. You want to look at your wedding photos five, ten, forty years down the line and swoon all over again instead of cringe.
What is one piece of advice you like to impart on brides and grooms?
Do not worry about “trends”! Your wedding day is, more than ever, when you should make decisions based on what you like and what you want and what truly reflects you as a couple, not what is “in” or “cool” or “now” or anything like that.
Five Favorites …
Element that always catches your eye? I’m a sucker for any kind of gorgeous/creative/darling packaging or presentation, like with the favors or escort cards.
Favorite trend or application you are seeing? I’ve kind of been loving gold lately for any time of year. In the winter, it’s festive; in the spring, it’s light and chic.
Moment at a wedding? I used to say watching the groom when the bride appeared at the top of the aisle—and while I still love that, I’ve found that over the years, as I’ve watched my best friends get married, it’s changed to watching the bride in that moment. She’s wearing the full context of the entire day and her future in that moment, and even if I’ve spent the entire day with her before that, it still blows me away.
Place to pop the question? Too hard! But I do love when it happens somewhere that has meaning to the couple, like a first-date spot or their favorite place.
Hidden gem in Philadelphia? A place that comes to mind is actually at the Shore, in Cape May. You always hear about weddings taking place at Congress Hall, but every single time I drive by the Peter Shields Inn on the island, I am reminded of how beautiful it is. It’s a circa-1907 bed-and-breakfast with a sprawling lawn and huge porch with a black-and-white awning, it’s right across the street from the beach and has nine guest rooms for the couple and their families. I just think it’s so charming.
