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One aspect of the wedding that has been stressing us out for a while has been finding a charming place for us to take photos at that won’t impose on the brief time frame we have to take pictures. I know that our fab photographers, The Wiebners, will compose fantastic photos no matter where we are, but I still wanted to find something with a little charm and interest.
Enter Mama Cupcake, who came to the rescue after scouting out a few places around our reception site, The Desmond. Only two minutes away is Valley Creek Park, which, aside from being perfectly convenient, has an adorable spring house and a larger house (we think perhaps the groundskeeper’s residence?) that have just the charm and character we were looking for:
This door is very tiny, and it will make us look like giants. Note to self: must take photo next to tiny door!
Mr. Cupcake and I will see each other for the first time at this park, and after taking some pictures of our first meeting, we’ll also take photos with our bridal party here. In addition to the cute houses, there are some other notable photo-worthy spots:
Pretty trails with lots of yummy light
Fun, swervy trees that remind me of a dinosaur’s neck
Mama Cupcake also found this really awesome quarry nearby, but unfortunately we won’t be able to get beyond the fence that blocks the amazing view to capture some cool shots. Nonetheless, here are some cool shots I took by holding my camera up high.
After the ceremony, Mr. Cupcake and I will have a little less than an hour to steal away for some pictures of just the two of us. With limited time, we won’t have the opportunity to wander around the area and find some cool photo ops to explore, so we found two more fun spots in between our ceremony and reception, including the West Chester Railroad depot where there are vintage railroad cars.
There is this little orange house at the entrance to an antique store complex. This house totally speaks to me!
Next door is this (just as orange) garage:
I know that the Wiebners will make anything look spectacular, but I’m excited to have some fun spots scouted out for them to work with.
Have you chosen locations for your photos, or are you just going to wing it? Are you allowing a lot of time for photos?
Oooh the water is such a cool aqua blue color there! Almost matches your wedding colors… 
I had no idea that the W. Chester Depot had vintage cars–will have to tell my dad, as he is a train nut.
We will have very little time between the ceremony and reception, so we’re sticking to spots around the Mendenhall Inn. When we met with them to review details a few weeks ago, I dragged my mom all over the property, taking pictures inside and out of various spots that would work–everything from the train tracks running by the inn to the gorgeous bar (I’m envisioning a James Bond-esque shot there with a cocktail!) and the main lobby as it has a cozy fireplace and would be a great shot to get a picture of us snuggling on the couch and reading. 
Ultimately I would love to have photos taken at the golf course where we met (which also happens to be owned by my family). However I think it is a little too far out of the way so we’ll have to choose between the many other photo-worthy locations I’ve scouted out!
We had three sites we wanted to use (pre-ceremony), and one the groom’s mother insisted on (post-ceremony). First site, park, shoot, go. Second site, park, try to get an angle without trucks in it, shoot, go. Third site…there’s a truck blocking the location itself. Drive right past, get over it quickly, fine.
So after the ceremony, we took advice from wedpix.com and just drove off with our photographer in tow to get (relatively) alone time before the evening’s madness. The groom’s mother insisted we get pictures by the lighthouse, and we knew there was no way there’d be anywhere to park, so we figured we’d drive there to humor her, fail to get a spot, and move on.
There were four empty parking spaces. I’ve never seen that many open spaces before or since. And now we have beautiful photos at a lighthouse.
We recently got married in the Valley Forge Area. We had our whole wedding ceremony and reception at the Freedoms Foundation. They have beautiful grounds and a really great little chapel that were absolutely perfect for pictures! I don’t know if you would have time to get there on your day but we got some amazing pictures. Hope it helps!
Oh, I’d be so tempted to have my grandparents leaning on the wall on the other side of that last picture with the antiques sign…with us on the left by the door…
I think you might have my dream wedding. I can’t wait to see how your pictures turn out. The small door! Love it!
The railroad and the little orange building are going to be awesome shots! Not to mention the curvy Dr. Suess trees!
Awesome site.
I highly recommend getting permission… I know that here in Minneapolis, we MUST pay a fee and get a “temp photography license” to have any still or video photography shot in many of the city parks. Maybe the quarry would allow you past the gate with a guide — if you call and ask!
[...] saw each other for the first time at Valley Creek Park, up the road from The Desmond. The Wiebners took some great portraits in front of the old farm [...]
[...] on our way to the West Chester Railroad depot. My mom and I had discovered this spot when we were photo scouting in the weeks leading up to the wedding, and I had called ahead to make sure we were allowed to take [...]
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Mrs. Cupcake, Philadelphia Age and Occupation: 27, Graphic Designer Fiance's Age and Occupation: 29, Construction Project Manager Engagement Date: February 10, 2007 Wedding Date: September, 2008 Blogging Since: December 7, 2007 Venue: The Desmond Hotel in Malvern, PA About Me: Mr. Cupcake and I hit it off at a Halloween party and immediately began a long-distance relationship. After two years, he moved to my neck of the woods, and a year and a half after that, he proposed at the “place we fell in love.” I am a true perfectionist who enjoys designing and creating more work for myself, so wedding planning is my perfect outlet. Mr. Cupcake and I are both old souls, and we hope to weave that aspect of our personalities into our wedding day.
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