Dreams
Continued from Page 19
Riding a wave of Philly pride, Philadelphia’s mummers are
also expected to be ubiquitous, said Fitzpatrick. She credits Ea-
gles center Jason Kelce’s memorable Super Bowl parade speech,
in full mummers regalia, for jump-starting the vogue.

“Mummers groups are boning up on the Rocky and Eagles fight
songs,” noted Fitzpatrick, who coordinates entertainers as EBE’s
talent director. “They’re being asked for that so much right now.”
Philadelphia itself — a city that inspires outsized pride and
passion — is a more popular theme than ever, especially follow-
ing a spate of high-profile events (the Pope’s visit, the Democrat-
ic National Convention, the Eagles win). “Anytime anyone gets
married in Philly, it’s nice to do something that’s inherent to the
city,” Zaslow said.

Party favors and out-of-town guest bags have long included
Wooden “LOVE” sign
with floral
arch Photo
provided Rose gold, sequins, tall flowers and wooden lanterns highlight a
wedding. Photo provided
20 MARCH 22, 2018
local flavors like Tastykakes and Goldenberg’s Peanut Chews.

Recently, Zaslow had a copy of the city’s iconic “LOVE” sign
made for a wedding at the Radnor Valley Country Club, where
it was tacked to a tree for the outdoor ceremony.

That wedding, recalled Zaslow, fit into another big trend
planners are seeing: organic-tinged nuptials, inspired by farm-
ers markets and all things natural and artisanal. “We’re even do-
ing green and woodsy for a Bar Mitzvah cocktail hour,” Zaslow
said. “It’s carrying through to a lot of events.”
The dress code may still be formal, but today’s reception
decor is likely to feature burlap, branches, succulents and river
rocks, said Stacey Kesselman, the president and owner of Con-
shohocken-based Exceptional Events. Especially at weddings,
guests in silk and pearls are routinely following hand-carved
wooden signs to rough-hewn tables and chairs.

Green, it seems, is everywhere — in the floral arrangements,
as a color scheme, and even as a concept. One popular twist
is for couples to recycle their wedding bouquets and floral ar-
rangements by donating them to local hospitals. Fitzpatrick ar-
ranges to have the blooms picked up overnight so patients wake
up to them.

In keeping with the social consciousness, couples are
also making charitable donations in lieu of traditional par-
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