Angela + Rangan | Artesano Iron Works Wedding Photography

A bride and groom dance during their wedding reception at Artesano Iron Works Gallery.

January 8, 2022

Angela and Rangan’s winter wedding at Artesano Gallery in Manayunk was exactly what they wanted it to be – classy, cozy, and intimate. The pair had been engaged for two years prior to tying the knot, but delayed planning the wedding until they knew all their friends and family could join them to celebrate. Even though the couple lives in New York City, they wanted to choose a venue near where the bride grew up, and Artesano was the perfect fit. It’s cozy, has multiple rooms, is inviting, and has a unique space that’s anything but bland.

The 3 words Angela and Rangan chose to describe their dream wedding were fun, family-oriented, and elegant – and their wedding day was exactly that!

Getting Ready

The wedding party was a picture of class. I loved the rich velvet of the bridesmaids’ dresses paired with their thick fur shawls. It certainly made photographing outside in the snow much more bearable! We only had 15 minutes to photograph the bridal party before they were needed for the ceremony, but we still managed to get a variety of shots in a short amount of time. It’s important to find a photographer who can work quickly and efficiently on a wedding day because you never know what will come up! We couldn’t have found a better spot for portraits with the red doors of the church, the untouched snow, and the winter sun peeking around the corner.

The Ceremony

The wedding ceremony took place at a church in Rosemont that Angela attended growing up. It was a gorgeous stone building filled with stained glass windows and other striking gothic details. On a call before the wedding, Angela and her mother expressed concern for how dark the church would be during the ceremony. It was held during sunset and no flash photography was allowed during the marriage proceedings. However, my second shooter and I were able to maximize the light we had and capture well-lit photos, despite the church’s dark interior.

If you’re planning on getting married at Church of the Good Shepherd, one thing to note is that the photographers must stay at the back of the church, or along the side wall during the entire ceremony. I was very thankful for my 135 mm lens so I could still get close-up shots. Make sure your wedding photographer or videographer is aware of this and plans on bringing a long lens with them!

The Reception

Angela and Rangan’s wedding reception was held at Artesano in Manayunk, a beautiful wrought-iron art gallery with a warm, classy, and intimate vibe. The evening felt like a decadent cocktail party with mouth-watering hor d’oeuvres, lavish couches, and sultry mood lighting. So many friends and family gathered to celebrate Angela and Rangan’s love, and the space felt full and cozy. It was the perfect size for their 120 invited guests.

Artesano is a wedding venue with all services included if you’re looking for a spot that will take care of everything for you. They even have a separate ceremony space, if you don’t want to have to travel between venues. I can vouch for their catering – the Moroccan root vegetable stew I had was baked in phyllo dough and was amazing. I still think of it and drool.

Angela and Rangan’s wedding day ended with lively dancing and a glow stick wand send-off. We opted to do their goodbyes as the couple descended the wrought-iron staircase, as the venue is located on the corner of a busy intersection. But don’t worry, complimentary valet parking provided by the venue is an option for your guests, as we all know how parking at night in Philadelphia can be!

Angela and Rangan were an absolute joy to work with. I’m so glad their dreamy winter wedding day was everything they’d hoped for. Congrats to the happy couple!

The Low-Down

As a wedding photographer and former bride, I would highly recommend Artesano as a place to consider tying the knot. With their full-service packages and separate spaces for the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception (plus outdoor garden areas with seating in warmer months), it’s the perfect Philadelphia wedding venue that’s unique, upscale, intimate, and very easy to work with.