Top Tomato

Welcome Party

Union Trust

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Cocktail Hour

Reception

After Party

Winter

Our Wedding

Our Story

Kelly and Matt both grew up in South Jersey where they attended grade school together and shared the same small-town roots. While their paths first crossed as kids, it wasn’t until college that they formed a close friendship—one that would eventually lead to something more. They like to joke that their&nbsp;"first date"&nbsp;was a totally casual, not-at-all-reckless trip to Six Flags Great Adventure—where Matt “borrowed” his mom’s car to take Kelly to the park. (He definitely got in a lot of trouble for that later.)&nbsp;Though they didn’t know it at the time, it was the beginning of something special. As life tends to do, it pulled them in different directions for a while—until 2016, when Matt claims they “reignited the eternal flame.” From there, their journey truly began.&nbsp;They moved in together in Philly in 2018, welcomed their loving (and fiercely loyal) dachshund Lincoln in 2019, and then made the big move to Baltimore in 2020 during the height of the pandemic. In 2021, they bought their first home—a charming rowhouse that they’ve made their own, filled with memorable holidays, laughter and an unreasonable number of houseplants. In between the big milestones, they spent their time building a life they’re genuinely proud of—traveling the world, growing their careers, and spending time with the people who matter most. It’s the kind of strong, loving partnership they’re grateful for every day. And in early 2025, nearly a decade later and in a true full-circle moment, Matt asked Kelly to marry him in Vietnam.&nbsp;She said yes (obviously). Now, they can’t wait to celebrate this next chapter with all of you!

Photos

Jenny Shepherd

Aaron Snyder

Kristina Hutchinson

Zander Peralejo

Shana DeMarinis

Armando Peralejo

Zoe Shepherd & Olive DeMarinis

Nikolai DeMarinis

Miles DeMarinis

Wedding Party

Hotels

For your convenience, we've reserved two hotel blocks for our guests—each with different price points and distances from the venue—so you can choose what works best for you! That said, if you find alternative accommodations that better fit your needs, we encourage you to stay wherever feels most comfortable. Philly offers plenty of great hotels and Airbnbs to choose from! Update (as of 11/25/25): Transportation will be provided for guests staying at the Loews Hotel. A shuttle to the venue will depart at 4:30 p.m. and 4:45 p.m. (pick-ups on Market Street, directly outside the hotel's main entrance). Return shuttles back to the Loews will leave at 11:00 p.m., 12:00 a.m., and 12:45 a.m. If you prefer to walk or find your own ride, Philly has several convenient rideshare options like Uber and Lyft.

This is where the bride &amp; groom will be staying. Check-In Time: 4 p.m. (The hotel will try to accommodate early check-in if rooms are available but cannot guarantee it.) Parking: Overnight valet parking is available at the hotel. If you prefer to self-park, there are several parking garages within a two-block radius of the hotel. Distance to Venue: The Loews Philadelphia Hotel is approximately 0.5 miles from Union Trust—about a 3-minute drive or an 11-minute walk. Please book your rooms by 11/18/2025 using the link below. Reservations can also be made by calling&nbsp;888-575-6397. Reference Group Code: NGWD19

Loews Philadelphia Hotel

Check-in Time: 3 p.m. (The hotel will try to accommodate early check-in if rooms are available but cannot guarantee it.) Parking:&nbsp;Overnight valet parking is available at the hotel. If you prefer to self-park, there are several parking garages within a two-block radius of the hotel. Distance to Venue: Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia is approximately 0.2 miles from Union Trust—about a 5-minute walk. Please book your rooms by 11/17/2025 using the link below. Reservations can also be made by calling 1-800-Kimpton. Reference Group Code: LF2

Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia

Venue Parking

If you're driving to the venue, there is a convenient, open-air Parkway Parking lot located directly to the right of Union Trust at 711 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106. The evening rate is $15 (valid if you enter after 4:00 p.m. and exit before 5:01 a.m.). As you are driving down Chestnut Street, turn into the lot with the large mural painting.

Travel

There’s never a shortage of things to do in Philadelphia—from running up the Rocky steps at the Art Museum, to refueling with a mandatory cheesesteak, to standing in the room where history was made at Independence Hall or wandering through the iconic Reading Terminal Market. Check out Visit Philly for more: <a href="https://www.theknot.com/gs/dashboard/preview/pages/94579695/paragraph-items/159831070" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.visitphilly.com</a>. And, if you’re visiting in December, you’re in for an extra treat. The city transforms into a winter wonderland, with plenty of festive, holiday-themed activities to explore beyond the must-see spots. Below are a few seasonal favorites to help you get into the holiday spirit!

Located in the heart of Center City, Dilworth Park undergoes a wonderfully wintry transformation each winter. Featuring outdoor ice skating, a whimsical topiary garden, a newly refreshed chalet-style cabin (now with a full bar, comfort food menu and TVs for game day) and charming fire pits to boot,&nbsp;Winter at Dilworth Park&nbsp;turns the west side of City Hall into the ultimate seasonal destination. With a festive holiday market filled with local artisans and a fun lineup of events and programming, Dilworth Park’s cool-weather attractions captivate visitors and locals alike all winter long.

Winter at Dilworth Park (City Hall)

Every year, LOVE Park transforms into the open-air Bavarian holiday marketplace, Christmas Village in Philadelphia. Over 100 vendors set up in wooden stalls. offering gifts, ornaments, accessories and wintry apparel along with tasty treats like raclette sandwiches, spiced wine, apple cider, strudels and more. 2025 Dates/Hours:November 22, 2025 through Christmas Eve, December 24, 2025Sun – Thu:&nbsp;12 PM – 8 PMFri – Sat:&nbsp;12 PM – 9 PM

Christmas Village in Philadelphia (LOVE Park)

Things to Do

Q + A

Registry

Kelly and Matthew