I have a soft spot for Bellevue Hall. It’s one of those places in Wilmington that just feels like a wedding before anyone shows up, and when a couple like Christine and Stefan books it, I know we’re in for a good one. They told us they wanted the day to be fun, romantic, and classy. I remember thinking, okay, that’s a tall order to pull off all three. They did it.
I was on the film side for this Bellevue Hall wedding, which honestly might be my favorite way to experience a day like this. When you’re shooting video you spend a lot of time watching how people react to each other, and I’ll tell you, there was a lot to watch.
The morning was slow in the best way. Christine and her girls had the big suite upstairs with all that window light, and I could have filmed in that room all day. Down the hall, Stefan’s dad was tying his bow tie for him. It was the same bow tie his dad wore at his own wedding, which nobody made a big announcement about. They just did it, quietly, and I happened to be standing there. Those are the moments I show up early for.
Christine saw her dad first, at the bottom of the big staircase, and that one got me a little. Then she walked out the front doors and down the drive to Stefan, who was waiting under the trees. That drive is one of my favorite spots on the whole property for a first look. It’s tucked away enough that it feels like it’s just the two of them, and you’re steps from everything else, so nobody is sprinting across the grounds to get to the next thing.
The ceremony was out on the lawn behind the mansion, and they wrote their own vows, which always makes my job easier because I just point the camera and let them do the work. My favorite part was the rings. No ring bearer. Instead, Christine’s brother Kevin and Stefan’s sister Gabrielle got called up out of their seats to bring the rings forward. It was simple, it meant something, and it took about thirty seconds. That’s usually the recipe for the stuff people remember.
Cocktail hour was a blur of family groups and the two friend crews, the Delaware people and the ski trip people, who both showed up in numbers. We pulled Christine and Stefan away for a few minutes while the light was doing its thing over the grounds, and if you’ve ever seen a fall sunset at Bellevue State Park, you know why I always push for that.
Then the tent. JAM Hospitality ran the room the way they always do, and the whole night felt like it was on rails. Burgundy and sea mist on the tables, a first dance to “Grow As We Go,” parent dances, toasts from Christine’s dad and both of their best friends, dinner, cake. And then Gabrielle picked up her saxophone. I’ve filmed a lot of receptions and I don’t get many where the groom’s sister plays a live sax set for the room. The floor was packed from that point on.
We did Christine and Stefan’s engagement session back in August, and they told us afterward it was just a great day. Their wedding was more of that, only with a hundred more people. When I asked what they were most looking forward to, Christine said the fun and the dancing. They got both, and then some.
What Made Bellevue Hall Work for Christine + Stefan
I wrote a full guide to planning a Bellevue Hall wedding after shooting nine of them, with a bunch of first look spots, sunset times by month, and the rain plan. For Christine and Stefan, the drive under the trees was a great first look spot because it felt private and kept them close to everything else. Getting ready in the upstairs suites gave them great light and a calm morning.
There were storms in the forecast that week, and Bellevue’s indoor space and permanent tent meant nobody had to worry about it. JAM’s coordinator kept the day moving from the venue side, so we got to focus on the two of them. And the best moment of the night, a sibling with a saxophone, was one nobody planned. Bellevue has a lot of beautiful corners, and no two couples use it the same way.
Christine’s advice for anyone still planning: start early.
Planning a wedding at Bellevue Hall or anywhere around Wilmington and the Brandywine Valley? We’re a Delaware wedding photographer and videographer team with a documentary approach, which is a fancy way of saying your gallery and film will feel like your day, not a photo shoot. Reach out and tell us what you’re dreaming up.
Vendor Credits
Venue: Bellevue Hall
Catering + Coordination: JAM Hospitality
Photography + Videography: Christopher Ginn Studios
Officiant: Laura Becker Wedding Officiant
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