For months leading up to their wedding day, Emily and Nick led everyone to believe they were eloping in Hawaii. So when the day finally came and their guests arrived at Citizens Bank Park, every single one of them thought they were walking into an engagement party. E + N’s little white lie held right up until the doors opened on November 22, 2025. What their families and friends actually walked into was a fully planned Hawaiian-themed wedding, pulled off in total secrecy, at the home of the Phillies.
Emily Forgash and Nicholas Campbell met on Hinge in December 2023, and a traditional wedding never quite felt like them. So instead they hit a home run with this surprise Citizens Bank Park wedding in Philadelphia — one of the most joy-filled days I’ve gotten to photograph. There were more smiles and jaw drops than I could count, and I felt honored to be trusted with something this special!
An Engagement Party Turned Surprise Wedding
Emily and Nick told their guests they were eventually jetting off to Hawaii to tie the knot, so everyone showed up to Citizens Bank Park expecting a low-key engagement celebration. Instead, Emily and Nick said “we can have Hawaii at home” and hosted a full out wedding — leis, a Hawaiian palette, and the two of them saying their vows in front of everyone they love. The evening started as an elevated, cocktail-style celebration and then slowly everyone began to realize they weren’t at an engagement party at all. They were at the wedding.
One of my favorite parts of the whole night was capturing the reactions during the reveal announcement. There was a mix of confusion, then realization, then complete joy washing over a room full of people all at once! I was so grateful to be positioned to catch those faces as the news landed. None of it happens without an incredible team keeping their lips zipped for months. Huge credit to my friend at Truly You Events and the group of creatives who guarded this secret and brought this whole baseball wedding to life.
Once the cat was out of the bag, guests were ushered behind home plate where a ceremony space designed by Sebesta Design was waiting. Vibrant Hawaii-inspired florals lined the “aisle”, and an abundant orchid-and-rose arch framed Emily and Nick against the ballpark backdrop. “The entire ceremony felt surreal,” Emily said, and you can feel exactly that in the photos.
Getting Ready at The Rittenhouse, Portraits at Rittenhouse Square
The day started downtown, with Emily getting ready at The Rittenhouse and her hair and makeup coming together at The Rittenhouse Spa & Club. The Rittenhouse is a Michelin-awarded, luxury hotel in Philadelphia’s center city with impressive views, afternoon tea service, a top rated spa, and incredible accommodations. It’s one of the loveliest hotels in the city to spend a slow, happy morning before everything begins.
From there, we headed out for portraits in nearby Rittenhouse Square. If you spend any time in Center City, you can’t help but wander through here. The canopy of London plane trees, curved stone benches, mosaic fountain, and Billy the little bronze goat sitting right in the middle of the plaza are all iconic Philly photo backdrops.
In late November, the whole square turns that soft gold-and-rust color, and it framed Emily and Nick’s portraits beautifully. Romantic portraiture is a specialty of mine, and I always bake plenty of time for them into your wedding day timeline. These quiet, in-between moments end up meaning the most.
If you want to see more of how this park photographs for couples, here’s a full Rittenhouse Square engagement session I’m obsessed with!
Inside Citizens Bank Park Before the Guests Arrived
Hosting a ballpark wedding is a completely one of a kind experience. Before a single guest arrived, we had Citizens Bank Park all to ourselves for photos — the concourse, the field-level views, all of it quiet and waiting. As soon as you walk in and look down on an empty stadium that normally holds 40,000 people, you automatically feel like you’re not allowed to be there. We all got this rush of adrenaline like we snuck in and someone was going to kick us out any second.
Here’s a quick look at how Emily and Nick’s day flowed, from that slow morning downtown to the surprise itself:
| Moment | Location | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Getting ready | The Rittenhouse, Center City | Morning |
| Couple portraits | Rittenhouse Square | Early afternoon |
| Ballpark portraits | Citizens Bank Park (before guests) | Late afternoon |
| The reveal + ceremony | Citizens Bank Park | Evening |
| Sunset portraits | Up in the stands | Golden hour |
A Tropical Party at the Ballpark
After the ceremony, guests headed to the CP Rankin Club, and this is where the Hawaiian theme really came to life. Custom vinyl-wrapped high-top tables, lounge seating, and vibrant floral linens in pink, orange, and taupe turned the space into an elevated tropical atmosphere. Were they really lying when they said they were eloping in Hawaii?? The jury’s out.
The food, on the other hand, paid tribute to ballpark classics. Guests enjoyed cheesesteak spring rolls, pretzel-crusted chicken tenders, and beef tenderloin dinner stations. But the detail everyone kept talking about was the soft-serve ice cream served in miniature Phillies batting helmets! That was one of the biggest hits of the night and such a perfect little wink at where they were.
A Baseball Ticket Wedding Invitation
As with every great wedding, the invitation suite set the tone from the very first envelope. The bright, tropical suite from The Papery of Philadelphia opened to a floral liner with a single word — “Surprise!” — and tucked inside was a baseball ticket wedding invitation holding a VIP “Admit One” ticket with their photo, a QR code, and their own section, row, and seat. Even the send-off stayed on theme, with guests leaving in puka shell and orchid Hawaiian leis and a thank-you note signed “thanks for celebrating with us under the lights.”
Late November Sunset Portraits in the Stands
Before golden hour slipped away, we climbed up the stands for sunset portraits. These might be my favorite frames from the entire day! A late-November sunset comes early, so we caught that last warm light and then let the stadium lights take over. E + N, the Phillies sign glowing behind them, the two of them finally married in front of everyone — that’s a moment I’ll never forget.
Getting Married at Citizens Bank Park: What to Know
If you’re dreaming about your own Phillies wedding at Citizens Bank Park, here’s the honest, practical side of it from someone who’s photographed here.
The ballpark hosts weddings, receptions, events, and photo sessions across a handful of different spaces, so the venue can flex from an intimate gathering to a large celebration. Because it’s a working ballpark, off-season dates are the only ones that open up.
When choosing a date, just know that you need to be flexible around the Phillies schedule and other events Citizens Bank Park may be hosting. Potential wedding dates are shared with inquiring couples closer to 6-7 months out, and the month of October is fully blacked out due to playoff possibilities. If you love the idea of a fall ballpark wedding, November is the sweet spot!
One more note for couples planning a surprise like this: you can absolutely book an engagement session at CBP too. Emily and Nick took theirs at Parque Ridley Creek instead (I think shooting at the ballpark would’ve been a little too obvious a tip-off to their future surprise wedding guests!).
Citizen Bank Park Wedding Cost
| Space | Rental fee (official Phillies pricing) |
|---|---|
| Field / Warning Track (on-field ceremony) | Consult with a Phillies representative |
| Cadillac Hall of Fame Club — First or Third Base side | $5,000 – $8,000 |
| Cadillac Hall of Fame Club — entire club | $10,000 – $16,000 |
| Philadelphia Insurance Club | $7,000 |
| Pass and Stow / Third Base Gate Plaza | $6,000 – $8,000 |
| The Yard (right field) | $5,000 – $7,000 |
| Ashburn Alley | $6,000 – $10,000 |
| Main Concourse | Starting at $12,000 |
| Photo sessions (portraits) | $750 – $1,000 |
| Phillies Clubhouse (off-season only) | $15,000 |
These are space-rental fees pulled from the official Phillies pricing page. Catering and other services are separate, and numbers can change, so the full Citizens Bank Park wedding pricing page is always worth a look for the latest! And if you want to see the venue in person, the Philadelphia Wedding Expo at Citizens Bank Park is an annual summer event hosted by the American Bridal Show Company.
As Seen in Modern Luxury Philadelphia Weddings
I’m still a little giddy about this one! E + N’s wedding was featured in the Fall/Winter 2026 issue of Modern Luxury Philadelphia Weddings. You can see the full feature on page 80 of the issue. Getting to have this day in print, next to all these gorgeous details, is such an honor.
If a ballpark wedding, a secret one, or a big joyful Philadelphia celebration sounds like your kind of day, I would be honored to capture it! Send me your inquiry here and let’s talk.
The Team Behind the Day
Beyond grateful for this stellar group of creatives who kept the secret and made it all happen:
- Venue: Citizens Bank Park
- Getting Ready: The Rittenhouse
- Catering: Aramark
- Photography: Lauren Bliss Photography
- Wedding Planning + Coordination: Truly You Events
- Florals: Sebesta Design (also: puka shell and orchid Hawaiian leis)
- Invitations + Signage: The Papery of Philadelphia
- Cake: Flakely
- Hair: The Rittenhouse Spa & Club
- Makeup: Kristyn Kennedy Makeup Artistry
- Dress Shop: Her Bridal Collective
- Dress Designer: Justin Alexander
- Groom’s Tux: Vera Wang from Men’s Wearhouse
- Band: Vincent James Band
- Rings: Brilliant Earth
- Videography: Atomic Tangerine Films
- Photobooth: The Best Philly Photobooth
- Rentals + Production: Revolution Event Design & Production, Festive Party Rentals, Vision Furniture
Lauren Bliss is a Philadelphia-based luxury wedding photographer capturing romantic, refined celebrations throughout the East Coast and beyond. She specializes in soft, timeless imagery for couples who value emotional connection, thoughtful design, and an elevated wedding experience. To inquire about wedding photography coverage with Lauren and her team, reach out here.
