ABOUT VAUX

WHEN I WAS PLANNING MY WEDDING IN 2011/2012, I OFTEN ENTERTAINED THE IDEA OF JUST GOING TO THE COURT HOUSE. THE THOUGHT OF PLANNING A HUGE WEDDING SEEMED OVERWHELMING AND I DID NOT TAKE PLEASURE IN MOST OF THE PREPARATIONS. I EXPLORED DESTINATION WEDDINGS & SMALLER WEDDING OPTIONS, BUT I WANTED SOMETHING THAT WAS "ME" AND JUST COULDN'T FIND SOMETHING THAT FIT. AT ONE POINT, I CONSIDERED DOING AWAY WITH OUR BRIDAL PARTY &  HAVING OUR SON BE OUR RING BEARER AND THAT'S HOW WE WOULD SAY 'I DO', JUST THE THREE OF US.  THE WHOLE THING WAS A CONSTANT STRUGGLE THAT I HAD SERIOUS MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT.

WE BOTH HAVE PRETTY LARGE IMMEDIATE FAMILIES, BUT OUR EXTENDED FAMILIES ARE HUGE, AND LIKE WITH ANY FAMILY- WHEN YOU INVITE ONE, YOU INVITE ALL. WE ENDED UP INVITING 208 PEOPLE AND HAVING 190 ATTEND. IT WAS WONDERFUL (& EXHAUSTING). WE DIDN'T EAT OUR DINNERS, SPENT MOST OF THE TIME TALKING (MY PLACE IS ON THE DANCE FLOOR) AND ORDERED A PIZZA WHEN WE GOT BACK TO OUR HOTEL ROOM. IT WAS DELIGHTFUL BUT LOOKING BACK, FOR ME,  LEFT SOMETHING TO BE DESIRED.

AFTER MY WEDDING, THE ONE THING I DID ENJOY WAS THE INVITATION PROCESS AND DOING ALL MY DECOR ITEMS. SHORTLY AFTER COMPLETING MY THANK YOU CARDS, I STARTED A LETTERING BUSINESS NAMED WILLOW WYNN. IN DOING WEDDING SUITES AND CHATTING WITH BRIDES, I REALIZED THERE ARE NO SMALL VENUES THAT CATER TO MORE INTIMATE BESPOKE AFFAIR THAT BODE A MINIMAL SETTING TO HOST SOMETHING SMALL. I STARTED TO THINK BACK TO MY WEDDING AND ESSENTIALLY WHAT I WOULD HAVE WANTED. SO BEGAN THE BEGINNING STAGES OF VAUX. I NEVER THOUGHT VAUX WAS GOING TO BE A 'CHAPEL'. I THOUGHT MORE OF INTIMATE VENUE, BUT AS THE IDEA GREW, CHAPEL SEEMED TO FIT! WE STARTED TO LOOK AT SPACES MORE LOCAL TO US IN SOUTH JERSEY BUT COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING THAT PORTRAYED WHAT I ENVISIONED FOR VAUX.

MY NEXT STEP WAS TO LOOK IN PHILLY. I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED CENTER CITY AND ENVISIONED IT POSSIBLY HOLDING AN OLD ART DECO BUILDING I COULD SEE ME GROWING MY SPACE IN. I HAVE  PERSONAL TIES TO PHILADELPHIA, SO IT FELT RIGHT SCOUTING SPACES HERE. MY FATHER GREW UP IN PHILLY,  MY GRANDMOTHER & AUNTS STILL RESIDE HERE, TEMPLE IS MY HUBBY'S (& BROTHER'S) ALMA MATER.  MY YOUNGEST BROTHER GRADUATED LA SALLE AND IS CURRENTLY ATTENDING JEFFERSON, AND SO FOR ME, IT FEELS LIKE HOME. 

I LOOKED AROUND FOR A BIT, NOT FALLING IN LOVE WITH ANYTHING. I WASN'T LOOKING FOR SOMETHING SPECIFIC, I WAS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING THAT SPOKE TO ME; AS A PERSON, AS A CREATIVE, AS A BUSINESS OWNER. I CAME ACROSS THE SPRUCE STREET SPACE AND WAS IMMEDIATELY SOLD BY THE ONLINE PHOTOS. WHILE IT DIDN'T MEET ALL MY CRITERIA FOR RUNNING MY BUSINESS (IE. ONSITE PARKING OR MULTIPLE RESTROOMS) I FELT I COULD MAKE IT HOME FOR OUR START UP!  AND SO, VAUX WAS BORN.