MANAYUNK

When Julie Sabella and Karl Stabler, owners of The Wall Cycling Studio in Manayunk, started planning for their recent wedding, that’s one thing they were sure of: they would support as many local Manayunk business owners as they could. As small business owners themselves, they know the power of staying local and with a tight knit community like Manayunk, many of the business owners are also their close friends.

It all started with a rehearsal dinner at their favorite (and first date spot) Winnie’s LeBus. Owner Winnie Clowry is friends with the couple and wanted to create a personalized rehearsal dinner just for them at their favorite restaurant. After dinner finished, Julie surprised Karl with a groom’s cake featuring a jersey of his favorite English football team along with sculptures of their two pups Beckham and Brooklyn. The cake was made by another local Manayunk business, Sweet Elizabeth’s Cakes. Even though Karl and Julie had won a wedding cake from another bakery, they wanted to assure they still supported Liz with their business, so having her create a groom’s cake just for Karl was the perfect solution!

The wedding day started out with Julie and her girls getting their hair and make-up done by Jamie and her team at Fedora Salon & Spa in Manayunk. Then it was off to ACE Conference Center in nearby Lafayette Hill for the ceremony and reception. The ceremony space was decorated with a beautiful chuppah by Chrissy’s Flowers, also a Manayunk business! Chrissy and her team went above and beyond for Karl and Julie and created a ceremony and reception space that felt both warm and welcoming. Under the chuppah Karl and Julie exchanged vows with wedding bands from Gary Mann Jewelers, a Manayunk mainstay for over 20 years.  

At the reception, many Manayunk faces were also seen including Winnie and Bob Clowry, owners of Winnie’s LeBus, along with Darnell James, Kat Mellor, and Tara Bilkins Quisito also of Winnie’s, John and Rute Belanger, owners of RowZone Manayunk, and many of Julie’s cycling instructors and friends from The Wall! Spin instructors Catherine Adams and Ali Cook, who owns Never Give Up in Manayunk were even a part of the bridal party. The sense of community and love of Manayunk was surely felt during this wedding and Karl and Julie wouldn’t have had it any other way! Manayunk is where they first met, where they started their business and now where they own their first home.

Besides planning and coordinating the events here in Manayunk, I also work for Proud To Plan, a wedding and event planning company, so I too had the pleasure of helping make Karl and Julie’s day a reality while working alongside some of our great Manayunk business owners!   

If you’re getting married in Manayunk or the nearby area, be sure to consider some of these great wedding related businesses:

Rings: Gary Mann Jewelers and Bendi Jewelers

Tailoring: Armen’s Custom Tailoring

Gown: Nicole Miller Bridal

Event Venue’s: Artesano Iron Works and Manayunk Brewing Company

Florals: Chrissy’s Flowers and Fleur Flowers

Cake: Sweet Elizabeth’s Cakes

Music: CTO Music Arists

Hair & Make-Up: Fedora Salon & Spa, Salon L’Etoile, Art + Science Salon & Spa, Beans Beauty and Starshine Salon

Nails: Euphoria Nail Bar, Cinderella Nails and Christie’s Nails

Rehearsal Dinner: Winnie’s LeBus, Bourbon Blue, Jake’s & Cooper’s, Manayunk Brewing Company, Derek’s, Bisou Bistro, Chabaa Thai Bistro, Yanako, Agiatio and The Goat’s Beard