A beautiful fall day....
A couple in love. The city of Pittsburgh as a backdrop. Crisp fall air. The vibrant colors of the trees surrounding the city with the sun shining down on them. All of these things made for a perfect wedding day! Heather and John had a memorable day with family and close friends. They had an amazing day commemorating the start of their marriage.
When Danielle (my amazing second photographer that day and friend) and I arrived at the Hotel Monaco, it was a dream come true! This chic hotel provided a lavish setting to capture all of the bridal details that Heather and John can remember for years to come. Capturing details for the bride and groom are SO important. They sometimes spend the better part of a year planning a wedding. And these details deserve to be remembered in a special way.
While Heather was getting her hair done, we quickly got to work photographing the details like rings, flowers, the dress, shoes and of course her adorable nieces and amazing sister! We got to know Heather's sister Sara and her nieces who were so adorable and helpful! The colors of the wedding were bright greens coupled with muted greens with hints of blue and white. The gorgeous bouquets were such a pretty backdrop for the rings, jewelry, and shoes. The unique ring box was a small engraved wooden box with their married name and date. What a beautiful addition to hold the pieces of the symbols of their new life together.
Perhaps even more special than the NEW rings were the addition of the rings of their grandparents. How precious to have those family heirlooms and a piece of family members so close to their hearts on their wedding day. The hotel room was so beautiful that there was no shortage of ways to creatively capture the details. While we photographed, the room was filled with the delightful giggles and cutest laughs as the girls twirled around the room in their little party dresses.
It's all in the details...
When Heather arrived at the hotel with her hair curled in perfect ringlets and her makeup done to perfection, it was time to help her into her dress! The sparkles and rhinestones that shone on the bodice were fit for a princess. Sara and the girls buttoned her into her gorgeous dress and helped her into her shoes. They danced around her like the little helpers in Cinderella!
We were getting close to "show time" but we couldn't leave the hotel without taking some bridal portraits on the second floor of the Hotel Monaco and utilizing every alluring inch of space we could find. These photos were meant to be a little breather for Heather in her last moments of being a single woman. I hope she had just a few minutes to reflect on the the excitement that was about to happen!
A new beginning...
On the North Shore, the guests were gathered in two rows and John stood at the end of the pier, awaiting his new bride to walk down the aisle. From my vantage point, I had the perfect views. I watched as the little flower girls walk happily down the stairs to stand next to their new uncle. I saw the spark of joy as John saw Heather for the first time as she walked down to meet him. If the couple opts not to do a "first look" before the ceremony, I always love to admire the groom's face as he sees his bride. Usually the crowd has "all eyes on her" but to catch a glimpse of the pure love he has for her is such a sweet moment. The look of pure excitement on their faces as they joined hands was priceless. The ceremony was short and sweet but packed full of emotion. The couple said their vows, said "I do", and their closest family and friends cheered with happiness as they shared their first kiss as husband and wife!
A stroll around the North Shore...
As we walked around the North Shore for their first portraits as husband and wife, we soaked up the surroundings of what our beautiful city has to offer. We walked along the pathway by the river with boats cruising by in the background. We walked up to the small hilltop to have a glimpse of the buildings and bridges behind them. And we found a quiet place to sit and snap a few more. We even met a guy with beautiful Bengal cats and since Heather and John love cats, this was definitely an unexpected surprise on their wedding day! There is nothing quite like Pittsburgh in the fall to set a vibrant backdrop for beautiful portraits.
As the evening begins...
Walking into the reception was nothing short of magical. With Heather's interior design vision and the help of family to put all of her ideas to fruition, they transformed the venue room of the Foundry Table and Tap into a romantic wonderland of lights and flowers. The room came alive as a dreamy setting for an intimate reception. Heather's attention to detail and impeccable taste are unlike any other (John...if you came up with any of these plans...I need to give you credit too!!). We could've stayed all night long capturing the glow of the candlelight, illuminating the joy of the happy couple surrounded by those who love them the most. Congratulations John and Heather!! We were so grateful to be such a big part of your special day!! Cheers to your future as a married couple!!
