Downtown Pittsburgh Vow Renewal

September 8, 2021

What was your inspiration behind your downtown Pittsburgh vow renewal?

We were very inspired by The Pennsylvanian itself. The architecture and colors really spoke to us and we wanted to embrace the space by using a dark green and gold color palette. With the pandemic, we changed to a “vow renewal celebration” and wanted to include touches from our wedding day one year earlier. The change for the flowers from our original all white to the pastel colors came from the pandemic; everyone needed an excuse to party, including us, let’s embrace the party feel with fun colors on all the tables, but keep white floors on the head table to keep a “bridal” feel.

Advice to share with brides planning now?

As someone who got married in a state I’ve never lived in, I’d recommend reading the vendor reviews and finding excellent people that you get along with. All vendors are there to make your day special, but the ones you click with will make your day extra special 🙂 And no matter what you think, get a wedding planner / day of coordinator / whatever your budget will allow. It is just so worth it!

How did you and your spouse meet?

We met in college our freshman year. We lived in the same dorm on the same floor in different wings. We remained friends for a couple years and realized the beginning of junior year we really cared about each other and should start dating. Eight years later we moved in together and he proposed!

Proposal Details! How did it happen? 🙂

He proposed on July 4th, 2018. We live in an apartment building, on the 7th floor on a corner in a downtown area. We have a great 180 degree view. We knew there would be fireworks, which we both really love and had some bbq and hung out on the balcony waiting for the main event. We could see other firework performances all around us, but the downtown event was huge and we could see everything perfectly. I was leaning over the railing watching the fireworks. Before the finale, he tapped me on the shoulder and I turned to find him on one knee with a ring box, and over the BOOM of the fireworks I heard “Marry me?” I started crying and said “Wait really?” and he said “Yes” and I said “Then YES!!” We watched the finale, and ever since, fireworks have been our thing 🙂

What was your favorite memory from your downtown Pittsburgh vow renewal?

My favorite memory was near the end of the ceremony where we turned around to face our family and friends and everyone had our “Wedding Towels” and waved them and yelled and clapped as we walked down the aisle. The overwhelming feeling of “YES we did it! All that planning has come to this and it is perfect!” and in that moment I knew I could be relaxed with my husband and just enjoy the rest of the night.