Heinz History Center Wedding
What was your inspiration behind your Heinz History Center wedding day?
When planning our wedding Sajid and I wanted to have a blast. Sajid grew up in Pittsburgh, but moved to New Jersey about 7 years ago, so we wanted to show off some of what Pittsburgh has to offer. That is why we decided to have our wedding at the Heinz Center. The great hall just screams Pittsburgh. Our out of town guests also loved cookie table. We knew we wanted a band because Sajid and I love going to see live music. The Walk of Love did an amazing job engaging the crowd and playing songs where everyone was getting up and dancing. We also knew that we had to get up on the stage and sing because late nights at our house always end with karaoke. My mother and her family have owned a florist since before I was born. Growing up always having beautiful flowers around, I knew my wedding florals would be outstanding. Since the great hall in the Heinz History Center is filled with a bunch of different things, I really wanted simple and elegant florals. My mom and I decided on calla lilies to create what I thought was the perfect balance in that big busy room. I loved my bouquet, I sent my mom my Pinterest board of what I liked, and she put it together with flowers brought up with her from NJ, the night before our wedding. We love to travel so we incorporated that into our day. Our guest book was a globe and our tables were named after places we have traveled together. Since this was a destination wedding for Sajid and I and most of our guests, we planned a fun filled week of Pittsburgh activities before our big day. We went to PNC Park for a Pirates game and we saw a concert at Stage AE. When of Sajid’s friends from Pittsburgh is a EDM DJ and he was performing that weekend, which worked out perfectly. We chose to walk out to one of his song’s at our reception.
Advice to share with brides planning now?
Enjoy spending this time being creative and fun with your significant other. Try to be present in all the moments leading up to your big day. That time is just as special as the big day.
Did you incorporate any culture into your Heinz History Center wedding?
Sajid lived in Liverpool England when we was little and is a huge Liverpool fan. So he played their team song, “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”
How did you and your spouse meet?
Sajid and I met at in 2013 when my high school friend, Joe, had a bonfire at his house. Sajid and Joe met at Pharmacy School at the University of Pittsburgh. Sajid and I became friends once he moved to New Jersey, but did not start dating until 2017.
Proposal Details! How did it happen? 🙂
Sajid took me on an early morning hike in the Hudson Valley. Once we got up to the pike of the hike Sajid sat me down and popped the question. Later that night he said he was going to take me out to dinner at one of my favorite restaurants, but when I got there all my family and friends were there to surprise me. It was a perfect way to end the perfect day.
Venue: Heinz History Center
Florist: Broadway Floral Gift and Gallery Denville, NJ
Wedding Dress Designer: W Too
Describe your wedding attire, what was the wedding shopping experience like for you?
I love beaded gowns and small special touches. My wedding dress made me feel beautiful all night and it was easy to dance in. When I first got engaged, my mom and I traveled to Florida to visit my grandparents. I found a cute little boutique where I was able to try on about 20 different dresses of my choosing. I tried on a few that I liked but I felt that if I didn’t buy my dress I would be thinking about it the next time I went shopping. I feel so grateful that I was able to have my grandparents there to be apart of that special moment. When shopping for Sajid, we both knew that we wanted him in something unique, not just a black tux. Going into the appointment we both thought we knew what we were going to like, but once he tried on the purple tux jacket we knew that would be perfect.
What was your favorite memory from your Heinz History Center wedding day?
During the cocktail hour, we were able to spend some time with our families before we made our big entrance down the stairs for the reception. Sajid and I are perfectionists so we snuck away and practiced our first dance together. It was so nice just to have a short moment alone together as husband and wife.
Wedding Dress Boutique: The White Magnolia West Palm Beach Florida
Hairstylist Name: Amelia Aukscunas – Simply Captivating
Make-up Artist Name: Shannon Davis
Bride’s Ring Designer: Brillant Earth/ The Gem Vault
Bridesmaid’s Dress Designer: Azazie
Groom Attire Designer: The Black Tux
Groom Ring Designer: The Gem Vault
Videographer Company/Name: Love More Films – Josh Carrigan
Handmade Details: Etsy
Catering Company/Name: Common Plea
Entertainment: Walk of Love
Bakery/Cake Baker Information: Bethel Bakery
Linen Rental Company: Mosaic Linens
