Wedding at Pine Rock

Julia was a bridesmaid in a wedding I photographed a few years ago. As soon as she got engaged she sent an inquiry with the sweetest message:

You may not remember me but I was the maid of honor (& cake decorator) for I and ‘s (names removed for privacy) Oct 2022 wedding at the PPG Wintergarten. I was completely blow away by you and Aaron – loved everything you guys did, how you handled the day and just couldn’t be more obsessed with their photos!

WOW! When emails like this come through, I am very quickly humbled and reminded that a wedding day is not just about the couple — the way you make friends and family matter too. And I’m so glad that Julia and Don decided that I was the photographer for them based on her experience. Thank you both for trusting me…

Take a look at their GORGEOUS wedding below. <3

What was your inspiration behind your Wedding at Pine Rock?

My biggest inspiration was making sure the day just reflected who Donald and I are as a couple and as own people. Amazing food, the perfect music, pieces of the ceremony and the big restored barn outdoor wedding with a mountainous background spoke to us as a couple. All of the colorful aspects of the day, the beautiful florals and acoustic music spoke to me while the reception music (Kesha lol), our grand entrance which was custom “terrible towels” and Renegade spoke to the very Steeler loving yinzer Donald. 🙂

Advice to share with brides planning now?

1. This is you and your fiance’s day – no one else’s! Make it what you want it to be. 

2. Take 5 minutes during your reception – after dinner, after all the scheduled dances and scheduled activities – to pause and reflect on everything that’s happened that day. Take it all in.

3. If something goes wrong, you won’t even notice I PROMISE! Don’t sweat the small stuff. 

4. Get yourself a dedicated notebook, folder/binder, whatever or however you organize best and take it with you everywhere! You never know what might spark your inspiration or what you might remember. Organize your thoughts, vendor information, and set reminders for yourself. It will feel overwhelming and stressful especially if you are doing it without a wedding planner but it is ALL worth it. Just find your support system and lean into your fiance – they can help too!5. Make sure you have the *money* talk with your fiance. I know it can feel awkward and maybe uncomfortable but it is so so important. And set your budget and then add some, its the little things the week leading up to your big day that add up!6. Most importantly, BREATHE! Your day will be absolutely perfect in its own way.  

How did you and your spouse meet?

Hinge 😉 We met on Hinge in February of 2020 but Donald says we met when I served him ice cream (and apparently flirted with him) at V&V the year before, although I have no recollection of this. Our first conversation on Hinge, we bonded over our mutual love of tacos, tequila, and beer which led to our first date at Cinderlands in the Strip District – the day before all of PA shut down due to the pandemic! And the rest is history :)Fun fact: V&V scratch kitchen also catered our wedding, shout out to them!

Proposal Details! How did it happen? 🙂

What was supposed to be a combined family camping trip, actually led to our forever 🙂 We decided to take a sunset kayak trip to a small island in the middle of Summersville Lake that we spotted earlier in the day. Or really Donald and Mary (his sister) decided, I was tired and they forced me. But I’m sure glad I did because as soon as we got out of our kayaks and stepped onto the island, Donald got down on one knee as the sun was setting. He blubbered like a baby while asking me to spend forever with him (but I cried harder when he surprised me with Athena (my long distance best friend and MOH afterwards). All the while, our families were on the other side of the lake watching us from the shoreline and cheering the whole time! It was the most perfect day!

What was your favorite memory from your big day?

The very end of the night we did what was intended to be a private last dance but every stuck around to watch us. We danced to “Stuck On You” by Lionel Richie and Darius Rucker which Donald LOVES that song. We danced just the two of us as he sang on the top of his lungs and spun me around the dance floor. By the end of the song, the rest of the guests were singing loudly to and it was just so perfect and surreal. 

Wedding at Pine Rock Vendors

Photography: Steven Dray Photo

Venue: Pinerock Farm

Florist: Linda Brown’s Floral

Wedding Dress Designer: Evelyn Bridal

Wedding Dress Style: Briar

Wedding Dress Boutique: Luxe Redux Bridal

Hair and Make-Up: Wanderlust Beauty Studio

Accessory Information:Veil: Sara Gabriel – Anthea , Hair Pins: Twigs & Honey

Bride’s Shoe Designer: Me! I bedazzled a pair of Birkenstocks 🙂

Bride’s Ring Designer: Brilliant Earth engagement ring, WeddingRingAU wedding band

Bridesmaid’s Dress Designer: All different colors and styles courtesy of Azazie.

Groom Attire Designer: Jos A Banks

Videographer: Cyn Davis Photography

Paper Goods Company: Zola designs for invitations, my own Canva designs and printed at Staples for everything else 🙂

Handmade Details: I LOVE designing things. I created so many aspects of the day! Thank you Canva 🙂 All signage from our welcome sign, bar menus, table tents, seating chart etc, the favors which were magnets of small dried flower bouquets, and the Fakner “terrible towel”

Catering: V&V scratch kitchen

Entertainment: Mike Medved Weddings

Bakery: Baked by Annie

Any Other Vendor You Want to Recognize: 🙂 Rev. Kathy Flynn-Somerville from Pittsburgh Officiants, Allegro Hearth Bakery and Butterwood Bake Consortium for the plant based desserts 🙂