Tracey and Ross | The Gathering Place Wedding

We step out of the car at The Gathering Place on a cloudless day , and it just feels so different than the hustle and bustle that usually occurs on wedding days.   We take a few steps away from the car and see a serene lake, with a few birds flying overhead and no other people in sight.  It is quiet and extremely peaceful.  There are no sounds of city traffic because we are 45 miles from Pittsburgh.  Just the breeze, the birds, and a fish or two surfacing the lake. To our left is a beautiful and modern log cabin, where the ladies are getting ready.  To our right are the ceremony and the reception sites, all within walking distance.  We almost felt like we were on a spa retreat, it was so calm! Which set the tone perfectly for Tracey and Ross’s beautiful wedding day.

Tracey and Ross make such a sweetheart of a couple.  Tracey has the most giving of hearts, and she always has a smile on her face and a patient demeanor.  Ross has a gentle and calm personality, and he just adores Tracey.  It was so special to witness the marriage of these two!

What made the day even more special was experiencing the little signs of love that Tracey’s grandmother left throughout the day (sadly, her grandmother is no longer with us.)  Tracey was very close to her grandmother, who loved butterflies.  In honor of her grandmother, Tracey and Ross released butterflies right after they said their vows.  It was a beautiful sight to see a dozen monarchs lift to the sky in unison.  Oddly, the last one did not fly away but landed on Tracey and stayed with her for a few seconds!  This, and also that a white dove, which had never been seen on the property before, nested itself right near the log cabin where Tracey was getting ready that day.  We all were certain these were signs that her grandmother was with her on her special day.

Take a look to see what I mean…

Cake: Colleen Butker
Caterer: Pete Medure- Medure’s
Ceremony and Reception Venue: The Gathering Place at Darlington Lake
DJ: Todd Karpa, AvaRocK Entertainment
Event Coordinator: Joshua Jack/ Danny Haas
Florist: Songs From the Garden
Hair Artistry: MirorMax Salon
Makeup Artistry: Brittney Morgan- Mac Cosmetics
Photographer: Lavender Leigh