Pittsburgh Wedding, Boudoir, Senior Photographer

Ashley and Matt | Heinz History Center Wedding

There was a calm and zen-like state in the atmosphere as I walk in to the getting ready room and prepare to start photographing this beautiful day. The ladies were getting ready in two adjoining rooms- on the left hand side, there was the faint sound of top 40 music playing, while all of the bridesmaids were gathered near Ashley, either drinking mimosas or finishing their final hair and makeup touches before they got dressed. Ashley is coolly sipping on her mimosa and soaking in the beginning stages of her day while her hair and makeup are being completed. As quickly as I arrived, Ashley’s hair and makeup were finished, and she had slipped into her gorgeous lace wedding gown, ready for her father to come into the room for her reveal to him. When he arrives, there was a pause- the sight of Ashley literally took his breath away- and then a handkerchief to wipe the tears from his eyes. Ashley starts to tear up, and says in a faint whisper to me “I’ve only seen my father cry one other time.” And then I started to tear up.

And the beautiful emotion of the day didn’t stop there. Watching Matt watch Ashley walk down the aisle, his smile was wide, and for a moment he looks up to the sky as if to catch himself from tearing up. One of my favorite parts of every wedding day isn’t just when the groom sees the bride walking down the aisle, it is the expression on the groom’s face when his bride is handed off to him, after she hugs her father. Matt’s smile couldn’t have been bigger as he took Ashley by the hand and stepped forward on the alter. Matt was literally beaming the entire day- I honestly don’t think that he stopped smiling even once. You could see that he was on the top of the world, marrying the love of his life.

One of my other favorite moments that day was on the dance floor. The guests were playing spin the bottle, and whoever the bottle landed on had to take center stage and break it down! So many of the guests had great moves, and at one point the bottle spun to me, and the entire crowd coaxed me onto the dance floor, camera in hand. What else is a girl to do? I broke it down! Take a look below to see some of these moments!
Heinz History Center Wedding Lavender Leigh Photography-6

Cake: Grandview Bakery
Catering: Common Plea Catering
Ceremony Venue: St. Stanislaus Church
Ceremony Vocalist: Dianna Barger
Cookies: Bethel Bakery
DJ: Jeremy Ganss
Floral: Hearts and Flowers
Hair and Makeup: La Pomponnee
Bridal Makeup: Valarie Panei
Lighting: Gray Phoenix
Linens: Mosaic Linens
Photographer: Lavender Leigh
Reception Venue: Heinz History Center
Rentals: All Occasions Party Rental
Videographer: Just Hitched Wedding Films
Transportation: Tortorice Limousine

Pop Up Pittsburgh Weddings!

The July 9^th Pop Up Wedding was a beautiful day for three lovely couples, and a tremendous success for the amazing team of vendors that helped to put it all together!

For those of you that haven’t heard of a Pop Up Wedding… it is a fun and unique way to celebrate your wedding day! The wedding is completely styled at a unique and amazing location, and includes the venue, a ton of stylized décor, an officiant, cake, photographer, event planner and mini reception, altogether in one package. The wedding and mini reception last 1.5 hours, and is a perfect wedding solution for the modern, low-key, and off-beat wedding couple.

What I realized while photographing this Pop Up Wedding was that each and every couple that day had an amazing and unique aura about them. In the 1.5 hours I had to photograph their wedding, I got to see a small glimpse of the beautiful and special pieces that make them them: what makes them laugh, love, and cry. I heard vows that made me tear up… “every time you look at me, you make me feel like I am the most beautiful girl in the world.” I learned back stories about how they knew each other growing up, reconnected later in life, and fell in love. Every single couple told me how appreciative they were of the friends and family that traveled near and far to be a part of this special and intimate day. These couples are so lovely. What a better way to send them off into Happily Ever After than with a beautiful wedding, Pop Up Pittsburgh style?

Hats off to the talented group of wedding vendors that pour their heart and soul into ensuring the Pop Up was a success! A special thanks to Trish, who is owner and “imagineer” of the Pop Up Pittsburgh Wedding Co., and Vintage Alley Rentals.

The ceremony décor

The reception décor

Doreen and Patrick’s Pop Up Wedding

Nicole and Joe’s Pop Up Wedding

Elizabeth and Jeremy’s Pop Up Wedding

Cake and cupcakes: Mixed with Love Cake and Cookie Co.
Décor: Vintage Alley Rentals
Event Coordination: Your Big Day
Floral: Sapphire & Lace Event Design
Officiant: The Pittsburgh Wedding Chapel
Photographer: Lavender Leigh
Venue: Rivers of Steel- The Historic Pump House

Lindsay and Joey | Pearl Street Grill Wedding

Over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, Barry and I drove to Buffalo, New York to photograph the *stunning* wedding of Lindsay and Joey. Besides the press this city has been given for the piles of snow they receive each winter, I didn’t really have a picture in my head of what this city was like. Now that we’ve been there, we absolutely adore it and would photograph there again in a heartbeat! In addition to the Naval Park and the immense ships available to tour, there are also trendy restaurants sprinkled throughout the city and on the water- it is a dream to take in! I’m sure there are many other sights that we didn’t even know about during our stay… I guess that gives us a reason to visit again!

To say that Lindsay and Joey are the sweetest couple and part of one of the most kind-hearted and generous families is an understatement. From the second we arrived at the rehearsal on Friday, through Sunday after the wedding, Lindsay, Joey, and both of their families had welcomed us to the festivities with open arms. There were always smiles on their faces during our conversations, and comments like “sit down and enjoy the food!” to ensure that we were well cared for during our trip and on the job.

Last year, right before Lindsay moved to the West Coast to be with Joey, she and I met to discuss some of her wedding day details. We talked about her wedding venues, her GORGEOUS wedding dress, and about her and Joey. I remember her saying “make sure that you get some funny pictures with Joey, because he has a kid-at-heart personality.” Which I learned is spot on- Joey constantly had us chuckling at some of the comments and gestures he’d make throughout the wedding weekend. But even more obvious was the sheer enamor that Joey has for Lindsay. And the pure joy Lindsay has when she is around Joey. I specifically made a comment about this to Barry as their wedding night was wrapping up… I was browsing through their pictures, just looking at the expressions these two had between each other- the laughs, the happy tears, and the embraces. These emotions extended to their families and friends, also. If given the chance, I would photograph this wedding all over again to re-live these special moments (and more that I don’t even mention!): when Lindsay’s father surprises her and sings her the “I Loved Her First” country song, when Lindsay’s mother admires Lindsay in her dress and cups her face in her hands and gives her a kiss, when Joey’s sister sees him for the first time in his wedding attire, the way Joey holds Lindsay during their first dance, the expression Joey has when his mother gives him a kiss on the cheek. This wedding was such a pleasure to photograph and be a part of!

Take a look to see what I mean…

Cake: Cold Stone Creamery & Romano’s Italian Bakery
Ceremony Musician: Jamie Wright
Ceremony Venue: Karpeles Mauscript Library Museum- Porter Hall
Entertainment: Party of Nine
Florist: Maureen’s Buffalo Wholesale Flower Market
Limousine: Status Limousine
Makeup Artist: Khaley Danielle
Photographer: Lavender Leigh
Reception Venue: Pearl Street Grill and Brewery

Jamie and Brian | Longwood Community Center Wedding Celebration

Jamie and Brian are a beautiful couple that had an intimate wedding ceremony last year on the beach, and threw an amazing celebratory party this year, in honor of it! Barry and I flew to Florida to capture this lovely couple’s celebration, which was held at the Longwood Community Center. This venue is a beautifully restored house with a ton of charm, a gorgeous garden patio, and a wrap-around porch. Truly a gem of a spot!

Jamie and Brian had the most cheerful and fun décor; sunflowers were wrapped in royal blue ribbon and sprinkled around the venue, corn hole was played on the wrap-around porch, and there was even a cookie table, Pittsburgh wedding style!

One of my favorite parts of Jamie and Brian’s night was the surprise love song that Brian wrote *and* sang for Jamie! Brian is an aspiring country music artist, and it was so sweet to hear him serenade his love. When Jamie heard the song, her face changed from surprised, to a smile, to tearful. What a sweet moment for such a special couple.

Take a look to see what I mean…

Kim and Nick | Shannopin Country Club Wedding

Happy summer, friends! From June into the beginning of July, we were incredibly busy, photographing two weddings in Pittsburgh, a wedding celebration in Florida, and a wedding in New York! It is time for me to catch up on blogging some of the fabulous days we’ve been a part of.

One of the gorgeous Pittsburgh weddings was the marriage of Kim and Nick at Shannopin Country Club. It was a blue-sky, bright, and sunny day. The type of day that was so clear, you could see for miles if standing at the top of a hill. That is exactly where the wedding ceremony took place for Kim and Nick, right outside of the Country Club, on top of a hill that has the most beautiful view into Pittsburgh. You could see the city skyscraper tops while watching Kim and Nick say their I Dos!

Maybe it was Kim’s champagne wedding gown with a lace overlay that had me enamored from the start. Or, maybe it was the blush, gold, and sparkle detail that created such a soft and glamorous palette! We couldn’t take a bad picture, especially with such a radiant wedding couple and fun bridal party.

There were numerous fun and memorable moments throughout their day, and it came down to two without a tiebreaker as my favorites. Just minutes before the ceremony, I hop into the ladies’ locker room and hear dance music playing. I round the corner, and catch Kim and her bridesmaids dancing like no one was watching. There were hands up in the air and booties shaking, and I couldn’t help but dance along as I snapped a few pictures.

Then, as the ceremony began, and the bridesmaids were walking down the aisle, I hear a voice behind me complimenting each bridesmaid as she reached the end of the aisle. “You look lovely, Hilary!” Then “Catie, how pretty that dress is!” I silently laugh (this is a first time I’ve ever heard commentary as I photograph the processional) and turn to see Nick smiling from ear to ear as he speaks to each bridesmaid. Then his lovely strawberry-blond haired bride walks through the patio doors of the Country Club and down the aisle, and Nick’s excitement and anticipation were endearingly obvious because he became dead silent. Just a *HUGE* smile across his face (and we have the picture to prove it!)

Take a look to see what I mean…