Chelsea & Anthony's Wedding at The Gathering Place at Darlington Lake

Meet Chelsea & Anthony!

Like a true good Pittsburgh love story, Chelsea & Anthony met while working at Kennywood (you may remember their engagement session from last year that took place AT Kennywood - click here to see it!). A few weeks ago, they tied the knot at a favorite wedding venue of mine... The Gathering Place at Darlington Lake!

I'm not sure if the particular weekend of their wedding marked "peak" fall foliage here in Western Pennsylvania, but it sure felt like it The foliage was beyond beautiful and vibrant for their gorgeous wedding day set along Darlington lake. And though the forecast loomed with the threat of rain, instead, we experienced a lovely crisp fall day with some glimmers of sunshine!

One of my favorite details about this wedding day - Chelsea wore the exact same shoes that her mother wore on her wedding day! I have never seen that before and thought it was the sweetest touch!

Chelsea also had many special touches included for her late grandmother, who passed away just a few weeks before her wedding. She had a special sign and bouquet made for her, and there was a special dance with her extended family during the reception to honor her. It was truly beautiful.

Chelsea & Anthony, it was a blessing to be a part of your day. Thank you so much for having us there!

And a huge shout out to Taylor Ramsey for photographing this wedding with me (some of whose photos you'll see sprinkled throughout this set!).

Vendors: Joyful Events by Jade, Loyalty Entertainment, Patti's Pasticceria Inc., JL Makeup Studio and Beauty Boutique, The White Orchid, A Simple Vow

Kelsey & Nick: The Grayson House Fall Wedding Photos

Introducing Mr. & Mrs. Sheppard!

Kelsey & Nick were a blast to photograph at the most picturesque venue, The Grayson House! Their fall wedding day was full of warm fall tones and vibrant florals (fall wedding color palettes are always my favorite, and this one was no exception!).

We started off the day with coverage of the bride and groom getting ready separately, both at designated cottages on the Grayson House’s property. After both Kelsey & Nick had finished getting ready, they had a first look overlooking the Uniontown fall scenery, and read their personal vows to each other at that time. We took some portraits of the two of them, them with their bridal party, and them with their family, and even though it had been raining earlier, the rain stopped for us just long enough to get all of those portraits outdoors… and that was such a blessing!

The ceremony took place inside the Grayson House reception area due to the rain, with cocktail hour to follow. We got to end the night with an epic photo out in the rain (kudos to our bride & groom for braving the elements!)

Kelsey & Nick, it was such a joy to be a part of your wedding day! A HUGE congratulations to you both on your marriage!

Sarah & Brian: Shady Elms Farm Wedding Photos

A beautiful Shady Elms Farm wedding day for Sarah & Brian!

Actually, this was a one year wedding anniversary celebration on their actual one year wedding anniversary! Sarah & Brian tied the knot in a civil ceremony exactly one prior to their Shady Elms Farm celebration. This year was their celebration with friends & family!

There were SO many meaningful details incorporated into this celebration - Sarah wore the same shoes this year she wore at her civil ceremony, and Brian wore the same suspenders and bowtie. They read their personal vows aloud this year in front of their friends & family, and a close friend officiated their ceremony. Sarah & Brian are huge WWE fans and had an epic entrance into their reception to reflect that, too, complete with choreography and belts!

It was also supposed to rain for almost the entirety of their wedding day… but when the day actually came, not a drop. That was a huge blessing! AND even though it was cloudy for the majority of their day, the sun peeked out right around golden hour, and we were able to get some beautiful photos in on Shady Elms Farm’s famous hillside.

At the end of the night, Sarah & Brian had a sparkler send off, complete with “cold sparkler” canons provided by 2ND II None Productions. They made for an epic final photo of the night!

And of course, we are always so thankful to be back at the beautiful Shady Elms Farm, one of our favorite wedding venues of all time! They are truly just so talented and gifted at making sure their wedding days run so smoothly (and they make sure we are taken care of in the process, too - which means the world!).

And this may be a slightly longer blog post than usual, just because of the beauty of the venue and all of Sarah & Brian’s wonderfully meaningful details. So I hope you enjoy! ❤️

Congratulations again to Sarah & Brian on a beautiful one year anniversary celebration! So thankful that we got to be a part of it!

Vendors: Just Hitched Wedding Films, 2ND II NONE PRODUCTIONS (DJ & cold sparklers) , Baldwin Hair Loft (Falyn Platt), Sorelle Bridal Salon

Becca & Adam: Bay 41 (Lawrenceville) Wedding Photos

Becca & Adam present: "Wedding Village."

When I first talked with Becca & Adam about the vision for their wedding day, they shared with me a desire to foster an intentional community focused space for their wedding day. Everything would be within close walking distance for guests, and the hope was for guests to bump into each other as they explored Lawrenceville and to make many connections along the way. The goal was to intentionally cultivate community among their guest list that spanned 7 countries and 14 (or 15?) states - hence the term, "wedding village."

In addition, Becca & Adam chose Lawrenceville specifically for its walkability and Pittsburgh-esque charm of industrial meets nature (which was certainly reflected in their decor choices as well!). Their Ketubah signing ceremony (a Jewish marriage covenant, outlining the responsibilities of the husband and wife), wedding ceremony, and reception all took place at Bay 41 under the beautiful, blue, Pittsburgh sky.

Adam is a big fan of public transportation, so including some photos near a train track was a priority, too!

I love how intentional this couple was to cultivate a wedding day true to what is most important to them. It was a joy to get to photograph them on their wedding day!

Vendors: Bay 41, Hello Productions, Bistro To Go Café & Catering, Jim Ludwig's Blumengarten Florist, DJ Bill Barra, Your Best Day Beauty by Monica and Ashley

Cara & Johnny: Twelve Oaks Mansion Wedding Photos

Congratulations to Cara & Johnny on their wedding day! It was full of the best things - the sweetest love, the cutest DOH (dog of honor, Lilah), and lots of pink! (Not to mention delicious food and the kindest people... and lots of subtle nods to Cara's absolute favorite, Taylor Swift!).

Twelve Oaks Mansion has quickly become one of my favorite venues - I photographed one other wedding here prior to Cara & Johnny’s day, and I was so glad to be back! It is a lovely, modern space that overlooks Mars with lots of beautiful indoor space with natural light!

Cara & Johnny’s wedding ceremony took place in the ballroom, which was flipped during cocktail hour for the reception - while we took some photos outside! It was definitely a hot and humid day, but we were all thankful that it had stopped raining just in time for photos… so we pushed through the heat & humidity for some beautiful photos on the Twelve Oaks property! It was so worth it!

What a dream! And a huge shout out to the incredible vendor team who worked so hard on this event:

Twelve Oaks Mansion, Wanderlust Weddings and Events, LLC (Planner), See Jane Blush - Pittsburgh Makeup Artist, Caviar & Curls (Hair), Bethel Bakery, Just Hitched Wedding Films, Blumengarten (Florist), Joel Lindsey Entertainment, The Dress Bridal Boutique (Bride's dress), APD - Angela Pro Design (Invitation suite), Common Plea Catering, Lux Photobooth, E.F. Lighting, LLC

Kathi & John: St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church Wedding Photos

Kathi & John’s wedding day was a BLAST! I photographed these two in the spring of 2022 for their engagement session (click here to see it!) and have been looking forward to working with them on their wedding day ever since.

Their wedding day took place in Monessen, PA - a town that I had never been to prior to! Apart from the getting ready portion of the day, their wedding festivities took place entirely on St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church’s property. Their ceremony took place in the sanctuary, with their reception taking place at the Hellenic Center, just a staircase below!

Kathi got ready with her bridesmaids at her and John’s home, while John got ready at his childhood home. Both houses were very close to the church, which made traveling on the day of for the couple and the bridal party so convenient!

Kathi & John have a beautiful backyard, which made for a great spot for photos of Kathi & her bridesmaids prior to leaving for the ceremony. There was even a gorgeous purple flowering bush that we used for Kathi’s bridal portraits… which turned out SO beautiful!

John’s parents also had a scenic backyard for photos of the groomsmen, with lots of greenery!

The ceremony was traditional Greek Orthodox - I’ve only photographed one Greek Orthodox ceremony before, so it was a treat to be able to photograph one again! I love the tradition and symbolism incorporated throughout the ceremony.

And thankfully, even thought it was supposed to rain for their entire wedding day - it only rained during the ceremony. That was a HUGE answer to prayer! We were able to take all of their bridal party & couple portraits outside, which we were not expecting… what a blessing!

After portraits came the reception - full of giant cookie tables, delicious food, and tons of Greek dancing! I’m not sure I’ve seen a bride & groom on the dance floor as much - ever! They had a ton of fun and we enjoyed every minute of getting to work with them. Congratulations on your wedding day, Kathi & John!!

Vendors: Just Hitched Wedding Films , Fragile Paradise Florist , Barton's Bake Shop, Galiffa Productions, Wanderlust Beauty Studio, The White Orchid, By George Catering

Karissa & Dave: Saint Alexis Church & The Chadwick Wedding Photos

It was the most perfect summer day for Karissa & Dave's June wedding day!

Karissa got ready at her childhood home that is situated just a short walk from the church. Photos between the ceremony & reception were taken at the North Park Golf Course, where Karissa's family is very well known! And the reception took place at the Chadwick in Wexford - the very last few photos in this blog post feature Karissa’s grandma & grandpa, who have been married for 60+ years! They won the anniversary dance for longest married couple at Karissa & Dave’s reception!

These two met during the lockdown era back in 2020 - it's beautiful to see how God takes difficult times and brings beauty out of them, like with Karissa & Dave's relationship!

Congratulations on your wedding day, you two!

Vendors: The Chadwick, North Park Golf Course, Saint Alexis Church, Hearts and Flowers Floral Design Studio, Pittsburgh DJ Company, Samantha Colton (hair & makeup), Nota Bene Fine Paper Boutique (invitation), Bridal Beginning Pittsburgh

Leah & Nick The Gathering Place at Darlington Lake Wedding Photos

Leah & Nick had the most gorgeous Spring day for their wedding at the Gathering Place at Darlington Lake!

One of the best things about being a Pittsburgh wedding photographer (besides working with the sweetest couples!) is getting to see so many beautiful locations in the area. The Gathering Place at Darlington Lake is a beautiful, tucked away spot in New Galilee, PA. It sits on a lake, surrounded by woods and farmland. And it made the perfect setting for this gorgeous wedding day!

Leah & Nick’s day began with getting ready photos, each separately! The ladies got ready in the new bridal cabin on the Gathering Place’s property. It was my first time in the cabin (though I’ve photographed a few weddings here before!) and I absolutely loved this new space for the ladies! It is always so nice when the bride and groom get ready on the property where they’ll be getting married. Having no commute from the getting ready space to the ceremony space decreases stress for everyone involved!

After some pre-ceremony photos, Leah & Nick met at the altar. Nick’s siblings sang a beautiful song during the ceremony, and then Leah & Nick were married! After the ceremony, we took some family formals, bridal party portraits, and photos of Leah & Nick around the property. Those photos were beautiful.. but I was especially excited to get the two of them back out for photos after dinner! The sun had set a bit more and there was a lovely reflection on the lake that made for the most picturesque backdrop.

We also took these two out on the dock for a few night photos! And they ended their evening with a ribbon send off. It was truly the most beautiful day!

Congratulations on your wedding day, Leah & Nick! It was such a pleasure to be a part of your beautiful day!

Vendors: The Mayflower Florist, Windy Hill Bakehouse, Legacy Films Pittsburgh, DJ Bruce Matteo, Isabella Coimbra (Makeup), The Exquisite Bride, Medure's Catering, Minted Weddings

Martha & Sam: Greystone Fields Wedding Photos

It’s hard to believe it, but here we are… the first wedding blog post of the year! 🎉

Martha & Sam’s wedding was not only my first wedding of 2023, but also my first wedding back from maternity leave! It truly felt so good to be back to work… even if it was hard to leave my little one for such a long period of time!

Before Martha & Sam’s wedding day, the weather forecast was ominous (at best). The forecast was calling for 90-100% chance of rain all day. We had talked through rain plans, packed our clear bubble umbrellas in the car (a must have for peace of mind if you photograph weddings in Pittsburgh), and even unloaded our gear into the church in the rain - and then, the clouds parted and the skies cleared exactly when we needed them to for photos! That was a HUGE blessing, considering the fact that Martha & Sam wanted to showcase the beauty of Oakland (the place where they went to school, met, got to know each other, and became husband and wife!) in their photos. I was (and am) so thankful!

The ceremony itself took place at Bellefield Presbyterian Church in Oakland, where Martha & Sam met. The church ministers to the Oakland area (including many Pitt students), which is how Martha & Sam became involved. Not only is the church one that is on mission to reach its community.. but it’s also so beautiful, with stained glass decorating its walls. It was the most beautiful backdrop for their vows!

After the ceremony, we headed over to the Cathedral of Learning for bridal party and bride & groom photos, and then over to their reception venue, Greystone Fields in Gibsonia (which we absolutely LOVE!). After an evening full of dancing, food, and cookies, Martha & Sam ended their night with a “last dance,” with just the two of them in the reception space, and then made their getaway exit through lines of guests holding Chinese lanterns.

Martha & Sam had the most beautiful day and I am so thankful to have been a part of it. Congratulations on your marriage, Martha & Sam!

Vendors: Bellefield Presbyterian Church (Ceremony), Greystone Fields (Reception), Yinz Getting Married (Planning & Coordination), Tolman Media / Reflections Media Pennsylvania (Videographer), Weischedel Florist & Ghse (Florals), Oakmont Bakery (Cake), Bridal by Bre (Makeup & Hair), One White Lane (Wedding Dress), Sophia Tolli Australia (Wedding Dress Designer), Stephen’s Kitchen & Catering, Joyce Gindlesperger (Pianist), Rev. Joshua Brown (Officiant)

PITTSBURGH WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER: WEDDING PHOTO HIGHLIGHTS 2022

What a beautiful year FILLED with amazing couples it has been! These highlight posts are always some of my personal favorite blog posts from the entire year, because I get to see not only all of the beautiful couples I’ve worked with, but also because I get to see highlights from my full body of work throughout the year – that in itself is so rewarding!

It’s hard to believe that I photographed my first wedding 10 years ago this year… so much has changed since 2012! At the time, I never thought that photography was something I would do full time. In fact, I was pursuing two degrees at the time in Graphic Design & Web Design, and was using any photo gigs I booked as a means to pay for them! I am so grateful that God has allowed my business to grow to the point of being able to support my family as my full time job. It is a blessing to get to serve so many people and explore so many beautiful places – and to get to work for myself!

Today, I’ll be sharing some of my favorite photos from my 2022 weddings and engagements. Some might seem like obvious favorites (because they’re of beautiful people or details, or technically beautiful!), but some are my favorites simply because of the emotion they show, and others because of what I had to overcome technically to make the shot happen. Weddings can be quite unpredictable, and often put photographers in situations where they need to make “magic” happen out of less than ideal lighting and timing situations (among other hurdles!). While that part of the job can often be stressful (especially when someone’s memories of the best day of their life are on the line!), that pressure has also given me the opportunity to produce work that I am proud to share with my clients!

So, without further ado – here are some highlights from 2022!

This image was created using a $1.25 mirror from the Dollar Tree… this was the first time I used this little trick to add a bit of visual interest to a detail shot, and I love how it turned out!

This was our first wedding of the year in January - it was like, 6 degrees outside, but our couple still trekked down to the Hot Metal Bridge for photos!

In March, it can be difficult to find good backdrops for photos - I was so excited that the light and backdrop of this venue (the Camelot) lined up and that we were able to use it for bridal party photos! It was honestly a proud moment for me, since there weren’t a ton of backdrops to work with at this particular venue, and we didn’t have enough time to drive to a different spot!

Such a sweet sister moment ❤️

I love the joy, shock, and excitement that comes during proposals. This Phipp’s Conservatory proposal was such a highlight!

We had the whole Broderie room to ourselves!

I love Disney Pixar’s “Up” - Matt & Maria’s “Up” themed wedding day was so much fun to photograph! I got to get a little creative with their details, too!

Possibly one of my favorite bridal party photos of the whole year!

This couple flew in all the way from Seattle for their engagement photos!

Walking around Kennywood with these two was a huge highlight from this year! They met here, so it made the perfect backdrop for their engagement session!

Jackie & Gerald are literary lovers who incorporated so many books into their wedding day. I decided to borrow a few from their reception area to incorporate into their details photos - and I’m so glad I did! I am so excited about how these detail photos turned out!

This backdrop gave me major Lord of the Rings vibes. Which was perfect… considering the fact that Jackie & Gerald incorporated some subtle LOTR details throughout their day!

If you’re a Lord of the Rings fan, you’ll appreciate this little potato sign! 😉

Firework photos have always been a bit tricky for me. I love how these ones turned out! And that “Love” sign?! Adorable!

Love this photo that Nick got of the groomsmen!

This wedding took place at the White Barn… one of my all time favorite wedding venues! Nick and I got married here back in 2015, too!

One of the sweetest mother-son dances.

No window light and in a small room? Create your own light with a speedlight by bouncing it into the corner of the room (so the light falls back onto your subject) to create soft, flattering, directional light!

This foot washing ceremony was so sweet, and so emotional.

Champagne pop at sunset?! It doesn’t get much better than that!

Maybe I shouldn’t have favorites… but this bouquet was one of my favorites of the entire year! I love a good fall textured bouquet. It was SUPER heavy, but super gorgeous in all of the photos!

This was one of those tougher lighting situations! It was a super bright day, and the first look took place right in the middle of the day (when the sun is highest in the sky). It’s notoriously the toughest time for natural light photography! I was thankful that we were able to find a place in this location to place the couple where we were able to control the light a bit more, to make sure it was flattering on our couple’s faces.

Something I LOVE about this walkway is that it has white cement… which acts as a great natural reflector, effectively “popping” soft light back into my couple’s faces, creating a flattering look for their skin. This wasn’t a location we had originally planned on using, but when we were driving by, I had to stop and take a few portraits of them there because I knew the light would be great!

This couple had a beautiful clear roof tent, which let in SO MUCH LIGHT! It was the best of both worlds - tented in case of rain, but also it sort of felt like you were completely outside because there was so much light!

I can’t get over the lights they have in the tent at the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden. They are so gorgeous!

Let me tell you about these confetti poppers! The confetti streamers that come out stay attached to the poppers themselves - making for super easy clean up! Which was great, considering that we popped them on a church altar!

It ended up being pretty cold on Jen & Brandon’s wedding day… so we did the majority of their portraits inside Heinz Chapel. And it was AWESOME. They left us enough time in their timeline to create some really special portraits for them… all while staying warm! 10/10 would do again!

This may be one of my favorite wedding portraits of the whole year!

Engagement photos in a (somewhat surprise) snow storm! We knew it was going to snow, but I don’t think any of us knew how heavy that snow would be. Thankfully - these two went for it! And thankfully I had a willing husband to hold an umbrella over my head while I was taking photos!