Omni William Penn Wedding | Kinley and Tony
Omni William Penn Wedding | Kinley and Tony
I got a fun email a while back. It was from Kinley. She told me that they wanted to elope to Pittsburgh! PA is one of the only states where you can get a self-uniting marriage license, and that is what they wanted to do. Just the two of them, saying their vows to each other, on Valentine’s Day.
Omni William Penn Wedding | Kinley and Tony
I got a fun email a while back. It was from Kinley. She told me that they wanted to elope to Pittsburgh! PA is one of the only states where you can get a self-uniting marriage license, and that is what they wanted to do. Just the two of them, saying their vows to each other, on Valentine’s Day.
Of course I was all about it! They decided that the marriage should take place just as the clock struck twelve, ringing in February 14th. The Omni took care of them, providing some champagne to celebrate the moment, and allowing a few pictures around the hotel. One of their staff was a witness, and I was the other.
It was a beautiful sight. <3
Red Fox Winery Wedding | Rachel & Bob
Rachel and Bob had a gorgeous wedding! All their details were so stunning, from the ice sculpture to the summery florals. Personally, I’m obsessed with Rachel’s hair color, and how well it worked with the style she picked!
Red Fox Winery Wedding | Rachel & Bob
Rachel and Bob had a gorgeous wedding! All their details were so stunning, from the ice sculpture to the summery florals. Personally, I’m obsessed with Rachel’s hair color, and how well it worked with the style she picked!
Vendors:
Planner: Alyssa Thomas, Event Planning & Design
Venue: Red Fox Winery and Lounge
Catering: Bella Sera
Cake: A Sweet Morsel Co.
Florist: Fields of Heather Floral & Gift Shop
DJ: R&R Audio Services
Video: Filming the Bride
Tux: Zelinski's Bridal and Gown Shop
Hair: Rochelle Noone Hair Creations Salon
Makeup: Alaina Thomas Makeup Artistry
Linens: Windswept Linens
Ice Sculpture: Ice Creations
7 Things Your Wedding Photographer Wishes You Knew
Below are a few things wedding photographers wish their clients knew about wedding photography. Read these 7 tips before booking yours so you know exactly what to expect.
Below are a few things wedding photographers wish their clients knew about wedding photography. Read these 7 tips before booking yours so you know exactly what to expect.
Hire a photographer whose photography style you like
Wedding photographers can have a variety of different shooting styles such as photojournalism/documentary, traditional, and fine art (or be a mix of a few), as well as different editing styles (light & airy, bold & vibrant, dark & moody, etc). It’s important to understand the differences between all the styles and which one you and your future spouse like the best. Be sure to do your research and know what style calls to you before booking a photographer. That way you don’t end up with someone whose style doesn’t work for you.
It’s important to establish a relationship with your wedding photographer
Get to know your wedding photographer! After all, they’re going to be snapping photos of you two on the most important day of your life. They’ll want to get to know you as a couple, from how you interact with each other, your cute quirks, and the way you show affection towards one another. Understanding these things about a couple prior to the wedding day helps the photographer capture the little moments that make your big day so special. I personally like to meet a few times before the wedding so that we have that opportunity (consultation, engagements, timeline meetings, etc).
Engagement sessions are important
You have a trial run for your hair and makeup and you try on your dress a number of times before wearing it on the big day, so why wouldn’t you do a practice run with your photographer? Engagement sessions allow you to get comfortable in front of the camera and allows your photographer to get used to photographing you both. When you see the images it will give you an idea of what your wedding day pictures will look like. Still not convinced? Here are a few reasons you should have an engagement session.
Your photographer doesn’t need a shot list
It might seem like a helpful idea to give your wedding photographer a list of all the moments you want captured, but it actually ends up stifling the photographer’s creativity. On the big day things are moving quickly and trying to organize everyone for photos is stressful enough without having to worry about a checklist. You can actually miss out on the candid moments when you’re too busy double-checking the shot list.; and candid photos end up being some of the best! Photographers are experienced professionals and they’ve shot enough weddings to know what kinds of images couples want. Have a general chat before the wedding day about any moments you definitely want pictures of, especially things we may not know about, but providing a detailed list isn’t necessary.
Chat about the wedding day timeline
The wedding day timeline is largely based off the photography timeline. Your wedding photographer (or planner if you have one!) is likely an expert in creating these and can be a helpful resource for this part of your planning. They know exactly how long family, wedding party and couples portraits take and can help plan out the day accordingly. The bigger your family and the bigger the wedding party, the longer pictures are going to take, so keep that in mind when you’re planning out your day.
Good pictures can’t be rushed
Go into your day understanding that good wedding photos take time and patience. While you may be eager to join your guests during cocktail hour, you don’t want your anxiousness coming across in photos, so just enjoy the time you have with your new spouse! Consider doing a first look if you’d rather get all your photos taken beforehand. If that’s not for you, other concessions can be made, like sneaking out during sunset for a mini portrait session.Your photographer wants to give you the highest quality images, which doesn’t happen at the drop of a hat.
Trust your photographer
At the end of the day, your photographer is a professional so trust them! If they tell you to pose or move a certain way, listen to them. It may feel weird or you may think the picture is going to come out strangely, but wedding photographers know what they’re doing. Trust them to do their job as best they can so you can have gorgeous photos that will last a lifetime.
Have some more questions? Let's chat
Becca & Scott | A Phipps Wedding
Becca and Scott had a beautiful, intimate wedding at Phipps Conservatory, followed by a photo-shoot around the city, and dinner at the Le Mont. At Phipps, they shared notes with each other before their first look. Then they walked down the aisle together. Their wedding guests totaled 6 people! It was the perfect day.
Becca and Scott had a beautiful, intimate wedding at Phipps Conservatory, followed by a photo-shoot around the city, and dinner at the Le Mont. At Phipps, they shared notes with each other before their first look. Then they walked down the aisle together. Their wedding guests totaled 6 people! It was the perfect day.
Vendors:
- Venue: Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
- Officiant: Meaningful Marriages
- Hair & Makeup: AtHome Beauty
- Florals: The Farmer's Daughter
- Dress: Nordstrom
Kaitlin & Nick | A West Overton Barn Wedding
Kaitlin and Nick had a beautiful ceremony at St. Sebastian Church, followed by a reception at the West Overton Barn. Their style was classic, and full of fun, DIY details like outdoor games, a bench guest book, and so much more. Kaitlin and her dad shared an emotional father-daughter first look, where everyone in the room (myself included) teared up.
Kaitlin & Nick | A West Overton Barn Wedding
Kaitlin and Nick had a beautiful ceremony at St. Sebastian Church, followed by a reception at the West Overton Barn. Their style was classic, and full of fun, DIY details like outdoor games, a bench guest book, and so much more. Kaitlin and her dad shared an emotional father-daughter first look, where everyone in the room (myself included) teared up.
The rest of the night was quite the party! You don't want to miss this one.
Vendors:
- Venue: West Overton Barn
- DJ: TK the DJ Entertainment
- Florals: Miss Martha's Floral
- Cake: Moio's Italian Pastry Shop
- Dress: The White Orchid
- Catering: Carson's Catering
- Veil: Clarissa Boutique
- Makeup: Alexis Vince
- Hair: Rochelle Noone Hair Creations & Bridal Salon
- Photography: Kathryn Hyslop Photography
Allie & Steve | Richland Township Barn Wedding | Pittsburgh Weddings
Allie & Steve got married outside at the Richland Township Barn in the North Hill. Allie amazed me throughout the entire wedding planning process. Each time we talked about her plans I grew more and more impressed. She and Steve don't live in the area, so they were planning from out of town. On top of that Allie decided to DIY a lot of her wedding - not just decor. She made all the bouquets & boutonnieres, the decor for the venue & ceremony, and she even made their wedding cake (and it was so amaaaazing!).
During the wedding, she even managed to sneak in a surprise for Steve. Allie hired Bruster's to serve ice cream cones to all the guests in the evening. It was an incredible night of fun!
Vendors:
- Venue: Richland Township Barn
- Coordinator: AB Occasion Design
- DJ & Violinist: Steven Vance Entertainment
- Caterer: Stephen's Kitchen and Catering
- Hair & Makeup: Philip Pelusi® Salons
- Rentals: Rental Time General Rental Center Inc.
- Bartending: Last Call Bartending
- Florals & Cake: DIY
- Photography: Kathryn Hyslop Photography
Bianca & Peter | Allegheny Country Club Wedding | Pittsburgh Photographer
Bianca and Pete met in Sewickley through friends. They actually went to the same high school a few years apart. They picked out her engagement ring together, and the jeweler called her when it was ready for pick up (oops!). Pete proposed to her on their front porch last May.
Bianca and Pete met in Sewickley through friends. They actually went to the same high school a few years apart. They picked out her engagement ring together, and the jeweler called her when it was ready for pick up (oops!). Pete proposed to her on their front porch last May.
Bianca and Peter got married at St. James Catholic Church in Sewickley, then celebrated with their friends and family at the stunning Allegheny Country Club. Their wedding was beautiful, elegant, and focused on their friends and family. Judging by all the smiles, everyone enjoyed themselves immensely.
Vendors:
Venue: St. James Catholic Church & Allegheny Country Club
DJ & Videographer: Modern Era Weddings
Dress: Bridal Beginnings
Tuxes: Joseph A Bank
Cake: Food Glorious Food
Makeup Artist: Angie Mehlhorn Hair and Makeup Artistry
Invitations: Christina Armenant
Photographer: Kathryn Hyslop Photography
DIY florals
Heather & Scott | A Betsy's Barn Wedding | Pittsburgh, PA
Heather and Scott got married at Betsy's Barn, a gorgeous, rustic venue near McConnells Mill. Their friends and family were all smiles throughout the evening; I think many of them had been waiting on this day for a long time! Heather and Scott met for the first time in 1st grade! They dated for a while in middle school, but Scott broke her heart with a folded note (tsk tsk). However, they remained friends, and began dating again towards the end of high school. When Scott proposed, they had been together for 10 years!!!
Their wedding had many little details, including hand-lettered place cards, unique succulent bouquets, creative signs, and a sparkler exit. Thank you to the amazing vendors who helped create their day, and congratulations to Heather & Scott!!!
Vendors:
- Venue: Betsy's Barn
- Dress: Daalarna Couture from Glitter & Grit Bridal Boutique
- Tuxes: Men's Wearhouse
- Florals: Bohemian Bouquets
- Invitations & Hand Lettering: Heart-shaped
- Band: Corned Beef and Curry Band
- Photographer: Kathryn Hyslop Photography
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