Rebecca & Anthony: Embassy Suites Downtown Pittsburgh Wedding

I always feel grateful for the weddings I get to photograph - but this year, more than ever, I feel grateful to still have weddings to photograph, despite everything going on in the world right now!

Rebecca & Anthony downsized their wedding from their original plans, but much of the format remained the same: they were still able to say their vows in the church they had planned and have photos with the Pittsburgh skyline in the background, followed by a small reception for their family & bridal party at the Embassy Suites Downtown Pittsburgh! It was sweet, intimate, and full of lots of joy and laughter.

Rebecca & Anthony, thank you a million times for having me document your wedding day! It was an honor to witness the beginning of your marriage!

Vendors: Church of Epiphany, Embassy Suites Downtown Pittsburgh, TYL Video, One Happy Floral Shop, Bethel Bakery, See Jane Blush, Hair by Wendy Vario, Sorelle’s Bridal Salon (Bride’s Dress)

JHP Wedding Photo Highlights 2019

All I can say is WOW! Another wedding season is in the books, and boy was it an absolutely AMAZING one!!! This year, my first wedding of the year was the very first week of January, with a long break for a few months before starting back up in April and going through the end of October!

This was the first year I put a cap on the number of weddings I took, clocking in at a max of 21! Truthfully, with the 70 other portrait-style sessions I took this year, putting a cap on the number of weddings I took allowed me to really focus in on each one and give each couple my full attention and creativity on their big day!

Below, I’ve put together a loooong blog post of some of my favorite photos and moments from each of the weddings I photographed this year, starting with my last wedding, and ending with my first.

But first, to each and every couple (including their family and friends!) who gave me the honor of documenting their day: thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for trusting me with the immense honor and privilege of photographing your wedding day! It was my absolute privilege to come alongside you and serve you during your day. There is no shortage of amazingly talented photographers in the Pittsburgh area, and the fact that you put your trust in me blows my mind. Every one of you is an answer to prayer, and I praise God for our time together! Thank you, thank you, thank you! 💛

Without further ado, some of my favorite wedding moments from 2019. All glory to God for these moments and for these beautiful people and their life-long commitments to each other!

If you’re looking for more information about wedding packages or would like to inquire for a specific wedding date, visit my pricing page here, and my contact page here!

Let me let you in on a little secret: it rained Katie and Shane’s ENTIRE wedding day, but that did not stop us from getting some epic portraits!

Katie brought me this absolutely GORGEOUS tray to style with her details. I was in detail heaven!!!

Quite possibly the best natural light I’ve ever had in a getting ready space! I could shoot here every weekend!

This was their ceremony space 😍

Bright and colorful weddings are always some of my favorites! Alyssa and Ben had THE most beautiful details. Bouquet is by Shady Elms Farm!

They had the most beautiful, glowy light for portraits, too!

Possibly one of my favorite first looks to date! Nick and I cleared this ENTIRE balcony of tables and chairs after realizing that the spot we had originally planned for HD and Jeff’s first look was being used in a race where 2,000 people were going to run through 😂

HD’s sisters were here bridesmaids! 💕 They were just the sweetest!!!

We snagged this shot right before the ceremony. The light was just too perfect!

It was HOT in this room, but it was so worth it for Kayla and Donny’s portraits!

The sweetest father daughter first look, ever. I cried.

Thankful these two let us steal them away for some epic night shots!

We lucked out and the bridge was closed on Krista and Brent’s wedding day! 🎉

The most beautiful ceremony space in all of Pittsburgh. I’m convinced.

This shot is a MUST if you have a wedding at the Pennsylvanian! So thankful that these two made this a priority!

When a rug makes the perfect backdrop for the invitation suite 😍

The getting ready space at Shady Elms Farm is just too beautiful!

A fake first look with the best man!

Ohhhh these two were naturals! 😍

The Grand Estate at Hidden Acres has THE most picturesque staircase!

How absolutely perfect is this bridal party? And these colors?!

One of the most fun exits from any reception ever!

It rained and it poured for this wedding day - but epic photos were still made! 🎉 And these two had the best attitudes about it all!

Literally can’t get over this wedding. It was too beautiful!

White Barn coming in clutch with some clean backdrops!

I am so thankful that these two trusted me - they jumped in fields and walked all over the White Barn’s property to find the best light and locations! Cait and Brian, you two are champs!!

The couple who eats tacos together, stays together 💕

My second shooter took this shot and it’s one of my favorites from Val and Matt’s day! (Photo cred to my husband, Nick!)

Megan brought me this tray for her details and I almost cried tears of joy when I saw it!

Um HELLO! Megan you are stunning!

Loved getting to play with perspective here!

We adore these two! 💕

We had the best day ever with these two fellow Disney lovers! 😍

And they had a fun visitor at their reception!

Photos in the museum with the dinosaurs - a fun challenge!

Becca with the perfect veil hold!

The sweetest downtown courthouse elopement 💕

And last but not least, a January wedding with one of the most beautiful sunsets I’ve seen!

And some of the most beautiful details!

Becca + Dino: Duquesne University Power Center Wedding Photos

Becca and Dino's summery, light blue and blush romantic wedding day was something out of a fairytale (and not just because her dress had some serious Beauty & the Beast vibes 💛). Their Mexican-Catholic wedding ceremony took place at the very place where they met - Duquesne University, followed by a reception in the Duquesne University Power Center, overlooking campus and the city. They had so many incredible details, including Becca’s bouquet, which was wrapped in a sleeve from her mother’s wedding gown with her rosary beads wrapped around the stems, as well as Mexican wedding traditions, including the placing of a double rosary (or Lasso) over their shoulders during the ceremony, as well as the exchange of 13 gold coins (or Arras). Not to mention their epic maraca exit at the end of the evening where they danced their hearts out as they left the party as husband and wife!

I couldn’t begin to speak more highly of these two and their incredible friends and family - I’ve been counting down to their wedding since their engagement session a little over a year ago, and it was even more incredible than I thought it would be!!

Congratulations on your wedding day and on your marriage, Becca & Dino! We are so thankful to have been a part of your beautiful day!! 💕

VENDORS: Embassy Suites Downtown Pittsburgh (Getting Ready), Duquesne University Power Center (Reception), Chapel of the Holy Spirit at Duquesne University (Ceremony), See Jane Blush (Makeup), Captured Memories by Allison (Videographer), Blossoms by Jilliann (Florist), Prantl’s Bakery (Cake), DJ Crush, Tiffany Crissman (Hair), This Magic Moment Bridal Studio: Maggie Sottero (Bride’s Dress), Bridal Beginnings (Bridesmaid Dresses), Men’s Wearhouse (Men’s Wear), Parkhurst Catering, Lendable Linens, Elegant Events by Andrea (Chair Rentals), Father Nathanael (bride’s Uncle) and Father Zaccagnini (Priests), Sasha Cardenas (Violinist, groom’s cousin), Aaron Sproul (organist), Jakob Hayes (Cantor), Lux Photobooth, Soiree Partners and Dreadnought Wines (Alcohol), Pittsburgh Trolley Works (Transportation), Jenna Hidinger Photography (Pittsburgh Wedding Photographer)

Leah & Greg: Embassy Suites Downtown Pittsburgh Wedding Photos

It’s hard to know where to start with these two, and hard to explain what an honor being a part of this day was for us. The first time I met Leah and Greg at their initial meeting over two years before their wedding date, I knew that I had stumbled upon a gem of a couple. We spent the evening - two and a half hours, to be exact - at a coffee shop, talking about all things wedding, marriage, and DISNEY related (for those of you who might not know, my husband and I are huge Disney fans!), only to learn that Leah used to live in California within easy driving distance of a Disney Land (not to be confused with Disney World in Florida!).

Of course, our mutual love of Disney, along with their incredible kindness and hospitality, built the foundation for not just an amazing business to client relationship, but a friendship! 💛 And I’m so thankful that showing up on their wedding day felt like showing up to photograph a friend’s day (as many of our wedding days tend to feel like with couples we get to know beforehand - it’s such a blessing!).

Leah and Greg’s entire wedding day took place, from start to finish, at the Embassy Suites Downtown Pittsburgh, which has quickly become one of my favorite wedding venues in Pittsburgh! It’s fairly easy to get to, right across from Mellon Square, and in the heart of downtown.

As a true-blue (or should I say… black and gold?) Pittsburgh couple, Leah and Greg incorporated so many Pittsburgh-themed details into their wedding day, along with lots of details representative of the two of them! A few of my personal favorites included: Pittsburgh themed welcome bags for guests, mini Heinz Ketchup bottles as favors (big ketchup fan over here!!), a surprise visit from Iceburgh (the Pittsburgh Penguins mascot), Pittsburgh Popcorn at the reception, pierogies as a late night snack, and a mini remote control firetruck that acted as the “ring bearer” for the ceremony (totally adorable!).

Our evening with Leah and Greg ended with a walk to the Roberto Clemente bridge for some epic night photos in their most favorite city! And, truly - we couldn’t have asked for a better day! Leah and Greg, we are SO honored to know you both - it was such an honor to be a part of your day! We love you guys!

And without further ado - here are Leah and Greg’s wedding photos! 🎉

VENDORS:

Ceremony & Reception: Embassy Suites Downtown Pittsburgh

Bride & Bridesmaid Bouquets: Sapphire and Lace

Floral Centerpieces & Cake Flowers: Alex’s Floral Shoppe

Cake: Bethel Bakery

DJ: John Wiggins

Hair & Makeup: Hannah Conrad Beauty

Bride’s Dress: MB Bride

Bridesmaid Dresses: Azazie

Invitation: Minted

Photo Booth: Lux Photobooth

Harpist: Marissa Knaub Avon

Calligraphy: Victoria Fiaretti

Communicating Style & Aesthetic to Your Wedding Photographer

When I first started photographing weddings, a seasoned wedding photographer told me: “All weddings are literally the same. The only thing that changes are the people – but besides that, everything is the same from weekend to weekend.”

While the wedding day might have a similar set up or timeline with getting ready photos, followed by a first look or ceremony, followed by portraits, then a reception, after photographing 100+ weddings, I would argue that so many things change from weekend to weekend, making each wedding completely unique. The general, skeletal framework may remain – but things are always changing.

For one, the couple changes, which changes the vibe of the day itself. I might have a quiet, romantic, love-to-be-close-to-each-other couple one weekend, then an outgoing, silly, fun, crazy couple the next – which, consequently, changes the way I photograph them, always keeping me on my toes! Likewise, I might have a laid back wedding on a farm one weekend, and an upscale, black tie wedding the next.

You might be wondering, “but why does this matter?”

Because the aesthetic of each wedding is so different – from the couple themselves, to the venue, to the theme, to the styling and décor – I’ve found that weddings can start to feel the same when I’m unaware of what makes each wedding unique.

Now, there are a few things I do in advance to get the general vibe of a wedding day. For example:

• I always try and chat with the couple before they book to talk about their pending style and aesthetic (but I do know that a lot can change from when you start wedding planning to when the wedding actually happens!)

• Which is why I send a follow up questionnaire a few months before the wedding day to get some of the more solid details, like the colors, theme, and other specific details.

• I also check out the venues and photo locations beforehand. Most venues each have a personality all their own! A wedding that takes place on a farm in a barn has a much different feel than one that takes place in a historical hotel in downtown Pittsburgh.

When I know in advance what makes a wedding unique, I can plan. (And boy do I love planning! No, that’s not sarcasm! ;) ). From the portraits, to the details, to everything in between, knowing the vision, aesthetic, and style behind a wedding helps me come prepared from the get go. Your photographer can gather a lot of things from who you are and from the locations you choose, but there are some things that can only be communicated by you: like the theme, style, and aesthetic. And communicating these things in advance to your photographer can actually give you better images!

Let me share a few of my favorite examples:

FALL WEDDING AT SHADY ELMS FARM

This wedding is by far one of my favorite examples of communicating style and aesthetic beforehand, and how it can have a profound impact on your wedding day!

When Lyndsay (the bride) first started the conversation with me about her wedding day, she had a true vision: bright, colorful, laid back, classy barn elegance. She painted a vision of colorful florals and eclectic details, which made it easy for me to make style based decisions on their wedding day.

PORTRAITS

While we had a few portrait locations planned for Lyndsay and Justin’s wedding day, and all of them were nature focused. But before this shot - none of them had a ton of bright, bold color, like she had talked about during our numerous emails, phone calls, and final planning meeting. When I showed up the day of the wedding, I knew that to create cohesion between the bridal details, reception details, and portraits, it would be helpful to include some portraits with bright color! The scene in the photo above stood out to me as THE perfect spot to bridge the style gap in their day, and to make some of their portraits cohesive with the bright, bold style of their details!

BRIDAL DETAILS

And - speaking of details - knowing the vision and style of the wedding before I showed up on their wedding day helped me make styling choices cohesive with the vision of the wedding. For example, you’ll notice that the invitation below is very simple (and gorgeous - designed by the bride!). I knew when I saw it that I wanted to bring something bright and colorful into the frame in order to really make the shot “pop” and match the style of the wedding. Lucky for me, Shady Elms Farm does all of the floral arrangements for their weddings, so I was able to simply ask them for a few extra flowers to frame the invitation with. I also chose a bright yellow ring box to compliment the vibrant color palette, creating a photo of the invitation that complimented the style of the rest of the wedding day!

Knowing that Lyndsay was planning on having lots of eclectic details at the wedding also gave me the understanding that I could fill my background a bit more with different textures and details. Also, when I think of a farm, I think of overgrowth, flowers, plants, etc., a vibe which I feel was matched through the way the details were photographed!

EARLY FALL WEDDING IN DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH

Now, we’ll contrast the farm wedding above with a classy black tie city wedding below! Next up: Janelle and Josh’s Embassy Suites Downtown Pittsburgh wedding!

I had a clear understanding of Janelle and Josh’s wedding from the emails we exchanged and the questionnaires they filled out - when I saw their wedding venue, I saw it to be the perfect match of everything she had described to me: a classy, modern, black tie city wedding. And knowing some of the more specific style details in advance helped me make location choices for both the portraits and for the details that were consistent with the overall feel of the wedding!

PORTRAITS

We’ll start with the portraits! Choosing locations for Janelle and Josh’s wedding was quite easy, knowing that 1) they were having a classy affair, and 2) they wanted to showcase the city. So when it came to their portraits, you’ll notice in the slideshow below portraits that showcase the city (on the street, with buildings in the background, in the iconic Pittsburgh Strawberry Way), and, since their wedding was so perfectly colored to match their reception venue, photos in the venue that provide that classy, upscale feel!

BRIDAL DETAILS

Sometimes I struggle with finding the perfect spot to photograph bridal details, because I want the backgrounds (including colors) of each detail shot to compliment the photos from the rest of the wedding. With Janelle and Josh’s wedding… I knew as soon as I walked into the hotel that their details had to be shot in the lobby! And lucky for me, since I had enough information style and aesthetic wise to know what they were looking for in advance, I was able to choose specific locations in the lobby I would use for their details photos beforehand. Which was so helpful the day of the wedding! I was able to work faster on the details because I had already formulated a plan!

In addition to knowing that elements in the lobby of the hotel would make excellent backdrops for their details, I was able to bring a few extra elements with me on the wedding day to use for styling, because I had an idea of what would compliment the details. For example, in the invitation suite photo below, the only elements that were from the bride were the shoes, the invitation suite, and the purse. The lace, gold box, leaves, and small flowers were items I brought with me to enhance the set up!

WHY STYLE & AESTHETIC MATTERS TO YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER

In summary, when a photographer knows the style and aesthetic of a wedding beforehand, they can…

• Help recommend portrait locations that fit the style of the overall wedding, helping to create a cohesive gallery from the wedding day that tells the story of the day through each section of the day.

• Be prepared to photograph bridal details by either choosing a location in advance, or bringing styling elements to help further compliment and tell the story of those details, and of the wedding as a whole.

• Focus more on the couple, bridal party, and family members. At least, for me this is true! When I know more in advance, I prepare more in advance, which frees up some of my brain space to focus on the people immediately around me - rather than on trying to find the perfect spot to photograph the invitation suite!

WHAT TO COMMUNICATE

If you’re a bride reading this, you might be wondering: what would be helpful to communicate to my photographer about my style and aesthetic beforehand? Below are a few pieces of information that are personally helpful for me to know before going into a wedding day!

• What the invitation suite looks like. Even better if you can send me one beforehand!

• Your wedding colors.

• What your dress looks like. The bride’s dress tends to set the tone and style for the wedding as a whole!

• What type and color of florals you’ll be using in your bouquets and boutonnieres.

MORAL OF THE STORY

So, the more of the story: don’t forget to communicate your style and aesthetic to your wedding photographer! In fact, make it a priority! For any couples who book their wedding with me, I send out a questionnaire a few months before the wedding with a few questions about style to get a better idea of the aesthetic beforehand so I can come prepared. That, along with checking out the reception and ceremony venue beforehand, give me a better understanding into each couple’s day, and the best way I can go about approaching the day and preparing beforehand.

But to any of my couples who might be reading this: never hesitate to over communicate on style and aesthetic to me! As someone who’s invested in your day, I love to be prepared for each and every wedding I photograph to the very best of my ability.

Favorite Epic Night Photos

Epic night photos aren’t always a possibility with every wedding, due to variables like location and timeline, but when epic night shots ARE able to happen at a wedding?! They are MAGIC. And because I love them so, I wanted to share a few of my favorite “epic night shots” with you today!

If you are interested a night photo like one of these below at your wedding, here are a few quick tips:

• Make sure your photography coverage lasts past sunset. These photos are possible after the sun goes down, when it gets dark!

• Make sure both you and your new-spouse are okay with leaving your reception for a few minutes. It’s always helpful for both parties to talk about leaving the reception for a few minutes beforehand, so there are no surprises!

• Make sure either you or your photographer lets your DJ know that you’ll be leaving for a few minutes. The very first time I ever set up an “epic night shot” I completely forgot to tell the DJ, and everyone panicked because the DJ announced the garter and bouquet toss, and no one knew where the couple had went! It’s safe to say that I ALWAYS talk with the DJ now before pulling a couple away for a night photo!

And without further ado… below are a few examples of some of my all time favorite night shots! 💛

Also, be sure to check out a detailed article on Night Photography by Pixpa, covering basics of night photography, camera equipment for night time photos, various techniques and tips of night photography in detail.

Above: at Shady Elms Farm in Hickory, PA

Above: at the Pennsylvanian in downtown Pittsburgh, PA

On Mount Washington in Pittsburgh, PA

In Ridgeway, PA

At Mellon Square in Pittsburgh, PA

At Succop Nature Park in front of the mansion in Butler, PA

At the Pennsylvanian in Pittsburgh, PA

Out front of the Morning Glory Inn in Pittsburgh, PA

This one is technically more of a sunset photo, but I wanted to include it anyways! On Mackinac Island in Michigan

At Shady Elms Farm in Hickory, PA

In Pittsburgh, PA

At the Pennsylvanian in Pittsburgh, PA

In Pittsburgh, PA

In the Cathedral of Learning on the University of Pittsburgh’s campus in Pittsburgh, PA

Out front of the Morning Glory Inn in Pittsburgh, PA

Embassy Suites Downtown Pittsburgh: Favorite Pittsburgh Wedding Venues

Alright friends, it's time for another installment of my favorite Pittsburgh wedding venues! Today, I’m excited to introduce you to another one of my favorites, located right in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh: the Embassy Suites Downtown Pittsburgh! MUCH, much different from my previous favorite wedding venues (Lingrow Farms, Shady Elms Farm), this hotel is a top favorite of mine for so many reasons!

In these venue highlights, I want to share some of my favorite attributes of each venue when it comes specifically to photos – mainly, why I love shooting there, how picturesque the venue is from a photographer’s point of view, and how rain could affect your wedding photos at each venue. My hope is to help viewers see the potential of each wedding venue I highlight specifically from a photography perspective so you can ensure that your photos will be gorgeous!

Picturesque:

My favorite thing about this venue: it used to be a BANK. That's right, a legitimate, functioning BANK. And they left all of the most beautiful parts for guests to enjoy, including a vault (which looks epic in photos) and tons of art deco, black and gold design all throughout the lobby. It's truly classic meets modern, and there are SO many options for bridal party, bride & groom, AND detail photos!

In addition to having a beautiful interior space, the Embassy Suites Downtown Pittsburgh is one walk across the street away from Mellon Park, Strawberry Way, and only a few short blocks from other gorgeous and iconic downtown Pittsburgh locations!

This hotel also has a gorgeous and modern cocktail hour and ballroom space, and if you're feeling adventurous, Mellon Park lights up BEAUTIFULLY at night, making for some truly epic night time portraits!

Rain Plan:

This venue is definitely on your side in the case of rain. With BEAUTIFUL interior decoration, there are more than enough spaces to work with (though you might have a little trouble fitting everyone in if you have a huge bridal party!). I think I could have an entire bride & groom portrait session in the lobby and not even get bored! And don't even get me started on the elevators - most certainly the most gorgeous elevator doors I've ever seen!

Other Mentionables:

I feel like the photos speak for themselves with this one! You HAVE to check them out!!!

If you are a bride who is looking into Embassy Suites Downtown Pittsburgh as a potential wedding venue, I would love to chat with you more! Feel free to email me directly at jhidingerphotography@gmail.com with any questions you might have!