Kayla & Donny: Romantic Garden Wedding at Phipp's Conservatory

Kayla and Donny’s romantic garden wedding was simplistic, laid back, and so much fun! We started the day with getting ready photos at the Hilton Garden Inn down the street with some incredibly special details: the jewelry Kayla wore on her wedding day was made by her late grandfather, and the purse she used was given to her by her mom, and made from the dress that was worn by Kayla’s grandma, her mom, and her aunt on their wedding days!

Kayla and Donny opted for a first look, followed by photos in the Broderie room at Phipp’s, as well as some bridal party portraits and family formals before the ceremony (so they could enjoy cocktail hour with their guests!). Their ceremony took place in the outdoor garden, overlooking Oakland, and was followed by a packed-dance floor reception!

Kayla and Donny, it was such an honor to be a part of your day! We are so thankful for you two, and so excited for you both as you begin this new chapter in your relationship! 💛 Congratulations!!!!

Vendors: Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Hilton Garden Inn Pittsburgh University Place, Bloom Brigade, Bethel Bakery, Steve Maffei (DJ), Salon at Saxonburg, Luna Boutique // Daughters of Simone (designer of Bride’s dress), Beholden (bridesmaid dresses), With Love Daily (invitations), Jenna Hidinger Photography (Pittsburgh Wedding Photographer)

Ashley + Rob: Phipp's Conservatory Wedding Photos

This wedding is a killer venue combination - St. Bernard's Church in Mt. Lebanon paired with Phipp's Conservatory & Botanical Garden made for the most beautiful match for this true Pittsburgh wedding! As did Ashley and Rob, of course, who make such a sweet pair! Ashley and Rob actually found me through Ashley's mom, Elaine, who I used to serve weddings with at the Pittsburgh Marriott North in Cranberry Township! For someone to trust me with their child's wedding photos is a HUGE honor, and one I don't take likely, so first I have to thank my sweet friend Elaine for the opportunity to document this incredible wedding day, and to Ashley and Rob for trusting me with their photos!

Ashley and Rob had a sweet, emotional first look, which allowed them to see each other and talk before the ceremony (first looks are always one of my favorite parts of a wedding day!). After a beautiful ceremony at St. Bernard's we headed right over to Phipp's Conservatory to catch the last of the evening light before cocktail hour and a reception with a classic Pittsburgh cookie table! Congratulations on your wedding and on your marriage, Ashley and Rob! Here's to many more years of happiness!

Vendors:

Ceremony: St. Bernard Catholic Church

Reception: Phipp's Conservatory & Botanical Gardens

Bride’s Dress: Maggie Sottero

Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka

Bridesmaid Dresses: Alfred Sung

Hair: Salon Vivace

Makeup: Salon Vivace

Tuxes: Jos. A. Bank

Band/DJ: 2nd II None

Flowers: Mt. Lebanon Floral Shop

Caterer: Sodexo Catering – Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Cake/Desserts: Bella Christie and Lil Z's Sweet Boutique

Photographer: Jenna Hidinger Photography

Honeymoon: Italy & Germany

Chelsea + Shamus: Phipps Conservatory Wedding Photos

How honored we were to be a part of Chelsea and Shamus' beautiful wedding day! These two opted for eloping in lieu of a traditional wedding and it fit them to a T! Nick and I were actually the only two to witness the ceremony, which was a HUGE honor! Their self-uniting ceremony took place outside of Phipp's Conservatory, and from there, we walked around to the lock bridge, Oakland, and finished up portraits at the Roberto Clemente bridge! Congratulations on your marriage, Chelsea and Shamus!

Sam + Matt: Phipp's Conservatory Engagement Photos

When Sam and Matt showed up to Phipp's with two takeout containers of Eat'n Park smiley cookies, I KNEW it was going to be a great session!! Sam and Matt have been together for six years as of TODAY (talk about good timing), and met while working at the Pittsburgh classic, Eat'n Park! One of my favorite stories I heard during their session was about how Matt turned down Sam for her sophomore prom (boo!), but then wised up and said "yes" for her senior prom ;) We had an incredible time walking around Phipp's, Oakland, eating smiley cookies, and letting go of balloons with these two - congratulations on your engagement, Sam and Matt!

Amy + Mike: Phipp's Conservatory Engagement

Everyone knows a couple who seem to be made for each other in every way. The chemistry is undeniable. Their love is contagious - Amy and Mike are one of those couples! I met up with these two at Phipp's Conservatory, where I heard all about Amy and Mike's love for Olive Garden breadsticks, Bravo, Rita's, and minions (ummmm, does it get much better than that?!)! We spent time walking around Phipp's and Schenley Park and caught some beautiful light during golden hour.

While we were walking, we came across a little cafe with tables and chairs - which I knew immediately we had to use, because one of Mike and Amy's favorite things to do together is to go out to eat (no wonder we connected so well! ;) ). I love finding ways to make slight nods to a couple's hobbies, loves, and interests! Without further ado, enjoy a few of my favorite images from Amy and Mike's Pittsburgh summer engagement session!

Three Steps to a Fun and Stress Free Wedding Day from a Cranberry Wedding Photographer

There’s no doubt that your wedding day is one of the best days of your life (I can personally attest!). I remember hearing a lot of couples tell me this while I was planning my own wedding – and don’t get me wrong, while I loved crafting and planning the details of the day I married my best friend, I often felt flustered by the amount of time I was putting into making the wedding of my dreams, which lived in my head, a reality. I constantly worried that I would be running around like a maniac on the day of my wedding, ordering people around and trying to keep family, friends, and vendors on track. But boy, was I wrong. The day of my wedding, I felt relaxed and at ease, knowing that I had done everything I could’ve beforehand to help those involved know what was happening the day of (and more importantly, that it was all in God’s hands!). In lieu of this, here are my top three tips for having a fun and stress free wedding day:

1.     Be prepared.

Remember in high school (or college) when one of your classmates showed up to a big presentation without anything planned? Of course, they didn’t have to necessarily say they hadn’t prepared anything, but it was easy to tell from their body language, slow speech, and general lack of enthusiasm. The same is true for your wedding day. Showing up unprepared, i.e., without a pre-thought-out timeline, can make any wedding day more stressful. When friends, family members, and vendors don’t know where they’re supposed to be or what they’re supposed to be doing (except for a general ceremony/reception start/end time), things can get chaotic. Flowers arrive at the wrong location, limo drivers take the entire bridal party to the wrong church, the bride is late, and family members wander off before the photographer can snap family formals (yes, all of these have happened at weddings I’ve photographed!). It’s important to make sure everyone is on the same page (and timeline) for the day of the wedding so that the bride doesn’t have to be in charge, since all of the information is only in her head. Share the timeline love with those around you so they can help keep track of time and know what’s happening during the day, too!

2.     Leave a LOT of buffer time.

There’s a big difference between regular time and wedding time (something one of my favorite photographers, Mary Marantz, often says). Something will run behind on a wedding day. Someone will forget something, lose something, take longer to do something than expected and then the whole day falls behind schedule. It could be something as simple as bridesmaid forgetting her dress at the getting ready location to something as crazy as the limo driver taking the bridal party to the wrong church (I know I said this one before – I just can’t believe it actually happened!). There are a lot of events that happen during a wedding day that sometimes aren’t factored into the timeline, including bustling the dress, having a post-ceremony receiving line, and setting up the bridal party and family members for the grand entrance. In addition, did you know that limos and party buses have to drive a certain number of miles below the speed limit? Many large moving vehicles that carry people are restricted to certain routes, leaving them unable to travel on busy and bustling roadways, which can result in delays and slower travel times. So what’s the quick fix? Schedule a 5 or 10 minute buffer between every event happening at your wedding. Leave time for Great Aunt Sally to pull you aside for a picture, or for the cousins who you haven’t seen in years to give you hugs. Those are the moments that should happen on a wedding day, and it’s a shame to miss out on them because of a cramped timeline.

3.     Let other people help you.

 It’s no secret that wedding planning is not for the faint of heart. From keeping track of deposits to crafting the perfect centerpieces, there are so many details that go into a single wedding day – which is why you absolutely cannot try to plan alone. I made this mistake early on in the wedding planning process. Even though my husband, bridal party, and parents were more than willing to help me with contacting vendors, organizing lists, and creating a timelines, I often felt the need to take the reigns in order to “release them” of responsibility. I felt guilty for asking for their help, since I knew they were all busy as it was. But here’s the thing: they wanted to help, and who was I to deny them? Who was I to tell them what they could or couldn’t fit into their schedules? We make time for the things we love and for the things we want to do. Don’t be silly like me - if you have an army of people willing to help you, let them help you. Because if the roles were reversed, I’m sure you would do the same exact thing for them. And if no one has offered to help, don’t be afraid to ask. Many people are just waiting for an opportunity!

In addition to letting those close to you help you, don’t forget to let your vendors help you! Many vendors have years of experience and have seen what does and doesn’t work on a wedding day. Never hesitate to reach out to your DJ, photographer, florist, makeup artist, or caterer with a question. Take it from me – they want to help. As a photographer, I LOVE when brides ask me to help them make the perfect timeline, because usually it means they really truly care about taking the time to create awesome photos on their wedding day, which REALLY gets me pumped up! I’m sure the same is true for all of the other vendors, too. Many of us got into weddings because we love what we do, and we want to help you get the most out of whatever product or service we’re offering.

Have a tip of your own for navigating towards a stress-free wedding day? Leave it in the comments section below, I’d love to hear! And happy wedding planning!

Alaina + Alan: Phipp's Conservatory & Botanical Gardens Wedding Photographer

Alaina & Alan's secret garden inspired wedding took place at the perfect venue for a garden themed wedding - Phipp's Conservatory & Botanical Gardens in Oakland, PA. These glamorous garden nuptials began with a little bit of rain (let's be honest - a bit of a torrential downpour!) but the skies parted and the sun came out (literally) as Alaina & Alan had their first kiss as husband and wife. We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful couple, bridal party, & family to spend the day with! 

Vendors:

Ceremony & Reception Venue: Phipp's Conservatory

Officiant: Reverend Thomas Bellhy of New Hope Church

Guest Accommodations: Hampton Inn University/Medical Center

Bridal Party Getting Ready Venue: Hilton Garden Inn University Place

Florist: Sisty Wasler

DJ: Brooks Roy of ProStream Productions

Cake: Bethel Bakery

Gown: Bridal Beginnings

Makeup/Hair: Bari Medgaus, GQ Stylist

Photography: Jenna Hidinger Photography