On the last Saturday of April I had my first wedding of the 2018 season! Dan & Sarah were quirky, in love, and more concerned with getting married than the wedding itself, which is the way it should be! I met Sarah at the Pittsburgh Airport Marriott to get some pre wedding photos and detail shots. The room was filled with moms, bridesmaids, make up artists, family, and a baby. I maneuvered around the room, sneaking shots of the bride in the window getting her make up done. I grabbed her stunning short, lace, vintage looking dress and hung it in the window, grabbed her amazing green shoes, the wedding rings, jewelry, and any other details I could find! After snapping a few photos of the bride getting her hair done (and of course her Starbucks coffee with the label "bride"), I made my way out of the room to let the girls finish their prepping.
Awhile later I met the girls at the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden where Dan & Sarah would be getting married. Prior to this wedding I had never been here, but I'm already looking to go back to explore the whole place! It was cold and windy outside, so the ceremony was moved indoors and it was gorgeous! And luckily it didn't rain so we could still do photos outside after the ceremony. I spent a little time taking detail shots of the ceremony and reception area. All of the green elements matched so perfectly. I popped in the bridal room with the bride and bridesmaids to take some photos of Sarah getting into her dress. The room had these gorgeous mirrors that made for some cute photos of the girls getting ready! Once they were mostly ready, of course there was a champagne toast soon to follow. As we got closer to the ceremony time, my husband took photographs of the guys as they arrived and finished getting ready, while I took photos of the first look between Sarah and her father. Once every one was in place, I got in my spot for the start of the ceremony!
The indoor ceremony was beautiful. Dan & Sarah stood in front of large windows that illuminated them beautifully, along with strings of lights with the words "The Adventure Awaits" strung up as a backdrop. After getting to know the couple a little more this phrase was the absolute best fit for these two! As the ceremony progressed, there was excitement, anticipation, laughter, and love between the bride and groom as well as their guests. These two seemed so excited to be married! After the ceremony we took some brisk family photos and wedding party photos outside by a stone wall with a pastel blue door. In between switching out family for the wedding party, I snapped a few shots of Dan & Sarah in front of the doors and underneath the iron gazebo surrounded by tulips. Dan & Sarah made my job super easy! I barely had to direct them because they were just so adorable and natural with one another, I just had to capture the moments they were providing. We then made our way onto a gold cart with Pittsburgh Botanic Garden staff to venture off to other sections of the property. Our first stop was at the pond which had a wooden bridge over water and some stones that made perfect pedestals. After taking photos at the pond, we ended with a trip to the log cabin building below. I love textures of buildings and how big those types of photos can feel!
We wrapped up photos so the bride and groom could warm up a little before their grand entrance into the reception as a newly married couple! The rest of the night was filled with loving words from the best man and the maid of honor, along with a lot of laughter and dancer under the twinkle lights and high wooden ceilings. The bride & groom and all of their guests were a blast! My husband and I definitely enjoyed watching everyone on this special day having an amazing time, even sneaking in a little side dancing on the outskirts of the dance floor ourselves while taking pictures. I can't think of a better wedding to start the 2018 season! Congratulations to the new Mr. & Mrs. Mocan!
