There is no doubt that the floral details that Michele planned with her parents (yes, her Father Jody gets credit too!)  and Michael at Blooms Florist were second to none.  Protege rocked the night away and Gordon & Barbara Shu provided video coverage.  What you might not realize is what an absolute pleasure it was to share this happy day with Michele and Dan’s Families!  Many thanks to all of them – we wish Michele and Dan all the best life has to offer.

Starting several days before wedding day with Sangeet, loosely translated in English as “sung together” or “singing with instrumental accompaniment”, Riti and Jon celebrated Sangeet at The India Garden.

Sangeet is so much fun – like a dinner and dance with the singing of traditional Indian songs, joking with the couple, dancing and playing the dolkhi, a two sided drum.

What a great time! – it’s been a while since Barb and I have been to the India Garden – the food was great and we LOVE Indian food! Our usual weekly hangout with friends is The Taj Mahal, who catered Riti and Jon’s reception.

Mehndi, the traditional application of henna, is an ancient ceremonial art form tradition was held at Riti’s home. It’s also a time of celebration – great fun and more food!

A Sikh wedding ceremony or Anand Karaj is a bit different than a traditional hindu wedding. Starting with the wrapping of the men’s turbans, the Baraat procession follows the groom to the temple where the families meet, hug exchange flower garlands and celebrate this Milni ceremony with tea.

The groom has to barter his way into the temple before he can cut through a ribbon barrier. And his shoes disappear, bartered for or barefoot when he departs.

Indian weddings are a joyous, boisterous day of dancing and celebration. If you’re fortunate enough to attend, get your rest and bring your appetite! Like Barb and me, you’ll be treated like family. Thanks so much to Rita and Jon’s families for the honor of allowing us to document this wonderful occasion.

Like coming back from vacation and looking at life and work with a fresh start, it takes some time and a step away for me to think about our recent weddings.

It was extremely hard to look through 40,000 photographs from our 2009 weddings to pick 3 or 4 from each wedding that tell the essence of a couple’s wedding day.

We’re going to go back and post more photographs from each wedding. We know our brides and grooms like to look at weddings for ideas, whether dresses, tuxes, cakes or details.

But I wanted to include photographs that spoke to me – that captured a fleeting moment in time. I see a part of myself in each of these photographs – they represent how I felt about each wedding. Of course we photograph families, friends ceremonies, dancing and details. But I think the most meaningful photographs are those when a bride or groom is not aware of the camera, let down their guard and reveal their true personality and feeling.

We’re unlike any other vendor at a wedding. Florists and cake artists drop off their work and leave, rarely interacting with the bride and groom. We spend a lot of time together with our couples from our initial meetings and engagement session through wedding day. We’ve built a special relationship that allows us capture moments like these -  our couples have to be comfortable with us to let us into their world and become a part of their friends and family.

We’re so busy during wedding season, processing and editing, photographing engagement sessions, running our business. It’s very long hours and we move from one task to the next without thinking. This little January break has allowed me to step back and reflect – to realize again how much I love my work.

Barb and I have been married for a long time – 25 years this August – and like anything life becomes routine. But every week, in a way, we renew our vows. We see the love and affection of our newlyweds and steel a glance at each other and nod. It brings back that moment when Barb first walked down the aisle and thet flood of emotion and love.

We would like to thank all of our couples for trusting us to tell the story of their wedding day. You’ve enriched our lives. We can’t wait for this year’s wedding season!

It was a big challenge for the families and bridal party to make it in and out of The Renaissance Hotel during the G20, but everything worked out and everyone finally arrived.

Their ceremony at St. Paul’s Cathedral was followed by a reception at Le Mont, which Candace an Matt chose to showcase the beauty of Pittsburgh’s skyline. Barb and I always enjoy working there – it’s a beautiful room and the staff and service are always efficient and professional.

It was drizzling most of the day and chilly, but the bridal party were good sports and forged outside at the West End Overlook. We had a lot of fun.

The Finesse Band with Sal Richetti, one of the top bands in the city were in rare form – they really sounded great and the guests responded – a super fun party and the end of a perfect day.

Le Mont provided their cake, Gordon Shu the videography, Bloomingdalia the florals, Molly’s Trolly the transportation and Candace’s gorgeous gown was a Stephen Yearick creation from Ann Gregory.

Candace and Matt just returned from what they said was an amazing honeymoon in Greece.

Slideshow follows:

Barb and I were shocked at how busy it was this past Sunday, what with the Steeler game (better to have gone to Kennywood). It took about 20 or 30 exposures to get this shot in between people coming and leaving – OK NOW!

I’ll share more, once all of their photographs are ready (I did share this one with Brooke and Nate from the back of the camera).

Brooke and Nate will be getting married next June with a ceremony at Heinz Chapel and a reception at The Carnegie Museum’s Music Hall Foyer. We can’t wait!

It was an amazing wedding weekend at Nemacolin Woodlands resort, starting with a rehearsal dinner at Mulligans at Mystic Rock. The party on Friday continued with Casino Night – a special event for their friends and family with real casino slot and table games. It was so much fun with baskets and prizes for the play money winners.

The guys began wedding day with a round of golf at Mystic Rock golf course, one of the top courses in the country, while the ladies primped at the Spa.

The weather was a little questionable that morning, but the rain held off and Leann and Jason said their vows on the beautiful plaza courtyard deck overlooking the property.

A reception followed in the Grand Ballroom – the room was beautifully decorated by Something New Florals from Canfield Ohio.

Leann looked just amazing in her Kenneth Pool gown. It was gorgeous.

No Bad Juju, a fantastic band, provided the reception entertainment, while Creative Cakes, who always come up with unique and beautiful designs, really outdid themselves.

Here’s a highlight story of Leann and Jason’s incredible wedding weekend.

Slideshow

Married July 29, 2006 at St. Raphael’s & the Westin, Antonette & Joe are now living in Pittsburgh, PA. (Check out their wedding images!)

I THOUGHT TIME FLEW WHEN WE WERE DATING AND ENGAGED….BUT HOLY COW DOES IT FLY EVEN FASTER ONCE YOU ARE MARRIED. WE BOTH WORK *A LOT* AND THE WEEKS AND MONTHS JUST FLASH BY. WE HAVE 7 NIECES AND NEPHEWS BETWEEN US AND WE ARE ALWAYS BUSY WITH BIRTHDAYS, PARTIES & GAMES.
What is the best part about being married?
IT MAKES YOUR RELATIONSHIP “OFFICIAL” (WOW, I HOPE THAT DOESN’T SOUND CHEESY!!). YOU REALLY ARE A “TEAM.” NOW AND ALL OF THE DECISIONS ARE FOR THE TWO OF YOU–EVEN IF IT’S JUST LITTLE THINGS LIKE WHAT COLOR TO PAINT THE BATHROOM. EVERYTHING WE DO IS “TOGETHER” AND AS A TEAM. IT’S A DIFFERENT KIND OF TOGETHER THAN WHEN YOU ARE DATING OR ENGAGED. EVEN THE LITTLE THINGS ARE “TEAMWORK”. WE ARE SO MUCH BETTER TOGETHER THAN WE EVER WERE APART- WE HELP EACH OTHER STICK TO OUR GOALS- -FOR EXAMPLE- –I.E. WHEN ONE OF US ISNT UP TO GOING TO THE GYM, THE OTHER PUSHES AND WE KEEP TO OUR COMMITMENT TO GO NO LESS THAN 3 DAYS A WEEK.
FOR OUR 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY WE WENT TO ITALY. WE STARTED IN THE NORTH AND WORKED OUR WAY SOUTH VIA THE TRAINS AND SPENT OUR LAST 5 DAY’S IN MY PARENT’S VILLAGE IN THE SOUTH OF ITALY SUCH AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE FOR US BOTH- GETTING BACK TO OUR ROOTS AND SEEING WHERE MY PARENTS GREW UP. WE EVEN HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A PHOTO AT THE ALTAR IN THE CHURCH WHERE MY PARENTS MARRIED 42 YEARS AGO!
IT WAS A VERY, VERY BUSY FIRST YEAR AND I HAVE TO PINCH MYSELF TO REALLY BELIEVE THAT IT IS ALMOST TIME TO CELEBRATE OUR 2 YEAR ANNIVERSARY, AND THAT WE HAVE A BABY ON THE WAY! THIS YEAR FOR OUR ANNIVERSARY WE ARE GOING TO GO TO CHICAGO FOR A LONG WEEKEND – SEE A SHOW, DO SOME SHOPPING AND TRY TO CATCH A CUBS GAME.
WE ARE ALSO HOUSE HUNTING- BUT THAT HAS BEEN A SLOW PROCESS….WE ARE BEING PICKY BECAUSE WE DO LOVE THE TOWNHOUSE WE ARE IN, BUT WE’VE QUICKLY OUTGROWN IT! IT’S SUPPOSEDLY A “BUYER’S MARKET” BUT WE HAVEN’T FALLEN IN LOVE WITH A HOUSE ENOUGH YET TO WANT TO BUY IT! PLUS, WE ARE SO BUSY THAT SOMETIMES A FEW WEEKS GO BY AND WE HAVEN’T FOLLOWED UP OR HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHECK OUT ANY LISTINGS…WE DO NEED TO GET MOVING ON THIS..WE’D LIKE TO MOVE BEFORE OUR LITTLE BABY MAKES HIS OR HER DEBUT!
WE HAVE FRIENDS IN DIFFERENT CITIES THROUGH OUT THE U.S.- WHICH ALSO KEEPS US BUSY. AND IT’S HARD TO STAY IN TOUCH W/ EVERYONE- THANK GOD FOR E MAIL!!! WE JUST SPENT A WEEK IN MEXICO WITH OUR JOE’S BEST FRIEND FROM CHILDHOOD- FRANK AND HIW WIFE STACI AND THEIR LITTLE GIRL AVA- – THEY LIVE IN PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND AND WE TRY TO MEET UP AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR. WE ALSO HAVE GOOD FRIENDS IN SAN DIEGO , TORONTO, AND WASHINGTON D.C.

In a beautiful ceremony and reception at the Renaissance Pittsburgh Hotel, Elizabeth and Derek were married on June 14th.

I’ve incorporated a few audio clips just to give you a feel for how much fun everyone had, from getting ready to the end of the party.

Elizabeth surprised Derek with a limo ride from home with the guys – a great group of friends and family who are, well, colorful and fun.

If your favorite salon and makeup artist travel, I always recommend using that service. It’s just one less thing to worry about, especially if Kenny Chesney is in town – it was sure busy downtown and it was nice to have everything in one place.

The Renaissance is a beautiful hotel with an old world feel, yet not stuffy. It has some awesome locations for photographs. Tony Lee, the wedding and special events manager is fantastic. He takes great care of his clients and always does something special for them ( I don’t want to give out any of his secret surprises).

It usually takes a while for families on both sides to get to know each other and integrate, but Elizabeth and Derek’s families have become so close, even before they were married.

Elizabeth has a great sense of humor – she’s such a pleasure to be around. And, she can do that look – fashion passion. Derek’s just a sweet guy – warm and open – and a lot of fun to be around.

Elizabeth’s beautiful gown was a Casablanca creation, cake by Bethel Bakery, florals from Alison McGeary and DJ Spike’s always a lot of fun and has a great feel for the crowd.

Turks and Caicos was their honeymoon destination – some place I’ve always wanted to visit.

Congratulations!

We celebrated tonight by attending Kerrumba, a night of dancing, dinner and auctions to benefit the elementary school that David, Nina and Kate attended. Truly the best part of the evening was seeing so many old friends that were a part of our everyday life when the kids were little. Teachers, principals, and neighbors all let their hair down and mingled for a great cause. Steve and I left the party a little early, because we have an early start tomorrow morning.

We are really looking forward to Shalini & Jim’s wedding. We’ll begin at the Westin with the ladies getting ready, head to Heinz Chapel for the ceremony and celebrate with the newlyweds back at the Westin. I can just imagine what must be going through their heads tonight as they dream about their wedding day – tomorrow!

I am excited about getting back into wedding mode! We have a few things planned for blog postings and our newsletter this season. I will focus on all of the beautiful wedding details that make each couple’s day special (with photographs and buying guides); and I will be starting a special feature just for wedding guests. Look for that soon, as well as a link to subscribe to our newsletter next month.