Bethany + Phil: University Club (Pittsburgh) Wedding Photos

Bethany and Phil met while Bethany was trying out for Phil's band, Balloon Ride Fantasy, which they are both a part of to this day! These two had an epic day, beginning at Bethany's childhood home for detail and getting ready photos, then to Heinz Chapel, then to University Club (Pitt) for a gorgeous reception!

There were so many beautiful, unique details included in Bethany and Phil's day to represent the two of them! One of my favorites was Bethany's handmade cardbox (made from a guitar - check it out in the reception photos). Talk about skill!! Another one of my favorite details (or, well, main center-stage items) was Bethany's dress. Oh. My. Gosh. Have you ever seen anything like it?! The way the fabric is draped is so unique - I'm in love with her effortless bridal style!!

Congratulations, Bethany and Phil! We were so honored to be a part of your day!

Vendors:

Bride's Dress: Lindee Daniel

Ceremony: Heinz Chapel

Bridesmaid Dresses: Bella Bridesmaids

Flowers: Karrie Hlista Designs

Reception: University Club (Pitt)

Cake: Bethel Bakery

Chelsea + TJ: Irons Mill Farmstead Wedding Photos

What an absolute JOY it was to be a part of Chelsea and TJ's wedding day, from start to finish! These two threw a wedding as beautiful as their sweet relationship and I could not be more excited to share these images!

For a little background, I actually worked at my local YMCA as a lifeguard with the bride's twin sister for several years, so when Chelsea reached out to me to photograph her wedding, I was over the moon excited! You might remember these two from their spring McConnell's Mill engagement photos a few months back (see them here!).

For their wedding day, Chelsea and TJ incorporated so many beautiful, bright colors and unique details! My favorite of all of Chelsea's bridal details were her shoes, which, coincidentally, she bought on super sale for six dollars at Macy's (you would never EVER be able to tell!!). You'll also notice some antlers incorporated into the bridal details and reception details - those were added as a nod to TJ's love for hunting, which was the perfect addition to their rustic barn wedding!

Chelsea's twin sister's daughter, Alivia, made her way into quite a few photos, too! She was one of two incredibly sweet flower girls who were a part of the wedding ceremony.

Reception details included the most beautiful cake stand and cupcake stand (all made by the groom himself!), along with lots more antlers, wild flowers, and even a #Nine lit up sign behind the head table. After a little bit of dancing, we took this dynamic duo out into a field for sunset photos at the perfect time. We're so thankful to have been a part of this wedding day! Congratulations on your marriage, Chelsea and TJ - we love you guys!

Vendors:

Ceremony & Reception: Irons Mill Farmstead

Bride’s Dress: Mary’s Bridal (Beaver Falls)

Bride’s Shoes: Macy's

Bridesmaid Dresses: Nordstroms; Eliza J (Ross Township)

Hair & Makeup: LUSH Custom Spray Tanning and Makeup

Tuxes: Men's Warehouse (Cranberry Township)

DJ: Faraone Brothers (New Castle)

Flowers: Posies by Patti (Ellwood City)

Caterer: Medure's Catering

Cake/Desserts: Tin Man Sweets (Zelienople)

Honeymoon: Maine; Bar Harbor; Acadia National Park

Irons Mill Farmstead Photos by: Jenna Hidinger Photography

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!

Who Cares About Engagement Photos?

Remember the first time you rode a bike? Super. Scary. You might’ve had someone there to help you get your feet off the ground, but it probably took more than one try to get the hang of riding that thing!

Much like anything in life, usually the first time we do ANYTHING, it doesn’t come first nature. It feels weird – awkward, even – just because we’re not used to it or have never done it before.

The same is true for having your photo taken! You may have had experience having your photo taken when you were a senior in high school, or as a professional for a LinkedIn headshot, but if you’re getting married, more than likely you’ve never had your photo taken with someone else. And trust me, having your photo taken with someone else is totally different than having it taken by yourself!

But how? For one, an engagement/wedding photographer is looking to capture an interaction. So instead of you interacting with the camera, the goal is to get you and your fiancé interacting together. And while some couples are total naturals in front of the camera, most of us (yes, I’m raising my hand too!) need a little guidance and practice before we catch on.

So… let me ask, very boldly: if you’ve never had your photo taken with your significant other before your wedding day, do you want to go in without EVER having practiced, on one of the biggest days of your life?

If you do, I give you major props, because you’re much braver than I was! Even as a wedding photographer, I was a little uneasy getting in front of the camera for my own engagement photos. But once I did – I slowly started catching on. I started to see what our photographer was looking to capture, and I learned how to play into those moments to get the best interactions possible with my now-husband! And let me tell you – we LOVE those photos and have many of them hanging up around our apartment, because they capture who we genuinely are.

On my wedding day, I was able to go into the day worrying less about one thing. I knew that we had practiced having our photo taken before and that we were total naturals (well, maybe not TOTAL naturals, but not too bad ;) ), so I knew we were going to get awesome photos the day of our wedding, too.

And that, my friends, is one pretty awesome reason to have engagement photos taken. But just to recap and add a few more points – engagement photos…

1. …allow you to test out your wedding photographer before the wedding day to see how they work (and to see their work!).
2.  …allow you to get more comfortable in front of the camera before your wedding day.
3. …give you some photos of you and your husband or wife-to-be in your everyday clothes, looking like yourselves, which are great for save the dates, bridal shower decorations, Christmas gifts, wedding décor – the list is endless!
4. …give you an excuse to have a date night. Planning a wedding can be CRAZY. Trust me, I understand – I planned mine while I was starting a business, going to school full time, and working part-time! But the day of our engagement photos, my now-husband and I were able to relax and just enjoy being in the presence of each others company without worrying about anything else.

So really – what you are you waiting for?! Schedule that session today! And if you’re looking for a local Pittsburgh engagement photographer, I’d love to talk with you to hear more about you and your fiancé!

Gail + Jake: River Forest Country Club Wedding Photos

What to say about these two! Gail and Jake are an incredibly sweet couple who were both SO excited to finally tie the knot after many years of dating (and lots more years of knowing each other!). These two basically grew up together, but only started dating a few years ago. For their wedding, they decided to incorporate sunflowers (Gail's favorite flower) in honor of the sunflowers that Jake planted for Gail when they first started dating! I mean, come on - how much sweeter does it get?!

Because I wanted Gail's details to be a sunflower explosion, I purchased just a couple more sunflowers to use alongside her invitation suite and jewelry to make her details really pop! She also had the most beautiful pair of yellow heels to accent her sunflower and gray color scheme. I was in detail heaven!

In addition to gorgeous details, Gail and Jake were married in the church where Gail's grandparents AND parents were married. We recreated a couple of photos from her parent's and grandparent's wedding album, and then put our own twist for some new ones (PS - I love a bride and groom who are willing to lay on the floor for the perfect shot!!). I just love how much these two focused on the legacy of love that came before them. They even decorated the mantle behind their sweetheart table with wedding photos from generations past in their family - cue the happy tears!

All in all, Gail and Jake's wedding day was full of love, focused on family, and TONS of cookies (with a super robust cookie table averaging about 30 cookies per person!!). We are so excited for you both as you head into this next adventure, Jake and Gail! Thank you so much for allowing us to document your beautiful day and the start of your lives together!

Vendors:

Bride’s Dress: David’s Bridal

Band/DJ: David McCollough

Flowers: Leechburg Floral

Cake/Desserts: Fenogliettos

Pittsburgh Wedding Photographer: Jenna Hidinger Photography

Suzy + Tim: Hyeholde Restaurant Wedding Photos

Suzy and Tim's intimate Hyeholde Restaurant wedding featured the cutest wedding party (full of ring bearers and flower girls!) along with a beautiful, light summer color scheme of lavender and peach. Suzy and Tim have been together for a couple of years and decided that a wedding surrounded by their closest friends and family would be the perfect way to celebrate their love and their new adventure together - and we were so honored to be a part of it! Check out a few favorites from their wedding day below!

Emily + Andrew: La Roche College Wedding Photos

Emily and Andrew's Kearns Spirituality Center wedding was one of three lavender weddings I photographed just in July alone (lavender photographs like a dream)! I met Emily and Andrew through Emily's cousin, John, whose wedding I photographed over a year and a half ago (check it out here!). One of the biggest compliments I could ever get as a wedding photographer is a referral from a past client, so I was stoked when Emily and Andrew booked me to photograph their wedding day!

Emily and Andrew's Pittsburgh wedding book place at the Kearns Spirituality Center on La Roche College's campus. Though Kearns is not often used for weddings, it has a beautiful, naturally lit chapel that overlooks a large wooded behind campus. After their ceremony, Emily and Andrew danced the night away at the West View Fireman's Banquet Hall, surrounded by friends, family, and LOTS of Pittsburgh wedding cookies!

And without further ado, here are a few highlights from their wedding day!

Vendors:

Florist: West View Floral

DJ: TK the DJ Entertainment

Catering: Remo’s Catering

Ceremony: Kearns Spirituality Center

Reception: West View Fireman's Banquet Hall

Photographer: Jenna Hidinger Photography

Kaitlyn + Marshall: Renshaw Farms Wedding Photos

Kaitlyn and Marshall's July wedding day was gorgeous in every way! There are so many little touches that make this wedding incredibly special. For one - Kaitlyn assembled the flowers HERSELF! Literally right before her wedding day, she put together her bouquets. Talk about some serious commitment!! Her bouquets perfectly complimented the lilac and gray color scheme. Their outdoor ceremony took place at Renshaw Farms in Freeport, which has so many beautiful spots for photos! From a wheat field to a corn field to various barns, the possibilities for photo opportunities were endless! (And you can see that we took FULL advantage of as many spots as we could during their portrait time! ;) ).

One of my other favorite fun facts about Kaitlyn and Marshall's day is the story of how they met their DJ. Kaitlyn, while working at Magee Women's hospital, delivered DJ Loyal's first child - talk about meant to be!

But even more important than all of the details is Kaitlyn and Marshall's relationship. These two dated for quite a few years before finally tying the knot, which always makes a wedding day a little sweeter (but maybe as someone who dated her husband for a long time, too, I'm a little biased! ;). Congratulations again to you both, Kaitlyn and Marshall!

Vendors:

Ceremony & Reception Venue: Renshaw Farms

Caterer: Catering by Robin & Co.

DJ: DJ Loyal

Flowers: Arranged by the bride! (Florals from Sam's Club)

Hair & Makeup: Alyssa Carafang (Bespoke Beauty Bar)

Donuts: Freedom Farms

Gelato: Mercurios

Pies: Tin Man Sweets

Honeymoon: Jamaica by Kim Sharpless at Apple Vacations

Photographer: Jenna Hidinger Photography

Photography Assistant/Second Shooter: Sara Dinwiddie

Abby & Ollie: The Inn at Stonecliffe (Mackinac Island) Wedding Photos

I think I went a little crazy with the number of photos I included from this wedding in this blog post, but I won't apologize! This wedding was so near and dear to my heart in so many ways. For one, I remember when Abby and Ollie started dating (we all attended the same middle school AND high school!) quite a number of years ago. Their personalities, ambitions, and values seemed to fit together seamlessly right from the start.

Then, a little over two years ago, I photographed their proposal AND engagement session (see it here!), and shortly thereafter, Abby asked if I would travel with them to Mackinac Island, Michigan to photograph the day they had waited years for. To say I was honored would be an understatement! Photographing someone's wedding is a huge honor, but being asked to travel nine hours to an island in Northern Michigan to photograph for my first destination wedding was a whole 'nother story!

So, two years after their engagement session, we traveled by car, ferry, and horse drawn carriage (no cars are allowed on the island!) to the beautifully quaint Inn at Stonecliffe on Mackinac Island - set two miles back into the island, away from the hustle and bustle of the main town. After spending the first few hours repeating over and over "I can't believe we're here!" to my husband, who joined me for the trip, we settled in for our first night in the mansion.

The next day (the day before the wedding), we photographed a day-before session (see it here!) on the coast of Mackinac because - why not?! When in Mackinac, you take all of the photos you can!

And finally it arrived - the wedding day. We began the day by photographing Abby's bridal details, moved on to a first look, then portraits around the Stonecliffe property, and then finally, the ceremony, which took place slightly overlooking the Mackinac bridge (which, fun fact, is 5 miles long). At the reception, Abby and Ollie incorporated some Mackinac favorites into their details - Mackinac Island is known for its fudge (they have nearly 15 fudge shops there!), so guests were treated to a box of fudge as a favor! Later that evening, we pulled the bride & groom out and stole a tandem bike (bikes are the main form of transportation on the island) to incorporate into their portraits. And then the evening ended with the most picturesque sunset!

This is a special one, and I think you'll be able to see why in the photos below. The love and joy these two have for each other radiated throughout their entire day, and I'm sure will continue to radiate throughout their married years together. Thank you for giving us the honor of photographing this day for you, Abby and Ollie! We love you guys!

Vendors:

Ceremony/Reception: The Inn at Stonecliffe

Hair/Makeup: Vintage Glam on Market

Florist: Weber's Floral & Gifts

Videographer: Scultped Films

Mackinac Island Wedding Photographer: Jenna Hidinger Photography

Rachel + Paul: Lingrow Farms Wedding Photography

If you follow along with the blog, you might remember Rachel and Paul from their summer engagement photos at Grove City College (if you haven't seen them, check them out here!). Their wedding day was indescribably beautiful, full of love and gorgeous details, and SO focused on their lifelong commitment of marriage. Their laid back attitudes and true love for their friends, family, and each other, radiated throughout their day and truly made us feel like part of the family!

Rachel and Paul's entire wedding day took place at Lingrow Farms in Leechburg, PA on a day that could've been a complete rain out! However - right as the ceremony began, the skies parted and the rain clouds disappeared into a perfect day! And just wait til you see Rachel's dress - it's from the Disney Princess line from Alfred Angelo. (A Disney fan's dream come true!!)

One of my favorite parts of Rachel and Paul's entire day were the toasts. The maid of honor, best man, and father of the bride wrote such heartfelt, funny, sincere words that made me love these two even more, and gave even more of a glimpse into their sincere love for one another. You might even see the best man (the bride's brother) standing on the head table in some of the shots below!

Rachel and Paul - it was a blessing to take these photos for you! Thank you for treating us not just as wedding vendors, but as friends! We love you both and pray all the best for your marriage as you begin your lives together as husband and wife!

Pittsburgh Wedding Vendors: 

Ceremony & Reception Venue: Lingrow Farm

Bride's Dress: Alfred Angelo Bridal  

Catering: Twisted Thistle

Cake: Oakmont Bakery 

Flowers: The Johnston House

Hair: The Salon at Saxonburg

Bridesmaid Dresses: AZAZIE  

Bride's Shoes: Badgley Mischka

Videographer: Robert Stanik

Pittsburgh Wedding Photographer: Jenna Hidinger Photography