Wedding update.

Since it’s been so long, I thought I would summarize a wedding update (mostly for my own purposes) so when I read back I can remember what we’ve been doing during our engagement.

Venue:

The venue was the first thing we looked for, and it was, of course, the hardest. I think I looked at every single wedding venue in Pittsburgh online and many of them in person, but I have to say that as soon as I walked into Longue Vue…I knew it was perfect. I originally didn’t think I wanted a country club wedding, but it really is the perfect space for us. It’s a really old stone building that looks a little bit castle-y when you drive up, and it’s set high on a bluff overlooking the Allegheny River, so you get nice views out the rear of the club. Plus there is a beautiful dining room, living room and outdoor patio for us to spread out over the evening.

Church:

This was a no brainer. I knew I wanted to get married in the church I grew up in, and luckily M has attended that church with me and really likes the pastor, as well. It’s a small church, but it’s the only place I can imagine getting married.

Date:

Originally, I wanted a date in September, but once we found the venue, that just wasn’t going to happen. October 18^th was the date they had available, so an October wedding, it is!

Photographer:

After the venue, the photographer was the most important decision to me. I don’t love having my picture taken (or taking pictures), so I was really concerned about finding a photographer that I felt comfortable with. On just our second meeting, we found Studio Bash….a super fun couple who we quickly contracted with. We had our engagement session in November on a freezing cold day in downtown Pittsburgh. Despite the wind and the temperature, it was really fun! I’ve finally sorted through the pictures and made prints for family, as well as picked out pictures to feature in our guest book at the wedding.

DJ:

This was a really easy decision for us. Which is surprising because I was expecting this to be one of the hardest. Based on the recommendation of a friend who is getting married this spring, we met with Marquee Wedding Company and totally felt at home after meeting the owner. He got our taste in music, and we can’t wait to dance the night away!

Flowers:

This was one of the FUNNEST wedding decisions, to date. I don’t know anything about flowers, but after meeting with a local florist near my parents, Always in Bloom put us immediately to ease. She pulled samples from their current stock to put together bouquets and centerpieces so we could see exactly what each arrangement would look like at different price points, which was so helpful.

Dress:

I found a dress right at the end of 2013 and ordered immediately. Dress shopping was fun, but to be honest, it wasn’t my favorite part of the wedding planning process. There are so many pretty dresses, and it felt like so many of them would work for our wedding. I didn’t have an “aha” moment about my dress, but I’m totally okay with that. I love the dress, veil and belt that I picked, and I can’t wait for them to come in!

Transportation/Hotel:

Finding a hotel was another tough choice. There aren’t many hotels in close proximity to our venue, but the wedding coordinator suggested the SpringHill Suites in Bakery Square, which I would not have thought of on my own. We visited the hotel, and I think it’s perfect. It’s in a newer area of town and has shopping, coffee, restaurants and a gym within walking distance, which may be a nice option for out of town guests. However, since it is a about a 15 minute drive from the venue, we opted to get a shuttle to transport guests back and forth. Since we have a big bridal party, we also opted for a limo bus to transport all of us around that day.

Still to do:

Cake

Invitations

Brunch

Tuxes

Ceremony

Rings

Other Updates to Come:

Bridal Party

Bridesmaids Dresses

Rehearsal Dinner

To wedding planning!!!,

Lia