To the members of the Pittsburgh wedding community

From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

Burgh Brides’ tenth anniversary and the Bash were not just reflections of Burgh Brides’ growth as a business, but also a celebration of the countless couples and wedding professionals my team and I have had the honor of working with over the years. It truly is because of you that we are here. We are eternally grateful for every Pittsburgh wedding professional who trusts us to promote their business and for every like, share, comment, and click. Thanks to you – the Burgh Brides followers, fans, and clients – we can celebrate a successful past while simultaneously looking towards a dazzling, bright future.

Specifically to the wedding professionals, you are special. This community is special. This city is special. I have never known a group of people who are more dedicated to their craft, who get more excited about making magic, and who care more about their impact on those they serve. You work hard, think outside the box, and push yourselves. For the past decade, you have graciously allowed me to work alongside you. While doing so, I have witnessed your resiliency, work ethic, growth, humility, and your unwavering loyalty. You have not gone unnoticed. I see you, and I honor you.

Whether you are a seasoned industry veteran or a starry-eyed newcomer, you belong here. Whether a wedding florist or venue manager, you belong here. Whether you are a Burgh Brides Vendor Guide member or someone who supports this platform in other ways, you belong here. Whether your business is a side hustle or your full-time gig, you belong here. Whether you have been a Burgh Brides fan since day one or you’re new around here, you belong here. As Taylor Swift said, “We all know now, we all got crowns.” Every single one of you brings something unique to the table, and in the Pittsburgh wedding community, there is space for everyone.

I’m so glad you’re here.

Ready for our close up

Catch Burgh Brides’ live television debut on Pittsburgh Today Live. Daisy Jade and I chatted about tonight’s event, the 10th anniversary of Burgh Brides and what makes the Pittsburgh wedding community so special.

Last year, on November 6 – exactly one month before my 40th birthday – I found myself in the emergency room. I had been suffering from a severe headache for weeks. I was having dizzy spells. My near daily CrossFit workouts had become much more difficult. I struggled to catch my breath after a single flight of stairs. I was covered in bruises. I honestly thought it would all magically go away, but I was finally convinced to visit my PCP. He ordered some blood work, which came back extremely abnormal, and I was immediately sent to the ER. There, things began to move rather quickly. They performed a brain scan, which was normal, and a body scan, which revealed an enlarged spleen. I was admitted to the hospital, began a blood transfusion, and was scheduled for a bone marrow biopsy the next day.

After receiving three units of blood and undergoing the biopsy, I was moved to the oncology unit of the hospital and found myself having conversations with doctors and nurses that involved words like “oncologist” and “lymphoma” and “leukemia”. My head was absolutely spinning. I just had a headache and had no idea how things had spiraled out of control so quickly. After a terrifying three days in the hospital, my blood counts had stabilized enough for me to be sent home. It would be another three days before the bone marrow biopsy results came back and I was officially diagnosed with Hairy Cell Leukemia, a rare type of blood cancer that most people have never heard of, including myself until that week. There are typically only 500 – 1000 new cases in the US every year.

It was the end of a decade, but the start of an age

So, what’s next? Just like the wedding industry itself, Burgh Brides will continue to evolve. But what Burgh Brides stands for will always remain the same. Community, education, positivity, and differentiation are what Burgh Brides is – and always will be – all about. Building bridges (Pittsburgh pun totally intended) between people is at the heart of what Burgh Brides does. Whether it is connecting engaged couples with reputable wedding vendors, wedding vendors with other like-minded professionals, or soonlyweds with their partners, family members, and friends as the wedding planning process drives them closer, Burgh Brides brings people together. Through this platform, I hope to continue to help others forge new relationships, foster old ones, grow their businesses, and expand their circles and their minds. Specifically, for those in the Pittsburgh wedding industry, I want to provide more opportunities for in-person networking, educational workshops with thought-leaders, and chances to engage in conversations with one another where we can all learn and grow. I want to highlight local professionals in new, exciting ways that shine a spotlight on their talents and what makes them stand out from the crowd. For engaged couples, I want to continue to provide expert tips that help to make the planning process easier to understand and navigate. I want to find innovative ways to connect soonlyweds with trusted, vetted wedding vendors who have not only earned the Burgh Brides stamp of approval but who have also earned the respect of their colleagues. I want to expand the Burgh Brides team so that we can better serve our clients and our audience. While these are my dreams, I can’t say exactly what the future holds for Burgh Brides. I never thought it would have been around this long in the first place. But I do know one thing – this is just the beginning, and I can’t wait to see what the next decade brings.