Art Deco NYE Wedding at the Renaissance Pittsburgh Hotel

Say goodbye to 2018 in the best of way possible with this New Year’s Eve Pittsburgh Renaissance Hotel wedding! Emily and Aaron got engaged around NYE and they chose to stick with this holiday theme for their wedding date. In just about a year, they planned an art deco-inspired black tie affair that would make even Jay Gatsby himself envious. White roses, satin ribbons, and black details were major themes in the wedding decor while bridesmaids wore a mix of floral and sequin gowns they chose themselves. With F. Scott Fitzgerald quotes and champagne abounding, this party went well into the night. At midnight, guests were treated to party hats, noise makers, and an epic start to the new year. It was all captured by Tyler Norman Photography. Cheers to 2019!!

About the Couple

Aaron and Emily met in college in 2013. As Christmas 2016 approached, Aaron knew what Emily really wanted. They had already begun their lives together, but he had a plan to make it official. He booked the flights and the hotels, and surprised Emily with a four-day weekend in New York City for New Year’s Eve.

On their first night in the city, Emily and Aaron ate dinner at Robert, a sweet little restaurant on the top floor of the Museum of Art and Design. After dinner, they walked along the park to Rockefeller Center, and into St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Inside the entry of the church, Emily paused to absorb the beauty of the space. “Don’t you want to walk up to the front?,” Aaron asked. And so they did.

At Aaron’s suggestion, Emily asked a nice-looking woman to take a photo of them in the beautiful cathedral, which was still decorated for Christmas. Just as she passed off the phone, Aaron reached into his jacket.

The crowd around them broke out in applause, and Emily cried in excitement and said yes over and over. The couple knew then and there that New Year’s Eve would always hold a special place in their hearts. It wasn’t until a few days later, after returning home to Pittsburgh, that they decided to get married the following NYE!

About the Wedding

Unlike most little girls, Emily always dreamed of having a winter wedding. The night was inspired by The Great Gatsby, with a garden party flair. It was packed with art deco details, champagne galore, and F. Scott Fitzgerald quotes sprinkled throughout. The flowers were loose and whimsical, with greens and white roses, accented with twinkle lights and satin ribbons to complement the formality of their black tie affair.

The colors were soft blush tones and mixed metallics. Emily let her bridesmaids choose their dresses, because she knew it was important they all feel like themselves. While the groomsmen were in classic black tuxedos, the groom wore a custom navy plaid tuxedo, with a black lapel and black pants to show off his own unique style.

Favorite Moment

Honestly, the best part of the day was the ceremony. As we got ready upstairs, I was watching the vendors set up and was anticipating the room being full of our favorite people. We had worked with our priest to map out the entire ceremony with love poems we treasure read by our sisters and sweet string music to set the stage. If I had to pick one moment, it would be the moment the music changed to “Moon River” and my father and I began our walk down the aisle. It wasn’t the moment I expected, eagerly looking for Aaron’s surprised face; it was sweeter and softer than that. Suddenly, I was my daddy’s little girl, and he was taking me on one last walk.