For two self-professed gardening lovers, a Phipps Conservatory wedding made complete sense. But Melissa and Brad decided to up the ante even more with a lush greenery inspired look that will easily turn almost anyone into a fan of Mother Nature. With ample amounts of fresh leaves and foliage just about everywhere, it almost felt as if these two love birds were exchanging vows and celebrating in their very own private magical forest. Installations and arrangements by Allison McGeary, along with some custom lighting and draping, transformed Phipps’s special event hall, while an abundance of delicate white orchids brought a touch of luxury. An off-the-shoulder Martina Liana wedding dress from Bridal Beginning, a marble wedding cake from Bethel Bakery, and acrylic table numbers rounded out the chic and modern details, which were expertly overseen by Hello Productions. With her always timeless style, there was no one better to capture this soiree than Leeann Marie Photography. Be prepared for a much needed dose of freshness with this gorgeous winter wedding!
About the Couple
Brad’s brother set us up! I am an attorney at a law firm downtown and Brad’s brother joined the firm after moving back to Pittsburgh a few years ago. Brad had also recently moved back to Pittsburgh, so Brad’s brother gave him my phone number and the rest is history!
We had recently gotten back from an incredible vacation in the south of France. I had returned with a terrible cold and Brad was mysteriously distant for several days – not answering his phone and even lying about whether he had eaten dinner one night! As it turns out, he had visited my parents to ask for their blessing. A few mornings later, on the same day that my parents celebrated their wedding anniversary, Brad sat down next to me and cryptically began by saying, “So I’ve been lying to you…”, at which point I (still sniffly and miserable) assumed he was trying to break up with me! It wasn’t until he pulled out a ring that I realized he was proposing.
About the Wedding
We love to garden (Brad especially has an amazing green thumb), and we often have date nights at Phipps since we live so close to the observatory. It seemed like the perfect place to celebrate our love!
We tried to incorporate a lot of little details that reflect who we are individually and our personality as a couple. Our signature drink was a cocktail that we fell in love with during our vacation in France, right before Brad proposed, and Brad wore black patent leather Jordans with his custom tuxedo. We also tried to make our cocktail hour more interactive for our guests by having cocktails, food stations, and activities (including a Polaroid selfie guestbook) throughout the entire conservatory.
