Prepare yourself, folks, because Nicole and Jake’s timeless Fox Chapel Golf Club wedding is a doozy! The simple, light, and airy aesthetic came to life thanks to a color palette of ivory and gold infused with a statement of Cinderella blue. The soft dusty hue stood out in the most elegant of ways and can be seen in everything from the men’s ties to the luxurious velvet linens from Mosaic. Other noteworthy details – which were expertly overseen by Wanderlust Weddings and Events – included frosted acrylic table numbers, bridesmaids dressed in white, luscious floral arrangements by Blossoms by Jilliann, and a speckled gold wedding cake by Tasty Bakery. The most talked about feature of the night just might be the modern QR code seating chart – guests scanned the custom code and found their table assignments virtually! All in all, it was the perfect setting for incredible memories to be made. We felt all the feels when Nicole had an incredibly emotional first look with her dad and then again when Jake first saw his bride in her Ida Torez wedding dress from The Exquisite Bride. When we say this day was beautiful, we mean every single inch of it. Get ready to see all the gorgeous details and take in all the heartfelt moments captured by none other than Dawn Derbyshire Photography.
About the Couple
Jake and I met when we were in college at IUP. We got engaged in Sedona, Arizona while visiting my best friend and eventual maid of honor, Meg. Jake was able to have Meg’s mom carry the ring with her from Pittsburgh to Arizona and he had the most perfect proposal spot planned. After a day of riding UTVs through the desert, we were planning on going to dinner at a resort nestled back in Sedona’s iconic red rocks. I knew something was up because Jake wouldn’t come anywhere near me! Out on the terrace, Meg’s mom suggested we all take pictures. When Jake and I were up, and when he finally came within 5 feet of me since getting there, he got down on one knee and proposed with the most amazing ring and speech. Although I think I blacked out from excitement and don’t remember much of what he said (thank goodness for videos!), it was my dream proposal. We celebrated afterwards with dinner and drinks.
About the Wedding
I always knew I wanted to get married at Fox Chapel Golf Club. The space speaks for itself, so I also knew any “theme” and decor had to kept simple, light, and airy. I decided to incorporate dusty blue in the ties, linens, and even my flower girl’s dress. I just HAD to have the dusty blue velvet linen from Mosaic. I also settled on frosted acrylic for signs and table numbers because it felt more dreamy. I couldn’t find exactly what I wanted on Etsy, so I made our table numbers and most of our large signs myself.
My favorite unique detail was our seating chart. Guests scanned a QR code that linked them to a website with their seating assignments. We heard really good feedback and people said they liked being able to scan it on entry and take seats on their own time instead of standing and searching a board with many others. For my bridesmaids, I wanted them in white from the start. After some pushback from my aunts and grandma who couldn’t understand why I wanted them in white as well, I think they shined and looked perfect with the entire aesthetic of the day. Our florals also stayed very neutral with whites and greenery and Blossoms by Jillian outdid herself in every aspect.
Favorite Moment
All 12 hours. Just kidding, but I think there are two that I just can’t pick between.
My dad has Multiple Sclerosis and has limited mobility. As the child of a sick parent knows, your wedding day is always in the back of your mind. Will they be here? How will they be able to enjoy the day with the challenges they face? With my dad being in a wheelchair, it took lots of extra planning to make sure he would be able to get around the venue freely. Also, there were the logistics of him walking me down the aisle. For most, this is a thought that never has to cross their mind, but for me, it was something I thought of often. It was a day-of decision on if we were going to walk together or if I would walk alongside him. Not long before the ceremony, my younger brother and father decided that my brother would walk me halfway to meet my dad so that he could still walk me a short distance. Being able to have my dad walk me down the aisle on the day I’ve dreamed of was one of my favorite moments. He was even able to do our entire father/daughter dance, as well as a special dance with my younger sister. The “just in case” sounds morbid to some, but when you have a sick parent you can never be too careful. You can’t miss any opportunity. It meant a lot to not just me but my entire family.
My other favorite moment was my first look with Jake. I had been so nervous all morning. Getting to see him before the ceremony to read our vows to each other in a more private setting will forever be so special to me. It helped me get the nerves out and still didn’t take away from the feeling of joy I had walking down the aisle. He’s always been so good at grounding me when I am anxious or stressed and it was exactly what I needed before our day could start.
