Classic Ballroom Wedding at the PAA

Timeless, romantic, and feminine…that’s exactly what this classic ballroom wedding is. Alison was the quintessential bride when she married Steven in July during a traditional Catholic church ceremony. Afterwards, the newlyweds celebrated becoming Mr. and Mrs. at the Pittsburgh Athletic Association. The historical venue (unfortunate now closed) was decorated with a color palette that will always be in fashion – blush pink, ivory, and gold. These shades created an ambiance of romance, which was heightened by all of the small, thoughtful details Alison and Steven incorporated into their big day. Some of what I loved most about this wedding though started well in advance of the reception…

The bride’s and bridesmaids’ robes! These ladies got ready in style in silk floral print robes. Alison played the part of the bride in a white version of the pink ones her maids wore. Getting wedding ready has never looked better.
THAT dress! Holy cow did Alison look amazing! Her Allure Bridals gown that she purchased at Babette’s featured a sweetheart neckline and lace applique. The gown’s best feature was its shape though! The trumpet silhouette fit Alison like a glove and she looked like a million bucks!
Hello bridal bouquet! Alison carried a mix of fluffy white and pink peonies (aka the world’s most beautiful flower IMHO). Her bouquet looked like miniature, handheld clouds and were the perfect compliment to her classic look.
Now let’s talk about the main event! The florals of this wedding reception simply oozed romance. Heightened centerpieces of fresh blooms, crystals, and pearls brought height to the expansive ballroom while low arrangements of roses, tulips, peonies, and hypericum berries added another layer of dimension. I’ve died and gone to flower heaven.

All of the sophisticated details were captured beautiful by Madeline Jane Photography. If you look up the word “wedding” in the dictionary, you just might see a photo of Alison and Steven’s. I’m pretty sure that whoever invented the word had this exact look in mind.

From the bride…

When and how did you two meet?
Steven and I work for the same consulting firm and met soon after we both began working there in 2012. Our friendship developed into a romance, and the rest is history!

Juicy details on the proposal, please! Where, when, how?
Steven proposed in June 2015. We went out for a boat ride on the Allegheny River. He got down on one knee just as we approached the fountains in Point State Park. I was completely surprised! He also had my younger sister taking pictures for us from the shore. It was perfect.

Describe the wedding. The look, theme, style, colors, etc.
I would describe our wedding as classic and romantic. We chose blush and gold as our colors; the groom and groomsmen wore black tuxes and the bridesmaids wore floor-length blush dresses.

What made your wedding unique?
Steven and I are not native Pittsburghers but we still love this city! Instead of a traditional guest book, we bought a large canvas poster of the Pittsburgh city skyline and had our guests sign all around it. We hope to be able to hang this in our house to showcase our beautiful city and use it as a fun way to remember our wedding day!

What was your favorite moment of the day?
Our first look! It was nice to get a quiet moment together before the rest of the wedding party joined us and the craziness of the day began.

Bride to Bride

What advice would you give to other Burgh Brides planning their big day?
Wedding planning can be very stressful and overwhelming! Prioritize, be flexible, and keep the big picture in mind. Everything will work out in the end, I promise.