Dazzling Contemporary Wedding at the Wyndham Grand: Ashley & Travis

This dazzling contemporary wedding is going to knock your socks off. Consider yourself warned.

For over the past decade, Ashley has worked in the wedding industry. Usually when one of the wedding world’s own gets married, we’re all in for something good. Ashley did not disappoint. For her June wedding to Travis, this bride went all out! With the help of some of Pittsburgh’s A-list vendors, the couple designed a ceremony and reception that was so sparkly you just might need your sunglasses, so personal that you’re bound to shed some happy tears, and so Pinterest-worthy that you’ll likely want to redesign your entire wedding board. It even has me wishing for a wedding redo.

Not even a little rain (ok, it was actually a complete and total day-long downpour) could dull the glamour of Ashley and Travis’s big day. From the silver, gray, and white color palette to the hints of glitter and sequins, and from the sweet gifts Ashley and Travis gave to their parents to the slideshow of childhood photographs played during the reception, this wedding was chock full of both chic and thoughtful details. While there are way too many to list, here are just a few of my top favorites:

A horse-drawn carriage! Ashley arrived at her ceremony in style thanks a little help from Caustelot Farms. Talk about a fairy tale entrance!
Saved seats for lost loved ones at the ceremony. In a touching tribute, Ashley and Travis placed a photo of each close family member who passed away at a chair, along with some flowers. What a beautiful way to keep those special people close on your big day.
Incredible design! All Occasions Party Rental, Mosaic, and Allison McGeary came together to curate a look of linens, flowers, and rentals that was completely cohesive yet unique at every turn. Varying looks, textures, shapes, and sizes of centerpieces, tablescapes, and even lounge areas created a visual interest that kept guests excited at every turn. Tons of uplighting, gobos, and candles created an ambiance of romance too!
A dessert…way for it…ROOM! Cookie tables seem totally lame next to Ashley and Travis’s EPIC room full of every sweet treat known to man. Cookies, cupcakes, cake pops, fruit tarts, candy, popcorn, a smores bar, AND a sundae bar! It’s a good thing I wasn’t a guest at this wedding. I would have gained 500 lbs in one night.

SkySight Photography captured every.single.last detail perfectly. And boy, were there a lot of them! Just wait until you see! Excuse me while I go have a serious case of wedding envy now.

From the bride…

When and how did you two meet?
Online! Travis reached out to me several times and it took awhile for me to finally bite. We meet at Station Square and took our dogs for a walk. (Needless to say, I was worried and nervous…it was online dating after all.) But the date was great with good conversation. It lead to more dates and we both realized this was it!

Juicy details on the proposal, please! Where, when, how?
Travis called while I was preparing the house for Christmas dinner. He said his boss was in town and I needed to get ready because he wanted us to go to dinner with him. I was very upset as my house was in shambles and I didn’t want to leave. We went to Morton’s for a great dinner and I found out then that the boss was not coming and, in reality, Travis wanted to get me away because the holiday had me stressed out. After dinner, we walked to the PPG ice rink, where we spent time looking at the tree. Then, he turned me around…what he said next was a blur as I was in shock to find him on one knee!!! It was such a fabulous moment! We then started to make the walk back to what I thought was the car but it was actually Olive or Twist for a celebratory drink. He had also lined up my friends to help celebrate; they were there with champagne in hand!

Describe the wedding. The look, theme, style, colors, etc.
We wanted a chic wedding with a little sparkle. I let Allison McGeary, our florist, run with the floral design and Mosaic with the linen suggestions. I also knew I wanted lots of candlelight!

What inspired your vision?
Being a wedding planner for over a decade, I wanted to spice things up and step outside the box, away from traditional setups. The vendors we chose did just that for us and we would not have changed one thing!

What made your wedding unique?
The style we went with! We added lounge furniture to the cocktail hour and dessert room! We had so many compliments on that room itself; no one had ever seen anything like it. The make-your-own smores bar was a huge hit too! Adding personal touches that represented Travis and me made the entire day special for us.

What was your favorite moment of the day?
When we were announced husband and wife in front of all our family and friends! Also when we shared our first dance with each other! We are so in love and enjoyed learning a special dance together to show off our personalities and our relationship (nailed it by the way!).

Bride to Bride

What advice would you give to other Burgh Brides planning their big day?
The wedding day is all about marrying your best friend. Focus on what will make you both happy and don’t stress over the little things. Don’t argue and when it comes to details; sit back and just remember….you will be married to your soul mate and, at the end of the day, does it really matter how your napkins are folded??? My dream was to married outside in Point State Park. But that morning, it was pouring and it didn’t let up. I was upset at first but then took a deep breath and thought, “I cannot wait to have my dad walk me down the aisle and then to marry the man of my dreams!” This made all the cares go away.

Any must haves, must dos, or can’t live withouts? Anything you would do differently?
Must have? Phenomenal entertainment! This will dictate your evening and keep your guests engaged and having fun. It’s one of the components they will talk about long after the wedding day. Must do? Make check lists to keep yourself straight and even consider hiring a wedding planner. The last two or three months do become a little hectic and you want to enjoy every moment. There is nothing I would have changed about our day. We were beyond ecstatic when we walked into our reception for the first time and it brought tears to our eyes!