Several ideas were blended together flawlessly at Rachel and Matt’s jaw-dropping wedding at the Wintergarden at PPG Place. With a little help and a lot of ingenuity from Wanderlust Weddings and Events and Pittsburgh wedding florist greenSinner, the outdoor-Victorian-greenhouse-garden style was brought to life. The downtown Pittsburgh wedding venue features glass walls and ceiling, giving off those perfect botanical vibes. Tons of tropical greenery and exotic florals, crystal towers, pastel pink and purple candles, and vintage furniture from Vintage Alley Rentals completed the dreamy, oasis-like setting. Arguably the most show-stopping detail, however, was the bride’s wedding dress. Designed by Hayley Paige and purchased at Bridal Beginning, it featured silk flowers and petals in a variety of pastel shades sewn into a layered skirt. Paired with hand-painted shoes featuring the Eiffel Tower (a nod to their Matt’s Paris proposal) and a custom quartz and pyrite crown, this bridal look was a very modern take on the classic princess style. The groom had his own unique style too, choosing to wear a morning suit inspired by the Royal Wedding. We are in love with just about every aspect of this wedding and we bet you will be too after seeing these images from Rachel Rowland Photography.
About the Couple
We met for the first time when we were in second grade. We never talked growing up so we don’t really count that. We reconnected in college when Matt was working at a gyro shop that I would stop at after work to pick up dinner. After a few asks, I agreed to go on a date with Matt. Since that day, we have literally been inseparable.
Our engagement was a dream and a complete surprise. We had a trip planed with both our parents to London and Paris. Everyone kept asking me if I though Matt would propose on this trip; we had been together several years at this point. Anyone that knows Matt knows he tends to do the opposite of what the crowd wants. I was convinced that he wouldn’t propose on this trip just because of the fact that everyone said it would happen there. We had a picnic our first day in Paris after leaving London and at that picnic Matt proposed in front of the Eiffel Tower. It was perfect.
About the Wedding
We originally had our minds set on an outdoor wedding in a garden but due to weather and family concerns, we decided last minute to move the wedding indoors. That’s when we found the Wintergarden. Wanting to keep the outdoor garden feel, we decided to theme it after a Victorian greenhouse garden. The Wintergarden already had a few large tropical planters. We decided to stick with that flow and keep the tropical feel and try to also blend in a coastal winery feel. In the end, we brought in tons of greenery and vintage furniture. We wanted to show off the existing checkered marble flooring and decided to use it as the aisle and later, the dance floor. Crystal towers and many candles added romance. We also had crystal rock candy hanging from the dance floor corners.
Our wedding planners and florist were incredible. We had so many ideas and asks, so many moving parts. Our wedding planners were with us at every step of the way. There is no way we could have pulled everything together, especially in the last two weeks, without their help. Our florist was amazing! He had so many unique ideas but was also so creative and flexible with any ideas I had. Working with our planners and florist together was a production, and I am so thankful for both of them helping to pull our vision together.
I wore Hayley Paige’s Paige gown with an updo hair style. I worked with Fawn & Sparrow to make the perfect crown. I wanted something that from far away would look like a traditional crown/tiara but the showed off the uniqueness the closer you came. The crown was made up of clear quartz and silver pyrite. When it came to the shoes, I wanted unique shoes that I could cherish forever when looking back at our wedding and that would bring back many memories throughout our relationship. I created hand-painted shoes with Marian Loves Shoes. My earrings were made of my birthstone, amethyst.
I tend to be slightly obsessed with anything that pertains to the “Royals”. I forced Matt to watch a good portion of the last Royal Wedding. While watching it, he came across a morning suit that was really unique and impressive. He tends to avoid the norm when it comes to things in general. When he had his first appointment at Samuel Baron, he showed them a handful of pictures of the suit he wanted. They worked for about three months on making it flawless and it turned out to be unbelievable.
