Heartfelt, Intimate Elopement at Found + Made: Ashley & Aaron

It’s rare that a submission makes me cry.  Giddy over gorgeous details?  Of course!  Jealous because I want to relive my own big day?  You betcha.  But cry.  Nope, that’s never happened.  Until Ashley and Aaron.

It’s probably because their story is the most beautiful I’ve read all year.  For Ashley and Aaron, this day was the culmination of so many things.  After tragically losing her first husband (and father to her son, Jonas), Ashley found her life “in ashes,” as she puts it.  But then she met Aaron, a man she believes both God and her late husband placed directly in her path with the purpose of turning her ashes to beauty.  Their intimate March 8 elopement marked a new beginning and a new family.  Not only is their story heartfelt, but their wedding was full of sweet, thoughtful details.  My favorites?

• This might be the sweetest proposal story everrrr.  The full story is below so I don’t want to give away too much but let’s just say Aaron but a spin on the traditional question that will tug at alllllll your heart strings.
• Ashley’s wedding day look included a JCPenney laser cut lace dress with a hi low hem and dainty tie back.  She topped it off with a blue rhinestone necklace from The Limited to match her Nine West navy suede booties.  As she says, “It’s ok if your dress comes from a department store and your accessories were on clearance.”  Truer words have never been spoken!  Ashley was just as beautiful as other brides who have spent thousands on their look!
• Together, Ashley and Aaron have formed a love for the industrial chic trend.  When hunting for a spot to tie the knot, their photographers suggested Found + Made in Wilkinsburg.  The warehouse of this vintage rental and event styling company could not have been more perfect.  The white washed brick walls, pane windows, concrete floor, and overall grittiness of the space provided the uniquely beautiful vibe the couple was going for.
• Another passion the pair shares is taking vintage pieces and giving them a new life, very fitting for their own story.  As a way of infusing their personalities into their big day, Ashley and Aaron incorporated some of their very own antique pieces into the decor.  Bringing in items from their own home to display at Found + Made made the space even more personalized and familiar.
• I so wish more brides and grooms had the same attitude that Ashley and Aaron had about their big day.  Ashley said, “The biggest goal for us was to have a day not based on wedding traditions and must-haves, but rather to create a unique day and setting that was more about the covenant that we made to each other that day.”  It’s all about perspective and this couple was able to maintain a good one when getting married.  Details are nice but they aren’t what matter most.

Their darling day was captured in beautiful images and a video that is sure to make you sob all sorts of ugly tears, both by All Heart Photo & Video.  I’ve never seen two people more in love, but more importantly, thankful for each other.  THIS is what it’s all about.

Take a few minutes to watch their video too.  But be sure to grab some tissues first!  You’re gonna need them.

From the bride…

When and how did you two meet?
Aaron and I grew up one small town away from each other…though it was not until I began attending Faith Assembly of God that we got to know each other.  I was asked by a good friend to fill in for her team at youth group and Aaron was one of the group leaders.  We quickly found out that we are both extremely competitive.  When his team won, I decided that they had not followed the rules.  He, of course, disagreed, and I threatened to “mess up his pretty face.”  And I guess you could say the rest is the beginning of a crazy, beautiful chapter.

Juicy details on the proposal, please!  Where, when, how?
Aaron planned a date for us at Nemacolin Woodlands, a local resort that is one of our favorite places.  It was a beautiful, snowy day, so we started with breakfast at Falling Rock Resort, enjoying the beauty of the snow from their massive windows.  Then, we went and spent some time at the Nemacolin Woodlands Spa, and ended up in the coffeehouse at The Lodge.  He had brought a gift box that included a puzzle that we put together while sipping on our mochas.  As we put it together, I realized it was a picture of him, Jonas, and me at his family’s lodge in Michigan.  At the bottom of the puzzle, it read “I love your hair….your green eyes…you smell good…”(a joke referencing some of Aaron’s first awkward  but sweet compliments).  It was then I noticed that part of the puzzle was missing.  And it was not the words “Will you marry me?” or “Will you be my wife?” that were missing, but rather the much-more-appropriate-and-fitting-for-our-story “Will you be my family?”  And inside of the ring box that he presented me was the last piece of the puzzle, which, of course, for me was the answer “YES!”

Describe the wedding.  The look, theme, style, colors, etc.
I first have to give so many props to the girls from All Heart Photo & Video.  Dana and Keren spent so much time helping us create a “styled shoot” that was perfect for our style and our crazy, special day.  They went above and beyond their duty to help us plan a location and atmosphere that we have fell in love with.  They introduced us to Laura and Jen from Found + Made, who not only opened up their warehouse to us but also let us use of all their exquisite, vintage furniture and helped us stage the perfect setting for us to say “I do”.

What inspired your vision?
Aaron and I are definitely unique souls.  We are both musicians.  Aaron is an artist and I love design and styling spaces.  Together, we have formed a love for industrial chic.  Our passion is taking vintage pieces and giving them new purpose and life, a great representation of the “beauty for ashes” that is our story.  Everything that was part of our day is part of our story in some way.  Some of the pieces are family heirlooms that we have on display in our home and they went well with the suggested furniture pieces provided by Found + Made.  The biggest goal for us was to have a wedding day not based out of traditions and must-haves, but rather to create a unique day and setting that was more about the covenant that we made to each other that day.

What made your wedding unique?
Most definitely what made our day unique is the story that is behind it all.  Our elopement was somewhat of a solemn day for all involved because it signified the ending of an important chapter in my life even as we began this beautiful one together.  In 2013, my first husband, Brian, was killed in an accident, and for such a long time, it seemed as though my life had succumbed to ashes.  This was not the fairy tale romance I had planned for my life, nor for our sweet boy, Jonas.  I was promised by many who were praying for me in this season that God would provide some “beauty for this ash”. And even when I met Aaron and wanted to “mess up his pretty face”, I knew without any doubt in my heart that God and maybe even Brian had a hand in bringing the two of us together.  It was easy.  It was beautiful.  It was “beauty for this ash.”  God provided a kinsman redeemer who not only fell in love with me but also my son and who reminded me that though one chapter may come to a close that there was another beautiful chapter just waiting for me to begin.

What was your favorite moment of the day?
I think our absolute favorite moment was when Jonas, without any prompting from anyone, grabbed Aaron’s hand and then mine.  With just that one sweet moment, it felt like our family was formed.

Bride to Bride

What advice would you give to other Burgh Brides planning their big day?
First of all, Pittsburgh is such a beautiful place.  You can find beauty in some of the craziest places, including old buildings and tire yards.  And I think it’s super important to remove all expectations for what “traditional weddings” call for.  Your day should be a representation of who you are as a couple and it should also prepare you for the days that are ahead in your marriage, which are way more important than that one day.  Don’t get me wrong…I am completely obsessed with all things wedding, but more importantly, the journey that you begin together.  That should be the focus of your day.  It’s not about the money spent or glitz and glam.  It’s ok if your dress comes from a department store and your accessories were on clearance.  It’s about the covenant that you make to each other.

Any must haves, must dos, or can’t live withouts?  Anything you would do differently?
Well, our wedding story is not complete.  We are looking at venues to have a celebration day for all our friends and family.  Our wedding day was just about Aaron, Jonas, and me, so we only had our parents with us on that day.  But we are excited to continue this celebration with those we love.  I don’t think we would do anything differently because it was a good plan for us.  As far as couldn’t live withouts, we would not have had such a beautiful day without the help from All Heart Photo & Video.  They are amazing and I am grateful for their talent and sweet friendship through the process.

Vendors
Bride’s Dress: JCPenney | Bride’s Accessories: The Limited | Bride’s Shoes: Nine West at Macy’s | Cake: Mary Ann Moreau, mother of the groom | Ceremony Location: Found + Made | Hair & Makeup: Genevieve Moreau-Burkes | Decor: A mix of personal items and furniture from Found + Made | Menswear: H&M | Photographer & Videographer: All Heart Photo & Video

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