Small and intimate, but uniquely styled, this blue & gold wedding is sure to inspire. After meeting at the office, Laura initiated the first date with Brandon. Fast forward a few years and they were picking out her engagement ring together and planning a wedding that focused on love, family, and friends. And that it did, thanks for the gorgeous venue – The Union Hall at Bar Marco. This tiny space above the trendy Pittsburgh restaurant gives off an industrial, artsy vibe and is perfect for quaint gatherings. The picturesque floor-to-ceiling windows are a focal point and make for a jaw-dropping ceremony backdrop, which is exactly what happened in Laura and Brandon’s case. Add in a midnight blue color palette, metallic gold accents, and lots of candlelight and you’ve got a recipe for a noteworthy wedding. Keep your eyes peeled for:
- Laura’s dress and accessories. The lace sheath dress with elbow length sleeves from Glitter & Grit was accented with a beaded belt and (my favorite detail) a long beaded “necklace” that highlighted the open back. Both demure and contemporary!
- A first look unlike any other. Embracing that Pittsburgh grit and all sorts of textures and shadows, Laura and Brandon, along with their photographer Steven Dray, took some pre-ceremony pics in a parking garage. Laura called it a moment she’ll “never forget”.
- A family style diner. To keep the focus right where they wanted it, the couple opted for a 5-course meal served family style to promote conversation and togetherness. Just like being at home.
While Laura and Brandon skipped many of the wedding “traditions” and frills, their day certainly didn’t lack in beauty. I’ll just be over here being wowed.
So Fresh Films totally knocked this wedding highlight film out of the park too! I’m not crying, you’re crying.
From the bride…
When and how did you two meet?
We met over four years ago in a typical way: at the office. He was working for an outsourced IT vendor who did work for my full-time company. It didn’t take long for us to strike up some conversation that had nothing to do with work. Before you know it I asked HIM out for our first date, and the rest is history.
Juicy details on the proposal, please! Where, when, how?
We met in a traditional way, but our proposal was a bit more nontraditional. After almost three years of dating and two years of living together, we had been talking about getting married for a while. So we decided to go look at rings together right after Thanksgiving 2015, both promising to each other that we were JUST looking and we weren’t going to commit to anything. We ended up leaving the store with my engagement right then and there. It was the perfect cut I was looking for (asscher) and the ring actually fit me so we didn’t need to have it sized. A couple weeks later, we staged a “proposal” where we went for a ride around town to our most favorite spots, and he ended up asking me to marry him in the courtyard outside Gateway Center downtown. Even though it wasn’t a surprise, it was absolutely perfect!!
Describe the wedding. The look, theme, style, colors, etc.
Our wedding was perfectly “us”. Our day was focused on our love and the love we have for our family and friends. We didn’t do a lot of the traditional wedding customs, and there weren’t a ton of frills. The wedding space was a classic look of midnight blue tables with gold accents, and lots of candlelight. The day focused more on all of us being together than a raving party.
What inspired your vision?
Our end goal was to enjoy an intimate evening with our closest family and friends, and that’s what drove our decision to work with Bar Marco. Their 2nd floor event space (The Union Hall) was a blank slate that allowed for an intimate table arrangement, and their dinner was a 5-course family-style meal which promoted conversation and good times all around. We wanted the focus to be on great food, great conversation and, of course, love. I think we achieved that.
What made your wedding unique?
We had the ceremony and reception in the exact same space, since our original plan of having an outdoor wedding at Point State Park fell through due to weather. But in the end, it was absolutely stunning and I couldn’t have imagined not being at Bar Marco for the whole day. The tables were all set for dinner, with the exception of the head table, which is where we stood during the ceremony. The table arrangement made for a perfect “aisle” for me to walk down, and the space had huge palladium windows at one end where we stood, which made it spectacular.
What was your favorite moment of the day?
Our “first look” before the ceremony. I was a huge ball of nerves the morning of the wedding, but once I made the walk to see Brandon for the first time in my wedding gown, all of my nerves melted away and I could just enjoy that sweet moment with him. It truly was a moment I’ll never forget.
What advice would you give to other Burgh Brides planning their big day?
As much as you may try to avoid conflict or drama surrounding your wedding, there inevitably will be some, and that’s ok! There are so many emotions wrapped up with weddings, but it usually has to do with people wanting you to have your best day ever. So don’t fret if and when it happens; just know that at the end of this process, you will still love everyone that helped you with your wedding. Ultimately you will be married to your favorite person and that’s all that matters!
Any must haves, must dos, or can’t live withouts? Anything you would do differently?
We asked a friend of ours to be our Day of Coordinator, and we were so glad that we did! I would suggest to everyone that they have someone working with them on the actual day since the last thing you want to be doing is worrying about the details. Our friend, Sarah, made everything flawless and I didn’t even once have to worry about something not getting done. There will be enough to deal with on the big day, and final details shouldn’t be part of it.
Vendors
Bride’s Dress: Anais Anette from Glitter & Grit | Bride’s Accessories: Glitter & Grit and Clarissa Boutique | Bride’s Shoes: DSW | Bridesmaids Dresses: Custom from Stop Staring Clothing | Cake & Desserts: Homemade by the mother of the groom | Caterer: Bar Marco | Ceremony Location: The Union Hall at Bar Marco | DJ: Runaway Records Productions | Flowers: Blumengarten | Hair: La Pomponnee Beauty Artisans | Lighting: Runaway Records Productions | Linens: Mosaic | Makeup: La Pomponnee Beauty Artisans | Menswear: Indochino Custom | Photographer: Steven Dray Images | Reception Venue: The Union Hall at Bar Marco | Rentals: Stockpile Rentals | Seamstress: Exquisite Fit Bridal | Stationery: Minted | Transportation: Elite Coach Transportation | Videography: So Fresh Films | Wedding Planner: Sarah Braun
