Today’s shabby chic wedding is all kinds of pretty! What started as a potential career connection quickly blossomed into true love. One picnic proposal and four years later, Angela and Donnie exchanged vows on a hot July day. The couple let their big day be inspired by their chosen venue, Destiny Hill Farm. This meant a soft, summery palette of lavender and ivory, loads of cute details like wooden and chalkboard signs, a ribbon garland, and lots of lace and burlap, and even a cocktail hour in the horse stables. And what Pittsburgh is complete without a massive cookie table?! And by massive, I mean 3,000 little pieces of heaven! Donnie’s mom even hosted baking parties at her house in preparation. These are just a few examples of how this wedding day was chock full of heartfelt touches. Keep your eyes peeled for my other favorites:
- The embroidered button downs Angela and her ladies wore to get wedding ready. Personalized with each gal’s initials, these shirts were totally adorable.
- #happilyeverhoward7252015. Wedding hashtags certainly aren’t a new thing but I love how Angela and Donnie put their own unique spin on a popular wedding phrase. It appeared on everything from the ceremony programs to the cookie table take home bags.
- Speaking of the ceremony, this one couldn’t have taken place in a prettier location. Under an arbor accented with hanging florals, the bride and groom said “I do” in the lavender fields that Destiny Hill is famous for. Can you just imagine the heavenly smell?!
- Quite possibly my favorite thing about Angela and Donnie is that they admittedly planned more for the marriage than they did the wedding. They recognized that while this day would certainly be a special one, the journey they were about to embark on together was really what mattered the most.
David Burke Photographer captured this uber romantic day. Congrats Angela and Donnie! Your wedding was simply darling!
Be sure to take a few minutes to watch Angela and Donnie’s highlight video. I swear I cry every time I watch a wedding film…
From the bride…
When and how did you two meet?
May 2011. A week before I graduated from Penn State, my good friend, Kat, came back to our senior house (aka The Lair) from a club baseball alumni party. She said she met a teacher from Pittsburgh who was super fun and really cute. Trusting her judgment and hoping I could get deets about how he landed a teaching job in the Burgh, I agreed to go to dinner at Mad Mex in Shadyside with him. We soon became inseparable and have enjoyed four anniversary dinners over margs at that same Mad Mex. 🙂
Juicy details on the proposal, please! Where, when, how?
Memorial Day Weekend 2014. On Saturday morning, Donnie and I were making one of my Pinterest-inspired holiday platters. As I fiddled over creating the perfect American flag out of fruit and cheese, Donnie reminded me that we needed to get ready so we could enjoy our picnic at The Point, before my dad & Carol’s Memorial Day cookout. This led to him taking over my role in the kitchen and me getting ready (such a champ).
As we strolled hand in hand along the Riverwalk path we had run oh-so-many times before during our half marathon training, we found a spot for our picnic at The Point. We ate the sandwiches and snacks Donnie had packed. The next thing I know, Donnie and I were singing along in the sunshine to Lee Brice’s “I Don’t Dance.” He started reminiscing our week’s events: anniversary dinner at Mad Mex, Pirates game in the same seats we had on one of our first dates, dinner at Primanti’s where he asked me to be his girlfriend, and lunch at Mulligan’s where he first told me he loved me. Just as I realized he had really been proposing all week, he was down on one knee. It was by far the best moment of my life, only to be followed by more happy moments with my sister and Drew, who were hiding nearby with a picnic basket filled with celebratory drinks. We spent the rest of our weekend celebrating with family and friends!
Describe the wedding. The look, theme, style, colors, etc.
Our wedding at Destiny Hill Farm had a romantic shabby chic theme. We got married outside near lavender fields, hosted the cocktail hour in the stables, and had the reception in a show barn.
What inspired your vision?
Playing off of the lavender fields at Destiny Hill Farm, I went with a lavender and ivory color scheme to accent the venue. I got a lot of my style inspiration from Southern Weddings magazine.
What made your wedding unique?
Donnie and I chose to write our own vows to one another. Throughout wedding planning, people would ask us, “What are you most looking forward to?” to which we both answered, “Saying our vows.” We really focused more on planning our marriage than just planning the wedding. We were fortunate to be married by a good family friend who really helped us through marriage prep sessions. I was so excited to be getting married to my best friend that the wedding just felt like a bonus.
Another thing that made our wedding unique was our decadent cookie table! Prior to the big day, my mother-in-law hosted baking parties at her house to make sure we had over 3,000 cookies for guests to enjoy and take home with them.
What was your favorite moment of the day?
My favorite moment of the day was hearing Donnie’s vows. Even though we did not peek at one another’s beforehand, they were very similar in promises and hopes for our future.
Bride to Bride
What advice would you give to other Burgh Brides planning their big day?
Never, ever tell a Pittsburgh woman (mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, etc) “No” or “Maybe” to a cookie table at your Pittsburgh wedding. Not everyone will eat cake, but I promise you that everyone will eat a cookie (or a dozen)!
Don’t lose sight of the fact that you are planning a marriage and not just a wedding.
Any must haves, must dos, or can’t live withouts? Anything you would do differently?
At the end of the wedding, all you have are memories…and pictures and a video. Look for a photographer and videographer that is going to capture your story.
I prayed for no rain for our outdoor ceremony in July, but neglected to pray for no heat!
Vendors
Bride’s Dress: Bridal Beginning | Bride’s Accessories: Ambrosia Bridal | Bride’s Shoes: Brianna Leigh | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Bella Bridesmaids | Cake: Dough Girls | Calligraphy: Jimmy Lavrinc | Caterer: The Golf Club of Washington | Ceremony & Reception Location: Destiny Hill Farm | Cookie Table: Debbie Crowe | DJ: Scott Wooten of Marquee Wedding Company | Flowers: Destiny Hill Farm Flowers & Design | Hair: Geno Levi Salon | Linens: All Occasions Party Rental | Makeup: Mandee Kozar | Menswear: Men’s Wearhouse | Photographer: David Burke Photographer | Stationery: Champagne & Post | Transportation: GG&C Bus Company | Videography: James Palanza | Wedding Planner: Mimi York
Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Bella Bridesmaids | Linens: All Occasions Party Rental
There’s so much emotion in these photos, I love it! I especially love how the groom wrote on the bottom of the bride’s shoes. So sweet!
That lavender and ivory color palette is perfect! Love it!
Beautiful post!
thanks amy! this wedding was definitely a favorite 🙂