If you are a lover of all things glitz and glam, today’s wedding at The Club at Blackthorne just might have you drooling all over your screen. Allison and Lee’s original wedding plan was a regal, elegant celebration at the Carnegie Museum, which was a far cry from Lee’s preferred rustic, country style. Unfortunately, COVID forced them to alter said plans and select a new venue altogether. The result was a beautiful compromise between Allison’s dream of a sophisticated soiree and Lee’s wishes for a laid-back affair. Pittsburgh wedding florist Mocha Rose Floral & Event Design brought some luxurious star power to the lodge-like venue. With the help of Poppy Events, the couple and their all-star team of vendors – including Purple Wagon Designs, Bethel Bakery, Bistro To Go, and Lendable Linens – focused on reflections to accentuate the gorgeous floor-to-ceiling windows of the venue. Crystal candelabras with a mix of black and white pillar candles were highlights of some tablescapes, while elevated arrangements of monochromatic florals peppered others. A mirrored-top table from All Occasions Party Rental created a VIP-like space for the wedding party, and EF Lighting added to the romantic ambiance with hanging candles. We’ve never seen a more glamorous blend of styles. After seeing these images from Kristi Telnov Photography and this video from Post Script Films, we are sure you are going to agree!
About the Couple
Lee and I met at the rooftop bar of Sienna Mercato. We are both originally from Pittsburgh, however, Lee had just returned after several years in Cleveland. After the first hour of talking, we both knew we were perfect for each other. Later, I drove him home (he took an Uber because downtown is no place for a big truck). It was in the car together that we realized we both loved country music. Our second date was an impromptu 30-mile bike ride, which would become our favorite activity to do together. A little over a year later, we moved in together.
Lee proposed on September 9, 2019 after only having the ring in his possession for 24 hours. He was just “too excited to wait any longer”. Lee picked up the ring on Wednesday and the next night, he was at my parent’s house showing them the ring and asking my father for permission. He originally had a plan to propose where our first date was, however after showing my parents, he told them he was too excited and may do it that night. Well, he sure did surprise me! It could not have been sweeter. Lee would always say to me, “Hey! I have a question for you,” and I would always jokingly ask, “Is it THE question?” He came home from work Thursday and was acting strange and seemed anxious. Lee then said, “Hey, I have a question for you.” I just laughed and said, “What? What are we doing for dinner?” and I started to walk away. Next, he dropped down on his knee in the kitchen and asked me to marry him!
About the Wedding
We were luckily enough to get to plan two weddings thanks to the coronavirus pandemic! Prior to moving to Saint Louis in July 2020, we basically had our entire wedding planned. When I was a college student at the University of Pittsburgh, I fell in love with Saint Paul Cathedral and even more so when the altar was filled with poinsettias and Christmas trees. We confirmed our date with the church and planned our reception to be at the Carnegie Museum in the music hall foyer. This was a compromise on Lee’s behalf because I envisioned elegant, regal, sophisticated, and classic, while Lee envisioned a more rustic and country aesthetic.
Fast forward to October 2020. We came to realize that with the current pandemic restrictions, we would need to change the reception venue. At this point, we were living in Saint Louis so we were lucky my parents were up for an adventure to explore new venues and drive all over western PA. They found a new venue, The Club at Blackthorne, and when I saw it, it was love at first sight. There could not have been a more perfect venue for Lee and me. It was the perfect cumulation of rustic chic with modern elegance. With the help of our planners, we strived to hold on to the rustic beauty of the space while adding modern yet elegant focal points. The color scheme remained the same – black and white with touches of gold. We focused on lighting and reflections to accentuate the gorgeous windows that lined the back of the room. EF Lighting installed stunning hanging candles above the mirrored-top wedding party table. We added an elegant white settee for Lee and me to add a romantic touch to the wedding party table. We enhanced the soft lighting by using candelabras and votives everywhere. To add elegance and a pop of modern edge, Mocha Rose used high white vases for the gorgeous florals on the black linen round tables that were also accented with matte gold flatware. The modern square tables were topped with platinum gold linens and large crystal candelabras with black candles. With the help of all the vendors, the room was stunning with soft reflections and candlelight everywhere.
Favorite Moment
The whole day was an absolute dream! If we had to choose one moment as our favorite, we would say our first dance! We danced to “Forever To Go” by Chase Rice. Lee played the song for us and we knew it was perfect. After hearing the song, we decided to take a few dance classes to learn choreography for the dance. Anyone who knows Lee, knows he is not a dancer, so his enthusiasm to learn a dance made it all the more special. The dance classes were more than just learning choreography; they were an opportunity for us to experience each other learning something new individually while working at it together. Lee called our dance steps “our play book” and would ask me if I studied the playbook each week! We were so excited (and a little anxious haha) to perform our dance and surprise our families and friends. The moment was so special for us because it was an opportunity for us to show our families something we had been working on together in Saint Louis. We had so much fun performing it and we nailed it! I think we both miss (just a little) practicing at home in our kitchen.
