Khristee and Ryan’s luxuriously warm fall wedding brought a whole new meaning to the phrase “home sweet home”! After meeting in high school and becoming best friends, it wasn’t long until Ryan knew he wanted to spend forever with his BFF. Beneath the candlelit pavilion at her childhood home, Ryan asked Khristee to marry him. It only made sense that they celebrate their forever in the very same backyard. After Khristee glided down the aisle in an elegant, off-the-shoulder Allure Couture wedding gown from Bridal Beginning and with her exquisite Orr’s Jewelers engagement ring sparkling on her finger, the couple celebrated the night away with their loved ones at the bride’s parent’s estate. The cool fall evening dazzled with string lights and every autumn accent was perfected by Exhale Events. The tent beamed with beautiful rentals from Windswept Entertainment & Event Rentals and crisp white and terracotta linens from Mosaic and lush, seasonal blooms from Wild Botanical Design floated above the tables. Guests enjoyed a delectable Bistro To Go dinner and a Tasty Bakery wedding cake that was just as visually stunning as it was delicious! DJ Dan Grover and Bachelor Boys Band kept the party going all night, and guests could even have their caricature drawn by Jimmy Kanfoush – an homage to the couple’s annual trips to the Big Butler Fair! Keep scrolling to see each sweet detail of this special day as captured by Lauren Renee Photography.
About the Couple
Ryan and I met a long time ago in CCD class. We grew up together and were in the same friend group. We stayed connected as friends after high school and soon after, the friendship turned into a relationship.
Ryan planned the perfect surprise proposal at my childhood home. Every year since we started dating, we go to the Big Butler Fair and get a caricature sketch; this has become a tradition. During his proposal, the pavilion was lit with candles, lights, and a caricature drawing asking me to marry him!
About the Wedding
Working with Exhale Events was super helpful because I had a lot of ideas and she helped me narrow down what I really wanted. I wanted something intimate and that felt like home, so we had our wedding at my childhood house. I knew I wanted an outdoor wedding, but picking the date in Pittsburgh was hard and I took a chance on an October wedding. I love fall and the cool, crisp mornings and evenings, not to mention the beautiful leaves changing colors. I wanted an elegant outdoor wedding with close friends and family that included live music, a caricature artist, and great food and drinks.
Favorite Moment
It’s hard to pick my favorite moment of the day. Everyone says something will go wrong during the wedding day and to not let it bother you, but if I am being honest, nothing went wrong. It was one of the happiest days of my life – getting married to my best friend and spending the day with my closest friends and family in a place that means so much to me during my favorite time of the year. It’s hard to beat it.