This wedding. I.can’t.even.
I should have expected nothing less than style perfection when {SHE} teamed up with Brianne, the owner of the hip Lawrenceville boutique No. 14. When she wed Eric, all the stops were brought out. Brianne’s style is girly and chic, but she wanted the wedding to contrast that and to also reflect her new hubby (it was his day too, after all). They pair opted for the Pittsburgh Opera (one of my FAVORITE locales) because of it’s raw canvas-ness and an old warehouse in the middle of the Strip District was the perfect representation of the city they love. To juxtapose the grit and industrial vibe of the venue, Brianne and Eric brought luxury to life. Crystal chandeliers and strands of bistro lights hung from exposed duct work. A black and white checkered dance floor looked sharp against exposed brick walls. Soft pink, white, and green floral arrangements – including an epic runner trailing all the way to the floor – brought an airiness to the space. In a word – it was incredible. My favorite details:
- Brianne’s dress. O.M.G. I won’t spoil the surprise but the Anne Barge gown from Anne Gregory for the Bride is literally show-stopping.
- That cake. Bella Christie knocked it out of the park with the black and floral, three-tiered confection. Can a cake be sexy? Because this one totally is.
- Custom branded set pieces. A DJ booth displaying their first names and a bar announcing “The Kordenbrocks” were focal points. All Occasions even worked the look of Brianne and Eric’s floral scheme into it. THIS is how you wow your guests!
The fact that Bri and Eric have been together since their early teens make this day, which was captured by Hot Metal Studio, even sweeter. Brace yourself. This one is a total doozy.
You absolutely have to watch Brianne and Eric’s highlight video from Evermark Studios. It will literally give you goosebumps.
From the bride…
When and how did you two meet?
I was 14; Eric was 15. Eric was invited to my best friend Kara’s 15th birthday party at her house. He was coming to meet Kara because a friend thought they would hit it off. Instead, we ended up talking and never stopped. Kara is still my best friend in the entire world and was my maid of honor.
Juicy details on the proposal, please! Where, when, how?
I opened No. 14, a contemporary clothing store located in Lawrenceville, on October 14, 2014. On October 15th, 2015, No. 14 was throwing a huge first birthday bash. A bunch of our friends came into town for it. In the middle of the party, Eric’s little sister pulled me aside to ask me about sizing of a skirt. She walked away in the middle of me talking to her; Eric stepped in and asked me to be his wife. I was never the type of girl who was super insane about my proposal or my wedding but I did have one request – I wanted my entire family there. All of my family is local with the exception for one of my brothers, Quinn, who lives in Denver. Eric and my parents arranged for Quinn and his girlfriend (now fiancé!) to fly in and surprise me right after it happened. It was one of the best nights surrounded by all of our favorite people. No. 14 is named after a lot of life milestones for both me and Eric. More than anything, it is because his college football number was 14 and so much of our time in college was spent on the football field. I loved how the original No. 14 proposed at No. 14.
Describe the wedding. The look, theme, style, colors, etc.
The Pittsburgh Opera is a very raw, blank canvas. The exposed brick warehouse-feel in the middle of the Strip District is so Pittsburgh. This city is underrated, and I’m so proud to live here. We wanted all of our friends from out of town to see where we spend so much of our time and why we love Pittsburgh the way we do. I wanted to keep the space raw, but bring the luxurious feel to it. We added the black and white dance floor, custom bar, and giant farm style tables. We added some plush chairs and had our head table (a whopping 47 people) at a high top in the middle. Our flowers were out of control! Lauren from The Farmers Daughter is so talented. Two of our tables had a flower runner that went all the way to the floor, and the others had incredible arrangements on them. The florals were all whites, greens, and dusty blush, to tie in my dress.
What inspired your vision?
If you have been to No. 14, you know it is very girly. Pink, metallic, light and airy. It is the most inspiring place to work everyday, and I adore it. I think a lot of people expected my wedding to look exactly like No.14 and to have that same exact feel. I wanted to counteract that aesthetic. We kept using words like: classy, sexy, sharp, and crisp. Weddings get so caught up in “the bride” but it was Eric’s day too! I wanted it to resemble both of us.
What advice would you give to other Burgh Brides planning their big day?
Enjoy it and don’t sweat the small stuff; at the end of the day, it is just a party. On your wedding day, take a step back and soak it in. Understand that all the people in that room are there for you and your new husband. How special is it to have all of the people you love in one room, celebrating you and your new life together?
Any must haves, must dos, or can’t live withouts? Anything you would do differently?
I truly loved every single one of our vendors. Everything went off without a hitch. I think it is all thanks to Shayla, our wedding planner. She knew us, she knew our vision, and she knew exactly which vendors would work for us. I had the vision, but no knowledge of how to make it come to fruition. Shayla knew the perfect vendors to make it all come to life. We couldn’t have done it without her.
Vendors
Bride’s Dress: Anne Barge from Anne Gregory for the Bride | Bride’s Accessories: J. Crew and her grandma’s diamond bracelet | Bride’s Shoes: Valentino | Bridesmaids Dresses: J. Crew | Cake: Bella Christie | Caterer: Big Burrito | Ceremony Location: Sts. John & Paul Roman Catholic Parish | DJ: DJ Digital Dave | Flowers: The Farmer’s Daughter | Hair: Brooke Rockwell Hair Designs | Lighting: Gray Phoenix | Linens: Mosaic | Makeup: Carly Tuscano of Fluhme Glam Bar | Menswear: Jack’s Tuxedo | Photographer: Hot Metal Studio | Reception Venue: The Pittsburgh Opera | Rentals: All Occasions Party Rental | Videography: Evermark Studios | Wedding Planner: {SHE} Shayla Hawkins Events
Rentals: All Occasions Party Rental
