Modern Fairy Tale Inspired Wedding at the Twentieth Century Club: Shelby & Matthew

Like something straight out of a romance novel, this fairy tale inspired wedding is the stuff dreams are made of.  With a ceremony at Heinz Chapel and the evening set in the charming ballroom of the Twentieth Century Club, a palette of blush, mauve, deep plum, ivory, and champagne played center stage at this affair.  The combination was the perfect mix of drama, femininity, and sophistication.  In her dusty pink long sleeve Hayley Paige wedding dress, Shelby looked like an ethereal starlit.  Meanwhile, Matthew was dashing in his modern yet classic blue and black tuxedo with a bow tie.  With the help of a strolling violinist, dimmed chandeliers, and a starry ceiling above the dance floor, romance simply oozed throughout the evening.  Textural linens, mismatched bridesmaids dresses in a variety of hues, sophisticated calligraphy, and subtle gold detailing added to the ambiance.  Even the portraits look like they still frames from a live adaptation of the literary classic “The Secret Garden”.  The intimacy and natural beauty of Mellon Park’s walled garden coupled with the moody creativity of Whitling Photography will make you swear Shelby and Matthew just stepped off the cover of a book.  Fit for a prince and princess, this soiree is bound to leave you swooning.

From the bride…

Tell me about yourselves!  When and how did you meet?  How long have you been together?  How did you get engaged?  All the juicy details!

Matt and I met four years ago while playing co-ed PSL softball.  I had recently moved home to Pittsburgh from Nashville and was looking for a way to meet new people.  I joined the “Honeynut Ichiros” in the spring of ’13 and Matt joined the team in the fall of 13′ season.  I remember going over to introduce myself to the cute new guy, and as soon as we locked eyes, there was an instant click – I knew this guy was going to be a part of my life.  Matt and I always joke around that we have our softball team and PSL to thank for us finding each other… it was serendipity!

Matt proposed the summer of 2016.  My family has a home in Montana, outside of Glacier National Park (my favorite place in the world), and we were out there visiting.  We decided to spend a night in Glacier at one of the lodges.  So after a long day of hiking, we checked into the lodge and went upstairs to freshen up before dinner.  Our room had an outdoor patio overlooking a river, with mountains in the backdrop (gorgeous view) so we decided to sit out on the rocking chairs and take in the view.  Next thing I knew, he was down on one knee asking me to marry him 🙂

Describe the wedding and what inspired it. What was unique about it?

For the wedding, I wanted to go with a fairytale/secret garden type feel.  I wanted to be traditional in the fact that I wanted to get married in a church.  Heinz Chapel is stunning, and has a more intimate feel.  The glow of the stained glass windows while you’re inside is beautiful.  I used a string quartet as well as an organist for the ceremony.  My bridesmaids were all in different dresses, and my flower girls looked like little fairies!  I think they stole the show!

After the ceremony we took pictures at Mellon Park near the walled garden.  That’s where I really felt like I was in the Secret Garden!

Our reception was at The Twentieth Century Club.  The venue is so elegant and has an old world charm about it, with stunning chandeliers.  There are also several different rooms you can utilize!  We used the upstairs foyer for cocktail hour, as a violinist strolled though the guests.  We then moved into the dining room for dinner and cake.  From there, we moved downstairs into the art deco ballroom, where the bar opened up and the party began!  We used candlelight uplighting, and the chandeliers were dimmed just enough to create a gorgeous ambiance.  My colors were hues of champagne and ivory, with bits of gold, blush, mauve, and deep plums.  I told Lauren at The Farmer’s Daughter that I wanted my flowers to give off an antique moody vibe.  She took that and made magic happen!

With the help of my mom, everything I planned and envisioned was executed perfectly.  It was truly a fairy tale day, and I never felt more like a princess.  I wish I could go back and do it again!!!

What was your favorite moment of the day?

My favorite moment of the day would probably be getting ready to walk down the aisle with my dad and seeing Matt (for the first time) standing at the other end.

Is there any advice you would give to other couples planning their big day?

Have fun, and enjoy it!!!  Try not to stress (too much).  The day will be here before you know it!

Vendors

Bride’s Dress: Hayley Paige from Bridal Beginning | Bride’s Accessories: BHLDN | Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bridesmaids Dresses: Amsale & Jenny Yoo from Bella Bridesmaids | Cake: Gluuteny | Calligraphy: Judith Browne Calligraphy | Caterer: Twentieth Century Club | Ceremony Location: Heinz Chapel | DJ: DJ Nugget | Flower Girl Dresses: Little Dreams Inc. | Flowers: The Farmer’s Daughter | Hair: Sarah Pelco (bride) and DeStefino Beauty Bar (bridesmaids) | Lighting: Gray Phoenix Design | Linens: Mosaic Linens | Makeup: Lexie Totura at DeStefino Beauty Bar | Menswear: Kenneth Cole & Joseph Abboud from Mens Wearhouse | Photography: Whitling Photography | Reception Venue: Twentieth Century Club | Stationery: Brown Linen Design | String Quartet: Steven Vance Violin & DJ Music | Transportation: Elite Limousine | Videography: So Fresh Films 

Bride’s Dress: Bridal Beginning | Photography: Whitling Photography | String Quartet: Steven Vance Violin & DJ Music | Videography: So Fresh Films