Today’s (absolutely incredible) wedding at The Pennsylvanian proves that white isn’t just for the bride. Selecting the chicest of shades as the main color in their wedding palette, Eugenia and Michael had a day fit for royalty. The opulence of their chosen Pittsburgh wedding venue holds a special place in their hearts and its grandeur set the tone for the elegant and timeless celebration they desired. With help from Soiree by Souleret, the space was transformed thanks to romantic lighting from EF Lighting, luxurious rentals from All Occasions Party Rental, and incredible floral installations from Hens and Chicks. The white-on-white scheme extended to the bridal party as well, with Eugenia’s maids donning white BHLDN bridesmaids dresses for the ultimate in twists on tradition. From the crystallized centerpieces and gilded place settings to the monogrammed dance floor and fresh greenery canopy, this wedding is chock full of inspiration and envious details. See them all perfectly captured by Araujo Photography!
About the Couple
Michael and Eugenia were introduced to each other through friends in college, but they didn’t meet in person until the summer after they graduated. They didn’t reconnect again until two years later when they were both single and Michael was visiting New York. They started dating in January 2015 and dated all four years long distance – Michael in Philadelphia and Eugenia in New York City. In December 2018, Michael surprised Eugenia in the lobby of the Omni William Penn Hotel and told her he “wanted to take a walk.” He was supposed to be in Philadelphia, but orchestrated with her friends to make sure she was waiting inside the lobby. He proposed in the park across the street from the hotel and their families met them for a celebration afterwards at Vallozzi’s!
About the Wedding
I always knew that I wanted a very elegant, classic wedding with lots and lots of white. I had never thought of The Pennsylvanian as a venue until my dad reminded me that it used to be Pittsburgh’s train station that ran between New York, Philly, and Pittsburgh. Not only was the rotunda and the space stunning, but the meaning behind the venue was so special for us.
I think the most unique thing about our wedding was that our parents served as Maid of Honor (my mom) and Best Man (Michael’s dad). We both have really incredible friends, but when we thought about who the most important people to us were, we knew we wanted our parents to be on the altar with us.
Favorite Moment
It’s so hard to choose! My Dad’s speech is something I wish I could replay over and over every day. But I think my favorite moment was seeing Michael sing on stage with the band. Michael is always the life of the party at weddings, and he often finds his way on stage, and I’ll remind him that it’s not his wedding so maybe he should give the mic back to the lead singer of the band 🙂 So when I was trying to think about something I could give Michael on the wedding day that wasn’t a tangible gift, I thought about how happy he would be to get to sing with the band in front of everyone. He’s not a professional singer; he just has a very big personality haha. So I worked with the band to pick a song and I was able to get on stage and introduce him and the whole thing was an incredible surprise and a really special moment for me!
