Two styles came together beautifully in this romantic yet fancy wedding. When Lauren married Ben, she wanted something timeless and glamorous. Mismatched bridesmaids dresses in various styles of grey met floral shades of soft peaches, pinks, and white to give off that swoon-worthy vibe. Meanwhile, lots of gold accents in the reception decor allowed for the blended look this bride was going for. Even the striking sage green of the Twentieth Century Club – the location of both the ceremony and reception – fit in with the day’s look. From Lauren’s lace V-neck Bridal Beginning wedding dress with cap sleeves and beaded belt to large floral welcome sign set in a gilded gold frame to the wedding cake featuring mixed metallic fondant confetti, this day was sparkly, classic, and downright lovely. You’re going to love these photos from Breanna Elizabeth Photography!
From the bride…
When and how did you two meet?
We actually met online using OkCupid! I decided to try online dating just shy of my twenty-fifth birthday, and almost gave up without meeting Ben. I signed in to deactivate my account, when I noticed a picture with a warm, caring smile that I couldn’t resist among messages that had gone unread. It was Ben. I thought to myself “Ok, I’ll give it one last shot,” and messaged him back. Hours later, we began exchanging messages, and soon after we exchanged phone numbers. After our first date, we were inseparable.
Juicy details on the proposal, please! Where, when, how?
September 18, 2015 started out as a typical Friday and turned into the day that we would never forget. After purchasing the ring only four days before, Ben received a phone call from the jeweler letting him know the ring was done, beautiful, and ready to be taken home. So he dropped everything for the rest of the day and planned his proposal. Fortuitously, it was date night. We had planned to go to a fantastic restaurant, and round out the evening with drinks at one of our favorite bars in our old neighborhood, Tender. As we walked out the door, Ben grabbed a coat, despite the warm weather, and little did I know, a beautiful surprise was waiting in the pocket for me. After dinner we took an Uber to Tender, and the driver asked us if we were married, to which I replied “not yet,” still with no idea what was to come. The Uber driver told us his wonderful love story, and encouraged us not to wait because once you’ve found the one you love, why wait. Ben was sitting in the front seat hiding his grin. When we arrived at Tender, Ben excused himself to the restroom while I got seats at the bar. When he returned, he held up his phone and said “It’s been a great night, we should take a picture!” Angling the phone to take the perfect selfie, Ben placed the ring over my shoulder so I would see it on the screen on his phone. Once I realized the moment I had been dreaming of was finally happening, Ben got down on one knee in the middle of the bar and asked me to marry him. Through tears, I shouted a yes, and now here we are!
Describe the look, theme, style, and colors of the wedding.
The look and style I was going for was “romantic glam,” which to me meant lots of lace, softness, and just the right amount of bling. I chose grey for my bridesmaids and had them pick whatever dress they liked. It came together beautifully, some having beaded dresses and some having chic and simple dresses. Ben’s crew kept it simple and classy with black suits. I used lots of gold decor to bring the glam, and my florist did an amazing job making everything look super romantic. I think the roses and eucalyptus added the perfect amount of femininity and romance to balance the glam.
What inspired the vision?
Once I found our venue, I knew our wedding was going to be a fancy affair! But, it was truly my dress that inspired my vision. I fell in love with this gorgeous, lacy, romantic dress, and it just set the tone for everything I wanted for my wedding. I did a lot of Pinterest-ing, but it can get overwhelming with all of the ideas out there…just let those ideas guide you and trust in your vendors to make your vision come to life.
What made the wedding unique?
Our ceremony made our wedding really unique. My husband is Jewish, and I was raised Christian, so we combined our traditions in a very special way to reflect both families. Our ceremony was extremely personal and heartfelt, both in our words to one another but also in our families’ involvement. We are also huge music lovers and made sure to incorporate songs from our own love story in the ceremony.
What was your favorite moment of the day?
I had so many!! I think my absolute favorite moment was the second the doors opened to the ceremony room and I saw everyone I loved all in one room there to support us in our marriage. I’m extremely close with my dad, so that was a moment we had been looking forward to for a long time. I couldn’t wait to get to the end of the aisle to Ben though. It was such a special moment with the two most important men in my life.
What advice would you give to other Burgh Brides planning their big day?
Do your research on your vendors, don’t let the little details stress you out, and remember that the love you share with your partner is the most important detail of the whole experience.
Vendors
Bride’s Dress: Justin Alexander from Bridal Beginning | Bride’s Belt: Debby Hoffman Bridal | Bride’s Bracelet: Kate Spade | Bride’s Comb: Debby Hoffman Bridal | Bride’s Earrings: Giavan | Bride’s Shoes: Dyebles | Cake: Bella Christie | Caterer: The Twentieth Century Club | Ceremony Location: The Twentieth Century Club | Ceremony Programs: Marry Makings | DJ: Rob Browell Macky from Macky-Sasser DJ Services | Flowers: The Blooming Dahlia | Hair: Barbie Palermo | His & Her Vow Books: Jotters and Journals | Linens: The Twentieth Century Club | Makeup: Pittsburgh Makeup by Julie Marckisotto | Menswear: Men’s Wearhouse | Photographer: Breanna Elizabeth Photography | Reception Venue: The Twentieth Century Club | Stationery: Invitations by Dawn | Table Numbers: Simply Fetching Paper | Transportation: Lenzner Coach Lines | Welcome Signs: Nella Designs
This Romantic Glam Wedding, with the inculcation of contrasting bright and subtle colors is really nice and refreshing concept. The wedding venue is beautiful, the use of golden and white along with rose gold combination looks great. The dinning venue is decorated with quite beautiful cutlery. The photographers succeed in capturing beautiful venue graciously.