I dare you to spot something more fun than this polka dot wedding. (See what I did there?) Kimberly and Ronald took a classic wedding day palette – black, white, and red – and added some pizzazz by incorporating whimsical spots and wide stripes. The invites, Ronald’s tie, ceremony programs, the seating chart, linens, even the ribbons hanging from Kimberly’s bouquet – all of these details showcased a little pop of pattern which infused a youthful, casual vibe into the entire day. Couple this with numerous personalized elements – like the venue of the Children’s Museum and the fact that Kimberly used to teach in the classrooms there, wine from Chautauqua where the couple got engaged, and a dessert course that featured both the bride and groom’s favorites – and you’ve got a recipe for a winning wedding. Traditional yet totally fun, this perfectly patterned day was captured by Ryan Zarichnak Photography. Get your peepers ready for lots of Pinterest worthy inspo!
From the bride…
When and how did you two meet?
We both work for Pittsburgh Public Schools, though in totally different departments. Our paths had crossed briefly over the years, but it wasn’t until after some “convincing” by our co-workers that we finally went on our first date in the spring of 2014. Since then, we have been pretty much inseparable!
Juicy details on the proposal, please! Where, when, how?
Once the school year ended in June of 2016, we decided we needed a nice, relaxing weekend away so we went up to Lake Chautauqua for a few days. While there, we stayed at a cute B&B and Ron surprised me by proposing with the most beautiful ring ever! We kept the engagement to ourselves for the day while enjoying wine tasting with big smiles and then we told my family in person and Ron’s family over the phone once we returned to Pittsburgh.
Describe the look, theme, style, and colors of the wedding!
We wanted our wedding to be fun, yet classy, so we chose classic black and white and then added the pops of red and sparkle for some fun. I loves all things polka dot, so we fit the dots and stripes in to add some jazz to plain black and white.
What inspired the vision?
I had dreamed of my wedding since I was a little girl, and luckily Ron was flexible about wedding decor and style, so I was able to make all of my Pinterest wedding board dreams come true!
What made the wedding unique?
We chose The Children’s Museum for our wedding because it’s a very special place to me. I used to teach in one of Pittsburgh Public School’s classrooms within the building. Throughout the years I taught there, I had seen the amazing things that could be done there with a little creativity. Also, many of our friends and family have small children, so the location seemed perfect. Ron selected the food for the stations from the extensive Big Catering menu, including sushi, sliders, and a pasta bar. My favorite dessert is Prantl’s burnt almond torte and Ron’s is ice cream, so we decided to have both. Many other wedding items had personal meaning to us, including wine from Chautauqua where we got engaged and beer from Draai Laag Brewing Co., where we have become friends with the owners. The candles used for the ceremony were also made by a friend of mine and one of the district secretaries was the officiant for the ceremony.
What was your favorite moment of the day?
My favorite moment of the day was the short bit of time after the ceremony, but before the reception, where it was just the wedding party and immediate family around hugging and congratulating us. It was very happy, very private, and very special (and luckily Ryan got some great photos of these moments).
Ron’s favorite moment of the day was the amazing Draai Laag beer and the huge sushi bar 🙂
What advice would you give to other Burgh Brides planning their big day?
Pittsburgh has some great local things that can make your day wonderful without breaking your bank… take advantage of it! Etsy is also great for getting personalized items that you and your wedding party will keep forever.
Any must haves, must dos, or can’t live withouts? Anything you would do differently?
Must have: a great photographer and great DJ
Must have: a detailed agenda for the day so everyone working on your wedding knows what’s supposed to happen and when, so you don’t get asked a million questions when you’re trying to enjoy your day
Would do differently: start earlier in the day – everything seemed to go so fast!
Vendors
Bride’s Dress: Morilee by Madeline Gardner from The Winner | Bride’s Belt & Headpiece: Ingenue B | Bride’s Jewelry: Trinity Jewelers | Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Bridesmaids Belts: Ingenue B | Bridesmaids Dresses: David’s Bridal | Cake: Prantl’s | Caterer: Big Catering | Ceremony Location: The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh | DJ: North Pittsburgh Music | Dessert: Leona’s Ice Cream Sandwiches | Flasks: Etsy | Flowers: Bloom Brigade | Hair: Above All Grand Salon & Spa | Hangers: Mile High Gifts | Linens: Mosaic Linens | Makeup: Above All Grand Salon & Spa | Menswear: Men’s Wearhouse | Photo Booth: The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh | Photo Booth Album: Pink Fish Shop | Photo Booth Props: Oriental Trading | Photographer: Ryan Zarichnak Photography | Reception Venue: The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh | Rentals: All Occasion Party Rental | Stationery: Wedding Paper Divas | Transportation: Roenigk Transportation
Photographer: Ryan Zarichnak Photography | Rentals: All Occasion Party Rental
