Elaina and Jordan’s vibrant wedding day at the Energy Innovation Center beautifully honored the island of Oahu – where their love story began – and infused their celebration with Hawaiian colors and traditions. Jordan, originally from Hawaii, had moved to Pittsburgh after meeting Elaina on the islands. This meant that tropical flowers and palm leaves were a must for their wedding arrangements, designed by My Garden Floral. The lush, leafy greens were accented with pops of white and bright red tropical blooms, while the flowers at the altar were made up of red Hawaiian Ti leaves and red ginger. Amanda Welsh Photography perfectly captured the day, noting that “pure love radiated” throughout the ceremony. The couple wore traditional Hawaiian flowers, with Jordan donning a Ti leaf lei around his neck and Elaina wearing a Haku lei, a beautiful Hawaiian headdress. The ceremony was simple yet elegant, held indoors with an abundance of natural light streaming through the space. On the grassy rooftop of the building, the couple took dreamy photos – Elaina’s floating tulle gown, adorned with modern floral applique, adding a subtle island vibe. Local touches, such as the bar cart from Pittsburgh Mobile Bars and a cake created by Sweet Treats & Custom Cakes by Holly, beautifully tied in elements of their new city as they planted everlasting roots together.
About the Couple
Jordan and Elaina met in the winter of 2019 in Oahu. Elaina had taken an opportunity to live in Hawaii for several months with her friends, who had just relocated there from Pittsburgh. Jordan, a native of Oahu, met Elaina through their mutual friends, but they didn’t start dating right away. Even though Elaina was on an extended vacation, she still was located back in Pittsburgh.
Within a year and a half, they realized they shared a deeper connection than friendship. Despite the continent and ocean separating them, the two spent countless hours on the phone, talking about their future together.
Their engagement played out like a surprise Hallmark movie moment. In September 2021, after dating long-distance for five months, they planned a fun visit where Elaina would fly to Oahu, and Jordan would then return with her to Pittsburgh to officially make the move stateside. During the visit, they planned a sunset photoshoot at one of their favorite beaches to capture and commemorate their time in Hawaii. What Elaina didn’t know was that Jordan, along with their photographer friend, had orchestrated a much bigger surprise. Mid-shoot, while Elaina was positioned to face the opposite direction, Jordan secretly pulled out the ring box, backed up, and got down on one knee in the sand.
They wanted their wedding to be the perfect blend of who they are and where they both come from, creating a Hawaii-meets-Pittsburgh moment. The Energy Innovation Center provided the ideal open, industrial space for their classic island vibes with an industrial Pittsburgh feel. The venue also offered a stunning backdrop with the city view, while classic island greenery and florals filled the room. They honored Jordan’s Hawaiian heritage with prayers and music spoken and sung in the native Hawaiian language, while also introducing their family and friends from Hawaii to the traditional Pittsburgh Cookie Table. Their wedding was a dream come true and a perfect representation of their love story.
y also had a frame-by-frame story of their engagement – flying back to Pittsburgh as fiances!
About the Wedding
From the photographer…
They wanted their wedding to be the perfect blend of who they are and where they both come from, creating a Hawaii-meets-Pittsburgh moment. The Energy Innovation Center provided the ideal open, industrial space for their classic island vibes with an industrial Pittsburgh feel. The venue also offered a stunning backdrop with the city view, while classic island greenery and florals filled the room. They honored Jordan’s Hawaiian heritage with prayers and music spoken and sung in the native Hawaiian language, while also introducing their family and friends from Hawaii to the traditional Pittsburgh cookie table. Their wedding was a dream come true and a perfect representation of their love story.
Favorite Moment
My favorite moment of the day can’t be narrowed down to just one, as the feeling of pure love radiated throughout the entire celebration. A few moments that stood out include: the beautiful speech Elaina’s dad gave right after he gave her away, both families joining at the altar in prayer over their marriage, and when Elaina performed a traditional Hula dance for her new husband. It was truly the most loving and beautiful day.
