Showing off this greenhouse wedding at Quality Gardens is probably as close as we’ll ever get to having green thumbs. But that’s ok with us; this soiree was way better than anything we could ever grow. In just five months, Courtney and Brian planned a day that was whimsical, elegant, and full of character. Under a canopy of hanging potted ferns, the bride and groom exchanged vows in a setting fit for a garden goddess and then partied with guests in a glass-enclosed greenhouse. The already scenic venue was accented with moss table runners, floating leaves in glass bottles, and colorful florals in shades of orange, burgundy, yellow, and white. DIY’d table numbers, signs, and stationery – all made by the bride herself – gave some personalized finishing touches to the fun affair. If you can’t get married outside, bring nature indoors! Get ready to watch love grow with these images from Dawn Derbyshire Photography.
About the Couple
I moved from Michigan to Pittsburgh in 2012 for work. A year later I met Brian. It was May 23, 2013 to be exact. I was at a work happy hour at Rivertowne North Shore, celebrating a friend’s new job. He was there because the Pirates game got rained out. We started chatting and hit it off. The next day, we went out on our first date.
Just over four years later, on May 31, 2017, he got down on one knee. We were on a road trip when it happened. Our first stop was Michigan for my Dad’s wedding, then Toronto, down to Niagara Falls, and back home to Pittsburgh. On our second day in Toronto, we got up early and headed to Casa Loma. Before catching our Uber, he wanted to check out Canoe Landing Park, which was across from our AirBnB. We walked up the hill to see the big red canoe and what it overlooked. As I was taking pictures of the beautiful Toronto skyline, he got down on one knee. I believe he said, “Will you marry me?” but truthfully, I have no idea. I was in such a shock; it was all a blur.
About the Wedding
I would describe our wedding as a simple but elegant greenhouse wedding. When I was searching for a venue, I knew I wanted something with a lot of character. As soon as we walked into Quality Gardens, we knew that it was the place we should get married.
I took bits and pieces of inspiration from Pinterest. My favorite Pinspiration piece was floating leaves inside clear wine bottles and topping them with candles. I had a bartender friend collect wine bottles for me in order to make these become a reality.
When decorating the tables, I wanted to play off the greenhouse/garden theme, but keep it minimal since the room had so much character already. My main color for the wedding was grey with hints of burnt orange, burgundy, and peach. I discussed my vision with Janessa from Gold Dust Floral and she made it come alive. I was trying to use warm colors with out going too “fall.” She did an amazing job.
One thing that I think set our wedding a part was doing four long rows of tables instead of rounds. We decided not to have a head table, but to sit and enjoy everything amongst our family and friends. Another thing that was unique was that we made the signage frames, table numbers, and favor ladder ourselves. We were all about the DIY. I was able to design all the signage and table numbers to match what I had created for our invites, so everything tied together nicely.
Favorite Moment
My favorite moment was when we were saying our vows – more specifically, when Brian was saying his. He kept squeezing my hands and I knew he meant what he was saying. It made me cry while giving mine.
