Whisking guests away from reality into a whimsical wonderland, Lindsay and Joe’s wedding at Rustic Acres Farm showcases a picturesque day with such an authentic love. As Lindsay walked down the aisle, Joe’s reaction said it all (keep an eye for it below!). Between the tears and the laughs from their ceremony, you can tell these two are a match made in heaven! The elegant details in the barn – which included both delicate and oversized centerpieces, blue and white antique style place settings, and moss covered table numbers – combined with a BBQ feast for the wedding menu made for a charismatic touch. We expect nothing less from JPC Event Group. And that floral arch designed by The Farmer’s Daughter Flowers…utterly divine! Captured in true Rachel Rowland Photography style, these photos are about to make you feel ALL the love between these two. Our hearts are exploding with happiness.
About the Couple
We met at Primanti Brothers when we worked there our senior year of college. I was instantly drawn to Joe with his faux hawk and lip ring, seeing as how it was 2006 and all. We had a brief fling in college, but remained friends for years after, always catching up on Facebook or AIM. I held a flame for him through all those years until 2015.
I had moved all over the country to NYC, Chicago, Seattle, and now Portland. Joe volunteered to help me get a job with his company, and at night we would FaceTime to prep for the interview. The night after the interview, we were celebrating on FaceTime with a glass of wine when Joe told me he had always had a crush on me. I told him I had always had a crush on him, and he booked a plane ticket to Portland then and there to take me on a date and ask me to be his girlfriend. Three cross country trips later, I moved back to Pittsburgh to live with Joe. A year later, we were engaged in front of the Christmas tree at PPG Place’s gingerbread showcase.
About the Wedding
We wanted a very romantic and whimsical wedding where the guests could feel totally relaxed and “taken away” from the real world, which is exactly what Rustic Acres gave us. From the elegant chandelier under the willow tree, to our friend Danny, who flew in from England, plunking out “God Only Knows” on the acoustic guitar while we walked down the aisle – it was exactly what I had dreamed of when I was a little girl! It was a HOT day, but the sky was painted with big, fluffy white clouds, and the sunset gave us the most golden-hued photos. Inside the barn, we wanted the cheekiness and whimsy to continue, with The Farmer’s Daughter using both large-scale and extremely delicate installations. Dinner was a classic BBQ feast, and the groom’s cousin, who is Brew Master at Spoonwood Brewery, had four beers on tap with custom names.
Favorite Moment
Hers: It was before the ceremony in the bridal cottage. I took a moment to sit alone and say a prayer while listening to music I used to listen to as a little girl when I’d dream about my wedding. I was in the bathroom meditating on the day and looking out the window watching our guests arrive while feeling the anticipation and calm of knowing I picked the right man.
His: A special moment was when the dance floor exploded with friends and family from both sides, moshing to a Taking Back Sunday song. Another is when I was lifted up and crowd surfed across the room in order to reach Lindsay when the bridal dance ended and the “wall” was formed around her. Other amazing moments included our officiant, who is Lindsay’s best friend and Broadway actor Jordan Grubb, who wrote his own speech and made the crowd laugh and cry. And of course, eating a gigantic sandwich at Primanti Brothers while signing our marriage certificate!
