You may remember this couple from their engagement shoot (seriously, how stinking cute are they?!) but after today, you will never, ever forget them. Their wedding was every bit as fabulous as we were hoping for – and then some. When Craig Photography picked up her camera, she must have felt so lucky to capture such a beautiful, warm, and heartfelt day. I know I sure was honored just putting together their gallery!
Dan and I have been together for a long time. We met when we were both college students at Cornell, and it only took him seven years to finally pop the question! He asked me on a beautiful fall day in an orchard where he distracted me with a doughnut, got down on one knee, and gave me the same beautiful engagement ring that his father had used to propose to his mother. In a lot of ways, the ring really inspired our wedding day. Family, friends, and tradition are very important to both of us, and as we began to plan our wedding we knew that we wanted to make it feel as intimate and special as possible for us and for our guests. I love the tradition of getting married in the bride’s hometown, so we started looking at venues near Sharpsville, the small town in western Pennsylvania where I was born. We found the perfect location right around the corner from the house where I grew up. Buhl Park is a gorgeous public park where I used to run, swim, and play. It was full of memories already, and we added another one on our wedding day.
The reception site, the Corinthian, was also the perfect place for us. Dan is an architect and immediately fell in love with all of the gorgeous 1920s detail (dark wood, tin ceilings) that they have maintained. And the staff was amazing to work with! The space really inspired us, and gave me an excuse to go antiquing. Jimmy Lohr, the florist at greenSinner and the most creative man I’ve ever met, added antique lace to the bouquets, and milk glass, vintage china, books, jewelry, and other beautiful details to the tables and every corner.
On our wedding day, Dan and I were surrounded by people and traditions that we love. My earrings belonged to my great-grandmother (something old), and the bracelet that I wore was something borrowed from my mother. My engagement ring is something blue, and everything else counted as something new! Dan’s mother designed the beautiful chuppah that was supported using trees from Dan’s family’s farm in Connecticut. Two of our good friends played Beatles music on acoustic guitars as we walked down the aisle. Our wedding party and ushers were our siblings and dear friends. My little cousin was our “yay!” bearer, and he just about stole the show. At the end of the ceremony, the rabbi wrapped us both in my late father’s tallis (prayer shawl), and for a moment we all felt his presence. When Dan broke the glass, I was so excited that I couldn’t help but throw my hands in the air and yell “mazel tov!” with the rest of our guests. At the reception, we displayed family wedding photos and included my favorite western PA wedding tradition – a cookie table full of delicious homemade treats. John and Elizabeth Craig of Craig Photography did an amazing job of capturing these intimate moments and really telling the story of our wedding.
It was an incredible day full of amazing family, incredible friends, champagne, dancing, laughter, and love.
Photography: Craig Photography / Floral and Event Design: Jimmy Lohr of greenSinner / Event Planning: Family friend Patti Griffith of Party Help, Orlando, FL / Ceremony Location: Buhl Farm Park / Reception Location: The Corinthian / Invitations: Pistachio Press / Cake: Clarencedale Cake / Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Dress Designer: Romona Keveza / Bridesmaid Dress Designer: Monique Lhuillier / Groom’s suit: Brooks Brothers / Groomsmen suits: Kenneth Cole from Men’s Wearhouse / Ties: Thomas Pink / Bridesmaids’ earrings: Peachtree Lane / Bridesmaids’ hair flowers: The Red Magnolia