Another fun wedding from the never-blogged files!  Renee and Adrian were married last year on September 19th at Kennywood Park in Pittsburgh, Pa.  Since Anna was on her honeymoon at the time, I had the pleasure of shooting this wedding with Jenny Karlsson a former bride now owner of Jenny Karlsson Photography !

 

It was very hot this day even though it was mid September, which totally proves that just because you have a wedding after labor day doesn't mean it has to be a 'fall wedding' !  Their color scheme was bright and energetic just like their day!  They wanted a relaxed, family friendly, FUN wedding that was unique.  Adrian used to work at Kennywood park as a ride operator and they knew it would be the perfect spot!

 

Right image by Jenny.

 

 

 

Since their ceremony would take place on the arched bridge in the Lost Kennywood section of the park (near the Pittsburgh Plunge for those of you hometowners), they had their guests meet up at their reception pavilion and collect a pink balloon for each person.  Then instead of Renee and her bridesmaids doing a traditional 'walk down the aisle' - Renee and Adrian stood together waiting on the bridge while their guests made their way as a group across the park to them!  You could see their balloons from a long way off!

 

 

Everyone was in great spirits!

 

 

 

They welcomed everyone and exchanged their vows on the bridge in front of the big fountain,

 

 

while their guests stood and sat scattered all around them on the steps.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everyone was cheering and enjoying the moment when suddenly, it happened.....

 

 

 

....one guest bit the string attaching his balloon to it's weight and let it go into the sky. 

 

 

 

After seeing the one pink balloon drifting lazily up into the blue, all at once all of the guests were releasing their balloons !  It was truly a spontaneous moment and I found out later that Kennywood specifically forbades balloon releases.  As hundreds of bright pink balloons floated peacefully upward like happy wishes on the breeze, I can honestly say the hairs stood up on my neck and it was one of the greatest moments I've had the privilege to be a part of at a wedding.

 

 

 

 

 

Pink balloons disappearing over the Pitfall.

 

 

While we stuck around for some pictures, the guests made their way back through the park to the pavilion for lunch and cake!  Renee and Adrian provided maps and signs were scattered on the trees throughout the park.

 

Right image by Jenny.

 

 

 

Renee and Adrian with their beautiful baby girl, Bella :-)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy family !!  (just look at those toes....  ;-)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bella was the unofficial star of the show and was giggly all day :-)

 

 

 

Eventhough it was very hot and humid out, we were adventurous enough to get a few shots on the rides.  Kennywood's staff was very gracious in clearing rides for us to use solely for photos.

 

 

 

 

 

Reception details, the food was delicious - hamburgers and BBQ chicken and other picnic fare.  They also covered the picnic tables with butcher paper and let the kids (and many grown ups) decorate for hours.

 

 

Finally, no trip Kennywood would be complete without a visit from Kennywood's mascot, Kenny Kangaroo, who stopped by for photo ops with the guests.  Everyone had a fantastic time!  After lunch they changed into play clothes tospend the rest of the day enjoying the park.

Top left and bottom two images by Jenny.

 

 

 

 

 

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Ceremony & Reception Location:  Kennywood Park

Catering:  Stratwood Catering

Cake:  Oakmont Bakery

Officiant:  Rev. Dina McGee of Soulful Commitment

 

 

 

 

Another favorite wedding from 2010 that never made it to the blog !  Lindsey and Chachi were married last July 24th at Heinz Chapel in Oakland.  I love to shoot weddings at the chapel - my grandparents were married there in 1947  so it holds a little historical significance for me.  I like to think about what it would have been like on their wedding day.

 

On this particular wedding day - it was hot.  In fact, it was the hottest day of the year last year. 

While Heinz Chapel is gorgeous, it is completely without air conditioning and so I was curious what the indoor temperature would be at the time of their afternoon ceremony.  I took the thermometer off the wall at my house and tucked it in my camera bag.  When we arrived at the church later that day I put the thermometer in the slot in the back of a church pew next to the bible and left it there till we were ready to start pictures.  (More on this later...)

 

 

 

The girls got ready at the Philip Pelusi salon near their hotel.  We think Lindsey looks just like Taylor Swift !  The salon staff took great care of everybody and the girls were ready in no time.

 

 

Image by Anna.

 

 

 

Back at the hotel, Chachi had a bottle of margarita mix and a whole platter of cheeseburgers delivered to Lindsey's room to remind her of a really hilarious date they went on once.  Her bridesmaids helped her into her dress and it was time to head to the church!

 

 

 

Down the hall, Chachi and the guys were running a little late ;-)

 

 

 

 

Tux and CHUCKS ! ! ! !  

Left image by Anna.

 

 

 

Loved their shoes :-)

 

 

 

 The girls hid out in the utility room (the only one with AC) until it was time to go down the aisle.  Anna was at the back of the church as Lindsey waited with anticipation.  Right image by Anna.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When the doors opened and Chachi saw his soon to be wife for the first time - he was overcome with emotion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heinz Chapel like most churches has guidelines that photographers are asked to follow and remain at a respectful distance during the ceremony.  We were set up behind the last guest in the back of the aisle.  However, the videographer opted to make his own rules.  He blocked most of the guests' view during the key moments of the ceremony and at times stood directly in between our cameras and the couple.

 

 It's always so much nicer when everyone can work as a team.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 When the ceremony was over, we checked the thermometer I had left in the pew.

It was 102 degrees inside the church !!

We quickly did a few shots inside the church and then retreated to the breezy cathedral lawn.

 

 

 

 

A little hot out - but it was a gorgeous day.

 

 

 

Top image by Anna.

 

 

 

 

While the wedding party cooled off in the party bus, we revisted  a few of their favorite spots on the pitt campus.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

The reception was held at the Holiday Inn in RIDC park. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lindsey surprised Chachi with her own pair of purple Chucks to match !

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy one year anniversary!!

 

 

 

 

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Salon services:  Philip Pelusi

 

Reception & Lodging:  Holiday Inn at RIDC park

 

Ceremony location:  Heinz Chapel

 

 

 

 

Another flash back to 2010 !  Last August Terri and Mark invited Anna and I up to Hidden Valley Ski Resort to photograph their summer wedding in the mountains.  I remember the day started off warm and hazy - nice light for photos - and we fit everything in that day before the heavy rain moved in at the end of the reception.

 

 

 

 

Terri and her ladies got ready while Mark waited patiently for his bride.

 

 

 

The outdoor ceremony space was a beautiful stone wall covered in flowering vines. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Afterwards we took the shuttle to explore the grounds.  Left image by Anna.

 

 

Anna rocked this shot with the 70-200mm lens!

 

 

Terri's daughters were bridesmaids along with many friends :-)

 

 

 

 

 

Their reception was held inside the clock tower at the main lodge. 

 

 

 

 

Happy 4th of July weekend everyone :-)

 

 

Fireworks over Turner's pond in Westmoreland County.

 

 

I have to work all weekend, but I encourage you to get out and go swimming, have campfires, eat smores, throw water balloons, sit on porch swings, camp out in a tent, eat too much ice cream, and watch fireworks!