Posts in Weddings
Lake Raystown Resort Wedding

Weddings at Lake Raystown Resort are a treat for both you and your guests as the closet public lake resort to Pittsburgh. At just a 2.5 hour drive from Pittsburgh, this is a great venue if you want to feel like you’re eloping to a destination that feels more like a vacation spot. Many people in the Western Pennsylvanian area vacation at Raystown and enjoy boating on the lake. Listed below are the amenities that Lake Raystown offers for wedding in it’s large ballroom, The River Birch Ballroom. The large, beautiful room features floor to ceiling windows and a beautiful lake-facing patio.

what’s included for a wedding at lake rays town resort?

  • The River Birch ballroom can accommodate up to 230 guests

  • 4 hour reception

  • tables/chairs (including set up and tear down)

  • white/ivory linens

  • china and flatware

  • soda and mixers for alcohol (you must provide alcohol)

  • bartenders

What are the additional costs for a wedding at Lake Raystown Resort?

  • Meal packages that include 3 options for 2 main dishes and 2 sides

  • cookie plating

  • cake cutting / serving

  • Marina gazebo for ceremony

  • chair and bench set up for ceremony

  • rooms at the Lodge

Barn Wedding Venues near Pittsburgh

Lingrow is one of the most upscale barn wedding venues near Pittsburgh and the dozen of included amenities including on-site lodging and ready-to-go table scape (tables, chairs, linens, china, chargers, flatware) make it a great all-inclusive option.

Couples can expect beautiful landscaping and architecture in every inch of the property, lending itself to some of the most stunning wedding photos possible. The pergola / gazebo by the pond is a beautiful backdrop for your ceremony, with plenty of outdoor seating in the “chapel” area for your guests.

Cocktail hour is usually held in the barn’s lower level and extends to the back porch and patio area, where guests can enjoy the one of two bars on each floor of the barn. There are also lots of options for your dinner and reception set ups, with indoor seating, seating on the upper deck, or dancing in either location as well. Large weddings usually host dinner hour inside the barn and then dancing on the back deck.

With great sunset views and the ability to have sparklers on the property, epic and unique photos in the evening are possible! Lingrow also offers plenty of add-on amenities like a horse-drawn carriage and the ability to stay in the farm house for the entire weekend making it a truly stress-free retreat for your biggest day ever!

North Shore Wedding at The Foundry Table and Tap, Pittsburgh PA

If you’re looking for a unique wedding location in the city, this North Shore wedding at the Foundry Table & Tap is full of inspiration for your intimate wedding ceremony in downtown Pittsburgh. The Foundry has a semi-private room in the back that can accommodate around 50 people and is accessed by a walk through the restaurant, but with the heavy sliding barn doors to seal it off once you're in there, we were able to have a DJ and play music without disturbing the restaurant guests and visa versa.

The best thing for me was direct access to the Rivewalk on the North Shore right through the glass doors in the back of the room! Finding beautiful photo spots right in the heart of downtown was so easy! We got some great shots of the yellow bridges and the Gateway clipper with the Point in the background, and there were even plenty of picturesque places with cover overhead when it rained. The highlight of the day was taking photos outside on the beautiful river walk and even running into the Pitt marching band!

I’ve known the bride Bre since middle school, and though some might think the pressure is off if you know your clients ahead of time, that wasn’t the case for me! I always want to make sure I do the absolute best job my skills allow - ESPECIALLY for long time friends! This wedding took place in October, when wedding season is winding down and my creativity is almost spent, so I really pushed myself to get some unique shots for Bre and Chris! That night time rain photo is one of my favorite images I’ve ever taken in the past decade!

Bre and Chris have a sweet, fierce love for each other, finding their solace in music and each other. It was a perfect fit having their wedding showcase their love of music that she said “became their identity” as a couple. The band Motionless in White is their favorite, and the couple incorporated some of their favorite anthems into their details, from the concert ticket Save-the-Dates to the record decor at the reception!

I was so honored to be able to document all the special touches that made the day so very personal to both of them. And I would be lying if I said I wasn’t excited to photo a bride with blue and purple hair!!

My husband Brandon served as the officiant and DJ, and we had a wonderful time celebrating the occasion in the laid-back, casual venue. I love when couples trust that their vision and their heart will show up in their wedding photos, and I think we all had the best day doing just that.

Pittsburgh Elopement at the Allegheny County Courthouse

The Allegheny County Courthouse is a great place to elope in Pittsburgh with beautiful spots to commemorate the occasion. My husband Brandon is a licensed officiant, and we often offer ceremony and photo packages for courthouse elopements.

The first step in eloping is applying for your marriage license. If you’re wanting to elope in Allegheny County, such as at the courthouse featured here, you’ll want to check out the specifics for obtaining a marriage license at the button below. You will want to plan a bit ahead as there is a several day waiting process between the time you apply for a license and the time it is issued.

The most challenging thing about eloping at the Allegheny County Courthouse is parking. Since it is in the heart of downtown, street parking can be challenging but there are a number or nearby parking garages that you can park in, though expect to pay upwards of $20 for parking in them.

There are no special permits required to photograph in the courthouse, so it is easy to get some beautiful photos on the grand staircase that show off the amazing architecture in the courthouse. Every time I’ve been there it’s been pretty deserted as well, so you won’t have to worry about crowds of people bombing your photos.

If you’re looking for a fast and budget friendly way to elope while still having the opportunity for some pretty wedding photos, this might be the right fit for you!

Unique Pittsburgh Wedding Venues
Children's Museum Wedding

The Children's Museum and Museum Lab are excellent venues if you're looking for a unique place to have your wedding! Angela and Jeremy decided to celebrate in the lower level of the museum, having their ceremony in the studio room and their reception in the ballroom.

The top floor of the museum features a water play floor, which has floor to ceiling glass that lends itself to great natural light for portraits. Something to note, though, is that the museum doesn’t close its doors to the public during normal operating hours, so if you’re going to have photos done throughout the museum, it’s best to plan that for later in the day.

The ceremony space gets cleared out by the venue staff, giving enough room to seat a small to mid-sized wedding crowd, and the pink and orange ribbons that hang from the ceiling make for a fun and colorful addition to your wedding photos!

Next door, the Museum Lab offers great landscaping and architectural options if you’re looking for a more traditional and classic backdrop for wedding photos, and the beautiful rooms inside the Museum Lab building are a great spot for some timeless photos if the venue isn’t being rented out for another wedding.

Cocktail hour is typically held in the lobby of the museum, which provides plenty of space for guests to mingle among standing tables while the ballroom is set up for the reception.

The reception space in the Children’s Museum is laid out in a great way that will have your dance floor packed. As a long rectangular shaped room, guests are seated at the far ends, with the dance floor in the middle. Because the entire width of the room is taken up by the dance floor, it really pushes guests together in a good way to ensure the floor is packed with activity all night long.

If you’re looking for a unique venue in Pittsburgh with both whimsy and opportunities for more classic and traditional portraits, Children’s Museum is definitely it!

 
 
Matthew + Michelle | Sunnehanna Country Club Winter Wedding

Winter weddings at Sunnehanna Country Club are the perfect way to celebrate in the off-season and close to home. While braving the cold might not be for the feint of heart, the stunning photos and great lighting are well worth the chilly hands and toes. Drs. Michelle and Matthew Warren are both Chiropractors in Greensburg, PA, and even though they attended school and met each other in sunny warm Florida, they were more than happy to embrace the snow on their perfect January wedding day.

We started the day at the beautiful Sunnehanna County Club in Westmont, PA. Arguably the “nicest” wedding venue in Cambria County, Sunnehanna was the perfect size for housing all their friends and family while still giving everyone room to spread out in the wings of the building that housed cookies, drinks, and late night pizza. The lobby of the country club features stunning light and beautiful high arched windows that lent a timeless class to Michelle’s bridal portraits and first look with her dad Chip.

Once the last button was buttoned, it was time to leave for the ceremony at St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church. Those that know my style and personality know that I ADORE color and… wow. St. Mary’s was something out of a dream for me. Surrounded by rich Iconography, vibrant colors and breathtaking architecture, it was a church like no other I’ve seen (and I’ve seen a few). The ceremony went flawlessly and we were able to get some great family portraits on the steps of the altar.

Family is super important to both Matthew and Michelle, and we made sure to plan in some time to allow the wedding couple to actually talk to their guests. After the ceremony we headed to Michelle’s parents house for a stunning display of appetizers and refreshments, even snapping a “family whiskey shot” of special imported Canadian whiskey to commemorate the occasion. Happily the couple’s dogs Kona and Oakley were there too, and we were able to get some sweet shots of them with their mom and dad!

Since the sun sets relatively early in January, we hurried back to Sunnehanna around 4pm and started bridal party portraits outside. Immense respect to those guys and gals who walked across the frozen greens in heels and slippery dress shoes and endured the -1 windchill. It’s times like these that I’m very grateful for my 12 years experience and for an awesome fellow paparazzi team Corey, Jen, and Tommy (check them out below!). We were able to bust out bridal party photos, individuals with each bridal party member, and a sizable array of bride and groom portraits in under 45 minutes.

The brides mom Loraine George, with the help of Theresa Palmer of Rose of Sharon Florals in Clymer, transformed the ballroom at Sunnehanna into a beautiful, warm, and elegant vision where guests were excited to linger and party the night away. Top Dog productions ensured the dance floor was packed all evening, blending songs effortlessly and keeping the vibe hype.

I was so grateful to be a part of this day! Each season has such beauty, and I’m so happy Michelle and Matt embraced the beauty of a winter wedding! Special thanks as well to the amazing vendor team below:

 
 
Pittsburgh Wedding Venue, LeMont and Mt. Washington, Pittsburgh
Lemont wedding photos

Weddings at the LeMont in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania are the standard when it comes to having a classy wedding that has great views of the city without being over-the-top. When Maura and Craig toured the LeMont, they said the thing that swayed them about hosting the wedding there was how down to earth the staff was, simply showing the venue and not pressuring them to make a sale. That’s because the restaurant/banquet rooms speak for them selves. Built in the 60’s and decked out with dark marble architecture and drapery, the Pittsburgh’s “premier 5-star restaurant” boasts an entire wall glass windows. Since the building is perched at the top of Mt. Washington, there is no better place in the city to see the magnificent views than sitting at your sweetheart table with Pittsburgh glowing behind you! I was excited to work here and wanted to make sure we did the view justice!

We started the day at the couple’s new house where the vibe was so very chill, thanks in part to the small bridal party but mostly because everyone was just happy to be present and not worried about every little thing going perfectly. The couple met through mutual friends, and this marketing-director and math teacher combo made for the most sweet, chill, stress-free couple I had the pleasure of working with this year!

The details were perfectly curated to represent both class and whimsy, words that I feel describe the bride perfectly. I loved styling her Badgley Mishka shoes with bows, monogrammed Mrs. Box, and her family heirloom veil.

After a relaxed morning, I drove Maura to Grandview Park where we met up with her groom Craig and we had the sweetest first look! Even though it was past-peak for the autumn leaves, we still had brilliant colors in the trees! Since the park is flanked by a school and a playground and it was in fact a Friday, we were greeted by a few classrooms out for a walk with their teacher. The kids went wild when they saw the bride in her beautiful boho dress, and asked if she was “marrying Prince Charming.” They squealed with delight when she said that she was actually marrying a math teacher!

Portraits were so easy and fun with these two. The time flew by, and soon we were ready to head to the beautiful church for the ceremony. Saint Mary of the Mount is equally stunning on the inside as the popular overlooks of the city are on the outside. With vaulted ceilings and beautiful stained glass, it all but guaranteed dramatic wedding photos! After the ceremony we took the traditional family photos at the altar and then headed outside with the bridal party to get some group shots on the famous Mt. Washington overlooks. We were very fortunate to have a warm and not very windy day in November!

A short walk to the LeMont eliminated transportation and parking stress, and once we were set up, the couple was announced in and all the guests enjoyed the classic rock band that played the night away. The brides father even made a guest appearance for a few songs, including one that he learned just for the groom Craig, a song from his favorite movie “That Thing You Do.” The dance floor flooded with guests as the party started to take off, rivaled only by the excitement when the cookie table (but really “room” is more appropriate here) was finally unveiled!

The bride helped orchestrate and plan the most epic variety of delicious cookies, with lots of family pitching in to add to the delicious offerings. What’s a Pittsburgh wedding without a Pittsburgh Cookie table, after all? The bride’s sister, who owns a wildly successful baking small business, Micah Made Cookies, made amazing shortbread with chocolate on top, the groom scooped up some of his favorite butterscotch haystack cookies, and everyone’s favorite, the bride’s Milk Bar cookies, flew off the platters in record time! (she was sweet enough to give me the recipe!)

We ended the evening with a quick walk to the Duquesne Incline where we got a few dramatic night-time shots of the city and a few more calls of congratulations from on-lookers and the nearby restaurant patrons. For being the wedding I was most worried about (a new fancy venue, city-driving, parking, a big and beautiful and DARK church) it was the least stressful wedding day this season! Thank you so much to the vendors below (including my incredible assistant Ben Lloyd and my second shooter Jon Blanchard for carrying ALL of my gear uphill to the LeMont) for making this day incredible!


 
 

Supporting local and small business was important to the couple - here are some of Pittsburgh’s best!


Ceremony: St. Mary of the Mount, Mt. Washington

Venue/Catering/Cake: Lemont

Second Photographer: Jon Blanchard Photography

Gown: BHLDN

Suits: Berk's Menswear & Tuxedo Shop

Shoes: Badgley Mishka

Rings: Custom made by The Harp and Hound Jewelry

Bride’s Hair: Spencer at Chariot and Vine Salon

Groom’s Hair: La Pomponnee

Makeup: Makeup Design Studio and Day Spa

Accessories: Mrs. Box

Cookies: Bride + Family; Micah Made Cookies

Florals: Bride’s Mother

Band: The Good Guys

Matt + Daisy | Lenape Heights Golf Resort Wedding
Lenape Heights Wedding

Lenape Heights Golf Resort is an amazing venue with surprising views, and at about an hour from Pittsburgh, it provides the perfect destination if you want a peaceful, quiet, low-stress wedding day. The views at this location are absolutely stunning, and booking a stay at the Inn ensures that you’ll get to enjoy it from beautiful sunrise to stunning sunset.

When we first arrived at Lenape, I was completely floored by the beautiful and modern build of the Inn. The grand staircase opens up to a wall of glass, showcasing the beautiful countryside. The rooms are just as stunning - each with a beautiful balcony and lots of natural light, high ceilings, and modern furniture. There’s a lot of space to spread out while still not feeling like you’re crowded in! This made for simple, clean getting ready photos on wedding morning. Not to mention Daisy and her crew were already all ready when we arrived! We were able to get some great detail shots showing off her beautiful invitations, shoes, and jewelry. There was even time for the bridal party to enjoy a visit from the Pastor to do communion right there in the hotel room!

Matt and the guys were also ready in a flash, spending most of the morning helping to set up the outdoor ceremony area at the adjoining patio to the Inn. The ceremony was the perfect length, very sentimental, and ended with an epic kiss, just as everyone anticipates! Even though it was very windy because we were at such a high elevation, we were able to utilize the beautiful glass staircase inside to avoid blowing hair and harsh sun for family portraits afterwards.

Bridal party portraits took place on the golf resort’s course - my assistant Ben was so excited to finally drive a golf cart at a wedding! The friendly staff led us through the countryside and helped pick the best spots - he even knew we needed shade and directed us to holes with lots of tree cover! After a quick 45 minutes of portraits with both the bridal party and wedding couple, we headed back to the meticulously decorated ballroom.

Daisy and Matt designed a breathtaking reception area, with pink chair bows, pink centerpieces, and a gorgeous 3ft. high cake that echoed the pink floral theme. There was even a table for the kids with fun toys and props, and guests enjoyed a table covered with favors from the Pittsburgh Popcorn Company!

This reception started out particularly fun, with the couple running around table to table to complete the “Table Photo Challenge. “ The DJ played “Ballroom Blitz” as we sprinted from setting to setting, getting over 20 group shots taken during the course of the song. It was a great way to get guests in a picture and get them excited about the reception!

We ended the night with some epic golden hour photos by the pond and on the hillside, and sealed the evening off with a fun sparkler exit with the most die-hard wedding guests that stayed until the end.

I hope you enjoy some of my favorite moments from Matt and Daisy’s beautiful, picture-esque day!


 
 
Zachary + Camille | Renaissance Hotel, Pittsburgh Wedding
 
Downtown Pittsburgh wedding at the Renaissance Hotel
 

Weddings at the Renaissance Hotel in Pittsburgh are a great mix of modern and elegance, with so many fun opportunities to showcase the city in order to get epic Pittsburgh wedding photos. This venue can be very challenging to light, with the gorgeous grand staircase and vaulted ceilings with dark purple glass dome - but luckily this isn’t my first day on the job!

I got to know Camille and Zachary when we did their adorable engagement session at Mellon Park with their pup Olive - and even though we had to work around the timing of the Pittsburgh Marathon and then got caught in a downpour, it was one of the best engagement sessions ever because THEY were just so happy and in love. It makes a huge difference in front of the camera working with couples that just love to be around each other. The two met online in the early days of the pandemic, and when they had their first date, they tackled all of the hard topics - religion, politics, etc. to really “cut to the chase” and see if they were compatible. Things worked out well, and they decided to quarantine together with Zach’s roommates during lockdown and their relationship grew at warp-speed! It was so fun getting to learn about them and just seeing the down right GIDDINESS they have around each other. Oh, and they are both super-smart scientist grad-students. They are perfect together!

We started the day in the gorgeous Heaven Suite at the Renaissance Hotel, where I was greeted with the MOST KIND group of friends and family ever (like seriously, they offered us snacks, lunch, and drinks!). The whole vibe was calm, happy, and pleasant, which means EVERYTHING on wedding morning! I always start wedding day photographing the small touches that make the day feel like “you.” Camille’s details featured a water-color rendition of the Renaissance Hotel on their invitation suite, and a hand-drawn Pittsburgh skyline for the save the dates! Jewelry was of course the timeless yet very trendy-for-2022 pearls found on her necklace, earrings, and hairpiece. The wedding dress was the perfect combination of classy and whimsical with a beautiful satin top and a full skirt covered in flowers.

When we went to spend some time with the groomsmen, we found Zachary helping head up the floral decorations on the grand staircase when we arrived. He and his groomsmen looked sharp in their classic black tuxedos and bowties. Once everything was set for the ceremony and everyone was ready, the couple opted for a first look so we could get some photos outside in downtown Pittsburgh before the ceremony started.

The Renaissance Hotel is conveniently located just steps away from one of the most iconic bridges in Pittsburgh, the Roberto Clemente bridge, which always makes for a great photo-op… except when it’s under construction! Luckily the bridal party was happy to walk just a block down the street to the bridge’s twin, the Andy Warhol bridge. Even though there were TONS of people out and about for a Kenny Chesney concert AND a summer festival happening on the same block, we were able to get some great photos by the tree-covered walkways, on the sides of the bridge, and even a few quick snaps walking across!

The ceremony was very sweet, drawing on the love and closeness that Camille and Zachary had grown over the last 2 years. With a quick kiss and a breaking of the glass (Mazel tov!), the two were officially Mr. and Mrs. Since most of the photos were done beforehand, we had time to get a GIANT photo will all 100 guests in on the grand staircase, which was a logistical and lighting challenge that we happily rose to!

Guests enjoyed cocktail hour on the second floor, strolling the marble halls with cookies and cocktails in hand. The Symphony Ballroom was stunning with gold Charivari chairs, floral centerpieces from Blumengarten, and custom etched drink ware for guests. My husband provided music with his company Royal Heir DJ Services, and after a quick getaway to take some night-time photos on the terrace of the Heaven Suite, it was officially a successful wedding day!

I loved being back at the Renaissance - I hope you enjoy some of the highlights from this special day!


Vendors:

Photography: Jill Gearhart Photography assisted by Tommy Seibert

Venue: Renaissance Hotel Pittsburgh

Invitation Suite: Brown Fox Creative

Gown: Bridal Beginning

Bridesmaid Dresses: David’s Bridal

Hair and Makeup: Black Label Society

Florals: Jim Ludwig’s Blumengarten Florist

Cake: Pastries a la Carte

Officiant: Brandon Stiffler

DJ: Royal Heir DJ Services

 
 
Indian Lake Resort Wedding in Central City, PA | Alex + Nicole
Latino Bride and groom in wildflowers

Weddings at the lodge at Indian lake feel like a destination wedding at a lake resort but without the long drive! This resort features a big beautiful ballroom and cozy outdoor covered porch for intimate ceremonies, and a neighboring golf courses for beautiful photo opportunities. And the best part is that it’s only 2 hours from Pittsburgh!

Nicole and Alex had the perfect day for a wedding - clear skies and comfortable temperatures, but even more importantly they were surrounded by people that genuinely cared about them and wanted to be there for THEM! We started the day in the complimentary bridal suite (!!!) which had plenty of gorgeous light, mirrors to get ready by, and lots of room for her large bridal party and family. My favorite parts of the getting ready portion were Nicole’s amazing 6 inch heels (her maid of honor told me that Nicole came out of the womb able to walk in heels, and it even was mentioned in the maid of honor speech later that night), the sweet first looks between Nicole and her moms, abuela, and dad, and a sweet and totally coincidental moment when I walked in to her room and found her sitting by the window reading her Bible to calm her nerves.

I am blessed to know Nicole from her early teenage years where she attended a youth group that my husband and I volunteered at. I remembered her as a sweet and spunky (in the best way) beautiful young lady. I had know idea the incredible woman she would grow up to be! Nicole and Alex both serve in the military (where they met!) and have endured so many more trials and challenges in both their personal and professional lives than most are aware of. They have even taken in younger family members as their own to give them a chance to thrive, even though they are still young themselves and working so hard.

I had the privilege of meeting Alex when we started wedding planning all together, and the respect and love he had for not only Nicole but everyone he encounters was evident from the first few minutes of talking to him. surrounded by his best friends from high school and the military on wedding morning, the nearly dozen groomsmen were loud and crazy (we heard them singing and laughing from 4 rooms down the hall in the morning), but immediately respectful and kind once I got their attention. Which was no small feat - I’m considering purchasing a “wedding whistle” so I don’t lose my voice again, haha!

Alex looked incredible in his deep purple suit with black lapels - the only person that could hope to upstage him was of course Nicole, who was breathtaking in her lace Essence of Australia dress with long sleeves and open back. The two were sheer perfection together. The ceremony was shared with a small number of family on the back deck, where Nicole and Alex wrote some of the best vows I ever heard.  Nearly every person cried hearing them, myself included. The two share a deep love that honors God and each other, which was evident in their vows.

After the ceremony came my yell-fest (in a good way!) to get through some large family groupings and a 20 person bridal party, which was super fun to work with because all of them loved the couple so much and genuinely wanted to be there for them, and not just to party. We wrapped up portraits with Nicole and Alex on the grounds behind the lodge near the lake, and when they both were willing to climb in a ditch on the side of the road with flowers all through it for SOME OF MY FAVORITE PHOTOS OF MY CAREER, their paparazzi team of 5 were all speechless. That’s a lie, I’m pretty sure I squealed. A lot.

The only thing that could top the amazing portrait session we had was one of the most fun receptions I’ve been to in 11 years. With a big crew that just wanted to dance, the floor was packed all night with the DJ throwing out some Hispanic inspired songs as well as all the wedding favorites. Nicole’s Puerto Rican heritage meant this girl can dance, and some of my favorite moments were watching her and her mom salsa on the dance floor. With her beautiful satin Marilyn Monroe inspired reception dress and killer moves, Nicole was radiant and joy-filled as we all had an amazing evening celebrating.

It’s not often that I don’t want to leave at the end of the night, but this was such a smooth, fun day that I was a little sad to pack up my lights and go. Over the past 11 years of photographing weddings, the one thing I’ve learned that all great weddings have in common is simply this: surround yourself with people that love and respect you, and your day will be filled with love and respect towards everyone, which is exactly what God calls us to model in a marriage.

A special thanks to this amazing vendor team for pulling off a flawless day:

Lead Photographer: Jill Gearhart Photography

Second Photographer: Kirkland Photography

Photographers Assistant: Ben Lloyd

Videographer: m20 Media

Gown: Essence of Australia at White Lace Bridal, Indiana PA

Makeup: Sparrow Beauty Co.

Jewelry: Sam Jam Creative

Rings: Lorelli’s Jewelery

Caterer: Flair of Country

Cake and Cookies: Nikki Hockenberry, Nikki’s Sweets and Treats

DJ: DJ John with the Lodge at Indian Lake

Officiant: Summit Church

Invitations: Tiffany Miller