Christine+Andy // Wedding in Pittsburgh, PA

Repeat clients are a dream, and it’s even more awesome when you shoot multiple weddings for the same family. Three years ago we photographed the wedding of Allison+Blue in West Virginia and fell in love with their super fun family and were so excited to be asked to photograph the wedding of Allison’s younger sister Christine and her awesome husband Andy in Pittsburgh, PA! It was super great to see Christine’s family again and now to meet Andy’s family, all of whom were also fun (and there were a lot of them, so it was kind of all the fun. in the whole world. ever).

So we were excited to see the bride’s family, excited to meet Andy’s family, excited to be back in Pittsburgh, and then that’s when we found out about the 17 year cicadas and we were like HOLD. THE. PHONE. THIS IS TOO MUCH EXCITEMENT. Now I polled my family and other Pittsburgh friends and it seems like I may be literally the only person who was super excited about the 17 year cicadas, but every single year people are like, “This is the year! The cicadas are coming this year!” and I am always like, “What do you mean? The cicadas are here every year.” And people respond with, “But this year there are going to be so many!” And every year I’m like, “SWEET, MAYBE THIS IS THE YEAR! THE YEAR OF ALL THE CICADAS!” and then I look around, disappointed in my lack of cicada swarms and sigh a little bit to myself, wondering why everyone keeps promising something that never happens.

But it just so happens that they DO exist. And they DO swarm! And it’s like being in a giant cloud of super huge bugs and they kind of look like humming birds flying all around! Or bees maybe! And there were tons of them! And they’re SO FREAKING LOUD that you can hear them through your car window going 60mph with the air conditioner on full-blast while driving down the street and you may or may not have to plug your ears when walking past any trees in person because the noiiiise. And they landed on my camera! And my pants! And my head! And I was so thrilled!! BECAUSE FINALLY IT WAS TRUE! In south Pittsburgh this weekend, the cicadas fulfilled the promise everyone’s been talking to me about for 30 years. Apparently they moved the wedding from West Virginia up into Pittsburgh to avoid said cicadas, but the cicadas came further north than originally expected. Because someone somewhere was smiling down on me because YES, CICADAS!

  • Date: June 18, 2016
  • Ceremony Venue: Immaculate Conception Catholic Church // Washington, PA
  • Reception Venue: Shady Elms Farm // Hickory, PA
  • First Dance Song: “Living of Love” – The Avett Brothers
  • Christine’s Occupation: Quality Engineer at Boeing
  • Andy’s Occupation: Design Engineer at Boeing
  • How You Met: Engineering classes/Mountainair at West Virginia University
  • Interesting Fact: The last time the Pittsburgh Penguins were in the Stanley Cup was the year we met, now the year we are getting married the Penguins have returned to the Stanley Cup Finals.
  • Honeymoon: Grenada
  • Vendor Credits: Officiant – Father Mike Conway. DJ – MobileMIX Entertainment (David Kieba). Florist – Shady Elms Farm. Cake – Bethel Bakery. Caterer – PW Catering. Hair/Makeup – Hannah Conrad. Videographer – So Fresh! Films. Coordinator – Devoted to You (Kristen).

Lindsay+Jonathon’s Wedding in Pittsburgh, PA

It was so great to be back in Pittsburgh, PA to photograph Lindsay and Jon’s wedding! I went to high school with the two of them back in the day (Lindsay I specifically knew through show choir and drama club), so it was pretty awesome to see a bunch of people I hadn’t seen in a long time all together in one place. :) And, following in the tradition of us acquiring awesome wedding venues in Pittsburgh, the wedding was held at the Pittsburgh Athletic Association building across from the Cathedral of Learning at Pitt, and super close to the Mellon Institute of Carnegie Mellon… and also super close to Phipps Conservatory… and super close to an adorable carousel. And lucky for us, we had a limo driver to take us to all of the cool super photogenic places, so it was kind of a “best of” tour of Oakland. ;)

Aside from being really, really ridiculously good looking, both Lindsay and Jon are also ridiculously kind people and head over heels for each other. Jon did a great job of not only helping carry Lindsay’s dress across treacherous terrain, but also comforting her when we all got incredibly nauseous from driving around. ;) Their friends (some of whom we knew from high school) are all pretty ridiculous and also super sweet and accommodating after we toted them around Oakland for a while. :) We cannot thank everyone enough for being cooperative and helpful and generally fantastic at this wedding! I am going to miss all the Burrell friends I was briefly reunited with, but it was a great reunion. :)

Date: June 14, 2014

Ceremony and Reception Venue: Pittsburgh Athletic Association // Pittsburgh, PA

First Dance Song: “My Love” – Paul McCartney

Lindsay’s Occupation: Merchandise Analyst for Dick’s Sporting Goods

Jon’s Occupation: Construction Technician for Galway Bay

How You Met: High School

Interesting Fact about Lindsay: Lindsay used to make mystery movies with her cousins when she was little, and to this day her family calls her Lindsay Drew.

Interesting Fact about Jon: Jon has traveled to more than 13 different countries, almost all in the past 4 years.

Honeymoon Destination: Maui, HI

Vendor Credits: Officiant – Pastor Lee Kricher (Jon’s uncle) | DJ – Sam Crawford of Party Time Productions | Florist – Mocha Rose Floral | Cake – Oakmont Bakery | Caterer – Pittsbugh Athletic Association | Hair/Makeu – Salon Vivace | Videographer – Just Hitched Wedding Films | Coordinator – Mike McChesney of the Pittsburgh Athletic Association | Transportation – Shamrock Limousine

Kat+Mike’s Winter Wedding in Pittsburgh, PA

Before her wedding, Kathryn had 1.) a nightmare that we didn’t show up and 2.) a nightmare that I wrote something really terrible about her on our blog. We successfully avoided nightmare #1 – we did, indeed, show up to photograph her wedding. Now it’s time for nightmare #2! ::drumroll please::

Kathryn is…  Ummmm. Kathryn’s wedding was… ahhh….

Nope. I’ve got nothing. Nothing terrible to say at all. :( Nightmare #2 has been debunked. ;) It’s safe to continuing reading now, Kat… all your fears have been dispelled!

We met a long time ago. Kathryn and I went to school together (middle and high school) and got in trouble a lot in class. I remember getting in trouble in some sort of high school class where she sat in front of me. She remembers getting in trouble in 8th grade art class, specifically, from copying my paper. We talked a lot and teachers didn’t like us so much for that. :) Kathryn graduated a year ahead of me and I bid adieu at the time to my lovely friend.

We have been reunited over her wedding and it was an honor to join her and her fantastic husband Mike at their wedding. Brittany, her maid of honor was also a friend of mine from middle/high school (and we went to go see our first concert together which was Ringo Starr… sorry if I just publicly embarrassed you, Brittany). Geoff and I loved meeting and getting to know Mike, who is a fantastic fit for Kathryn, and an all-around general super nice and personable human being. We with them nothing but the best of luck and happiness in their lives and with their two pups!

Date: February 16, 2013

Ceremony and Reception Venue: Jay Verno Studios // Pittsburgh, PA

First Dance Song: “A Woman Like You” – Lee Brice

Kathryn’s Occupation: Yearbook Sales Representative

Mike’s Occupation: Project Manager at a concrete company

How You Met: Match.com

Interesting Bride Fact: Still sleeps with a blankey and brings it everywhere.

Interesting Groom Fact: Is deathly afraid of small birds and think they’re going to take over the world.

Honeymoon Location: Our house and then maybe Antigua

Vendor Credits: DJ – Eric Schiemer // Florist – Vicki Larson // Cake – Oakmont Bakery // Caterer – Amelia’s Elegant Catering // Hair&Makeup – Brooke Rockwell and Mac