A very Pittsburgh wedding with Sean and Liz

When I met with these two, they told me they were having a very Pittsburgh wedding, and they were not kidding around. Black and yellow, Terrible Towels, Eat n' Park smiley cookies, and portraits at the Incline. And, in true Pittsburgh fashion, a day of rain that Sean and Liz barely even noticed. Yinz are married n'at!

We started off at the Sheraton at the Point. I'mma briefly make this story about me, because I almost didn't get to do this wedding. I spent the night before, and morning of, in the emergency room (everything is fine, I had like an almost ulcer years ago and it picked this day to be a total jag.)

Anyway, I'm often asked what would happen if I were unable to photograph a wedding (which is a great question to ask your wedding photographer, btw.) I always give them a run down of my plan, but this is the closest I've come to having to use it. Thankfully, I had a great team lined up for the day (huge shout outs to David McCandless and Sandra Chile) in case I absolutely couldn't be there. Secondary shout outs to the ER docs who loaded me up with awesome medicine, so that I was able to make it after all. I was honestly super touched when Sean told me his initial reaction to me maybe not being there, and they were both so sweet about the whole situation. Okay, so back to their Pittsburgh wedding adorableness.

A bridesmaid helps the flower girl with her tablet.

A bridesmaid applies her mascara in a mirror.

Details of the groom's shoes, watch, and socks.

Portrait of the groom in the mirror at the Sheraton hotel in Pittsburgh.

A detail of the groom putting on his socks and cufflinks.

Detail of the bride's headband and jewelry on the windowsill.

Portrait of the groom in the mirror at the Sheraton hotel in Pittsburgh.

Groom puts on his jacket.

Detail of groom's bow tie.

Detail of groom's watch with Steelers logo, and groomsmen getting ready at the Sheraton hotel in Pittsburgh

Left, the bride's dress hangs on the window with the city of Pittsburgh in the background. Right, the bride's hands poke up through the top of her dress as she pulls it on over her head.

A bridesmaid fixes her son's bow tie while he watches a video on her phone.

Groomsmen get dressed in the Pittsburgh Sheraton hotel.

A groomsmen buttons his vest.

"Yeah, I'm kinda busy right now?"

A groomsmen helps a friend with his bow tie, and a bridesmaid shows the flower girl her phone.

This is why you only trust your bestie to be your maid of honor.

A bridesmaid helps the bride arrange her dress.

Portrait of a flower girl, hand resting on her chin.

Groomsmen and his vape cloud.

Bride's portraits, lit from the large windows beside her.

Close up portrait of the bride in black and white.

The wedding party waiting for the ceremony to start.

Another Pittsburgh wedding staple, the Trolley. They're cute as hell. I content that taking portraits on the T might have been a LITTLE more yinzer, but their schedule is a little less predictable.

Wedding party travels to the church on the trolley.

Groomsmen smoking outside the church.

Mom attaches the groom's boutonniere.

I meet couples all kinds of different places. I've had two different people book me for their wedding based on a shared love of Firefly. But I met Sean through the other kind of work I do, graphic design. I was on a panel with him about freelancing, and when he got engaged awhile later, he remembered me mentioning that I was also a wedding photographer. Since he's ALSO a graphic designer (and works in one of my other groom's favorite Pittsburgh buildings), of course he designed the invitations himself.

Wedding invitations that include illustrations of the Pittsburgh skyline.

Bride getting onto the trolley.

Bridesmaid and her young son, ringbearer, ride the trolley. Right: St. Mary on the Mount church.

Groomsmen hold umbrellas outside the trolley, before they go into the church.

Bride walks into the church with an umbrella, right: the organist plays.

The flower girl and ringbear walk down the aisle. He holds a sign that says "Uncle Sean, here comes your bride!"

The bride and her father walk down the aisle at St. Mary on the Mount.

A black and white photo of the ringbearer standing in the pew.

Detail of the programs, close up.

Black and white close up of a groomsmen in the pew.

The priest speaks during the wedding ceremony at St. Mary on the Mount in Pittsburgh.

Left: Bride and Groom say their vows at St Mary on the Mount in Pittsburgh. Right: their mothers hold offerings.

The bride and groom's mothers walk up the aisle at St Mary on the Mount in Pittsburgh.

Bride and groom light their unity candle, Pittsburgh wedding at St. Mary on the Mount

Bride and groom exiting their wedding ceremony at St Mary on the Mount in Pittsburgh

Bride and groom exit their wedding ceremony at St Mary on the Mount in Pittsburgh

Bride and groom kiss inside the chapel at St. Mary on the Mount in Pittsburgh

Bride and groom portraits on the Duquesne Incline in Pittsburgh

Bride and groom look away from each other, out at the city over the railing at the Duquesne Incline.

Kids run underfoot while taking portraits after a wedding at the Duquesne Incline.

Bride and Groom look out at Pittsburgh over the railing at the Duquesne Incline.

Bride and groom kiss after their Pittsburgh wedding at the Duquesne Incline.

Bride and groom kiss after their Pittsburgh wedding at the Duquesne Incline.

I love how much this little guy loved his umbrella.

Wedding party poses at the Duquesne Incline for family portraits.

"We got the shot? I think we got the shot you guys, okay let's roll."

Wedding party poses at the Duquesne Incline for family portraits.

Bride and groom kiss after their Pittsburgh wedding at the Duquesne Incline.

Wedding party carries umbrellas to escape the rain after their Pittsburgh wedding.

Bride and groom hug on the trolley.

Sometimes you do what you gotta do.

A groomsman has fixed an umbrella to the roof of their leaking trolley.

Sure, when *I* suggest a human pyramid y'all think I'm kidding, but when *David* suggests it...

Groomsmen lift a groom up on to their shoulders. Funny wedding party photos.

A bride and groom kiss on the fire escape at the Sheraton hotel in Pittsburgh.

A bride and groom kiss on the fire escape at the Sheraton hotel in Pittsburgh.

A bride and groom kiss on the fire escape at the Sheraton hotel in Pittsburgh.

Black. And. Yellow. (Plus some Heinz ketchup, which is the only good ketchup don't @ me.)

The Sheraton at Station Square in Pittsburgh decorated for a wedding reception.

Black and yellow Eat n Park smiley cookies for a wedding.

Black and yellow pittsburgh wedding cake.

The wedding party enters the reception at the Sheraton in Pittsburgh with terrible towels.

Bride and groom first dance at the Sheraton hotel at Station Square in PIttsburgh.

Bride and groom cut their cake, wedding at the Sheraton in Pittsburgh at Station Square.

Bride's teary reaction to her maid of honor's wedding toast.

Groom dances with his mother.

Bride and her father dance.

Liz's dad insisted that she spin him, and also took a very fancy bow at the end.

Bride dances with her father.

When it's time to party, we will party hard.

Wedding reception at the Sheraton Station Square in pittsburgh

Wedding reception at the Sheraton Station Square in pittsburgh

We were trying to get the family together for a photo, which they agreed to as long as they didn't have to stop doing the Cha Cha Slide. Take it back now, y'all.

Wedding reception at the Sheraton Station Square in pittsburgh

Wedding reception at the Sheraton Station Square in pittsburgh

I had no idea there was an official dance to Cotton Eye Joe. Where did he come from, and also who made up this dance?

Wedding reception at the Sheraton Station Square in pittsburgh

Wedding reception at the Sheraton Station Square in pittsburgh

I love all of your grandmas so much.

Wedding reception at the Sheraton Station Square in pittsburgh

Wedding reception at the Sheraton Station Square in pittsburgh

Wedding reception at the Sheraton Station Square in pittsburgh

Wedding reception at the Sheraton Station Square in pittsburgh

Wedding reception at the Sheraton Station Square in pittsburgh

Second photographers: David McCandless and Sandra Chile

Ceremony: St. Mary of the Mount, Pittsburgh

Reception: Sheraton Station Square

Additional photos at the Duquesne Incline

Caterer: Sheraton Station Square

Florist: Z Florist

Baker: Bethel Bakery

Dress/Suits: David’s Bridal/ Men’s Warehouse

Accessories: Bridesmaid Jewlery by Emma Sarsfield (Aunt of the Bride)

DJ/Band: Francis Pessolano

Makeup/Hair: Meraki Glam

Videographer: Shofilms

Photo Booth: Photo Booths by Yellow Mack

Transportation: Pittsburgh Trolley Works

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