SOLDIERS AND SAILORS WEDDING - NICK AND ELIZABETH
A Christmas Wedding in Pittsburgh
Upon a snowy December evening, Elizabeth and Nick Brown tied the knot at the Heinz Memorial Chapel in a Hallmark movie-esque ceremony complete with two white-light Christmas trees on either side of the altar. Wreaths fashioned with red ribbons adorned the ends of the church aisles and were sprayed with a pine scent to truly embody the heart of a Christmas wedding.
While she was an undergrad at West Virginia University, Elizabeth studied abroad in Europe and fell in love with the architecture of the churches and old buildings. Between that and her love of Harry Potter, Heinz Chapel was the perfect venue for the ceremony with its neo-gothic construction that consists of high ceilings and arches, stone carvings, and Indiana Limestone walls.
It was during college while living in Morgantown that Elizabeth met Nick, who is in the U.S. Army Reserve. He grew up in Pittsburgh, and around six years ago, the couple attended a military ball at Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum. The space was exquisite, and subconsciously, Elizabeth knew that’s where they would want to get married someday.
Six wonderful years come and gone, Nick surprised her with a sweet proposal on Carroll Creek in downtown Frederick, Maryland. It was a random Monday, which was the perfect way to propose—because otherwise, it would have been nearly impossible to surprise Elizabeth. Having grown up in a family that has always loved Christmas, she dreamt of a winter wedding as long as she can remember. So, when it came time to choose a venue, and December 17th was the only date the memorial hall had available, the decision was practically made for them.
Radiant Strings added elegance to the ceremony while playing the Bridgerton theme song as the bridesmaids walked down the aisle dressed in beaded black, art deco blouson gowns from Adrianna Pappell. Caviar and Curls styled the bridal party’s hair, while Rachel Bongiorni completed the look with her expert makeup artistry. The Groomsmen wore classic black and white tuxedos from The Black Tux with Christmas dress socks underneath.
Then appeared Elizabeth in a stunning Stella York gown to “Tale as Old as Time” from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, carrying a white and red rose bouquet with accents of berries and pine dispersed between the flowers to further personify a wintertime wedding. Luanne O'Brien officiated the heartfelt ceremony. Elite Coach Transportation provided seamless transportation for the guests and wedding party.
Staying consistent with their theme and color scheme, the couple wanted the entire day to be a classic, formal affair. With this in mind, shades of green, gold, and red were intertwined with every piece of décor in the venue. Green tablecloths and red linen napkins draped the reception hall tables, and an array of floating, glass tea light candles were lit on each table to emit an enchanting glow throughout the hall. Val’s Creative Touch provided stunning floral arrangements. These flowers were later donated to Scent with Love, spreading joy to others after the celebration. All Occasions Party Rentals provided upgraded chair rentals while Vincent Lighting enhanced the magical atmosphere with their cafe lights draped from the ballroom balcony.
Many friends and family members contributed to the Pittsburgh cookie table. Signature Desserts provided a two-tier, white cake encased in gold with raspberry filling for the couple to cut during the reception. Here for the Cookie Table designed and set up the sweets display, which included a variety of cookies contributed by family and friends. The styled dessert spread included a replica of the Andy Warhol Bridge in the center, holding an assortment of sweets, and Christmas trees on each end of the table.
Through her business, The MD Dog Co., Elizabeth has made many connections that she and Nick were lucky enough to utilize for their wedding. Charcuterie boards in the shape of their home states, Maryland and Pennsylvania, and the state where they met, West Virginia, were placed on the hors d'oeuvres table during the cocktail hour. The boards were made by Three Little Designs Co. out of Mt. Airy, Maryland. The personalized cookies by Well Dressed Cookie were prepared in representation of different aspects of the couple’s lives. The designs reflected the Maryland flag, the couple’s two dogs, a Steelers terrible towel, West Virginia initials, and the Army logo. Outlines of the couple’s dogs were also incorporated on the invitations, bar napkins, and cookie table in a gold embossing. In an ode to Elizabeth’s dog accessories small business and love of animals, gift bags full of homemade dog treats—created by Buttercup Barkery—were given out at the end of the night for attendees to take home to their furry friends.
During cocktail hour, guests had the opportunity to play a giant word search and crossword puzzle that Elizabeth designed custom to her and Nick. On their way to the ballroom, a pair of Christmas-themed socks were provided so guests could kick off their shoes on the dance floor. To begin the reception, Lethal DJ, The bridal party entered the reception to a Bruno Mars song, followed by Elizabeth and Nick, who were accompanied by “All I Want For Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey. To the right of the entryway sat a large, light-up decoration that spelled out “love” with hearts patterning the letters and giving the word a glowing appearance. Following toasts and the blessing, Chef Rey Catering provided a delicious dinner, delighting guests with their culinary expertise. Photobrations added a fun touch to the reception with their photo booth.
Kristen Kane Events coordinated every detail of this stunning Pittsburgh Christmas wedding. Aaron Woods Productions and True North Photography captured the day’s magic on camera, ensuring memories that will last a lifetime.