Beautiful Outdoor Summer Wedding

Beautiful Outdoor Summer Wedding

A bride in a white dress and veil and a groom in a navy suit stand outdoors, facing each other and laughing, surrounded by greenery and yellow flowers.

Is there a better, more beautiful place in the summer for an outdoor wedding than Phipps Conservatory? Michelle and Ian picked the perfect day for it, too. Some high cloud cover diffused the sunlight and made the colors of the flowers pop. I had so much fun shooting this wedding!

Getting Ready

A woman in a light robe smiles as she lifts a wedding dress still in a plastic cover. She stands by a table with unpacked items and an open cardboard box in a bright room.

Michelle got ready at their home in Lawrenceville.

A bride in a white dress walks down the stairs on the left; on the right, an older man in a tuxedo smiles warmly at her inside a home, seen from behind the bride’s head.

Michelle heads down the stairs to show off her dress to her dad who was waiting in the living room.

A woman with long, wavy dark hair wearing a white sleeveless dress, pearl necklace, and drop earrings smiles and looks to the side in a softly lit indoor setting.

So gorgeous!

A vibrant bouquet of assorted flowers, including pink, peach, and purple blooms, surrounded by green leaves and other colorful blossoms, bathed in soft natural light.

First Look at Phipps

A bride in a white gown walks with a woman in a blue dress on a garden path near a glass conservatory, while other people stroll in the background under a cloudy sky.

Michelle and her mom arrive at the front entrance to Phipps.

A bride in a white dress approaches a smiling groom in a navy suit and bowtie during an outdoor first look, surrounded by greenery and colorful flowers. The groom stands in focus, while the bride is slightly blurred in the background. Two wedding photos of a bride in a white gown and a groom in a navy suit. In the first, the groom admires the bride; in the second, they smile and embrace outdoors on a path with greenery and flowers in the background.A bride and groom share an emotional first look outdoors; she smiles and holds his face as he reacts with happy tears in a garden setting with greenery and flowers in the background.

Ian waits as Michelle walks towards him. Such a sweet moment — I love first looks! Ian was super stylish in his navy blue tuxedo.

Split image of a bride and groom outdoors: on the left, they hold hands and smile while walking; on the right, they embrace joyfully on a paved path with greenery in the background. A bride and groom kneel outdoors, smiling at the camera with their dog, who is wearing an orange dress. The couple is dressed in formal wedding attire, with greenery and flowers in the background.

Their good girl Phoebe had her own bridesmaid’s dress. So sweet!

A split image: left side shows seven men in matching dark suits posing outdoors; right side shows six women in red-toned dresses playfully lifting a laughing bride in a white gown.

The guys were all into being serious. Not so much for the ladies, who were A LOT more fun 🙂

Pre Ceremony

A collage shows wedding decor: a table with name cards in small vases, a blue invitation with rings on top, and a decorated welcome table with flowers, photos, and wedding signs for Ian and Michelle in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

I always try to get as many photos of the details as I can before guests arrive. Especially the escort table so that all of the seating cards are in place. Michelle collected and crafted every one of the bottles being used as vases. They made a great gift to guests at the end of the evening. A selfie station with polaroids and a photos of the couple’s loved ones who had passed was near the entrance to the Special Events Hall.

A man in a dark suit with a red rose boutonniere writes on a piece of paper while standing against a plain green wall, looking down and focused on his task.

While guests were arriving and being seated I saw Ian making notes. He told me that he was writing his vows. I think I made some joke about waiting until the last minute or something. But let me tell you, they were eloquent, heartfelt and poignant. It amazes me when people are able to distill their thoughts and feelings in such a powerfully moving way. These guys are both medical doctors and with people like them in the healing profession we all benefit.

A bride in a white dress and veil holds hands with a groom in a dark suit and bow tie as they sit together on a gray couch, looking at each other and smiling in a softly lit room.

A Beautiful Summer Outdoor Wedding Ceremony

A man in a blue suit smiles at the camera while holding a white fan above his head. Other people around him, seated outdoors, are also using hand fans. Trees and greenery are visible in the background.

Those high clouds I talked about earlier turned into a light sprinkle of rain. The wedding went on and the rain stopped pretty quickly.

A smiling man in a dark suit walks down an outdoor aisle, clapping his hands, while seated guests on both sides smile, clap, and watch. Another man follows behind. Trees and greenery form the background.

Ian makes his entrance.

A bride in a white dress holding colorful flowers walks arm-in-arm with an older man in a black tuxedo outdoors, both smiling and looking at each other. Green plants and a modern building are visible in the background.

Michelle is escorted by her dad.

A bride and groom stand at the altar with an officiant during an outdoor wedding ceremony, surrounded by bridesmaids in matching dresses holding bouquets. Guests watch the smiling couple. A bride and groom stand at the altar holding hands during an outdoor wedding ceremony, surrounded by bridesmaids, groomsmen, and seated guests, with a modern glass building and lush greenery as the backdrop. A bride and groom perform a tea ceremony outdoors, pouring tea and serving it to seated family members, with guests watching and greenery in the background.

The lanterns on the arbor behind the couple and the tea ceremony honored Michelle’s Asian heritage on her mother’s side.

A bride and groom stand at an outdoor altar, laughing joyfully during their wedding ceremony. The officiant smiles behind them, and red lanterns hang in the background amid greenery.

Michelle’s vows were equally moving, funny and powerful. Great stuff!

A bride and groom share their first kiss at an outdoor wedding ceremony, surrounded by applauding guests and a wedding party dressed in coordinated colors, with greenery and red lanterns in the background. A bride and groom, smiling and holding hands raised in celebration, walk down the aisle outdoors as guests seated on both sides applaud and cheer. The bride holds a bouquet and wears a white dress; the groom is in a dark suit. A bride in a white gown holding a colorful bouquet walks hand-in-hand with a groom in a navy tuxedo down an outdoor aisle, smiling at each other, as guests in bright attire look on and celebrate.

I love these moments!

A Few Portraits

A bride and groom stand on a wooden boardwalk, surrounded by tall grass, trees, and water lilies, sharing an intimate moment outdoors on their wedding day. A bride in a white dress and a groom in a navy suit pose together and separately outdoors on a rooftop walkway, holding a colorful bouquet, with greenery and city buildings in the background. A bride and groom walk hand-in-hand on a wooden path surrounded by lush greenery. Behind them is a rust-colored wall with white bird sculptures in flight and a window on the left side.

While the guests enjoyed cocktail hour we walked around for a few minutes doing portraits. I really love Phipps.

The Reception

A banquet hall set for a formal event with round tables, blue napkins, a tiered white cake with floral decorations, elegant floral centerpieces, and a sweetheart table adorned with flowers and twinkling lights.

Some details of the reception set up in Special Events Hall. Don’t you just love the cake topper with Michelle, Ian and Phoebe?

A joyful bride and groom in wedding attire excitedly enter a venue, smiling and laughing. The groom playfully raises one leg, while the bride holds his arm and beams.

Michelle and Ian had a complete wardrobe change before their entrance to the reception. Fantastic!

A bride and groom, both smiling, dance together on a wooden floor in a bright, modern venue, surrounded by guests watching and celebrating. The bride wears a white dress; the groom wears a white jacket and black pants. A groom lifts his bride joyfully on a dance floor while wedding guests seated at round tables watch and smile in a warmly lit reception hall.

First dance was followed by the cake cutting.

A bride and groom, smiling and laughing, cut their white wedding cake together. The cake has peach flowers and a silhouette topper. Other guests are visible in the background.

A woman in a red dress gives a speech with a microphone and notes, while a bride and groom seated at a table smile and react emotionally to her words at a formal event. A bride and groom laugh, with the groom covering his face, while a man in a tuxedo gives a speech and smiles, holding a microphone during a wedding reception.

Maid of honor and best man speeches.

A bride and groom sit together, listening intently. The groom hugs an emotional man. The same man, wearing glasses and a bow tie, delivers a heartfelt speech holding a microphone and paper.

Ian’s dad gave a blessing and shared his wisdom with the couple.

A bride in a white dress dances with an older man in a suit, both smiling happily at each other in a warmly lit reception hall with guests seated at decorated tables in the background.

Michelle danced with her dad.

Two people, one in a white tuxedo and one in a navy outfit, joyfully dance together on a wooden floor at a festive event, with smiling guests seated at round tables in the background.

Ian’s mom has passed but she was represented by a loved one.

Dance Party

A woman in a white dress and a man in a white jacket smile and dance energetically at a party, with other guests seated and colorful lights in the background. Two women in colorful dresses laugh and sing loudly while dancing at a lively indoor party. Other guests in festive attire dance and mingle in the background under bright, colorful lights. A man in a white shirt and a woman in a teal dress happily dance with arms raised at a lively indoor event, surrounded by smiling people dressed in formal attire. A group of adults joyfully dancing at a party, with a man in a blue suit holding a smiling baby in the center of the scene. Colorful lights and a lively atmosphere fill the room. A bride in a white dress and a man in a white shirt and bow tie laugh and dance together at a lively indoor wedding reception with guests smiling and mingling in the background.A man in a tuxedo enthusiastically dances at a lively indoor party while a group of smiling guests in colorful attire watch and join in on the wooden dance floor. A bride and groom share a close moment on the dance floor, holding hands and smiling. Guests in colorful outfits dance and mingle in the background under purple lighting at a lively celebration.

I love to photograph a good dance party! I’m so grateful to Michelle and Ian for having me photograph their amazing, wonderful, beautiful outdoor summer wedding!