William Penn Wedding

William Penn Wedding

The end of the year has me looking back on this beautiful late summer day in Pittsburgh when Leah and Brian held their Phipps Conservatory and Omni William Penn Wedding.

A bride and groom look at each other as they stand in the middle of the Roberto Clemente bridge in downtown Pittsburgh.

Leah and Brian are a terrifically nice couple. I’d been looking forward to their wedding for quite a while because they came to me via a recommendation from another wonderful couple, Kate and Will. They met in New Orleans while each was vacationing with their friends. Chance? Maybe. But I believe that magical things happen when we approach the world in an open way and are attuned to the possibilities that reveal themselves to us. So they met in New Orleans and when it came time to head home the fire was already lit. Several years later and here we all were at the Omni William Penn getting ready to head over to Phipps Conservatory for their wedding ceremony.

Getting Ready

A woman is seen through an open doorway to a bathroom as she has her makeup applied before her wedding.

Leah and her girls had their hair and makeup done in their hotel suite. If there’s one thing that’ll keep you cool and calm on your wedding day, it’s having your hair and makeup professionals come to you instead worrying about the logistics of getting around town. Leah used the natural light coming in through the front window of their suite to check her makeup.

A woman holds a hand mirror checks her makeup in the window of a hotel suite at the William Penn Hotel in downtown Pittsburgh.

Leah’s mom Rose helped her get the dress on as her bridesmaids watched from the doorway.

A bride puts on her dress with the help of her mother as her friends watch from the doorway to the hotel suite.

Personal Touches

Some of Leah’s details include these fabulous turquoise and gold shoes, a handkerchief from her grandmother and rings worn by her grandfather, and her pale blush rose bouquet.

Detail photos of blue shoes with gold trim, an embroidered handkerchief with two rings, and a bouquet of flowers.

Some of Brian’s details include some small-batch bourbon (in the guy’s messy hotel room 😀), a boutonniere, and some seriously shiny shoes (photos by Lisa).

Detail photos of a bottle of bourbon in a messy hotel room, a boutonniere, and a pair of shiny black mens shoes.

Brian buttons up his tuxedo jacket as he gathers his thoughts (photo by Lisa).

A groom buttons the jacket of his tuxedo while standing in his room at the Omni William Penn in Pittsburgh.

After the jacket went on, the guys shared a laugh as they hang out before heading to the ceremony (photo by Lisa).

A groom laughs with his groomsmen as they stand about a hotel room wearing tuxedos.

On to the Ceremony at Phipps

Meanwhile, the ladies headed down the hall at the William Penn wedding ceremony bound.

A bride walks through the hallways of the Omni William Penn on her way to her wedding.

Over at Phipps Conservatory, Brian walks down a wooded path before their wedding ceremony (photo by Lisa).

A groom walks down a wooded path as he waits for his wedding ceremony to begin at Phipps Conservatory.

At the same time Brian was collecting his thoughts Leah’s dad Robert got a little emotional upon seeing how beautiful she was in her wedding gown.

A bride reaches out for her father as he wipes a tear away after seeing her in her wedding dress.

Then it was over to the Outdoor Garden for the ceremony. Robert walks Leah down the path where Brian waits.

A bride and her father walk down a path towards the waiting wedding party outside at Phipps Conservatory.

Brian watches as Leah heads his way (photo by Lisa).

A groom waits for his bride under blue skies and puffy clouds.

Blue skies, white puffy clouds, and the University of Pittsburgh’s Cathedral of Learning make a stunning backdrop for the ceremony.

Puffy white clouds and the Cathedral of Learning form the backdrop for an outdoor wedding at Phipps Conservatory.

Emotions were on display.

A bride's smiling face is seen through a gap between the groom and his groomsmen.Closeup of a bride as she wipes a tear away during her wedding ceremony.

Leah and Brian celebrate after lighting the unity candle – not an easy task with a wonky lighter!

A bride and groom gesture with triumph after lighting their unity candle.

On their way from the ceremony Brian kissed Leah’s hand as they walked together.

A groom kisses his bride's hand as they walk down a path after their outdoor wedding ceremony at Phipps Conservatory.

Before their guests surrounded them Leah and Brian shared a rare moment alone in the shade beneath a tent.

A bride and groom stand beneath a tent after their wedding ceremony at Phipps Conservatory.

Portraits in Pittsburgh

There was a Pirates game, so the Roberto Clemente Bridge was closed to traffic. Everyone was a good sport – I made them walk a lot during the photo session on the North Shore.

A large wedding party holds hands as they walk across both lanes of the Roberto Clemente bridge in downtown Pittsburgh.

A portrait in the lobby of the William Penn – one of the great spaces in the city.

A handsome young married couple stands close to one another while facing a large window in the lobby of the William Penn Hotel in downtown Pittsburgh.

Details, details, details. Neither Leah or Brian care for cake, so there was pie. Oh boy, was there pie!

An assortment of pies and cookies on a table at the William Penn Hotel in downtown Pittsburgh.

…and cookies.

Cookies and pies set out as dessert for wedding guests at the Omni William Penn in Pittsburgh.

The room was set and ready for the guests.

Views of the set dinner tables in the grand ballroom at an Omni William Penn wedding Hotel in downtown Pittsburgh.

Leah and her bridesmaids in the Speakeasy at the William Penn, one of Leah and Brian’s favorite spots.

Bride and her bridesmaids sit in the Speakeasy at the Omni William Penn in downtown Pittsburgh.A bride and groom sit on a red velvet settee in the Speakeasy at their Omni William Penn wedding

Reception in the Grand Ballroom

The couple enters the ballroom for the reception of their Omni William Penn wedding.

Bride and groom hold their hands up triumphantly as they enter their wedding reception in the grand ballroom at the Omni William Penn wedding.

A couple of photos from their first dance:

Bride and groom share a first dance during their Omni William Penn wedding.Bride and groom dance at their Omni William Penn wedding.

Leah’s mom Rose plays with her grandson Tristan.

Grandma chases her grandson around at an Omni William Penn wedding.

Robert hugged Leah at the end of their dance. Brian and his mom Linda share a laugh during their dance together.

Bride is embraced by her father during their first dance and a groom dances with his mother during their Omni William Penn wedding.

Leah and Brian together in the middle of the dance floor as their guests join them.

An overhead view of the full dance floor in the main ballroom at the Omni William Penn.A bride and groom smile as they dance during their Omni William Penn wedding in downtown Pittsburgh.

I followed Leah and Brian up to the balcony when they took a moment to check out the action.

A groom embraces his bride as they look over the dance floor at their Omni William Penn wedding.

Thanks for looking! I’m sure you’ll enjoy this great summertime wedding, too.

Filed under Omni William Penn Wedding and Pittsburgh Wedding Photographers.