eliza and dan's wedding on 35mm film, super 8, and digital format

i met eliza and dan on a cozy winter day at one of our favorite pittsburgh spots: dobra tea. :) i was drawn immediately to their connection and passion for one another. meeting with couples upon their inquiry is one of my favorite parts of the wedding planning process. my deep interests and inspiration root for physical and emotional connection between humans when initially meeting: 

what was the first thing you noticed about one another? how have you both changed individually and as a whole since this relationship first began to spark? what do you envision your life together feeling like? what does wedding planning mean to you beyond the traditions? 

we planned their engagement session starting at THE ZENITH, an eclectic, vegetarian eatery and antique store in the southside. one of the main attractions that brought the couple towards my art was my diverse lighting capabilities. for the introduction of their session, we played with both the natural and artificial lighting of the space, encouraging organic posing concepts that had an editorial feel. eliza wore a sheer, lacey bodysuit with similar-textured gloves and tights. dan wore a frilly button down with antique cuff links. 

from there, we headed over to their home in shadyside where e+d changed into a more retro look and played with posing within the existing interior design. their space was full of secondhand trinkets, antique rugs, and the most beautiful lighting. 

the vintage-inspired romance of two beautiful souls came together on a late-july afternoon to bewed! eliza and dan, surrounded by all their closest family & friends, pronounced their marriage as partners until the end of time. 

eliza had been wearing secondhand victorian embellished gold-toned kitten heels styled amongst her vintage feathered doll fans (MIRANDA’S VINTAGE BRIDAL) and delicate family heirloom jewelry. her outfit was a champagne-colored silk 1920s gown with low-waist ruching (A STITCH IN TIMELESS), followed by a nontraditional mini dress designed of lace interwoven with lace), created by her best friend (RAGE MAKES ME FEEL PRETTY, CIERRA RAUNCH. the mini dress had been paired with matching lace wristlets and embodied with waist-sinching fabrics. dan wore a hand-stitched and fully embroidered suit with a gold horse brooch on the lapel of his suit jacket, complimented with a singular rosemary boutonniere gifted by all guests as a festive croatian tradition. 

the newlyweds held their wedding celebration at a cozy bed&breakfast styled farmhouse outside of pittsburgh. 

surrounded by gardens of colorful flowers, eliza and her friends spent their morning gathering bouquets and arrangements in the front lawn of the farmhouse. 

dinner consisted of authentic, serbian&croatian favorites made by their families: sarma, spit-roasted pork, stuffed peppers, feta&spinach pitas, pasta salads, and cookies galore! all of the dishes came from a set eliza’s grandma and great aunt collected. all additional decor was secondhand, gathered from garage sales, thrift stores, antique, & family collections. 

following their dinner, the newlyweds and guests enjoyed a thyme and rosemary garnished wedding cake made by BUTTERWOOD BAKES in lawrenceville, pittsburgh. 

the evening was spent listening to the sounds of their friends playing instruments, drinking lots of rakija (a balkan spirit), and dancing under the softened moonlight. 

eliza and dan, allowing me to be a part of your wedding day was a lovely experience. i’m constantly reminded and inspired by your gentle love. all the love as you take on marriage together through barcelona to madrid, and wherever else life takes you 🖤

following their wedding, eliza and dan gifted me some pieces from their home as they prepared to move to another country: two bohemian rugs, lots of plants, and my favorite, a vintage gold swan match holder. i will forever hold these so close to my heart. eliza and dan, thank you for making me feel so loved.