Lisa and Jimmy's Wedding - Heinz History Center - Pittsburgh Wedding Photographer Christina Montemurro

When it was time for Lisa to go to college, she told her dad she wanted to go SOUTH. She didn’t have a specific destination in mind, but she definitely had a direction. So she left her family in Pittsburgh and went off to Clemson University in South Carolina. Meanwhile, Jimmy, a Tennessee native, also decided to go to Clemson. If you think that’s where these two met, you would be wrong. While they’re both Clemson graduates, their paths didn’t cross until after college, when both ended up living in North Carolina. They hit it off right away, and now, more than four years later, they’re married!

Photographing this wedding with me was the one and only Pamela Anticole. She began the day with Jimmy and his nine groomsmen at Lisa & Jimmy’s home in Highland Park. (Make sure you admire Jimmy’s suit, custom made by Manchin Inc.) Meanwhile, I joined Lisa, her mom and her bridesmaids in the glorious Emperor Suite at the Hotel Monaco. This is such a great space! So many textures, colors and fun details to play with. Lisa’s makeup was done by Jae Lee Paredes and hair by Swank Salon.

Lisa and Jimmy’s ceremony took place at Our Lady of the Angels in Lawrenceville. I’d never been there before, and was very pleasantly surprised to find a beautiful historic church with a vibrant, colorful altar.

When I first met Lisa, she said she didn’t want to go to any of the iconic Pittsburgh locations for photos. She had a different idea: Washington’s Landing. While I’ve been there running and biking many times, and have a secret dream to live there one day, I’d never been there on a wedding day. I can’t tell you how many times I checked the weather last week, thinking of Lisa and Jimmy and Washington’s Landing. It didn’t look good. But thankfully this was one of those days where the actual weather isn’t much like the forecasted weather. So glad we were able to make these photos happen… plus… rainbow!

Many of the guests had never been to Pittsburgh before. They were lucky to get a great taste of Pittsburgh at Lisa & Jimmy’s reception venue, one of my favorites: the Heinz History Center. Kelly Bishop of Fox Petal Floral created beautiful centerpieces, and Lisa made table numbers out of corks. So much cake, so many cookies (I think I heard 200+ dozen!?) and so many other pretty things to see (best favors ever) that I’m going to share those details in a separate post.

This was really quite a celebration, starting with Lisa and Jimmy’s upbeat first dance to “L-O-V-E,” followed by the sweet and emotional parents’ dances (watch the two moms looking on as Lisa dances with her dad), and later a dance party with an extraordinary performance by The Bachelor Boys Band. They were phenomenal.

Lisa and Jimmy, Pamela and I are so happy for you, and had such a wonderful time documenting this magical day. Thank you!

Lisa was trying to not get emotionally overwhelmed. But look at her dad looking at her… that’s enough to make me emotional.

Love the next photo. Lisa and Jimmy had invited a very special guest for a few photos after the ceremony. They were a little surprised to see this guest walking up the aisle. He was supposed to wait outside!

This was the largest group I’ve seen in the Great Hall at the History Center. But with their ingenious layout strategies, it didn’t even feel crowded. Great work by the History Center staff together with the caterers, Common Plea.