…. and my 2010 wedding season (the shooting part! Still lots of work to do)  is a wrap. It couldn’t have ended on a more perfect note than Allison & Dennis’s perfect fall wedding. Allison & Dennis chose to get married in November because neither one of them like to be hot, and they wanted to be sure they’d be cool and comfortable. I feel the same way, so I think all three of us were delighted with the somewhat chilly temperature. Not freezing, but definitely not hot.

There are way more photos than I normally post here… just going to go crazy with end of the season mania! Why not?!

The day began at Fox Chapel Presbyterian. My terrific second shooter (and newlywed!) Pamela Marie spotted a few colorful leaves, and thankfully Allison’s sister and maid of honor Ashley was tall enough to reach a branch and hang Allison’s dress up there.

A look behind the scenes: Ashley and bridesmaid Gina crouching down just out of sight, dutifully protecting Allison’s gown from touching the ground. Remember it was a little cold? See those doors on the left? Yep, they locked behind us. Sorry ladies! They had to shiver for a couple minutes while I ran around to let them back in.I don’t really know what Ashley was doing with the dress here, but everyone seems pretty amused by it. Except for flower girl Natalie, checking herself out in the mirror in the background. If Ashley looks familiar, you may recognize her and her husband Jason from their June wedding at the Circuit Center.Here is Dennis, the beaming groom, with his dad.Ashley very memorably did some pushups before her wedding. Allison, who has run a marathon, countered by maintaining this squat for about half an hour.*

*Previous statement may contain some untruthiness.

Just like Dennis, Allison was beaming. No nervousness here! Photo by Pamela.. After the ceremony, we skirted the construction at Squaw Valley Park for bridal party pictures. These sisters are the best! Allison is the older sister… but not the big sister. Or, as Ashley put it during her toast: “I always looked up to you… until I was 13, and then I looked down at you.” The ladies skewered many a leaf with their shoes.

Photo by Pamela.Not only are these chocolate brown strapless Ann Taylor bridesmaids dresses pretty… but they have pockets. Perfect for storing your bouquet when you’re tired of carrying it. And I love the bright pink pashminas with the brown dresses. Finally some quality together time for the newlyweds. This next one by Pamela.These Penn Staters were ready to party. That was definitely clear after their energetic introductions!First Ashley hurled her shoes onto the dance floor, and then she hurled Alan. Allison & her dad. I also want to note that this venue, the Syria Mosque, is fantastic. It is a huge room, perfect for a big wedding, with lots of character. I’ll share more about the venue, as well as more of Allison & Dennis’s details in a separate post. Dennis & his mom.This is Dennis’s sister Christine and her adorable one-year-old, flower girl Addison. She did great! Photo by Pamela.Dennis and his niece, flower girl Natalie. My little 2 1/2 year old Jonas was watching me upload these photos. After seeing some of the dancing pictures, he told me he wanted to go to this place. Then he saw this next photo and said: “but no one has to pick  me up. That white man does not have to pick me up and throw me into the ceiling because I would crash.”These two were fantastic dancers. So, I was cruising the dance floor, snapping away, when I saw bridesmaid Gina walking very purposefully through the crowd. By the look in her eye, I could tell I needed to follow her. Good intuition, because she and reader Ronnie found some open space and broke out into a synchronized dance to “When I Grow Up.” (The song is still stuck in my head.) They were fantastic! Yay for brides and grooms that dance together!Awwww. It is a long day for a little one. I think wearing sneakers is a good sign that the bride is serious about dancing. Definitely was true for Allison. You may remember that Ashley also wore sneakers to her reception, and that her husband didn’t wear socks. Still no socks for Jason. I wonder if the family holidays are like this? Allison & Dennis – congratulations! It was such a pleasure celebrating your wedding day with you. You worked so hard on your planning and I am so glad that it all paid off. You guys are great!

=========================================

The Credits

Ceremony: Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church

Reception: Syria Mosque

Caterer: Stratwood Catering

Cake: Jan Stananovic (aka The Cake Lady)

Florist: Jim Ludwig’s Blumengarten

Bride’s Gown: Allure/MB Bride

Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Ann Taylor

Hair & Makeup: Salon Cercone & Sephora

Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Ann Taylor

Videographer: Jordan with Marcus Morelli Skene 19 Productions

————————————————–

Christina Montemurro Photography is a top-rated photography studio specializing in special events, including weddings and bar mitzvahs, serving the greater Pittsburgh area. Christina’s focus is on creating genuine, heartfelt, relaxed images, with extraordinary attention to detail and customer service. Contact Christina now to check availability for your engagement session, wedding, bar mitzvah or bat mitzvah. Christina has been rated among top Pittsburgh photographers. You can read reviews by Christina’s past brides and grooms here and here.