When Lauren and Sid told me about their June 25 wedding in the outdoor garden at Phipps, I think we all pictured a very hot summer day. So it was a surprise when it turned out to be a cool day, more like early May than June.

Their wedding day began at the Omni William Penn in downtown Pittsburgh. I loved this detail on Lauren’s Watters gown.

Lots and lots of smiles from Lauren, her mother and her maids of honor as she finally got to wear this gorgeous dress.

One floor down, Sid perfected his bow tie. There are those who feel strongly that they do or don’t want to see their soon-to-be spouse before their wedding ceremony. You can’t go wrong either way, but I am pretty partial to the First Look. As Lauren and Sid’s ceremony was not until 6pm, they chose to see each other and spend some time taking pictures ahead of time. So here they are, seeing each other in their impeccable wedding attire and enjoying some time to themselves.

Only Sid knows what he was thinking at this moment, but there’s no question that he’s feeling pretty happy right now. After taking the portraits above in Schenley Park, we made our way over to Phipps. Next photo by my fabulous assistant, Alisa Innocenti. Love the framing!

These charming gentlemen were two of the seven groomsmen (plus two best men). I’ve occasionally heard brides and grooms say they don’t want to see each other before the ceremony because they want the moment they see each other from each of the aisle to have maximum impact. And I absolutely respect that choice! There’s nothing like it. However, I’d like to now present Sid to you. It’s been less than an hour since he’s seen Lauren, but look at how happy he is to see her walking down the aisle. Oh shucks, I may get teary again…The outdoor garden is a beautiful, peaceful setting. The bride and groom stand right in front of the water feature – and I love that the staff turns the fountain off for the duration of the ceremony so guests can hear. Sid and Lauren exchanged these beautiful garlands, and Sid also gave Lauren a mangalsutra – a necklace traditionally given in Hindu weddings, signifying that the marriage is official.

Sid is from North Carolina, and Lauren is from Pittsburgh. They met in law school in St. Louis, also lived in Boston, and now live in Brooklyn. So most of their guests traveled from somewhere else to attend. I truly enjoyed  all of the speeches and hearing how much both Sid and Lauren had touched the lives of those around them. Best man Debo (who really knows how to tell a story – I think he’d do great at The Moth) shared a hilarious touching story about playing baseball with Sid as young boys.

And maid of honor Grace shared that despite Lauren being prone to the occasional scowl and rant, what she really always wanted was to be treated like a princess, and that’s just what Sid does.

Remember the seven groomsmen and two best men? They were some of the liveliest, most energetic and flexible dancers I’ve ever seen. And DJ Steve Spin was absolutely fantastic, among the best wedding DJs I’ve heard, ever.

So glad I was there for these final two photos:Congratulations, Lauren & Sid! Hope you enjoy every minute in Greece.

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

The Credits

Ceremony and Reception Venue:
Phipps Conservatory

Flowers: Mount Lebanon Floral Shop

Caterer: Cafe Phipps/Tamarind

Lauren’s Dress: Watters, from Anne Gregory

DJ: DJ Steve Spin, BPM

Cake: Bethel Bakery

————————————————–

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.