It is always such an honor when a friend reaches out and asks me to photograph their wedding, and this one was no exception. Elyse and I met years back through a wonderful mutual friend (Hey Chris!), so when she called me up last year inquiring about her wedding, of course I was thrilled! I had the pleasure of meeting Dan & their adorable son Elijah during their engagement session last fall, which then had me looking forward to their National Aviary wedding even more!

In typical Pittsburgh fashion, the days leading up to the wedding were filled with conversations of, “But what if it rains? Maybe it won’t rain. Ugh they’re calling for rain… No wait maybe not!” Welcome to the City of Bridges AND city of most unpredictable weather patterns known to man…

But as you’ll see below, we totally lucked out with a beautiful day which allowed for a gorgeous outdoor ceremony & tented outdoor reception! After the maids & men were dressed for the day, we headed over to Allegheny Commons for some (separate) bridesmaids & groomsmen photos before the ceremony, making sure to keep Elyse & Dan away from each other so there weren’t any accidental glimpses before she walked down the aisle! After they exchanged their vows and officially became Mr. & Mrs., we were able to create some beautiful portraits around the grounds of the Aviary before kicking off the party for the rest of the evening. Have a look below at some highlights from their day!

Contributing vendors:
Venue: National Aviary
Wedding Coordinator: Big Day Little Details
Dress Shop (Bride): Exquisite Bride
Dress Shop (Bridesmaids): David’s Bridal
Hair Stylist: The Rayzor’s Edge
Makeup Artist: Fluhme Glam Bar
Jeweler: Don Paul Jewelers
Menswear Shop: Men’s Wearhouse
Officiant: Beckie Hickok
Florist: One Happy Flower Shop
Bakery: Cake It Easy
DJ: DJ Xavier Maxwell
Caterer: Atria’s
Invitations: The American Wedding
Transportation: Broadway Limousine
Photographer: Kristen Vota Photography
Second Photographer: Charlotte Blue

Blue invitation suite by The American Wedding

Blue invitation suite and blue wedding shoes with pearl & diamond bridal jewelry

Royal blue Badgley Mischka wedding shoes

Bride's teardrop engagement ring and teardrop pearl & diamond necklace resting on blue Badgley Mischka shoes

Bride's teardrop diamond engagement ring rests on a bed of rhinestones

Bride's diamond & pearl teardrop earrings rest on her royal blue shoes

Bride's navy blue clutch purse adorned with rhinestone accents

Bride's late mother's ring sits in a royal blue velvet ring box

Wedding dress from the Exquisite Bride in Pittsburgh, PA

Bridesmaids gather in their custom monogrammed robes before a National Aviary wedding

Bridesmaids help the bride into her wedding dress before a National Aviary wedding

Bridesmaids button the back of the bride's wedding dress before her National Aviary wedding

Bridesmaids help the bride into her dress before a National Aviary wedding

Bride reads a letter from her groom as she wipes tears from her eyes

Bride reads a letter from the groom before her National Aviary wedding

Bride kisses her son, the ring bearer, before her National Aviary wedding

Bride buttons the ring bearers tux jacket before her National Aviary wedding

Groomsmen ties groom's tie before his National Aviary wedding

Groom holds a box with his Denison Boston cufflinks

Groom fastens his cufflinks before his National Aviary wedding

Groomsmen helps the groom get dressed before his National Aviary wedding

Groom reads a letter from his bride before his National Aviary wedding

Closeup of the groom's hands holding a letter from his bride

Groomsmen adjusts the groom's jacket before his National Aviary wedding

Groom with his son and father before his National Aviary wedding

Groom with his son, the ring bearer, before his National Aviary wedding

Groomsmen on a bridge above Lake Elizabeth in Pittsburgh's Allegheny Commons Park

Groom and groomsmen in Allegheny Commons Park in Pittsburgh, PA

Groomsmen show off their socks in Allegheny Commons Park before a National Aviary wedding

Groom portrait and closeup of his boutonniere by One Happy Flower Shop

Bride poses on a bridge in Allegheny Commons Park before her National Aviary wedding

Bridal portrait of a Pittsburgh bride in a dress from Exquisite Bride holding a bouquet by One Happy Flower Shop

Bridal portraits in Allegheny Commons Park before a National Aviary wedding

Bride's back tattoo shows through her backless wedding dress from The Exquisite Bride in Pittsburgh, PA

Bride shows off her royal blue Badgley Mischka wedding shoes before her National Aviary wedding

Bride's & bridesmaid's bouquets by One Happy Flower Shop in Pittsburgh, PA

Bridesmaids, flower girls, & ring bearer pose with the bride on a bridge in Allegheny Commons Park

Bridesmaids pose for a photo in Allegheny Commons Park before a National Aviary wedding

Bridesmaids wear purple dresses for a National Aviary wedding

Unplugged wedding ceremony sign at a National Aviary wedding

Dried flower petals to be tossed at the bride and groom as they recess down the aisle at their National Aviary wedding

Flower girl walks down the aisle at an outdoor National Aviary wedding

Flower girls walk down the aisle at an outdoor National Aviary wedding ceremony

Father of the groom walks the ring bearer down the aisle at a National Aviary wedding

The ring bearer greets his dad, the groom, after walking down the aisle at the National Aviary

Father of the bride escorts his daughter to her National Aviary wedding ceremony

Grooms miles as the bride walks down the aisle with her father at the National Aviary

Groom waits for his bride to walk down the aisle at a National Aviary wedding

Bride walks down the aisle with her father at a National Aviary wedding ceremony

Outdoor wedding ceremony at the National Aviary in Pittsburgh, PA

Bride & groom hold hands during their National Aviary wedding ceremony

Bride smiles at the groom during their wedding ceremony at the National Aviary

Groom listens to the bride say her vows at a National Aviary wedding ceremony

Newlyweds exchange rings and share their first kiss at a National Aviary wedding ceremony

Newlyweds are pronounced husband and wife at an outdoor National Aviary wedding ceremony

Guests toss dried flower petals at the bride and groom as they exit their National Aviary wedding ceremony

Bridal party poses at a National Aviary wedding

Bridal party photo at the National Aviary

Newlyweds meet DJ the penguin at their National Aviary wedding

Bride & groom hold their son to meet DJ the penguin at the National Aviary

Bride & groom pose in their ceremony space at the National Aviary in Pittsburgh, PA

Newlyweds laugh as they exit their National Aviary wedding ceremony

Bride and groom snuggle along a wall of ivy at the National Aviary

Bride & groom lean against a wall of ivy at the National Aviary

Groom laughs and kisses his bride's head along an ivy wall at the National Aviary

Newlyweds share a kiss during portraits at the National Aviary

Newlyweds stroll down a cobblestone driveway at the National Aviary

Groom's polkadot socks and bride's royal blue Badgley Mischka shoes

Bride & groom laugh together in the Tropical Rainforest at the National Aviary

Bride & groom kiss in front of a waterfall in the Tropical Rainforest at the National Aviary

Keel-billed toucan at the National Aviary in Pittsburgh, PA

Bald eagles, Abby & Liberty, at the National Aviary in Pittsburgh, PA

Welcome & find your seat signs at a National Aviary wedding

Seating chart on weathered glass window panes at a National Aviary wedding

Tented wedding reception at the National Aviary in Pittsburgh, PA

Outdoor tent set up for a wedding reception at the National Aviary in Pittsburgh, PA

Table settings at a National Aviary wedding in Pittsburgh, PA

Floral & peacock centerpieces by One Happy Flower Shop at a National Aviary wedding

Floral centerpieces by One Happy Flower Shop at a National Aviary wedding reception

Memory table at a National Aviary wedding reception in Pittsburgh, PA

Wedding cake by Cake It Easy with floral accents by One Happy Flower Shop at the National Aviary

Star Wars cake topper at a National Aviary wedding reception

Mr. & Mrs. est. 2018 champagne glasses on the head table at a National Aviary wedding

Wedding rings rest on a National Aviary wood box

Bride & groom are announced into their reception at the National Aviary

Newlyweds' first dance at the National Aviary

Bride & groom's first dance at their National Aviary wedding

Bride & groom share their first dance at the National Aviary

Newlyweds cut their cake by Cake It Easy at the National Aviary

Bride & groom kiss after cutting their cake at the National Aviary

Father of the bride gives a blessing at a National Aviary wedding reception

Newlyweds listen to speeches during their National Aviary wedding reception

Maid of honor gives a speech at a National Aviary wedding reception

Newlyweds laugh during speeches at the National Aviary

Best man gives a speech at a National Aviary wedding reception

Newlyweds laugh with the best man during speeches at the National Aviary

Father of the groom gives a speech at a National Aviary wedding

Father-daughter dance under a tent at the National Aviary

Parent dances at a National Aviary wedding reception

Mother-son dance at a National Aviary wedding reception

Guests dance with the flower girl at a National Aviary wedding

Guests dance at a tented wedding reception at the National Aviary

Groom learns a line dance at his National Aviary wedding reception

Outdoor tented wedding reception at night at the National Aviary in Pittsburgh, PA

Feel free to browse the galleries on my website for more eye candy, and contact me when you’re looking for a Pittsburgh wedding photographer!

2 Comments

Tina Blake on September 11, 2018 at 6:50 pm

Absolutely beautiful pictures. Beautiful bride and groom, and their baby boy was so handsome. Congratulations to them both and my they have many many happy years together.
Kristen Vota on September 12, 2018 at 9:45 am

Thanks Tina! They are an adorable family and it certainly was a beautiful wedding day :)

National Aviary Wedding | Elyse & Dan

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