Snapshots

 Go away for a week! 

When you return, you’ll find hundreds of emails from people who need you.

Paul and I just returned from the warmth of the Caribbean where we had the pleasure of photographing newlyweds Ben and Vicki.  Ben and Vicki were married in San Francisco and then took a week long cruise to celebrate their new marriage.  It was quite a thrill for us to step onto the deck and do some unique location photography that we don’t normally get to do here in Pittsburgh.  Here are just a few taken on the ship:

Don’t get me wrong, the Gateway Clipper is nice, but it doesn’t compare to the sheer size and luxury of a 950-foot, 11,3500-ton ocean vessel named the Crown Princess.

But, as Paul is pointing out, sometimes it’s just a matter of perspective…

Ask anyone who knows me and they will tell you I’m a big fan of cruising, you unpack your bags once and the hotel moves to different locations.  As I see it, you spend months planning every detail of the wedding, stressing over tux measurements, napkin colors, and favors.  It’s so relaxing to go to a place where the crew focuses 100% on YOU and your complete enjoyment.  Plus the food can’t be beat! 

On one of our previous cruises, we met a couple that had their entire wedding on board a Princess cruise ship.  They invited 40 of their closest friends and spent the entire week in celebration.  For those who could not attend, the ship provided a “Chapel Cam” link to broadcast the wedding ceremony over the internet so no one would miss out on the I Do’s.  What a unique way to hang out with your loved ones and have a truly spectacular multi-day reception.  Did I mention, the food is phenomenal?  After the cruise ended, the guests disembarked and the couple remainded onboard to complete a second week’s worth of honeymooning by themselves.  I’ll tell you, we were jealous of their photographer!

Paul and I did get a chance to do some personal photography as well.  We found these cute little beach huts on Princess Cays and thougth they were too colorful to pass up! 

Now back to work in snowy Pittsburgh…

Share on Facebook

When most brides think of a wedding in Oakland, the usual spots to look at are Heinz Chapel, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and Phipps Conservatory.  All three are incredibly popular and book up quickly.

However, there are two hidden gems in Oakland that I believe are worthy of a visit.

The first is First Baptist Church of Pittsburgh on Bellefield Avenue, just around the corner from the CMU columns.  I really like this church!  Among it’s many charms:

• Four, count them, four balconies.  Front, both sides, and back
• The nicest wedding coordinators you will ever meet
• A private parking lot for the church
• Convenient parking garage for any overflow
• Magestic nooks, crannies, and Gothic arches for photos
• Off the beaten path by only one block
• The ability to bring in a guest minister

The second of my hidden treasures is the Twentieth Century Club.  Located just down the street from First Baptist Church, TCC is on Bigelow Blvd.  The outside doesn’t give you one tenth of a glimpse of the grandeur of the inside of the facilities.  Founded as an all womans’ club, the TCC does not advertise in the traditional wedding magazines for our area.  TCC relies on word of mouth from past brides, photographers, DJs and other guests who visit the site.

I won’t be able to sum up all of the charming features here but these are some of my favorite characteristics of TCC:

• Wonderful catering!
• The ballroom layout and it’s unique Art Deco feel.  Very classy!
• The diningroom is a pleasure to photograph guests in
• The large floor to ceiling window on the second story is great for photos (especially useful if the weather is not cooperating)
• Charming salon-style rooms (also great for photography)
• Exceptional value (one of my brides told me that the TCC was very affordably priced for a reception)
• Super nice employees who are very attentive to the bride, groom, attendants of the wedding and even vendors!

So if you’re considering Oakland for a wedding and reception, I highly recommend First Baptist and the Twentieth Century Club.

Share on Facebook