Where do I even begin when it comes to recapping this magical day & the intention that went into it… To be honest, I was never the girl that dreamed of her wedding day. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. I was just the girl that dreamed of her little kiddies, her future home, and sweet family. I remember praying – not so long ago – that I might just meet the love of my life. To know him was enough. Lord, did He deliver. That said, I love to get creative, to plan, and to tell people how much they mean to me so I was PUMPED to get the planning started after Patrick proposed to me in Central Park in January of 2019.
The Venue
Remember when I said I was a planner… well, by a stroke of luck, I happened to tour my future wedding venue just a week after getting engaged. The Omni Bedford Springs was the first place we toured and it captured us from moment we arrived. I loved the extremely friendly staff, the quaint accommodations that hosted our target guest count of around 230 people, the outdoor activities, spa, and the quick drive from Pittsburgh. I’d later find out my grandparents stayed there the day after their wedding 65 years prior to our wedding date (almost to the day). Talk about good juju!
The Dress(es) + The Jumpsuit
Ahhh, now the dress was something I very much looked forward to. Who doesn’t! Luckily for me, it was one of the first things my mom & I did. We met the most fabulous bridal salon owner, Camille, of Ever After Miami. We went to a number of other bridal salons but nothing compared to the quality and the unique options at Ever After.
For context: I was married in the Catholic Church the day before my ceremony which meant I needed 2 dresses… oh drats. The church ceremony dress was subtle, just like the event, with our immediate family only. The party dress was bell-of-the-ball classic, FUN, and it had pockets! The very last outfit selection I made was for our rehearsal dinner + welcome party. I wanted something I could move & dance in because we had a band and there would be lots of loving faces I wanted to be sure I was comfortable getting around to visit. I loved my jumpsuit by Rime Arodaky, it was everything I was looking for.
The Planner
Next step was selecting the planner. With a bit of encouragement from my mom, I took what felt like a risk and called Beth Helmstetter. I came across her work through a videographer’s website that I used to vet some venues. She is a dynamo and she’s based in L.A., which made reaching out to her feel a little intimidating. Beth picked up the call at her office and had the most approachable, sweet, and cheery demeanor – we clicked – and the rest is history! Check out some of her work. She and her team are freaking rock stars.
The Details
Outstanding Vendors:
Photos by: Abby Jiu (another AMAZINGLY talented powerhouse)
Planning + design @bethhelmstetter | Venue @omnibedfordsprings | Floral @thefarmersdaughterflowers | Beauty @hannahconardbeauty | Video @elysiumweddings | Photobooth @tickledphotobooth | Tent @sugarplumtents | Wood Paneling @syzygyevents | Aisle Runner @luxecreativeofficial | Band @lakeshore_encores | Glassware @tablemannersdc | Tables and chairs @visionfurniturephl | Flatware and Chargers @borrowedblu | Napkins @nuagedesignsinc
In an effort not to RAMBLE, please feel free to leave a comment below with any information or resources I can share.
In good health,
Just a beautiful wedding!
Thank you Laurie <3
Who did you hair ? Gorgeous!
Hannah Conrad Beauty! She personally did mine but her team did my bridal party!