Chris & Catie | Fall Wedding at The Holy Trinity Center in Pittsburgh, PA

Chris & Catie met at college. Both were attending Gannon University, but since Chris was going to be a mechanical engineer & Catie was going to be a physician’s assistant, they had zero classes in common. They didn’t see each other in the halls or live in next door dorm buildings or bump into one another in the cafeteria.

What they did have in common though, was a love of volunteering. Both spent time serving in the local Habitat for Humanity organization & during their sophomore year of college, they volunteered to go on the same service trip. In the weeks leading up to the trip, the team met several times & during those meetings, Chris & Catie officially met.

As the group left Erie, PA to set out on the 9-hour drive to their destination, Chris & Catie started chatting with one another. The trip passed in a blur – they worked hard all day long helping to rebuild a house, and then they stayed up late every night talking into the early hours of every morning. They talked the whole 9-hours back to college, before promptly passing out.

They dated the rest of their time in college & then long-distance as Chris took a job in Texas & Catie continued her medical training.

In October of last year, Chris told Catie he would be traveling to Boston for the weekend. At the same time, a friend of Catie’s, who worked for the school newspaper, asked Catie if she could interview her on the P.A. program there at Gannon. Catie agreed, and her friend told her: “Oh, by the way, it’s a video interview, so make sure you dress up & look really nice, okay?”

As she was getting ready for the interview, for a whole half-a-second, Catie wondered if something else was going on. But, she dismissed the thought & went to meet her friend in the student center. Her friend led her down the hall where she had “everything set up” in a classroom – and it just happened to be the same classroom where Chris & Catie had met in those Habitat for Humanity meetings leading up to that service trip.

As Catie rounded the corner into the classroom – there was Chris (clearly not in Boston). He had rearranged the whole classroom & had set up an arbor with twinkle lights & candles. Completely shocked, but utterly delighted, Catie walked in & Chris got down on one knee to ask Catie to spend the rest of her life with him (and of course, she said yes!)

This past Saturday was literally the perfect wedding day. Planning a wedding for the beginning of November in Pittsburgh is quite the gamble – I mean, it could honestly be snowing, but it 100% paid off for Chris & Catie. I literally cannot remember being a part of a more perfect wedding day – everything ran so smoothly, was perfectly on time, with no hiccups, and to top it all off, we had a golden, sunshiney, 70º day.

Chris & Catie – you both are seriously the sweetest, most genuine, kind, & caring people I think I’ve ever met. I literally cannot imagine two more marvelous people having a more marvelous wedding day than you had on Saturday! Celebrating with both of you on your “Day 1” was my absolute honor & I wish you all the best as you move into your new house & begin your new lives as husband & wife!! It sure is an exciting journey & the fun is just beginning.

St. Bonaventure Parish is such a beautiful church! I am obsessed with all the detail, the stained glass, and those beams!

So, all the credit goes to Catie for our portrait locations!! We had originally planned to go to a completely different place, but due to the current state of things, we had to change our plans. North Park is just up the road from their reception venue, but North Park is massive. Catie took the time to drive around the park in the weeks heading up to her wedding & found us two absolutely amazing spots for portraits!

As Chris & Catie were cutting their cake, a small sliver fell off to the side – and without thinking, Catie scooped it up & ate it (I mean, who wouldn’t?) Everyone laughed & the DJ teased that that was probably bad luck or something. Thankfully, I’ve never heard of such a thing!

Remember those arches in the front of the reception venue? I knew they’d make amazing night photos & they did not disappoint!

Huge shout-out and thank you to the amazing team of vendors, as well as friends & family, who helped make Chris & Catie’s wedding day absolutely perfect!

Ceremony Venue: Saint Bonaventure Church in Glenshaw, PA
Cantor: Megan Wall
Organist: Aaron Sproul
Reception Venue: The Holy Trinity Center in Pittsburgh, PA
Reception Coordinators: Kelley Johnston and Lori Murphy
Catering: The Holy Trinity Center in Pittsburgh, PA
Invitations: Zazzle.com
Hair & Makeup: Ashley DeMasi Hair Studio in Glenshaw, PA
Cake: Fenoglietto’s Wedding Cakes in Pittsburgh, PA
Cookies: Oakmont Bakery in Oakmont, PA, as well as made with love by family & friends of the bride & groom
Bridal Gown: Carlisle’s Bridal in Pittsburgh, PA
Bridesmaids Gowns: Azazie.com
Groom & Groomsmen Attire: Suits from Boscov’s and ties from Azazie.com
Florals: The Farmer’s Daughter Flowers in Pittsburgh, PA
DJ: DJ Jimmy Mac in Bethel Park, PA
Videographer: Derrick Abbey in Irwin, PA
Second Photographer: Lasting Memories by Ellen in North Irwin, PA
Photographer: Kara Abbey Photography in Irwin, PA