Weddings Under Glass: Kelly and Zach

By Heather Poling

Weddings Under Glass is a monthly blog series where we highlight the stories of couples who chose to begin their happily ever after in the lush backdrop of Phipps, named one of the best outdoor garden wedding venues by Elle and Harper’s Bazaar.

In December of 2020, Kelly and Zach joined a group of mutual friends for dinner in Mt. Washington. They were seated across the table from each other and hit it off immediately. Just a few weeks later, the couple began dating and Kelly says, “safe to say we were both smitten!”

The couple takes an annual trip, traveling for a warm weekend getaway, to kick off their holiday season. In 2023 Zach invited both sets of parents to accompany them on that year’s trip to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Kelly had a feeling that this would be a special trip but didn’t reveal her suspicions to Zach. After sharing a family dinner, Zach and Kelly walked to the end of a quiet pier where Zach proposed! Their parents watched the proposal take place and then joined the happy couple to celebrate their engagement, creating a wonderful memory for the entire family!

As self-proclaimed nature-lovers, the couple knew they wanted to get married in a natural setting. Despite being worried about the extreme weather shifts in a Pittsburgh summer, Phipps Outdoor Garden won their hearts in the end! The combination of the peaceful outdoor setting and the Conservatory’s historic significance fit the vision they shared for their wedding perfectly.

The day of their ceremony was fraught with uncertainty about the weather. In the week leading up to their wedding day the temperatures were upwards of 95 degrees, raining almost daily. They decided to take a chance and have the ceremony outside, instead of using the tent. As it started pouring on their way to Phipps, nature kept them guessing until right before the ceremony began. Luckily, the sun came out and they had a beautiful day! The rain held off until they took their wedding photos in the Outdoor Garden and all moved inside for the cocktail hour.

Kelly chose a classic style for her wedding flowers. To let the timeless beauty of the Outdoor Garden shine, she chose to use all white flowers focusing on height, texture and shapes paired with the varied green foliage. The flowers were placed in two large urns on podiums at the end of the aisle for dramatic effect. Violinist, Steven Vance, played while guests were being seated and during the wedding processional, creating a lovely ambiance. Kelly chose one of her favorite classical pieces, Bach: Cello Suite No.1, Prelude, adapted for violin, to accompany her walk down the aisle with her father.

In a non-traditional twist, instead of a bouquet toss, Kelly dedicated her bouquet to her mother. She wanted to honor her mom for raising her and helping her to prepare for the wedding day of her dreams. Kelly says, “It was a surprise to her and something that she very much appreciated, and a significant moment that stands out in my memories of the evening."

Kelly works in the Human Resources department at Phipps, so it was very comforting to know that her coworkers were there to make sure that her special day was flawless. She still enjoys getting to “regularly visit the garden and be remined of the beautiful afternoon spent marrying my best friend in front of all our friends and family”.

 For their honeymoon, they took the trip of a lifetime, travelling to Paris and Florence. In Paris they spent time in Montmartre taking a walking food tour, saw the Mona Lisa at the Louvre, and toured the Gardens at Versailles. In Florence, they experienced some of their Italian heritage, learning about the medieval history of the city and taking a cooking class at a local resident’s home. Kelly and Zach are now settling into married life in Pittsburgh with their cat Jim who is excited and relieved to have them home!

 

 

 

Planning and Design: Jeannene Lillie Events 

Floral Design: Emma Harris Floral

Photography: Sarah McClosky

Videography: Margaret James Photography

Hair: Glam to Go Studios, Genavieve Fidei

Makeup: Ashley Bao @ashleyy.bao

Dress: Bridal Beginnings 

Custom Veil: Clarissa Boutique 

Groom's Tuxedo: Surmesur

Music: Steven Vance Entertainment