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What a gorgeous day Alan and Sophie were given, celebrating their wedding surrounded by friends and family at Choderwood event venue on the Allegheny River! I photographed this wedding as part of Evermark Studios, a talented group of wedding photojournalists here in the Pittsburgh area.
Enjoy a handful of my most favorite images from their day!
Choderwood is an all-in-one event venue on the Allegheny River just outside of the city of Pittsburgh limits near the Pittsburgh Zoo (just minutes from Shadyside, Squirrel Hill, Lawrenceville, and downtown). It is secluded and charming, like an enchanted garden or a secret oasis, and is a unique venue that offers something a little different. Built in 1905, the property is an eclectic private residence surrounded by lovingly created gardens, ponds, greenhouse, hot tub, fire pit, and meditation hut. There are chickens, hens, and even a pig! This venue’s non-traditional atmosphere is an ideal space for smaller scale events and gatherings like Sophie and Alan’s wedding.
This individualistic bride and groom incorporated a lot of non-traditional elements into their self-uniting wedding ceremony… One of their friends led the ceremony, and kicked it off by asking guests to stand up and introduce themselves to someone that they don’t know. They included a Unity Ceremony during which guests passed a flame through the audience while singing, and during their ceremony cut off bracelets that they were both wearing. For their ceremony recessional, their guests lined up along a flagstone path with bubble wands!
After their ceremony, this bride and groom mingled among their guests for cocktails and conversation. Their wedding was very kid-friendly, featuring homemade giant bubble wands, cornhole, giant jenga, and lots of nooks and crannies to play in. There was a haiku station, an interactive guestbook in the meditation hut that allowed guests to push pins into a map and leave a note. And of course there was even a duck wandering around wearing a bowtie! He fit right in. <3
Jessica Long is one of my former brides from over 10 years ago, and she was the amazing wedding planner for this big day- well done, Epic Event Planning!
Sophie and Alan, I am so happy you invited me in to your beautiful marriage ceremony, and I wish you the best!
