Some love stories begin with chance. Elle and Mike’s began with everyone around them insisting they needed to meet.
Long before their first date, friends and family were convinced these two belonged together. In fact, more than one person claimed credit for introducing them! Eventually, Mike reached out with a simple Instagram message, and from that first conversation, everything fell into place. On their wedding day, Elle shared that she remembered leaving their first date thinking, “I’m going to marry this guy.” Sometimes, you just know.
Their November wedding day in Pittsburgh perfectly reflected who they are. It was a little windy, beautifully crisp, and filled with the kind of joy you could feel from the moment the day began. From getting ready at the Omni William Penn to their ceremony at St. Mary of the Mount and the celebration that followed, their wedding day was unforgettable.
Elle’s Wedding Morning at the Omni William Penn
Elle’s wedding morning began at the beautiful Omni William Penn Hotel in downtown Pittsburgh, surrounded by her bridesmaids and family. The morning started with a little celebration as Elle and her girls popped some champagne before getting ready for the day. After hair and makeup, she slipped into her classic strapless gown and completed her look with delicate pearls and a long veil. We took advantage of the hotel’s gorgeous architecture and those incredible windows for some timeless bridal portraits before everyone headed to St. Mary of the Mount for the ceremony.
Meanwhile, Across the Street…
While Elle was getting ready at the Omni, Mike was just across the street getting ready at their condo with his groomsmen. In fact, the girls could see the condo from Elle’s room at the Omni! Her bridesmaids had plenty of fun peeking out the window and giving her a play-by-play of what was happening across the street. Elle, however, refused to look. She wanted the first time she saw Mike that day to be when she walked down the aisle.
Mike spent the morning with his guys, getting into his classic black tuxedo before taking a few groom portraits and having a celebratory toast with his groomsmen. Then it was time to head to St. Mary of the Mount and finally see his bride.
A Heartfelt Ceremony at St. Mary of the Mount
There’s something incredibly special about walking into St. Mary of the Mount. Perched high above downtown Pittsburgh on Mount Washington, the church has a presence all its own. Its soaring ceilings, beautiful stained glass, and ornate altar create a beautiful, reverent setting for couples exchanging their vows surrounded by their faith, family, and friends.
Just before walking down the aisle, Elle described exactly what she was feeling: JOY. Her dad walked beside her down the long aisle toward Mike, and after a morning spent waiting to finally see one another, the moment had arrived.
They exchanged vows at the altar and shared their first kiss as husband and wife before making their way back down the aisle together.
Outside, everyone was waiting with ribbon wands and plenty of cheers to celebrate the newlyweds before everyone headed downtown to the reception.
Wedding Party Portraits at Mellon Green
After the ceremony, we headed back downtown for wedding party portraits at Mellon Green on Grant Street, just steps from the Omni. November in Pittsburgh can be unpredictable, and while the wind kept us on our toes, the late fall color was still showing off.
Elle’s bridesmaids looked beautiful in classic black dresses paired with white bouquets, while Mike and his groomsmen kept things equally timeless in black tuxedos. We photographed each side separately before bringing everyone together — and this group made our job easy. Even with the chilly November breeze, there was no shortage of laughter and energy.
A Moment for the Newlyweds
Once the wedding party headed back to the Omni, we had a little time with just Elle and Mike. And after hearing the story of how they met, these portraits feel even sweeter.
Even with the November wind swirling around them, these two were completely at ease together — laughing, holding each other close, and soaking in their first few moments as husband and wife.
One of the most beautiful sentiments shared was that since meeting Mike, Elle had become even more herself — she laughs louder, dreams bigger, and has a light about her that’s impossible to miss. As her maid of honor so perfectly put it, “That’s what real love does to you. It doesn’t change you. It just brings out the best version of who you already are.”
Looking at these two together, we couldn’t think of a better way to describe it.
A First Look at the Grand Ballroom
Before their guests arrived, Elle and Mike stepped inside the Grand Ballroom to see the culmination of all their planning for the first time. With the help of Events by Emily, every detail had come together beautifully, and their reactions when they walked into the finished room said it all.
The classic black, white, and gold design fit the historic ballroom perfectly. White florals and candlelight filled the tables, while their custom monogrammed dance floor became the centerpiece of the room beneath the Omni’s incredible chandeliers. Their tiered white wedding cake carried the floral details throughout the design and fit seamlessly into the space.
We always love when couples get a few quiet minutes to take in their reception room before the doors open and the celebration begins. After months of decisions and planning, there’s something special about finally standing in the middle of it all together. And with the Grand Ballroom still empty, we couldn’t resist using those few minutes for some portraits, too.
A Night Worth Remembering
With everyone gathered inside the Grand Ballroom, it was time to officially celebrate Elle and Mike. After making their entrance as newlyweds, they stepped onto their custom dance floor for their first dance.
Beneath the chandeliers, with their family and friends around them, the two of them seemed to settle into their own little world for a few minutes. There were plenty of laughs, a kiss or two, and those quiet in-between moments that made it one of our favorite parts of the evening.
The celebration continued with cake cutting, heartfelt speeches, and parent dances.
During his speech, Mike shared a few words from his dad that he carries with him: “At the end of life, all we leave behind of each other are memories.” He then turned that message toward everyone gathered in the room: “Let tonight be an amazing memory.”
There was something especially meaningful about hearing Mike honor his dad’s words on a day centered around family, love, and the people who matter most. And looking around the room at everyone who had come to celebrate with them, it was clear they were already making one of those memories.
And Then, It Was Time to Party
Once the formalities were over, Go Go Gadjet took over and the dance floor filled up fast. Elle and Mike were right in the middle of it with their family and friends, and from there, the party never really slowed down.
The Grand Ballroom completely came alive, with a packed dance floor, plenty of singing along, and some truly great moments from their guests. We love a reception where everyone is ready to celebrate, and this group absolutely was.
Relive Their Wedding Day
And of course, we have to give some love to the incredible team at Illumination Studios. Gabe and his team captured Elle and Mike’s day so beautifully, and we always LOVE getting the chance to work alongside them. Having a photo and video team that works well together makes such a difference on a wedding day, and they are truly some of our favorites.
Their film brings all of those voices, emotions, and little moments back to life in a way that photographs alone simply can’t. Take a few minutes to relive Elle and Mike’s wedding day below.
Thank You, Elle & Mike!
Elle and Mike, thank you so much for trusting us to photograph such an incredible day. From the quiet moments getting ready to a packed dance floor at the end of the night, we loved being there to document it all.
Your wedding was beautiful, but even more than that, it was filled with so much love, laughter, family, and meaning. We hope these photographs always bring you right back to how it all felt.
Congratulations, you two! We couldn’t be happier for you and are so grateful we got to be a small part of your story. ❤️
Vendor Team:
Wedding Planner: Events by Emily
Photography: Weddings by Sal & Bella
Videography: Illumination Studios
Ceremony: St. Mary of the Mount
Reception: Omni William Penn Hotel
Band: Go Go Gadjet
Florist: One Happy Flower Shop
Wedding Cake: Cakes by Colby
Makeup: Biond Beauty
Hair: Izzazu Salon
Cocktail Hour Entertainment: Steven Vance Entertainment
Planning your own Omni William Penn wedding celebration?
If you’re planning a wedding at the Omni William Penn Hotel in Pittsburgh, we’d love to hear from you! We’ve photographed many weddings at the Omni over the years and absolutely love working throughout this beautiful, historic hotel. Contact us to learn more about our wedding photography collections and availability.
