As we were unloading our bags from the car, we kept peeking up at the sky….rain was definitely coming…when would it stop? Ashley and Grant were due to arrive shortly and everyone was hoping for the planned outdoor ceremony at the Gilfillan Farm in the Pittsburgh suburb of Upper St. Clair. The Gilfillan Farm is a real gem. Located in a part of Pittsburgh which is very developed, it offers a beautifully secluded locale right in the heart of the South Hills area.
So where are we going if this rain keeps up? At that point, super-helpful coordinator Emily of Em + E popped over to greet us and directed us into a cute white barn. Taking a quick look inside just made us smile. Why, yes, this will do just fine!
As chairs and such were quickly being pulled into the barn, we walked in and saw an incredible array of personal details and hand-made items that Ashley and Grant chose to accent their wedding. It wasn’t necessarily vintage, it didn’t fit a theme. Simply put, it was Ashley and Grant and if you had never met, you would know what was important to them just by looking at the room. They wonderfully paid homage to those who came before them and made this day possible. Lovingly displayed in the corner of the barn were all the wedding dresses worn by Ashley’s mother and grandparents complete with framed portraits of all on their respective wedding days. Handmade, personalized fans for the guests, more photographs of today’s bride and groom and relatives. Cold drinks. It was amazingly authentic.
After photographing these items, we then joined Ashley in the Gilfillan farm house for photographs of both her and then Grant getting ready. More great moments. Many times we photograph the bride with her mother admiring the wedding dress — it’s always a meaningful and emotional moment. On this occasion, that was raised because Ashley’s mother actually designed and made the dress! Ashley looked stunning and we just love the warm tones and classic mood created in the Gilfillan house.
While the day was originally planned to be an outdoor ceremony, we celebrated barn ceremony, recessed through a shower of bubbles and then raced back to the farmhouse to conclude the Gilfillan tradition of the bride and groom ringing the farmhouse bell! And we did end up outside — the rain quickly subsided and Ashley and Grant received their guests under the stars in a tented reception on the Gilfillan grounds. Here are a few images that show their day!
