You make me feel there are songs to be sung | Lots of bells to be rung | And a wonderful fling to be flung
And even when I'm old and gray | I'm gonna feel the way I do today!

Ben+Victoria’s Pittsburgh Strip District wedding at Bar Marco was a day filled with genuine kindness and heartfelt love!

Ben and Victoria met nine years ago while both attending IUP. In Ben's words "We were friends who carried torches for one another." Then in 2016, after calling each other friends for a few years, Victoria told Ben how she really felt about him. This left Ben with a few things to figure out. Once he navigated through a few obstacles Victoria and Ben began dating!

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So how did Ben propose to Victoria? It was a rainy Monday morning in April of 2017. Victoria was laying in bed putting off getting ready for a cyber security training, that she was dreading. Ben had been annoying her with the statement "I love you so much in fact" over the past few weeks. Victoria kept telling him that this statement was incomplete. While she was laying away from him in bed, Ben pulled out the box, and said "I love you so much, in fact" which annoyed her just enough to turn around. Victoria's eyes were enormous, and all she could say was "yep."

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From the first time Ben and Victoria spoke with me, they were clear on one thing. They wanted to their wedding to focus around the people they love and feeding said people delicious food. Ben and Victoria planned and executed their ideal wedding in just a few months, but because they stayed true to themselves it all wrapped up beautifully on their wedding day. They chose Bar Marco for the intimate space and chef curated menu. Bar Marco is bright and airy with art adorning the walls. It doesn't need much added to it. Ben and Victoria took a minimalist approach and only included florals as decor. The playful arrangements gave pops of color and uniqueness to the space!

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Jp and I were on cloud nine the entire day. We spent our Saturday with two very funny, weird (in the best way) and compassionate people. The amount of thoughtfulness that they both showed to not only their guests but also to their vendors is something that can be hard to replicate. Because well, it was genuine. Just two good people, madly in love, ready to share that love with everyone that surrounds them. We ran around the Strip District taking portraits in hip spots. We soaked in the natural light pouring through the windows during the ceremony and both shed a tear during the vowels. We ate a four course meal. And we mingled among guests who felt like long lost friends. My creative cup was filled.

Because the reception was a dinner party style, there had been no set plans for dancing. It was more so a time to visit and catch up. Towards the end of the night as the guests began to leave, I asked Ben+Victoria if they still wanted to get a few night portraits. After much discussion we decided to drive downtown to the Benedum Center. It was drizzling by this point but I knew the marquee lights would be the perfect back drop for these two musically driven artists.

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We took a few a photographs out front before moving to the sidewalk. This is where I asked Ben+Victoria if they wanted to have their first dance. Being the romantics they are, of course they eagerly agreed. So, at almost midnight on a sidewalk in downtown Pittsburgh, lit by the show signs, while the rain fell gently down, and “You Make Me Feel So Young” played through the small speaker on Ben's phone, Ben+Victoria shared their first dance. There was something so indescribably magical about this moment. A moment in time, frozen. Just them dancing closely, soaking it all in.