Real Wedding: Laurel Walker & Stephen Spence
Photo by Goldstein Photography
Photo by Goldstein Photography
A beautiful fall day in downtown Pittsburgh was the setting for the wedding of Laurel Walker and Stephen Spence. The couple met while both attending college at West Virginia University – they first became friends and later began dating. Laurel is a Virginia native, while Stephen grew up in Mt. Lebanon.
The ceremony and reception both took place at the Fairmont Hotel in downtown Pittsburgh.
“It was pretty smooth, thankfully,” says Laurel. “My parents threw in a few surprises, like they got glowstick necklaces that they handed out at the wedding. Then they got these giant confetti cannons. They had eight giant confetti cannons that were a complete surprise to us!”
Photo by Goldstein Photography
Photo by Goldstein Photography
That explosion of confetti on the dance floor during the reception wound up breaking two of the hotel’s vacuums during cleanup, but the staff didn’t mind.
Laurel says the wedding planners at the Fairmont were amazing to work with and made the process very easy for the couple. The ballroom was broken into two rooms, half for the ceremony and half for the cocktail hour to follow, during which staff flipped the ceremony room into the reception room. They added a few extra touches for a “delicate, romantic vibe,” including a massive chandelier and white dance floor instead of the traditional brown.
Laurel’s wedding gown was a sleeveless fit and flair style of lace and illusion with a plunging back and lace train by Mikaella Bridal from Bridal Beginnings in Mt. Lebanon. She topped it with a delicate cathedral length veil and carried a bouquet of roses with eucalyptus. Her nine bridesmaids wore dresses by Watters in blush and Laurel says Bridal Beginnings made getting them all fitted from around the country a simple process.
Photo by Goldstein Photography
“When I picked the dress, they had the girls go to a seamstress or bridal shop where they lived and get their measurements taken. They just called Bridal Beginnings with the measurements and they told them what size that would equate to and ordered the dresses. They got shipped right to the girls.”
The groom and groomsmen all wore navy blue tuxedoes from Men’s Wearhouse. Laurel notes that the color matched her new husband’s, “bright, most beautiful blue eyes in the world.”
Photo by Goldstein Photography
The wedding cake was made up of tiers of carrot cake and almond cake accompanied by a cookie table. Rounding out the wedding party was the couple’s yellow Labrador retriever, Macy, who served as flower girl wearing a collar of blooms.
The couple is getting ready to finally take their honeymoon this May.
Photo by Goldstein Photography
“We waited,” says Laurel. “I had such a hard time even just deciding on things for the wedding that I could not possibly plan a honeymoon. So in May, we’ll be off to beautiful Aruba!”
The newlyweds now make their home in Bridgeville.
Hair & makeup: Artisan Color Spa, Murrysville
Florist: Sapphire & Lace, Wexford
Video: Jeremy Scott Films, Pittsburgh and Cleveland
Ceremony and cocktail music: Three Rivers String Quartet, Scott Township
DJ: Steve Roszak with BPM Deejays, South Side
Cookie table: Whoo’s Your Baker, McKees Rocks
Photo by Goldstein Photography