#sandrachile photography

[sandrachile]

A Zero Waste Wedding in Pittsburgh

If you have been on Facebook lately, you have probably seen videos of turtles tangled in plastic, birds whose stomachs are full of plastic, and reports about Global Warming.

Whether your political inclinations deny or are against global warming, the truth is, our planet is polluted, and right now, you are either part of the solution or part of the problem, there is no middle ground.

But the problem is that when it comes to bringing environmentalist values to wedding planning, if you are not in California, or don’t have a 6 digit budget, it becomes a little hard, and you might end up giving up for the sake of the circumstances.

So I want to show you, where you should be focusing your energy and resources, but first, let me introduce you to the “Buyerarchy of needs” which will be inspiring our whole journey, and I hope you look at this, read it, meditate on it, and then apply it.

1: Focus on the things that don’t cost you anything, pick a vibe, a feeling as the guidance for your wedding day. 

If you look around for wedding day inspiration, everything is based on color palettes, flowers, or decor. However, since we are trying to be intentional and not use as many material things during the wedding day, it is better to base your inspiration on intangible things rather than material things, instead choose to get inspired by feelings, or the vibe you want your wedding to have. For example, the vibe for the image below was: contemporary, artsy, and fresh.

2: Focus on finding the core vendors for your wedding

(Yes, before setting up a date or even the location). Once you pick the vibe, you will need to gather the elements that will bring your vision together. But Unless you are working with the proper people, translating a concept to reality within a budget, can be hard. So, before even selecting the date for your event or the location, we highly encourage you to select the group of humans that will bring this to life. The core vendors are: Wedding Planner Venue Caterer Officiant Photographer Since the “ethical” journey begins before the wedding day itself, when reaching out to vendors, ask them upfront about what environmental practices they have in place. 

Asking this up front will set the tone for the rest of the planning process, and if this is something that is not present in their practices, your question will surely push them in the right direction.

3: Where and When?:

Choose the date and the venue.

Whether you decide to marry at home, or in a big space, there are some things that you need to take into consideration, such as accessibility for your guest, location of your party hub, weather, and of course, environmental practices. 

If you go for the most popular choice, a venue, ask them and yourself the following questions:

Does your venue send all the garbage to a landfill, or does it have any recycling practices in place? Do they offer furniture, or do you have to rent these items separately? Does the venue have decorative elements, or is it a plain room that needs a lot of stuff to look good? Does it offer in house booze/catering, or can you bring your own?

So many questions, right?

From the low waste perspective, it is a priority to choose a space that offers dishes, cups, and straws that are not plastic. 

(I doubt you want a turtle in the Caribbean to swim among the straws from your wedding day, right? … #justsayin)

4: Let’s tell the world: The stationery (Oh poop! When things get real)

Although an online invitation is often times more eco-friendly, in practice, not everybody is a fan of receiving an email, and being inclusive of older generations who are less e-literate, is a good way to honor them. So when it comes to papers, what alternatives are low waste?

The invitation is the first thing your guests see, it sets the mood for the day, it tells your guests whether joining is going to be worth it, and it announces what kind of party this is going to be. Once the invitations are sent, things get real, and telling your guest that this is an environmentally friendly kinda day deserves to be announced in an environmentally conscious way. Here is where the value of a designer that can custom work for you is a thousand times better than printing some DIY, but make sure the designer is open to working with eco-friendly papers. 

Have you heard about paper made out of elephant poop?

When it comes to being low waste, there is nothing better than options that ethically made, creative, and contribute to giving opportunities to economically and socially marginalized groups. So do your research in regards to papers, and if you are feeling like DIYing, you can DIY the envelopes from the newspapers at your grandma’s house.

PS: Oh! And forget about RSVPs! Nowadays everybody texts, so you can use an automated text message RSVP service which is the easiest way to gather replies from your guests, and automatically organizes and counts for you. SCORE!

(If you never saw paper made of poop, now you did | Stationary by the kick ass: Fresh Cut Prints )

5. Creating a wedding atmosphere: Decorations

One of the things about low waste, is that sometimes it might be a little on the plain side, so for a wedding, which we want to look special, we really have to put thought into what we bring in. 

Using what we have, or what you can realistically keep afterward is key. So, first, my biggest and probably most overlooked decoration element that is also functional is: LIGHTS!!! I’m not talking about regular light bulbs, but lighting can make an amazing decoration, which afterward leaves zero trace.

Another suggestion is to use real plants as a decorative item. Not only they will give you a decoration the day of your wedding, but will decorate your house for the years to come, and imagine having the same plants that witnessed you saying “I do”, witnessing your anniversary year after year!

"Did you know that glass can be recycled forever and ever?"  -- FUN FACT

Another element that is overlooked but it is quite easy to make, and to compost afterward is dry flowers. You can actually invest time in planting your own and meticulously dry. Finally, for any other need, hit your local thrift store! You would be surprised to see the amounts of linen available there.

Oh! And also… keep an eye on the dumpster! Someone else’s garbage always has the potential to be your treasure.

5. Time to get pretty

An element of your wedding that takes a lot of mental energy, a big chunk of your money, and it makes a massive statement in regards to the environment is fashion. And if you want to make a statement, the options for your outfit are: Ethically sourced. Wear your own. Make your own outfit. Or Vintage. This groom decided to wear his own clothes, and the bride opted for the vintage.

The statement piece for the bride was her earrings, which were upcycled. Altogether their outfits were around $30, which allowed more $$ to be allocated for other services.

As you can see, going this route is a great way to maximize your budget, but if you feel uncomfortable with the idea of wearing a vintage style of clothing, you can always purchase vintage garments and budget for the services of a seamstress that can transform your vintage piece and gives it a modern twist.

6. Beauty

I have to be the first in recognizing that zero/low waste and the beauty industry are not the best of friends. Beauty is perhaps one of the most forgotten subjects when it comes to thinking low waste wedding, maybe, because it is not you using that bottle of shampoo that will end up in a landfill, you don’t think much about it. Nowadays there are many makeup products companies using cruelty-free and vegan options (yay). But I learned from Becky, owner of the hair salon that does my hair, Tula Organics, that certain brands go to the extent of manufacturing products with 100% wind power, and they purchase carbon offset credits to balance any climate impact of their aerosol hairsprays.

She also told me about Dragon Master Foundation, a charity organization fighting to find a cure for cancer, and to whom you can send personal care and beauty containers to be recycled. This is an amazing initiative, to make the world greener and fight cancer at the same time.!

In summary:

A low impact, environmentally wedding is not unrealistic. Even if you don’t live in California, it is totally possible right here in Pittsburgh, and even with a small budget. All you might need, is to think through and plan with time, along with a good group of ethically minded wedding vendors.

Supporting Cast: Planner & Aesthetic designer: Devoted To You Events @devotedtoyouevents Florals: greenSinner @greensinner HMUA: Tula Organic @tulaorganic Venue: Kingfly Spirits @kingflyspirits Lightning: EF Lighting @eflighting Plants + Greenery: City Grows @citygrows Photographer: Sandrachile @sandrachilep Invitation Fresh Cut Prints @freshcutprints Paper Mr Ellie Pooh @mr.elliepooh Cake: Mediterra Cake House @mediterracakehouse Jewelry/Accessories Adaptive Reuse @christineterrell Calligrapher- Scarlet Day Calligraphy @scarletdaycalligraphy

[sandrachile]

Love at first... bratwurst | Brookline - Pittsburgh PA

 Victoria + Josh

Victoria was living a pretty stagnant life in a small college town outside of Pittsburgh. She promised herself that if something amazing didn't happen within a year, she was quitting her job(s) and moving to the city.

A year went by and not much happened, so she fulfilled her own promise and moved to the Burgh.

When she got to Pittsburgh, she was underwhelmed by her first experiences, so he joined meetup.com, Tinder and various other Facebook groups, in hopes of meeting new people with fresh perspectives.

About a month in, her and Josh matched on Tinder.

He messaged first and was very clearly in love with the city he grew up in.

He offered up suggestions for places to go, food to eat, transportation tips, and eventually, they decided to meet up at a local hot dog shop.

Two (very) strong beers and a bratwurst later, it was the best "first date" both of them ever had.

After that that initial date, a handful more came along and it quickly transitioned into   more.

They moved in together after four months and became dog parents after six.

This past April, things got a little twist

when they bought their first home together!!!. (hashtag adulting!)

Josh finally proposed to her in October, right at home.

Because home is such an important element in their lives, I suggested we did their session there.

Often times engagement sessions take place outside, but I am a firm believer that it is always better to stay home :)

[sandrachile]

Downtown Pittsburgh Proposal

Phillip + Keith

When I learned that in Pittsburgh, the city that I so proudly live in, there were vendors who still refused service to LGBTQ couples on the grounds of religion I got scared. What if one someday the alt-right becomes a religion and says "serving immigrants is against our beliefs"....? (I'm sure its coming) As an immigrant, I know what rejection feels, and as a woman, I know what it feels when someone makes you feel inferior.  I'm a Christian, and I know Jesus would never make anyone feel that way, so I chose the route of treating everybody with dignity and respect and I became an openly inclusive business.  As a part of that commitment, I did a gay/lesbian model call and it is how I connected to Phil and Keith.  After a little talking, I realized they were totally my tribe. Sweet, generous, hard-working, and committed to creating a better world through their career path.  So when Phill reached back to me a few months after, for the proposal, we decided to use the same excuse I used before: a photo shoot to portray inclusion.  I wanted to showcase iconic downtown Pittsburgh places, a protest from the heart of the city against an industry where so many are still discriminating.  We walked around downtown photographing them being in love, and we ended in a rooftop of one of the garages.  

Phil decided to bring the services of Vintage Alley, a company dedicated to styling through upcycling, and giving character to celebrations with vintage furniture and decor. The rustic lounge setup was the perfect complement to this surprise proposal that caught Keith totally by surprise. Once at the lounge, I told them I would take some pictures in the setup before asking them to stand up. Then I asked if they could make the hipster pose. To stand looking at me, then looking at each other, and finally, I told to pose, back to back, looking to opposite directions. Little did Keith know that at the other side,Phil was not looking to the other direction, but discreetly reaching out for a ring and getting ready for the speech of his lifetime....

Finally, their closest family and friends joined to hug them and congratulate them, putting an end to a day that I will never ever forget. 

Congratulations Phillip and Keith! 

[sandrachile]

Eco friendly Elopement at Phipps - Pittsburgh

Juliet + Tim

Does wedding planning stresses the heck out of you?

Well, you are not alone, this is why Juliet and Tim completely streamlined it and planned their wedding in ONE WEEK. Yup, I said one week. But if that wasn't enough difficulty, they added an even more fascinating detail: their wedding was planned in a week from out of state.

#LevelGod

Juliet and Tim are a young couple currently going to college in Indiana (the state, not Indiana, PA) They are barely 21 years old, and personally, I am beyond jealous of how they have their life so together (you don't wanna know what I was doing at 21 but you bet it involved large amounts of not knowing what to do with my life, lol).  

They have the cutest little boy, and are planning to eventually move to Pittsburgh, which is why they decided to get hitched right here in The Burgh. Their wedding day was full of "meant to be" events and intentional choices. From the venues, chosen to minimize carbon footprint, to Juliet wardrobe choices (second hand, the most eco friendly way to shop), to yours truly here, chosen because of my ethical approach. The happy couple promised each other love, friendship, and commitment to each other under the Quaker tradition and the Baha'i faith, in a meaningful ceremony surrounded by the 33 people who were able to attend on such a short notice, and the beauty of the Broderie room at Phipps Conservatory.  

"[Phipps is one of the most sustainable buildings in the city]"

During the ceremony I sent Nick (my assistant) to buy a lock, and after the ceremony we all walked in the rain to Schenley Bridge to put it on, giving us the opportunity to take some badass portraits. (Thanks Nick!) After that, the videographers and the couple all got into our van, and we headed to Pointbreezeway, where the perfect fall comfort food, courtesy of Bistro To Go, awaited for us. They chose this reception venue for its character, which did not required decorations, part of their commitment to minimize waste. It was a lovely dinner, with the most fun group of people, if you don't believe me, just scroll down below...  

At the end of the night, thanks to Bistro To Go who allowed us to repurpose the leftovers, we were able to feed homeless people who were getting soaked in the street. Not only a great way to extend the blessing of a wedding beyond the guests, but also an efficient way to reduce any potential waste from the day.  Thank you to Juliete and Tim for their generosity, but also thanks because they were the first couple who provided containers for the food, and these were compostable.  This was also the first time where wedding guests are seriously concerned about helping us pack the food. Between Bistro To Go, Eva from the videographer team, and Nick, we had the task down, but we truly apprecciate their support.

That night we fed 13 people, here are a few of their faces, real grateful individuals that we were able to impact with Juliet and tim's wedding day.

But that is not all! This couple also took advantage of my new and improved business model plan in which the couple can upgrade to a USB in exchange to a donation to charity, and they decided to benefit "Beverly's Birthdays" an organization based in Pittsburgh providing birthday experiences to children at social risk. And finally, $100 of the fee that this couple paid is going to Kiva loans, to support another small business under the category of  "Single parents", per request of Juliet. An amazing experience for an amazing day.

Congratulations Juliet + Tim (and little Kazimir)

Ceremony venue Phipps Conservatory,  Broderie Room Reception pointbreezeway.com Dress alwaysbride.com Shoes dsw.com Groom's outfit  josbank.com Flowers wholefoods.com Videographer MarieMarryMe.com Caterer bistroandcompany.com Cake Piebird piebirdpgh.com Cookie table piebirdpgh.com + gluuteny.com Musician Lisa and Perry Scott from the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra Favors  pghpopcorn.com Cake topper Made by Juliet's mom, inspired by this post HMUA julealashbeautybar.com Rings are family heirloom from Tim's side and one found at an antique mall in Ohio. Crown from Oleg Cassini & Leather jacket from Top Shop, but purchased at a consignment store. Guy's spotted mismatched sweaters from dad's collection.

[sandrachile]

Engagement and FURBABIES! in Butler PA

Tammy + Nathan

Butler PA is about an hour away from my house, and it's where Nathan and Tammy grew up. These two animal lovers met at work. Even though they had grown up only a few miles from each other, and went to the same high school AND the same college. In the beginning, Nathan and Tammy were just friends and Tammy even tried fixing him up with several of her friends. One day everything clicked... After 11 years together, they are ready to get married. The whole family will be attending the wedding, so it was only fair that the whole family would attend the engagement session as well, and in this case (lucky me!) the whole family meant 3 pekingese FUR BABIES!  Unfortunately, not everybody was as excited as I was... lol

Regardless, this was an adorable engagement session, and Hilda, Trixie Anne, and Ewok simply made my day. 

Congratulations Nathan and Tammy!

Special thanks to Lizi Capuano for showing me around Preston Park

[sandrachile]

World Changers

Through the last couple of months, I have been encouraging (aka pushing HARD) my brides to use their wedding day to empower others, and my goal is to show them how easy this can be if they take simple steps.

A week after Valentine's, Sandrachile's team photographed their first 2017 couple, Sharon & Quinn, who gladly accepted my idea to donate their leftovers to homeless people. This required a little more logistics than I anticipated because this is sorta illegal (for the potential food poisoning hazard that presents itself if the food is not handled properly), but after reading  the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Act of 1996 I was clear that nothing was gonna stop me, so I proceeded to move forward with the plan. The first one on board was the couple's wedding planner Devoted To You Events, luckily Melissa (the owner) and I share the same tender heart, and she helped me to organize this from her coordination standpoint, and was able to get Sarah the venue's representative (Clear Story Studio) on board. I was a nervous wreck when I had to approach their caterer, JPC Event Group, but Rick was actually happy that we were doing this and right away said "we'll help!".  Although my goal was to inconvenience them as little as possible, and I wanted to pack the food myself, at the end of the wedding, Caitlyn, Joanna and Rhon, graciously did all the packing work for us, and we ended up with SEVENTEEN containers with delicious, fancy gourmet wedding food, a treat for those living in the streets

At the end of the night, around 11PM, we had been working for 12 hours, and we were tired, but I was anxious to go deliver meals. We drove around for like an hour, all over South Side and Pittsburgh's downtown, without finding anyone, until I ran into Mark.   

Sandra: Excuse me, would you like some food?

Mark: What you got?

Sandra (opens the box): it comes from a wedding, and it's really good

Mark: Holy cow! YEAH! That looks amazing!

Sandra: Here friend, it's all yours.

I explained to Mark that Sharon and Quinn had just gotten married, and they had donated some of the food to people living in the streets, and that I was just the middle man delivering it. Then I asked him where the rest of the homeless people was, and he pointed me to some locations, but he suggested I would come back in the morning because at night he said, it was "rough".  I asked him if I could take a cellphone selfie, and he said "but only if you give me a hug", and of course, I was down.

"MARK:: Thank you for the food and for the visit, but the most important was the hug!"  -- Mark

And THEN we reported back to the bride...

When I came home, I was still left with 16 boxes of food, so I accommodated them in my fridge and the next morning we went back to the location Mark had suggested the night before. This time, I talked to a guy who did not give me his name and although friendly, and grateful, preferred not have his picture taken because (believe it or not) he has a job. He was just arriving from his night shift job, and was about to go to bed (I actually woke him up), but instructed us to leave the food in a specific area, and said he will distribute it later among the people who had already left for the morning, but comes back for lunch.

Through this post I want to publicly acknowledge the couple, Sharon and Quinn for hiring me and for their generous spirit that allowed this to be possible.

I also want to thank the wedding vendors mentioned above, who collaborated with me. Thank you for rolling with me, instead of rolling eyes at me.  Thank you to my husband/assistant Nick, and to Joanna whom I mentored that weekend, who learned that wedding photography is more than just photography.  

Finally, don't wait for an opportunity to do good, but make an opportunity of even the smallest events,

Be inspired to change the world with your wedding day

[sandrachile]

Same Sex Home Session In My Hometown | Viña del Mar, Chile

Isaac + Coke

[bilingual tex at the end of the page | Texto bilingüe al final de la pagina]

Birdhome 882

I spent the beginning of the year visiting my people in Chile, and during my trip I got to witness my country and what it has become… Chile is a country with Catholic roots, which makes it quite conservative. Thanks to the media, the LGBTQ community has gained some visibility but Chile continues to be a homophobic country, where gay folks have to remain in the closet to keep jobs and make a living.... or simply to be safe. Perhaps this is why Coke and Aisak are creating their own entrepreneurial adventure, and inspired by the Netflix show Stay Here by @genevievegorder and @peterlorimer they decided to transform their house into a hip AirBnb called @birdhome982  I bet Airbnb never imagined that through their platform they are giving minorities, the opportunity to make an income in places like my beloved Chile, and I bet @netflixlat never thought that by making their service available, they are literally transforming lives.

Comencé el 2019 visitando a mi gente en Chile, y quiero compartirles algunas de las fotos que tomé, y lo que observé durante mi viaje. Chile es un país de raíces Católicas, lo cual lo hace conservador. Aun cuando la exposición mediática ha contribuido a la visibilidad de las minorías sexuales, Chile continúa siendo un país homofóbico, en el cual las personas LGBTQ continúan teniendo que permanecer en el closet para realizar tareas normales, como conservar su trabajo o permanecer seguros. Quizás esta fue la motivación de Coke y Aisak que decidieron lanzarse con su propio emprendimiento, e inspirados por el show de Netflix Stay Home, de @genevievegorderer y @peterlorimer  decidieron crear un alojamiento airbnb llamado @birdhome982  Creo que @netflix nunca imaginó que llevando sus servicios a lugares tan remotos como mi querido Chile, lo que en realidad estaban haciendo era transformar vidas.

[sandrachile]

Fun and Love at Keystone Lake | Pittsburgh PA

Amber + Stephen

When you think about engagement photography, what do you think of?

If you are in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania like I am, you probably think of a couple with matchy nice outfits (meaning, a girl wearing a dress, and a guy wearing a collared shirt of some sort). You might also think of pictures of them in front of one of the gazillion bridges that are a characteristic of this city.

This is not wrong. However, I am ignorant, actually, super ignorant, and when it comes to set expectations for cultural events, I have no preconceived idea of what a couple is actually expecting. People in Chile don’t get engaged the way they do here, and they don’t have engagement pictures taken. The Chilean concept of “dressing nicely” is also different. So when it comes to engagement pictures, my expectations are different because, there are in fact, no set expectations, and lately, I have realized that now that I am a wedding and portrait photographer of couples, this plays to my advantage.

Every once in a while, there is a couple who is open to this lack of expectations and they roll with me and my ideas. This time it was Stephen and Amber.

This easy to laugh, adventurous, festival loving couple were completely open to what I had in mind. Thank God! because I told them: “what if we do your session in the water?”, and instead of running frantically away from me, they were on board!

(A year before, I had actually suggested the same idea to another couple, but the fiance was too afraid his pants would get ruined, so that was the end of my suggestion.)

Stephen’s pure, uncontrollable, excitingly overwhelming, romantic thoughts and feelings towards Amber were evident. He is one thousand percent obsessed with her, and Amber is one thousand percent obsessed with Steve.

So, this pre-wedding session, although different, was, in the end, the most magical representation of their relationship: Adventure, a little bit of nature, laughs, and lots of love.

[sandrachile]

Engagement / Pre-wedding session at Phipps, Pittsburgh

Katie + Matt

I am so grateful of the people that believes in what I do and the way I do things. So as a way to celebrate my followers and my 12th anniversary in the United States, this past July I gifted a photo session to a random person on Instagram. @katielawlson was the lucky winner, and what a coincidence! She was getting married at a Pop Up wedding this year too!. So we took a little walk by Phipps and the Schenley Park area and took some pictures. Katie who follows me on Instagram, and pays attention to what I say, knew that I get motivated by vegan food, so she showed up with a box of vegan goodies for me. How thoughtful of her! Thank you Katie and Matt for your generosity, and thank you for the opportunity to photograph your love.

[sandrachile]

Winter Photography Session with SNOW!

I'm going crazy.... er. The cabin fever is real, so last weekend when it snowed, I thought, what if I disregard the fact that is SUUUUPER cold and I go take pictures in the snow? Up to this moment, my only subject for snow pictures had been my dogs, so I turned to my Instagram to see if any couple would volunteer to be models for me that day. Sure enough, one did! This is Briana and Danny. Bri is also a photographer who follows Sandrachile on Instagram (thank you!). She said they are rarely in front of the camera, and that alone convinced me to welcome them immediately, with an open heart. I'll be honest, this was the shortest session ever. I was wearing 3 layers of pants and I could barely move, but in those 20 minutes these two ROCKED THE HELL out of their love <3 Thanks guys for being so brave and daring!

PS: If you don't follow my Instagram yet, do it now! I'll be sharing more opportunities and model calls there!  

[sandrachile]

Urban Winter Engagement in Pittsburgh

Tina+Josh

Photography is healing, whether you are the one taking pictures, or the subject. For me, photography has been a journey towards the healing of an unhealthy upbringing. It has made me see things from a different angle and has changed me. Where there was anger, now I find understanding. Where there was hate, now I find kindness. Where there was pain, now I find growth. The session of Josh and Tina was special. It was the first time Tina wore a dress in forever, and it was a big step for her.  Tina and Josh met when Tina was recovering from a painful train accident that left her with a prosthetic leg and emotional scars that she still deals with today.  The accident brings painful memories from the past and wearing revealing skirts is like digging in those painful memories... During the car ride I mentioned to Tina about my own painful past, living homelessly in Chile when I was 15 until I was 23, but if it wasn't for the strength I built during those years of survival I would not be where I am today.  At one point or another, we all walk through painful paths, but if it wasn't for these difficulties we wouldn't find growth. In my case, I found a career and a purpose, and in Tina's case, a wonderful fiance who loves her deeply and a companion to share these journey we call life.

Our gratitude to AC Miller who allowed us to take pictures at their facility, and to Mister Buchan for being helpful during this process.

[sandrachile]

"A Pizza Of Your Heart" in Downtown Pittsburgh

Megan + Josh  

Megan and Josh are a couple who has been together for five years.  They met working at Sears, and at first, they did not like each other, luckily this is now part of their past. In January, Josh will be heading to the police academy in Hershey PA, so Megan who is a fellow photographer at Inside Rein Images reached out to me to have what I call a "Memento session" which is simply a reminder of this stage in their lives.  

Megan and Josh are into The Penguins & the Steelers, animals, pizza, Pittsburgh, and Christmas, and through this session, we included all of that. Take a peek!

I want to give Megan a shout.  She "tipped" me with a donation on my name to  Beagle Freedom Project, an organization that creates awareness and rescue animals used for lab testing. This was not only unrequested but very thoughtful since I am a fearless advocate to end animal testing, and an avid supporter of cruelty-free products. Thank you, Megan and Josh, for hiring me, and for such a generous gift <3

[sandrachile]

Party animals at the Morning Glory Inn - Pittsburgh Ethical Wedding

Tammy + Nathan

Tammy and Nathan were an amazing Pittsburgh couple who got married on a beautiful October day at the Morning Glory Inn . Tammy wore the heaviest and most elaborated dress I have ever seen, one gorgeous eye candy piece by none other than Antonio Gual, purchased at Glitter and Grit in Lawrenceville. Nathan on the other hand,dressed by Todd Snyder looked like a member of some European royal house, ready to sail from Luxembourg on a fancy yacht. The bride, much like myself, has a soft spot for bunnies. (Did you know that bunnies are the third most popular pet in America, but the number one in abandonment?, How unfair!).

It was a priority for Tammy to include her own rabbit pets in her portraits, so I had no issue volunteering to drive to her house just for this purpose, where once I saw the bunnies I almost lost it, I must admit. Adorned with flowers from The Farmer's Daughter, the wedding party were Ewok, Trixie Ann and Hilda; her 3 attention seeker fur babies. Well, there were other humans in there too, but after Ewok bit the mother in law, I am afraid to take the spotlight off the dogs. With glorious food from Fish Hawk Acres  and a vegan cake from the Gluten Free Goat, the party got lit thanks to the playful spirits of the guest. The couple did a dollar dance where the money was donated to one of my favorite local charities: Rabbit Wranglers, an organization that restores the health of unwanted sick rabbits and find them a new home. And signed up for a charitable registry, so they could share the joy of this day with others.   All in all, it was an amazing day, beautifully surrounded by kind people... and a few other beasts. Thank you Tammy and Nathan for letting me be your wedding photographer and have the opportunity to share your wonderful day.

but wait! that's not all...

And at the end of the night, thanks to the generosity of this couple, the logistical help of the amazing Fish Hawk Acres crew, we boxed all the leftovers and delivered it to the people in the streets in one of the most successful round, feeding 23 people AND 1 dog :) 

[sandrachile]

Jaime JeTaime & Co

Jamie + Kevin

You know you are millennial when you meet people on Instagram.  Jaime is one of those people. I have admired her blog and followed her Instagram for months. I've drooled over her outfits and, have secretly wished I looked like her .... Until today, when not only got to meet her and her husband Kevin (eek!) but I also realized she lives right here in Pittsburgh (I know, I'm so absent minded, I can't even) She is even more fascinating in person than I ever anticipated. Her husband Kevin are high school sweethearts that survived years of long distance love (resonating my own romance with Nick), but we also share a few other things, like her passion for textile art, Latin American cultures, and traveling (and I'm totally jealous that she leaves to Nicaragua in 3 weeks). Jamie and Kevin celebrated 10 years of marriage last month, and what better way to immortalize that milestone than through pictures. Thankfully today, Pittsburgh gifted us the best golden hour ever. 

Happy Anniversary to this wonderful pair of lovebirds.

Pssssst!, Don't forget to follow Jamie on Instagram! >>  

[sandrachile]

Wedding at Duquesne Club

Megan + Cody

Megan and Cody are AWESOME.  They met while in college at Duquesne University, so naturally, they got married there, on a day loaded with emotion and giggles.

This was one of my most traditional weddings, they even had the tradition of tossing the bouquet and tossing the garter.

Megan was especially excited about this last one, so excited that in fact,  while she walked down the aisle at the end of the ceremony, the garter slipped off of her leg. A hilarious ending to a long and ceremonious one and a half hour mass.

The reception was LIT. From the moment Megan piggybacked on Cody to walk into the venue (while her dad reminded us to behave because we were at the Duquesne Club after all).

My favorite thing was that even when the caterer did not allow us to repurpose the leftover food, Megan and Cody found a way to produce social impact, by skipping the favors to instead, make a donation to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, in honor of Megan's mom. What an awesome way to incorporate the memory of a loved one.

Megan and Cody started their life together in purpose, and proved to everyone that we can all be wedding world changers!

Now, I am excited to share with you the highlights of Megan and Cody's day! Scroll down to see what this amazing day was about!

WARNING: There may some party animals towards the end. Proceed with caution!

Venue: Duquesne Club Dress by Bridal Beginnings Shoes by Jimmy Choo Men's wear by Liberty Formals Bridesmaid's dresses by David's Bridal Flowers by Gida's Music and party mood, by DJ Ski Hair by Katie Graves Wedding rings by Jared

[sandrachile]

Choderwood Engagement

Jessica + Mark

 Mark & Jessica are getting married June 2018. They wanted to get married at one of my favorite venues: Choderwood. Unfortunately, logistics and timing did not help out, and the couple had to find a different venue. Jessica, however, couldn't stop dreaming about this beautiful place, so we decided to incorporate this magical garden into their pre wedding photo session. Thank you to Choderwood for allowing us to take these beautiful pictures.