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Hotel Monaco Pittsburgh Wedding ~ Laura & Louis

Laura and Louis’ wedding was a glamorous affair. The bride and groom celebrated their nuptials at Hotel Monaco in Pittsburgh. The ballroom was just the right size for their family and friends, with pretty floral centerpieces, a huge dessert table, and gold sequin table cloths. A super fun live band played their favorite music hits during the reception and got everyone out to entertain them on the dance floor.

Don’t they make a beautiful couple? We certainly think so! Their ceremony was held at St Bernards Mt Lebanon, a stunning cathedral church. The bride and groom exchanged vows in front of a golden dome with stained glass windows. Wooden pews were decorated with white tulle sashes and clutters of flowers.

The bride looked radiant in her form fitting dress, and the groom looked sharp in his classic black tux. We loved the long veil, diamond earrings, and matching necklace worn by the bride. And if you look closely, you can see her sparkly shoe peeking out from underneath her dress. How fun!

We adored the bride’s bouquet, done by Mount Lebanon Florist. Her bouquet featured roses, dahlias, orchids, and leaves that were spray painted gold. The colors of her bouquet were fully incorporated in their reception, with touch of gold, cream, and pink.

After the ceremony, guests mingled on the rooftop of the Hotel Monaco for cocktail hour where the band had other musicians performing to create the perfect ambience. The John Parker Band then welcomed their guests to the ballroom and asked everyone to stand by the dance floor, so that the bride and groom could have their first dance to a song chosen for the band to play.

This table shot, taken by their outstanding photographer, Joey Kennedy, really takes your breath away. We love the large gold vase, twinkling diamond strings, and gold table numbers. Every place setting included personalized menu cards engraved with the bride and groom’s monogram.

After their first dance, the bride and groom settled down to hear speeches from their maid of honor and best man. John Parker’s crew set up additional speakers in the ballrooms with wireless microphones so everyone could hear the toasts & music while the band was in the other room. John Parker Band played My Cherie Amour, as the newlyweds cut their cake.

A true work of art, their cake was five tiers tall and sparkled with diamonds. The cake was done by Bella Christies of Pittsburgh. Once the cake was served, guests were entertained by John Parker Band as they fired up to perform for the groom and his mother to dance – which they had choreographed to perfection, entertaining everyone!

~Musical Hits:~

First Dance: Frankie Valli, Can’t Take My Eyes Of of You

Bride/Father: Maurice Chevalier, Thank Heaven For Little Girls

Groom/Mother: Tom Jones, It’s Not Unusual

Last Dance: Hall & Oates, You Make My Dreams Come True

The bride and groom requested the band to play fun, upbeat top hits, along with some good ol’ oldies. Family and friends flocked to the dance floor. They enjoyed themselves so much, that the band was asked to stay even longer to keep the party going!

“The band did a great job getting everyone to participate and dance, we enjoyed the music!” -Mother of the Bride

“We could not have asked for a more energetic band, our guests have never danced so much at a wedding!” -Groom

That’s a wrap for Laura and Louis’ wedding! We hope you’ve enjoyed the photos as much as we did. We can’t thank Joey Kennedy enough for allowing us to use his beautiful photos. If you are looking for an amazing live band for your Pittsburgh wedding, John Parker Band is your best bet! Contact them today if you have any questions and concerns, or just want to chat about your upcoming event. And if you have a minute, take a look at all the vendors Laura and Louis had at their wedding!

~Vendor List:~

Ceremony: St Bernards Mt Lebanon

Reception: Hotel Monaco Pittsburgh

Photographer: Joey Kennedy

Florist: Mount Lebanon Florist

Cake: Bella Christies

Entertainment: John Parker Band

Hotel Monaco Pittsburgh Wedding ~ Laura & Louis Read More »

Carnegie Museum Pittsburgh Wedding~ Tatum & Charlie

Tatum and Charlie’s wedding was an elegant family affair. With all their friends and family in attendance, the bride and groom held their ceremony and reception at the Carnegie Museum Music Hall Foyer in Pittsburgh. The venue gleamed with votive candles and sequin tables. Pittsburgh wedding band City Heat, a top live wedding band, performed throughout their reception, with instrumental music during cocktail hour and fun, lively music during the dinner & dancing. It was a night the bride and groom will never forget!

The bride was a vision in her vintage inspired dress. Her gown had a full skirt, lace top, and bead button back. She wore a diamond headpiece, mid length veil, and blue shoes- perfect for that “something blue!”

Their ceremony was held at the Hall of Sculpture inside the museum. Pink and white roses were tied to the chairs and tall candles lined the aisle. We loved the centerpieces placed at the altar, a unique arrangement of flowers and branches.

The bridal court definitely looked the part for this wedding! Sweet and sassy, the bridesmaids wore flashy gold dresses and the groomsmen donned black tuxedos. Small bouquets of roses were carried by the girls and a simple rose was pinned to the groomsmen jackets. We loved how the groom stood out from the rest of the men by wearing a bow tie and extra flower pinned to his jacket lapel.

After the ceremony cocktail hour took place on the balcony above the reception hall. Guests mingled and munched on hors d’oeuvres as City Heat’s pianist played beautifully, setting the mood. As cocktail hour came to a close, it was time for the bride and groom to have their first dance. This impressive photo was taken by Araujo Photography of Pittsburgh, capturing the beauty of the space and the intimate moment between the bride and groom. The couple requested the band to play song “Something” for their first dance.

The tables were decorated with silver vases of flowers and gold votive candles. We loved the simplicity of the decor, just the right touch to enhance the space. The floral arrangements were put together by Blooms Florist and featured roses, hydrangeas, and orchids.

At each place setting, a menu rested atop the gold and white china. Guests were served a sit down dinner followed by dessert-a scrumptious cake! The cake was three tiers tall and each layer was different. The bottom was solid gold and the top two were white with gold accents. Culinaire International catered the event and also made the cake. At the top of the cake, a gold topper featured the bride and groom’s names in gold.

When it came time to cut the cake the daughter of the bride and groom stood close by and eagerly awaited for a slice. For the cake cutting, the couple asked the band to play “Cut the Cake”. As the cake was served, City Heat’s saxophonist played an amazing rendition of “How Sweet It Is” for the groom and his mother to dance.

Then, it was time to party! Fresh, energetic music filled the room, getting friends and floor out on the dance floor. The City Heat band cranked out hit after hit and kept the party going all night long. Everyone enjoyed themselves so much, especially their daughter, who was worn out by the end of the night! That is a sure sign of a good party!

~Reception Soundtrack:~

First Dance: Something, The Beatles

Father/Daughter Dance: Into the Mystic, Van Morrison

Mother/Groom Dance: How Sweet It Is, James Taylor

Cake Cutting: Cut The Cake, Average White Band

“The band was perfect!! Everyone had a great time, our guests are still talking about how great the band was!” -Bride

We hope you’ve enjoyed taking a peek into Tatum and Charlie’s wedding. Araujo Photography did an amazing job taking photos of their beautiful wedding. If you’d like to see more, be sure to check out their blog. City Heat had a fantastic time performing for Tatum and Charlie and would love to be a part of your upcoming event! City Heat is your best bet for any kind of party, with a large band and professional musicians. Don’t hesitate to contact John Parker Bands today to talk about your event!

~Vendor List:~

Ceremony & Reception: Carnegie Museum Music Hall Foyer

Florist: Blooms Florist

Photos: Araujo Photography

Cake: Culinaire International

Entertainment: City Heat

Carnegie Museum Pittsburgh Wedding~ Tatum & Charlie Read More »

Grand Concourse Station Square Wedding ~ Alex and Anthony

Alex and Anthony’s wedding at the Grand Concourse Station was one of those romantic fairytale weddings complete with stained glass windows, rose petals, princess dresses and lots of love. The Grand Concourse Station is located in a historic train station, giving it an old world feel with new world amenities.

Their cake was a frothy, romantic confection from Vanilla Pastry Studio. We particularly dig the way the cake’s frosting mimics the pretty pink rose petals! So pretty!

Alex and Anthony share a sweet first dance at the bottom of the grand staircase in the lobby of the train station. Could it get any more romantic?!? The incredibly intricate architectural details of the space are just so incredible; we’re sure the couple were floating on air during this dance.

Duquesne University Chapel is a truly awe-inspiring setting to exchange vows. The high, arched ceilings, deep red carpets and incredible stained glass windows are so stunning and create a memorable, reverential atmosphere perfect for something as special as a wedding ceremony.

Check out that view! Photographer John Madia did an amazing job of capturing the grand elegance of the Grand Concourse Station view and grounds. Being right on the river makes for some pretty magical photographs! Alex’s incredible princess gown and amazing bouquet doesn’t hurt things either. 🙂

Guests had fun all night long dancing to the sounds of the Dreamscape band. Who can resist a good train dance? This one included almost all of Alex and Anthony’s guests; not only was it fun for them while it was happening, it makes for an awesome photograph to remember! Getting guests on their feet and letting loose is a fun job the Dreamscape band takes incredibly seriously. We want to help every one of our couples (and their friends and family) to have a night they’ll never forget and great music is a big part of that!

Not only are Alex and Anthony’s rings gorgeous (we love the vintage feel of the setting on hers!) but her bouquet and the floral arrangements at the reception by Blumengarten Florist are so beautiful. They’re feminine and romantic, bold and elegant. The lilies are especially stunning and we can only imagine how amazing they smelled at the tables!

We hope you enjoyed taking a peek inside Alex and Anthony’s gorgeous Pittsburgh wedding at the Grand Concourse Station. We know that the Dreamscape band had fun playing it! Be sure to check out the band’s website if you’re looking to have the same kind of fun at your own event and contact them to learn more or ask any questions you may have. We also want to say thank you to photographer John Madia for allowing us to use his romantic photos in this post. You can see more of his work at John Madia Photography.

~ Pittsburgh’s Finest Vendors ~

Ceremony site: Duquesne University Chapel

Reception venue: Grand Concourse Station

Florist: Blumengarten Florist

Cake: Vanilla Pastry Studio

Photographer: John Madia Photography

Grand Concourse Station Square Wedding ~ Alex and Anthony Read More »

White Barn ~ Lindsay and Chris

Oh, this is a good one. We fell in love with Jessica Vogelsang’s photos of Lindsay and Chris’ wedding at the White Barn in Prospect the minute we laid eyes on them– and we have a feeling you will too! The White Barn is one of those perfectly balanced spaces of being cozy and chic; you immediately feel comfortable but in incredibly beautiful surroundings. A perfect mix.

This is Lindsay and Chris during their first dance; not only is it an adorable snapshot of the newlyweds in love, it also shows off the beauty of the space. From the gorgeous wood floors to the sweet twinkle lights in the rafters, the White Barn is romantic, down-to-earth and just plain pretty. We also love the Mr. and Mrs. pennant banner on the table behind the couple. It’s small, personal touches like it that make weddings so special.

Two more personal touches from Lindsay and Chris’ wedding that we think is extra sweet is this painted board with the couple’s hometown’s “hearted” inside their respective states. Additionally, the lace-printed programs add a touch of whimsy to the ceremony.

Speaking of whimsy, the floral arrangements from Pisarcik Greenhouses and Flower Farm for Lindsay and Chris’ wedding are the most romantic, fun, whimsical and sweet things, ever. Who knew a simple bunch of baby’s breath in a clear glass vase and twine could look so chic? The reception table arrangements and bridal party bouquets are just as lovely. There’s an easy elegance to them that we know takes a keen eye and a lot of style. Pisarcik really delivered! Plus, the whole look of the flowers goes perfectly with the rustic glam feel of the wedding as a whole.

And then there’s the cake. How cute are those bride and groom pine cone toppers? What a clever idea! Again, the simple addition of pine cones and greenery to the classic white cake is the perfect complement to the wedding’s vibe. It’s classic, cute and understated in a totally original way. Bethel Bakery was spot on in their execution of this sweet piece of art!

As usual, the Dreamscape band absolutely killed it on the dance floor. And from the looks of things, so did all the guests! And check out these kind compliments that Dreamscape got from Lindsay and Chris’ wedding:

“The band was AMAZING!!!! Best fun ever? All the band members were so gracious and we are so excited that they shared in Lindsay and Chris’ special day.” – Mother of the Bride

Additionally, the couple’s out-of-this-world fantastic wedding planner, Shayne Souleret, said:

“Tammi and the Dreamscape band are fabulous!!! She is so professional and attentive, in addition to being a very talented singer and musician. The dance floor was packed all night long! The couple will have so many wonderful memories to cherish.”

If having lots of awesome memories to cherish and a packed dance floor are important to you for your wedding reception band, please feel free to contact the Dreamscape Band to talk about how they can make your wedding magical!

We’d like to thank Jessica Vogelsang for allowing us to use her gorgeous photos of Lindsay and Chris’ magical day on our blog! Be sure to visit her website; her photographs are endlessly inspiring (plus she includes cool new music to discover on her blog!).

~Reception Soundtrack~

First Dance: Lucky, Jason Mraz and Colby Caillat

Father and Bride Dance: Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Isreal Kamakawiwo’ole

Mother and Groom Dance: My Wish, Rascal Flatts

Bridal Party Introduction: Shut Up and Dance, Walk the Moon

~Wedding Wonders~

Venue: White Barn, Prospect, PA

Photographer: Jessica Vogelsang

Wedding Planner: Shayne Souleret

Cake: Bethel Bakery

Florist: Pisarcik Greenhouses and Flower Farm

White Barn ~ Lindsay and Chris Read More »

Fox Chapel Golf Club ~ Emily and Colin

The very first thing you’ll notice about Emily and Colin’s wedding are the smiles; from the couple to the guests, there is no shortage of mega-watt grins on everyone who attended the couple’s wedding at the Fox Chapel Golf Club. The second thing you’ll notice are all the thoughtful, gorgeous details that helped make their big day so special. First, and perhaps one of our favorite details, are these gold Mr. and Mrs. chair banners with incredible floral arrangements by Mt. Lebanon Floral.

The pair married and the uber-hip boutique Hotel Monaco; just check out that awesome black and white patterned carpet! The natural wood arbor adorned with dreamy white tulle and lush greenery helped create a romantic atmosphere– and gave guests a clue to what was in store for the reception later on!

Gorgeous, right? The gold, white and green color theme carried seamlessly from one event space to the other; with chic gold chairs, dramatically adorned candelabras and crisp white linens, the vibe is so elegant and fresh.

Mt. Lebanon Floral really knows how to create atmosphere with their floral arrangements. The mix of scale and proportion with these tabletop arrangements brings a level of dramatic sophistication to the reception space that is completely transformative!

Not to mention Emily’s bouquet! All of the arrangements are so artfully un-done; there’s an obvious care and attention to the arrangements but the result is something effortless and approachable. It’s a total marriage of glamorous and laid back and one we can’t get enough of!

Guests were given the choice between cake, cookies, cupcakes and cake pops for dessert (or, rather, they got to have one of each!). The idea of a desert table is one we love for modern weddings; it’s fun, looks great and let’s both the couple and the guests sample more than one flavor of the baker’s tasty goods. Emily and Colin chose Bella Christie’s for their sweets and the bakery did a phenomenal job of designing a cake and desserts that complement – and enhance! – the wedding’s overall look. The cake is especially cute; with the gold chevron pattern and sprig of flowers, it’s almost too cute to eat (almost!).

And back to those smiling faces; guests at Colin and Emily’s wedding had such a fun time dancing to a mix of classics and new favorites from the always-entertaining John Parker Band. Good music is such an important part of any party; if the tunes are tempting, guests will get out and dance…all night long!

If this kind of glamorous, fun affair looks like what you’ve dreamed your special day to look like, please don’t hesitate to contact Emily and Colin’s vendors for your own day! And if you’re searching for that perfect party band to keep your guests smiling and dancing all night long, get in touch with John Parker Band today!

We’d like to give a special thanks to photographer Joey Kennedy for being so generous with his photographs and allowing us the pleasure of using them here. Be sure to stop by his website and Instagram page to see more of his amazing work!

~Reception Soundtrack~

First Dance- Future Days, Pearl Jam

Bride/Father Dance- My Little Girl, Tim McGraw

Groom/Mother Dance- Forever Young, Rod Stewart

Last Dance- The Gambler, Kenny Rogers

~Who Did What?~

Ceremony Location- Hotel Monaco

Reception Location- Fox Chapel Golf Club

Florist- Mt. Lebanon Floral

Cake- Bella Christie’s

Photographer- Joey Kennedy

Videographer- Shofilms

Band- John Parker Band

Fox Chapel Golf Club ~ Emily and Colin Read More »

Wedding Stories

Hotel Monaco Pittsburgh Wedding ~ Laura & Louis

~Musical Hits:~

“The band did a great job getting everyone to participate and dance, we enjoyed the music!” -Mother of the Bride

“We could not have asked for a more energetic band, our guests have never danced so much at a wedding!” -Groom

~Vendor List:~

Carnegie Museum Pittsburgh Wedding~ Tatum & Charlie

~Reception Soundtrack:~

“The band was perfect!! Everyone had a great time, our guests are still talking about how great the band was!” -Bride

~Vendor List:~

Grand Concourse Station Square Wedding ~ Alex and Anthony

White Barn ~ Lindsay and Chris

“The band was AMAZING!!!! Best fun ever? All the band members were so gracious and we are so excited that they shared in Lindsay and Chris’ special day.” – Mother of the Bride

“Tammi and the Dreamscape band are fabulous!!! She is so professional and attentive, in addition to being a very talented singer and musician. The dance floor was packed all night long! The couple will have so many wonderful memories to cherish.”

Fox Chapel Golf Club ~ Emily and Colin