“My favorite moment of the wedding was walking down the aisle to marry him,” says Madeline Cavalier of her meaningful ceremony to Justin Stascak at St. Paul’s Cathedral. “He’s been my partner, the best partner, in every sense of the word. It was so meaningful to finally get to marry him.”
A Dream Pittsburgh Wedding
That moment also stands out for Justin. “My favorite part of the day was seeing Madeline walk down the aisle in her beautiful dress,” he recalls.
Over the course of a two-year engagement, the couple poured their hearts into planning the ideal big day. All the while, Madeline was busy attending law school. To bring the vision to life, they decided to call in a little help.
“Madeline wanted the wedding day to reflect the love that she and Justin have [and for the celebration to be] memorable, fun, and filled with laughter,” says Jennifer Pecorari, owner and creative director of Novalee Events Co. “We developed a cohesive design that blended glam with a subtle touch of Great Gatsby.”
Bringing the Steel City to the Celebration
From their first date at Condado Tacos, to their engagement on Mt. Washington, Pittsburgh has played an integral part in the couple’s love story. Fittingly, they wove their hometown throughout the celebration, from the welcome bags filled with treats like Eat’n Park Smiley Cookies and Heinz Ketchup bottles, to their rehearsal dinner at Talia, where desserts were served on handmade bridges crafted by Justin’s dad.
Breaking with tradition, the couple attended their cocktail hour in the Omni William Penn’s beautiful, historic Urban Room, set to the sounds of Three Rivers String Quartet. “It we felt like we were in Bridgerton!” says Madeline of the ambiance and the soundtrack.
To combine fun and elegance, Madeline and Justin incorporated interactive elements, like an audio guestbook, 360-degree photo booth, and live painting of their first dance created by Stephanie Cassidy. Says Madeline, “We feel like now we have a museum-worthy piece of art to commemorate our first dance” to Elvis Presley’s Can’t Help Falling in Love.
A Dash of Blue as a Wedding Accent Color
Each element was thoughtfully planned. “One of my favorite design aspects [of the reception] was the memory table,” says Justin. “It made those who could not be in person still a part of our day, especially my mom.”
Pops of French blue, white, and gold, sparkly table linens, feather accents, twinkling votives, and tapers bedecked the hotel ballroom. Lush centerpieces featured Madeline’s favorite flower, peonies, plus roses, baby’s breath, and white anemones from Dormont Florist.
The newlyweds dined together beneath a gorgeous, full moon flower arch, filled with fluffy white blooms. “I remember how beautiful it smelled. We loved having the sweetheart table because we were able to really talk about what we were experiencing and processing the fact that we had just gotten married,” says Madeline.
Their families baked for weeks and brought baked goods from out of town to fill the cookie table. Sierra’s Sprinkled Sweets delivered more special treats. This includes cookies featuring a photo of their black Golden Doodle, Stella, as a way to include her.
With every detail planned to perfection, the bride and groom were able to be fully present for every moment. “It’s truly a dream come true,” says Madeline.
Story by Nicole Barley
Photography by Araujo Photography
Planning by Novalee Events Co.
Flowers by Dormont Florist
Venue by The Omni William Penn
Music by Three Rivers String Quarter
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