As the former wine director at Bar Marco, “I had a rule of never dating guests,” says Sarah Thomas. After meeting Tyler Haak, however, “that ultimately proved to be a silly rule.”
Beautifully Blending Two Cultures Into One Wedding
Tyler was a regular at the bar, “always ordering cocktails, never ordering wine, so I didn’t really have a reason to talk to him. He eventually asked me out after months, and that was it!” says Sarah.
“A dear, dear family friend of ours saw my wedding sari when she was in India.”
Returning Home for a Wedding
After two years of dating, Sarah and Tyler relocated to New York City, where Thomas is now a sommelier at Le Bernardin. Thomas is additionally the co-founder and Chief Imaginator of Kalamata’s Kitchen. The couple returned home for their wedding because “Pittsburgh is a big part of our story. There was never a question that we were definitely going to get married there,” she says.
While they had planned to wed in the garden at Phipps Conservatory, rain serendipitously drove the ceremony under a tent. There, Sarah and Tyler said their vows in the center of the space, with friends and family gathered around them in a circle. “We were literally surrounded by everyone we love,” she says.
Tradition to Cherish and Remember
Additionally, the beautifully personal, non-religious ceremony incorporated traditions from the bride’s family’s Suriyani Christian faith. These included the Blessing of the Minnu, in which the groom gifts the bride a gold leaf pendant on seven symbolic threads.
Furthermore, the Manthrakodi, in which the groom places a blessed sari on the bride’s head. The bride changed into a Shyamal & Bhumika lehenga for the reception.
April Simpson of Oakmont Bakery created this brown butter cake with lavender brown butter buttercream frosting — oh my!
The flowers were inspired by the bridal party’s richly hued gold, rust, fuchsia and crimson saris. The design also featured red charm peonies, Juliet garden roses, ranunculus, quicksand roses, nandina foliage, peach stock, terra cotta spray roses, and greenery.
“To achieve your aesthetic and vibe for your big day, have descriptors, such as fun, whimsical, modern, garden, retro, art deco, Dutch masters…this will help your floral designer create ideas specifically for you, as well as flex their creative muscles,” says Janessa Walter, owner of Gold Dust Floral.
“Henna is a way of beautifying a bride before her wedding, and it’s associated with luck and prosperity.”
“Our officiant, a dear family friend, did an incredible job of letting us share our true selves with our guests, and we were able to showcase some meaningful traditions,” says Tyler, who remembers the ceremony as “a perfect mix of heartwarming, moving, and funny that I will never forget.”
For the reception at The Wintergarden at PPG Place, Sarah and Tyler named the tables after “restaurants and bars where we’d shared exceptional dates.” The bars included Bar Marco, Spoon and Le Bernardin. Then, Tyler took it to a whole other level and wrote notes about each of the dates as a conversation starter for the guests.
Sarah wore a mix of jewelry from her mother and aunts’ personal collections. She also wore new pieces found in boutiques in India.
A Celebration with a Variety of Taste
The delicious menu featured Caesar salad, salmon au poivre with wild mushrooms and truffle beurre blanc. There was a petite NY strip steak with peppercorns and brandy sauce, while more options for a crispy lentil cake with zucchini and coconut green curry. The reception menu also showcased glazed root vegetables and whipped potato puree.
Tyler’s mom, along with a baking crew of family and friends, created nearly 2,500 treats.
Of course, Sarah selected the evening’s wine: Juvé y Camps Cava Gran Reserva de la Familia 2013, Bründlmayer Kamptal Terrassen Riesling 2015, and Raul Pérez Bierzo Ultreia Saint Jacques 2017. Cheers!
Acknowledgments
Food: Chef Scott Walton of Acorn Pittsburgh for The Wintergarden at PPG Place
Florist: Janessa Walter of Gold Dust Floral
Rehearsal Dinner: Ace Hotel Pittsburgh
Event Planner: Susan Kinser
Music: Pittsburgh DJ Company & Three Rivers String Quartet
Hair and Makeup: JL Makeup Studio
Story By Nicole Barley
Photography By Christine Hlad
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