Daria and Caleb wanted their wedding to feel like a big family party, but a backyard wedding wasn’t possible because of the weather and their large families. Instead, they had their wedding at the Pittsburgh Opera House and brought in elements like the porch ceremony space and family-style long tables to make it feel like a backyard celebration. Many family members and friends contributed to making their wedding day a success, and Rachel Rowland Photography captured their unique day!
A backyard-themed DIY opera house wedding in Pittsburgh, PA
Love story: We met probably around my 9th and his 6th grade year since I was friends with his sister, Kate. After I graduated, I went away to the University of South Carolina. We kept in touch when I would come home from school and visit. Clearly I knew we were meant to be because I started introducing him to everyone (including my boyfriends) as my future husband. There’s even a tagged picture on Facebook from 2005 of him and me that’s captioned with “me and my future husband.” I moved from SC to Chicago in 2007 and then Columbus in 2009, and he wound up in Oakland with his friends. We went through a few dark years, both of us experiencing deaths in our families. During our dark ages, I was having dinner with Kate in January 2010, and we plotted this grand scheme of having her brother, Caleb, be my brother’s mentor for his senior project. We figured it would be a win-win, they could help each other, and high-fived to seal the deal. Well, I texted Caleb about it on February 1st 2010, and he agreed to be my brother’s mentor…and then he kept on texting me. We went on a few dates and became official on May 29th 2010 during a weekend trip to Chicago. We did long distance until 2011 when I left Ohio State and started working in Pittsburgh. We got engaged in December 2012 in Jamaica and moved in together August 2013.
The wedding: Caleb’s groomsman, Max, sang us through our first dance then played with his band, Back Stabbing Good People, for the entire reception. My mom did my hair and the maid of honor’s hair at her shop. My aunt baked our cakes, and my grandma made the cookies. My aunt and uncle made and bottled wine for our favors. Caleb built the photobooth backdrop, and I added family pictures to the wall. Caleb and his dad made the porch for the ceremony, complete with rocking chairs. We added a duck my stepfather had carved to the porch in memory of him. Caleb’s stepmother did all of the bridesmaid bouquets, corsages, and boutonnieres, as well as the placemats. We had our friends over for a champagne brunch and convinced them to help us make our centerpieces and table numbers. Caleb did all the table runners from the pages of old books. I learned that it takes 1 episode of Gilmore Girls to make 3 paper flowers. My mom completely had my back on all of our choices, even the ones she didn’t completely understand. His mom, after much convincing that it was what we wanted, helped us bring to life a backyard rehearsal dinner for 70+ people complete with Chipotle and Rita’s Italian Ice. It was awesome. – Daria
Artists
- Photographer: Rachel Rowland Photography
- Dress Store: Anne Gregory for the Bride
- Dress Store & Jewelry: BHLDN
- Hair Stylist: Chantra’s
- Other: Eli Rebach
- Lighting & Caterer: JPC Event Group
- Tuxedo and Men’s Attire: Macy’s
- Event Venue: Pittsburgh Opera House
- Tuxedo and Mens Attire: The Tie Bar
- Bridal Accessories: Twigs and Honey
- Makeup Artist: ULTA Beauty Salon
- Bridesmaid Dresses: Victoria’s Secret
- Band: Back Stabbing Good People
