An Autumnal Wedding Celebration at the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden

As a wedding planner, there are some celebrations that linger in your memory—not just for how beautiful they looked, but for how they felt. This autumn wedding at the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden was one of those rare gems: the kind of event where the air is crisp, the light is golden, and every detail feels both effortless and deeply intentional.

Nestled in the wooded hills just outside the city, the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden gave us the most magical fall backdrop. Trees in shades of rust, ochre, and crimson framed every moment, as if nature herself was part of the design team.

The bride and groom wanted a wedding that felt intimate, elegant, and a little bit enchanted. So we leaned into the romance of the season—starting with the linens. Midnight blue velvet tablecloths added the perfect moody contrast to the warm autumn palette and created a cozy-luxe texture that guests couldn’t stop touching. Truly, velvet is autumn’s love language.

But the real showstopper? The florals. May Chester Design absolutely outdid herself, weaving in locally grown dahlias in deep burgundies, soft blushes, and golden ambers, paired with foraged fall leaves that brought movement and texture to each arrangement. The ceremony arch felt like a portal into another world—wild and abundant, but somehow still refined.

As the sun set, guests gathered beneath a clear-top tent that glowed with hundreds of twinkle lights. The reflections of the lights danced across the tables and glassware, giving the whole space a dreamlike shimmer. You could hear gasps as people walked in.

Planning this wedding was a joy from beginning to end, and I’m so honored to have played a part in bringing it to life. It reminded me why I love fall weddings so much: the colors, the coziness, the sense of transition and possibility.

If you’re dreaming of a wedding that feels like stepping into an autumn fairytale—complete with dahlias, velvet, and starlight—consider this your sign.