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4 Must Haves for a Pittsburgh Wedding

Erin Levers • Jan 09, 2018

If you're from Pittsburgh, it's likely that you’ll show some sort of yinzer in your your wedding. What are some of the must-haves for your Pittsburgh wedding? Where will you show off your love for your hometown?

Cookie Table

A cookie table is a Pittsburgh working-class tradition that goes back generations. It goes back to when new immigrant families could not afford to pay for large, extravagant wedding cakes. So relatives of the bride and groom would bake for hours in the days or weeks prior to the wedding, making hundreds of beautiful and delicious cookies for guests to savor and enjoy.

However, in modern times, the cookie table has become a little less thrifty and a little more professional, as many Pittsburgh couples give their favorite recipes to local bakeries to have their cookies professionally made. This takes some of the burden off of family members while ensuring that guests have plenty of cookies to eat and bring home.

Bridal Dance

The bridal dance differs from one culture to the next. here are many different versions of the bridal dance in Pittsburgh– some involving pinning dollars to the bride's dress to pay for a dance at the reception. In other versions, the money is collected by a bridesmaid or simply placed in a shoe.

No matter what your background is or where your family comes from, bridal dances are still very popular in Pittsburgh. If you're not sure what kind of bridal dance your family traditionally performs, talk to your older relatives, and also look through old pictures.


Pittsburgh-Themed Engagement Photos

Think about it: Where is your favorite place in Pittsburgh? Is it a comic book store? A pizza parlor? What about a park or an intersection? Pick out some of your favorite places in Pittsburgh, then visit them with your photographer and your fiance.

To make your photography session extra special, visit meaningful places around the city where you and your fiance have somewhat of a history. Revisit the site of your first kiss, first date, the place where you met. Your photographer will have some good ideas,, but it's vitally important to capture the images that are meaningful to you and your spouse-to-be. Most of all, have fun with these pictures; you'll have them forever!

Steelers Paraphernalia

If you're a native of Pittsburgh, you likely have strong feelings for the Steelers. Typically, it's no surprise that many Pittsburgh natives like to place Steelers paraphernalia on their wedding cake, in their decorations and even on their wedding clothes. Don't want a Steelers logo on your tie or wedding dress? That’s fine. Try making your Steelers references more subtle by choosing yellow and black wedding colors. Your guests will get it. These funky shades make a strong statement while also adding a little fun to your ceremony.

Contact Bella Sera to Plan Your Wedding

At Bella Sera, we help Pittsburgh couples plan their perfect wedding. Our beautiful grounds make the perfect backdrop for your ceremony and reception. To get started planning your wedding in 2018, contact us today for an appointment and consultation.

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