Pittsburgh Wedding Photographers – Kukucka Photography

2011 Wedding Season in Review

2011 was a great season – my first full wedding season since relocating to my hometown of Pittsburgh three years ago. Thank you to all of my amazing clients. I never take for granted the fact that I am entrusted me with one of the most memorable days in your lives. I am honored more than I can convey in any one blog post.

On this New Year’s Eve, I thought I would post a few favorites from a season full of favorites. As I get ready for another great year (my first wedding for 2012 is already next week!), I want to thank everyone for their trust and support. I’m so blessed to do what I love – witnessing love on its best dressed day, and then preserving the many ways it is revealed to me as I wait and watch with camera in hand. It never ceases to amaze and touch me, whether it be a private moment with a beloved grandmother, a loving touch by a new spouse, or the moment a couple realizes that their history as a family has begun. I love knowing that the photos I take that day will one day be seen by future generations – loved ones not yet born who will see themselves in the smiles and profiles of the great great grandparents who were once so young and new. These are my clients.

I wish you all that you most wish for yourselves in the New Year. Thank you again for letting me be a witness to your lives and your loves.

Here are a few favorites, in no special order …

 

 

Wedding Photographers in Pittsburgh – St. Paul’s Cathedral – Churchill Valley Country Club

Jessi and Donnie

Jessi and Donnie were married on December 17th at the majestic St. Paul’s Cathedral in Oakland, with a reception at the Churchill Valley Country Club. This was my last wedding of 2011, and it was the perfect wedding to close an extraordinary season.

I liked Jessi and Donnie the moment we met, and had been looking forward to their wedding all season! At a time when it’s easy for a couple to get caught up in the details of planning, it was refreshing to see how excited Jessi and Donnie were to simply be getting married. It was a pleasure to witness the love between them, as well as the celebration of this super cute couple by everyone there.

One detail that I’m still touched by was a special photograph Jessi wanted me to take of her and her grandmother looking in a mirror together. I didn’t understand the importance of this photo until we got to her grandmother’s house, where there was a wall filled with two generations of portraits of her grandmother posed the same way, with aunts and cousins. I suddenly felt incredibly honored to know that one of my images would also hang on this wall of a grandmother’s love … this time, with her beautiful grand daughter Jessi.

Congratulations to a great couple that brought this 2011 wedding season to a perfect end.  Here are just a few favorites.

 

Pittsburgh Wedding Photography – Mansions on Fifth

Niki and Neil

Niki and Neil were married on December 3rd at the beautiful, newly renovated Mansions on Fifth. This venue was absolutely beautiful, and complimented the majestic ceremony at St. Paul’s Cathedral in Oakland.

Having followed the Pittsburgh Pirates since my childhood I was especially excited to be the photographer for Pittsburgh Pirate, Neil Walker’s wedding! It was a treat for me to photograph Mr. and Mrs. Hometown Hero on their wedding day, and I loved witnessing the way they are together – true friends. It turns out that they are high school sweethearts, which made this special day in their lives even more special.

Every wedding has an energy to it, and this wedding was just plain FUN!  The families were FUN.  Niki and Neil were FUN.  The elegant and festive atmosphere at the mansion was FUN, and the music and celebration was FUN! I want to give a special mention to Bloom Brigade, who did the flowers that transformed the mansion into an absolutely magical place, the great staff at mansions on Fifth, and DJ extraordinaire, Eric Schiemer, who kept the atmosphere light, and (you guessed it) FUN!

Congratulations, Niki and Neil! Thanks for the privilege of being your photographer on such a special day. Here are just a few favorites …

 

Wedding Photographers in Pittsburgh – William Penn Omni Hotel

Alyssa and Brian

Alyssa and Brian were married on October 29th at the Omni William Penn Hotel in Pittsburgh. I found out from Alyssa’s mother that it was appropriate that we had an unexpected snow storm on this day, because Alyssa loves snow!  Fortunately, we were still able to step outside for a few photos, because there were still colors to be had on this wintry day.

A few favorite moments were when Alyssa wanted to have a portrait taken with her beloved dog, Lucy – but the other family dog kept stepping in front of the camera whenever I would attempt to take Lucy’s photo with Alyssa. By the time we tried one last time, Lucy had lost interest …  Another favorite moment was the moment that Brian saw his beautiful wife to be for the first time.  So sweet!

Here are a few favorites from Alyssa and Brian’s snowy day wedding.

 

Wedding Photographers in Pittsburgh – Greensburg Country Club

Lydia and Ed

Lydia and Ed were married on October 22nd, on the last really beautiful Saturday in autumn. In between the ceremony and reception at the Greensburg Country Club, Lydia and Ed had taken the time to scout out an outstanding location for photos – the Greensburg campus of the University of Pittsburgh. This was the perfect spot for this autumn day, with the last sprinkles of color behind old brick roadways and buildings. They told me that after seeing where I stuck them during their engagement session (old railroad tracks, and empty warehouses in the Strip district!) they thought this location would be fun, and they were so right!

Every wedding has one moment that stands out in my memory, and for Lydia and Ed, that moment was their first dance. I have never seen a more content groom dancing with his bride, and it stopped me in my tracks. It was a wonderful moment to witness in a day filled with wonderful moments.

Here are a few of those moments. Special thanks to Allison Florio at One Fine Day Wedding and Event Planning, who made Lydia and Ed’s wedding day as easy as they get.