Erin & Jacob had the best wedding day from top to bottom- from getting ready, to private first vows on a rooftop overlooking the Strip District and downtown, to a beautiful ceremony and reception at my new favorite venue as a Pittsburgh Wedding Photographer, The Art Room!

Erin spent the morning getting ready with her friends, mom, and sister- I captured some stunning detail shots of her & Jacob’s rings, their vows, perfume, and some loose florals courtesy of their florist for the day, Blumengarten!

Before we headed out for Erin & Jacob’s first look, she did a first look with her father, while her sister and mother watched- it was the sweetest moment!

We headed over to my favorite photo spot in the Strip, the rooftop above Coop De Ville! While the wedding party met down there for a few drinks, Erin made her way to Jacob, who was looking over the city with nerves & excitement before she came to tap him on the shoulder. He had the best reaction to her dress, which so simple and elegant- I really love it, too!

First Look & Private Vows

They played a quick round of “rock, paper, scissors” to determine who would go first to read their private vows- this is personally my favorite way to determine this, it definitely helped with the nerves all while getting a few fun giggles from the moment, too!

After the giggles and happy tears from their vows, the wedding party came to meet us and we took all of the group and individual photos before heading over to the Art Room! The best thing about a first look, aside from getting that special and private moment with your partner, is that it really does give you so much time during the rest of the wedding so that you don’t feel rushed around to get all of those key photos after the ceremony!

We had to get a few couples photos in while we were up here, too- especially some iconic veil shots since Erin had the most amazing cathedral length veil!

In the moments before the ceremony, their friends and family gathered in the basement, soaking everything in & naturally, watching football since it was the famous Penn State vs Ohio State game!

The Ceremony

After the ceremony, we went into family photos, then everyone was seated before hearing speeches from parents and friends- and it was absolutely stunning, especially with the help of the decor from Vintage Alley Rentals!

Before we got the party started at the reception, Erin & Jacob snuck out for nighttime flash photos in the Strip District! As a wedding photographer in Pittsburgh, this has been on my bucket-list for a wedding photo spot. And again, with their great decor, we took some fun photos in the basement featuring their signature cocktails!

First Dances

One of my favorite parts of a wedding day is the first dances- most other traditional reception events I don’t have an opinion one way or the other, but the first dances always get me in my feels! Especially the parent dances!

Let’s Get This Party Started

The reception was a blast, after sticking around to get some fun shutter drag photos of everyone living their best life, I headed off for the night. When I walked outside toward my car, hearing the energy from the reception as I left was so fun- such a good sign of a great reception!

If you’re looking for a pittsburgh wedding photographer for your 2026, especially if you’re thinking about booking The Art Room- I’d love to chat- carliegabrelcikphotography.com/contact!