10-31-20 Dana and Mike

Nov4

Dana and Mike just love Halloween! They were thrilled to finally be getting married and having the wedding on their favorite holiday.

So the planning began a while ago, and even with Covid 19 restrictions, it was a fun time.

The ceremony took place outside in the court yard of the Pittsburgh Airport Marriot. Our folding candle screens, heavily decorated with fresh greenery and flowers resembled the fence or gates to the cemetery (just use your imagination).

Dana carried a bouquet Protea, mauve and ivory roses, burgundy Amaranthus and a few burgundy mums, with lots of flowing greens!.

(Photography credit for this beautiful picture goes to Amber Marie-Photography.)

Her bridesmaids, dressed in black, carried bouquets of ivory and mauve roses, burgundy ball mums and lots of greenery.

Alternating high and low centerpieces, coupled with purple up lights set the perfect mood for a fun time.

Various signs, reminders about masks and black decorated trees added to the ambiance of the reception room.

We know that a great time was had by all! Thank you for allowing us to be part of your most special day!

#pittsburghairportmarriot

#ambermariephotography

#halloweenwedding

10-30-20 Caitlyn and Bill

Nov3

Hallows Eve, as the day before Halloween is called, is often a fun time in the wedding world. Sometimes guests come in costumes (or at least masks) and the party is usually a great one!

Caitlyn and Bill chose the George Washington Hotel in Washington, Pa to host their wedding ceremony as well as their reception.

Caitlyn’s dress was a beautiful ivory lace vision with Champaign under skirt. Bill, in his white dinner jacket, was a handsome dude. Caitlyn carried a loose cascading bouquet, filled with purple mini callas, white and Champaign roses, flowing greens, with peacock feather accents.

Her nine Bridesmaids carried presentation bouquets of white callas with peacock feather accents.

The ballroom was heavily decorated with lots of gold, green and purple. Perfect colors to showcase the tall white feather centerpieces and low bowls flowing with lavender roses, green trick diathesis and purple ball mums.

Many, many cookies were on display also. Everyone looked happy. The party continued well into the night.

Congratulations Caitlyn and Bill. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your most special day!

8-28-20 Morgan and Josh

Aug31

When Morgan and Josh began planning the wedding of their dreams in 2019, never did they imagine the incredible challenges that 2020 and the Covid-19 pandemic would throw their way.

Their dream wedding was originally scheduled for 5-9-20 – Mother’s Day weekend. Near the end of the April, the wedding had to be postponed because the State of Pennsylvania was locked down – and all gatherings were prohibited.

The wedding was re-scheduled for 8-28-20. (The pandemic should be over by then …….right?) But no – that became questionable, as our Allegheny County Executive & The Allegheny County Dept of Health imposed even stricter rules than the State of Pennsylvania. So, in mid- August when the venue scheduled to host their wedding could not host it, with all the things they wanted, Morgan and Josh moved their wedding – to Montour Heights Country Club.

The ceremony was to take place in the grove, next to the golf course, while the reception would be held on the grand patio, underneath a very large tent.

Everything was moving in the right direction. Then at 1pm on Friday, the rain hit. a heavy, blowing, torrential downpour….that did not stop.

The wedding ceremony & reception was moved inside the club. So, Josh and Morgan got married under our white fabric draped & decorated arch. After the ceremony & a few pictures, the Arch was quickly dismantled and the reception continued.

Pictured below is our arch, Morgan’s bouquet and her bridesmaids bouquets.

Centerpieces included both short and tall flowers using white hydrangea and soft pink Mondial roses, similar to these centerpieces. Flowers for the arch were re- purposed as decor for the head table.

Eve though the rain continued all evening, spirits were high… and in the end Morgan and Josh were finally Married! Wow! What a tale to tell their children some day!

Blessings to you both! Thanks for allowing Parkway Florist to be part of your special day!

8-8-20 Teresa and Bryan

Aug12

When we started planning wedding flowers for Teresa and Bryan last December, about 260 people were anticipated for their Westin Convention Center reception.

Covid-19 changed all of that. The Westin reception was cancelled, and a smaller reception was held at a private residence East of the city.

However, the beautiful ceremony at St. Paul’s Cathedral was not cancelled.

Our bride carried a round bouquet of light pink garden roses, white playa blanca roses, white lisanthsis and light pink spray roses. Her bridesmaids carried simple clutch bouquets of white roses with pink wax flower accents.

Congratulations Teresa and Bryan! We hope that the rest of your life is smooth and without craziness.

Thank you for choosing Parkway Florist to be part of your day.

8-8-20 Saira and Renato

Aug10

Saira and Renato were originally scheduled to get married in Heinz Chapel. When the Chapel finally re-opened in July, with very strict guest limits, our bride and groom said no, and sought other space.

The Hyatt House Hotel on the South Side has a wonderful outdoor terrace, with a tent that can hold about 150 people (normally) for a reception. There is beautiful space for a ceremony.

Our fabric draped white arch served as a focal point for their ceremony.

Saira carried a lush bouquet of star gazer lilies, white Eskimo and light pink roses.

The bridesmaids, in navy dresses, carried clutch bouquets of light pink and white open roses.

As you can see in this final picture, Saira and Renatto did finally get to say I do! Saira’s beautiful gown sparkled in the late afternoon sun.

Congratulations to you both! May it be smooth sailing from here on out. Thank you for allowing Parkway Florist to be part of your special day.

Life cut short too soon…

Aug7

Thursday we were honored to help Mrs. Danielle Brown, mother of Marquis Jaylen Brown, with large sympathy designs for the living funeral service that began at 5 pm at Freedom Corner on Crawford St, across from St. Benedict the Moor church.

Danielle has been on a 34 day hunger strike, while she attempts to get better, more complete answers regarding her son’s very tragic death. Marquis fell from the 16th floor of a Duquesne University dorm room in 2018 and died. He died on his 21st birthday.

We hope that the flowers provided a measure of comfort to Danielle. We sincerely hope and pray that she gets the answers she is seeking because no Mom should ever have to bury their child.

R.I.P. Marquis.

7-18-20 Brookside Farm- Our Adventures Continue

Jul23

Alexa and Chad, Our star – crossed wedding couple, had a confusing journey to their wedding day on 7-18-20.

They were first scheduled to get married in North Carolina. Covid-19 squashed those plans and a Pittsburgh, Pa wedding was  then quickly arranged. On 7-3-20,  Allegheny County imposed more new “rules”- and our wedding  couple had had enough at that point.  They quickly  sought an out of state location for their wedding. In less then 2 weeks, the Brookside Farm Barn in Louisville, Ohio was secured, Vendors switched gears, a new caterer and baker was secured and we were having a wedding in Ohio!!

You first enter Brookside Farm thru a covered bridge (cool – right?), arriving at a fully renovated and air conditioned Barn. Across the parking lot is another building that serves as the chapel.  Beautiful grounds all around the barn and farm will make for awesome pictures.

Alexa and her 8 bridesmaids all wore white dresses and carried all white roses bouquets.  The gentlemen wore shirts, bow ties and leather suspenders!  (Very cool).

Simple floating candles centerpieces decorated half of the guest tables while tall tropical centerpieces decorated the alternating tables.  (The candles were battery operated, in compliance with the Farms rules).  Mercury glass candleholders  also adorned the guest tables, with seating approximately 6 people per table.  Our Pittsburgh Cookie Table made its way to Ohio also.  Cookies were pre-boxed & placed at each guest plate on the table.

On the way up and back we saw lots of fields of corn, beans and tomatoes…… and healthy looking horses. Social distancing was practiced and masks were worn. In spite of this these “rules” a great time was had by all!

Congratulations Alexa and Chad! May your ensuing years together  be less stressful than these past 4 weeks have been.   Thank you for allowing Parkway Florist to be part of your special day!

Love Never Fails!

Jul16

Love is Patient, Love is Kind. It does not envy, It is not proud…….. It always protects, always trusts, Always hopes, Always perseveres. Love never fails.
(From 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8)

On 7-10-20, Brian and Marguerite were finally able to get married! The journey to this day had been rough, to say the least. Brian and Marguerite were one of the Noah’s Event Center couples that had to scramble after the corporation filed for bankruptcy last fall.

This couple persevered and choose to move their wedding and reception to the Pittsburgh Airport Marriott.

Then…..Covid- 19 hit and all wedding plans were thrown into limbo. However, finally, it looked like 7-10-20 would be a good & clear date. After some back and forth, plans were progressing.

Then, on 7-8-20, Allegheny County imposed new rules and their wedding was thrown into question again. The Pittsburgh Airport Marriott & Parkway Florist pivoted again, and came up with Plan “D”. The beautiful back courtyard of the Marriott was to be the setting for the ceremony. However, rain and high heat was predicted on 7/10…..to start at about the time that their ceremony was to begin. At 3:30 pm, things changed again!

So, the first ever wedding ceremony was conducted under the Hotel’s front entrance portico. Our white square arch, draped with flowing chiffon fabric, provided a perfect backdrop for the ceremony. Our new Harlow stands were used to display lush flowers pieces on the isle. The white garden chairs were trimmed with bright coral daisies.

Marguerite and her bridesmaids carried loose roses bouquets, and included coral in the bridal bouquet (her favorite color!) The mini green hydrangea and white roses popped against the bridesmaids’ coral dresses.

The ceremony ended and some pictures were finished just prior to the hard blowing rain hitting. A beautiful end to a wild engagement. Our thanks to Brian and Marguerite for allowing us to help them.

We loved the way everything came together. Kudos to everyone at the Pittsburgh Airport Marriott for working so tirelessly to make this wedding happen……and for thinking “outside the box”. We enjoy the challenges you throw at us!

Elizabeth and Justin 6-27-20

Jun29

Elizabeth and Justin exchanged vows on 6-27-20 at the historic #Old St.  Luke’s Church in Carnegie, Pa. This church dates from the early 1700’s.

The preserved historic nature of this church and the cemetery that surrounds it always reminds me of all that our ancestors sacrificed, which I think is an important reminder in today’s world.

Elizabeth carried a loose bouquet of ivory and faith roses with lots of seasonal greenery, shown on the left above. Her bridesmaids, dressed in a mauve color, carried the same color combination of flowers in a smaller size.

The Wedding reception and after- party, held in the #Pittsburgh Airport Marriott’s Grand Ballroom and Courtyard, was tasteful and understated. The guest tables had alternating centerpieces of lanterns and the latest in hoop designs.

The wedding cake was decorated with ivory and light pink spray roses.

The most important part of the day was that Elizabeth and Justin were officially married! …Because Love Never Fails

(PS…. It Feels really good to be making Wedding Flowers Again!!!)

Can we help you with your Micro Wedding?

Jun17

Our World and the Wedding Industry changed dramatically, beginning on March 16th and continues to evolve daily.

Many of our 2020  brides and grooms have chosen to postpone their large celebrations in 2020, opting for a much smaller, more intimate ceremony this year,   with a Renewal of vows and large reception to follow later this year or next.

We are honored to help all of our couples who choose this route enjoy flowers on their special day.  Sometimes it is just a Bride & Groom — alone in a quiet, special place, exchanging vows that are meaningful to them alone.  Sometimes, parents & special friends are part of this  joyful union.  In any case, whatever the size, and often on short notice, we are here to help in any way that we can.

Shown here are bridal bouquets from some of our recent micro weddings.