I’ve been dyyying to shoot at Shady Elms Farm for years now, so you can imagine my excitement when I spoke with Iona & Eric. Shady Elms is such a beautiful rustic wedding venue, with fresh flowers, amazing landscapes, a pond, and a million great little spots for photos. Iona & Eric’s wedding was so fun an unique too. Iona wanted to incorporate aspects of her Filipino heritage and had so many great details, including the Filipino American Association of Pittsburgh cultural dancers. Here is Iona & Eric’s story…
Eric and I met through work. We were friends first as I was previously with someone at the time and so was he.
I thought he would actually propose during Christrmas of 2015, but I didn’t realize his sister had a surprise for the family already set up between the siblings. She was pregnant at the time and wanted it to be a Christmas surprise for the whole family, which it was. Eric proposed instead on New Years at 12:00:05 as soon as the ball lit up. I was wondering why he was acting so nervous and he asked his family to record the moment. He actually had intended to record himself as he had the GoPro on his head set up. In his nervousness, however, he forgot to turn it on. When the ball lit up, he had me turn around and he was there on bended knee, with a non-working GoPro on his head. He also had someone FaceTiming my dad in Japan so he and the family can be a part of the moment. I couldn’t answer at first as all I heard was the thrumming of my blood in my ears and then the tears just started and I couldn’t even choke out YES as I sank onto him in a hug.
Here are a few of my favorites from Iona & Eric’s Shady Elms Farm wedding…
.jpg "01 shady elms decor(pp w768 h348) - Iona + Eric | Shady Elms Farm Wedding Photos")
.jpg "02 shady elms wedding dress(pp w768 h512) - Iona + Eric | Shady Elms Farm Wedding Photos")
.jpg "03 shady elms wedding engagement rings(pp w768 h512) - Iona + Eric | Shady Elms Farm Wedding Photos")
.jpg "04 shady elms wedding details shoes(pp w768 h512) - Iona + Eric | Shady Elms Farm Wedding Photos")
.jpg "05 shady elms wedding flowers(pp w768 h708) - Iona + Eric | Shady Elms Farm Wedding Photos")
.jpg "06 shady elms flowers wedding(pp w768 h512) - Iona + Eric | Shady Elms Farm Wedding Photos")
.jpg "07 shady elms wedding barn(pp w768 h512) - Iona + Eric | Shady Elms Farm Wedding Photos")
.jpg "08 shady elms filipino bride(pp w768 h373) - Iona + Eric | Shady Elms Farm Wedding Photos")
.jpg "09 shady elms wedding ceremony(pp w768 h511) - Iona + Eric | Shady Elms Farm Wedding Photos")
.jpg "10 shady elms wedding ceremony in barn(pp w768 h512) - Iona + Eric | Shady Elms Farm Wedding Photos")
.jpg "11 farm wedding shady elms(pp w768 h512) - Iona + Eric | Shady Elms Farm Wedding Photos")
.jpg "12 barn wedding shady elms(pp w768 h512) - Iona + Eric | Shady Elms Farm Wedding Photos")
.jpg "13 shady elms farm wedding(pp w768 h512) - Iona + Eric | Shady Elms Farm Wedding Photos")
.jpg "14 shady elms ceremony barn spring(pp w768 h512) - Iona + Eric | Shady Elms Farm Wedding Photos")
.jpg "15 filipino wedding tie dye shirts shady elms(pp w768 h512) - Iona + Eric | Shady Elms Farm Wedding Photos")
.jpg "16 shady elms bridal party(pp w768 h512) - Iona + Eric | Shady Elms Farm Wedding Photos")
.jpg "17 shady elms groom(pp w768 h570) - Iona + Eric | Shady Elms Farm Wedding Photos")
.jpg "18 pink bridesmaid dresses(pp w768 h512) - Iona + Eric | Shady Elms Farm Wedding Photos")
.jpg "19 pink bridesmaid dresses shady elms(pp w768 h350) - Iona + Eric | Shady Elms Farm Wedding Photos")
.jpg "20 shady elms flowers bridal bouquets(pp w768 h512) - Iona + Eric | Shady Elms Farm Wedding Photos")
.jpg "21 shady elms bride groom(pp w768 h452) - Iona + Eric | Shady Elms Farm Wedding Photos")
.jpg "22 shady elms spring flowers(pp w768 h512) - Iona + Eric | Shady Elms Farm Wedding Photos")
.jpg "23 shady elms farm wedding couple(pp w768 h512) - Iona + Eric | Shady Elms Farm Wedding Photos")
.jpg "24 shady elms farm spring wedding(pp w768 h350) - Iona + Eric | Shady Elms Farm Wedding Photos")
.jpg "25 shady elms farm wedding hickory bride groom(pp w768 h512) - Iona + Eric | Shady Elms Farm Wedding Photos")
.jpg "26 bride groom wedding at shady elms(pp w768 h512) - Iona + Eric | Shady Elms Farm Wedding Photos")
.jpg "27 pine trees at shady elms(pp w768 h453) - Iona + Eric | Shady Elms Farm Wedding Photos")
.jpg "28 shady elms farm wedding brenizer method(pp w768 h533) - Iona + Eric | Shady Elms Farm Wedding Photos")
.jpg "29 shady elms farm lake(pp w768 h512) - Iona + Eric | Shady Elms Farm Wedding Photos")
.jpg "30 shady elms farm lake wedding(pp w768 h253) - Iona + Eric | Shady Elms Farm Wedding Photos")
.jpg "31 shady elms farm wedding reception dessert(pp w768 h512) - Iona + Eric | Shady Elms Farm Wedding Photos")
.jpg "32 shady elms wedding reception details(pp w768 h763) - Iona + Eric | Shady Elms Farm Wedding Photos")
.jpg "33 shady elms farm wedding reception flowers(pp w768 h511) - Iona + Eric | Shady Elms Farm Wedding Photos")
.jpg "34 shady elms farm wedding cake(pp w768 h349) - Iona + Eric | Shady Elms Farm Wedding Photos")
.jpg "35 Filipino American Association of Pittsburgh(pp w768 h511) - Iona + Eric | Shady Elms Farm Wedding Photos")
.jpg "36 Filipino American Association of Pittsburgh wedding dancing(pp w768 h252) - Iona + Eric | Shady Elms Farm Wedding Photos")
.jpg "37 Filipino American Association of Pittsburgh shady elms(pp w768 h616) - Iona + Eric | Shady Elms Farm Wedding Photos")
.jpg "38 shady elms farm sunset(pp w768 h512) - Iona + Eric | Shady Elms Farm Wedding Photos")
.jpg "39 shady elms sunset farm(pp w768 h512) - Iona + Eric | Shady Elms Farm Wedding Photos")
.jpg "40 shady elms farm wedding sunset(pp w768 h570) - Iona + Eric | Shady Elms Farm Wedding Photos")
.jpg "41 shady elms sunset farm wedding(pp w768 h512) - Iona + Eric | Shady Elms Farm Wedding Photos")
Hair Artist: Kirsten Peckich
Makeup Artist: Brazil Raine
Invitations: American Wedding, Etsy
Wedding Dress: Allure, from Sorelle’s Bridal Salon
Bridesmaid Dresses: David’s Bridal
Tuxedos: Men’s Wearhouse
Engagement and Wedding Rings: Jared’s
Florist: Shady Elms Farm
Ceremony & Reception: Shady Elms Farm
Officiant: Reverend Kephart
Bakery: Signature Desserts
DJ: Flip Side DJ
Photo Booth: Steel City Selfies
String Quartet: Chamber of Light Players
Dance: Filipino American Association of Pittsburgh
Wedding Photographers: Aaron Varga Photography
Aaron Varga Photography is a top Pittsburgh wedding photography studio serving downtown Pittsburgh and all surrounding areas. We specialize in creating modern, glamorous, and timeless photographs and providing an unmatched photography experience. Contact us for information and availability for your wedding or engagement session!
