Allison + Mike | South Park and Meadows Casino Wedding Photos

I’m excited to share another beautiful winter wedding! Allison & Mike were married on a cold January day at Our Lady of Grace Church near Bridgeville, with a reception at the Meadows Casino in Washington, PA. I loved so many things about this wedding, but my favorite is definitely the wedding dress Allison wore. It was her grandmother’s original wedding dress that she wore at her own wedding over 60 years ago. It was beautiful and the perfect choice for Allison. Since it gets dark super early in January they decided to do a first look, which we did in nearby South Park. After the ceremony we headed to Washington and Jefferson college for a few more photos. Here is Allison & Mike’s story!

In December 2014, my friend from high school Facebook messaged me out of the blue and told me that he believed me and his current roommate, Mike, who he met in college, would be a great match. He said he could introduce us in person if I was up for it. I was interested knowing I could trust my friend’s suggestion but first asked to email Mike so I could get an idea who exactly he was. We emailed back and forth for 2 weeks and finally met up for breakfast in January. We ended up talking for over 7 hours! We started seeing each other more and the rest is history!

In May 2016, I traveled to Raleigh, NC to visit my sister, brother-in-law, and their new daughter. On May 31, I flew back to Pittsburgh and wasn’t supposed to land until after 9:30pm. Mike usually likes to go to bed early and I thought he wouldn’t be up to picking me up since he was out of the way. My younger sister planned to pick me up, however when I landed I received this long text from her saying her car wasn’t working and was stuck downtown. She went on to say Mike was going to pick me up and then pick her up at her friend’s house close to the city. On the way into the city, I was giving Mike so much credit for taking care of my family :). Since it was so dark, I couldn’t really tell where we were. We stopped along a trail near Washington’s Landing, for he said we were headed toward these apartments where I thought my sister was. Once we crossed the bridge, I saw the overview of the city and was complementing how nice it looked. Mike then pulled me over to the side where he got down on one knee and proposed! I said yes and was totally caught off guard with the set up! :)

I have always wanted to get married in the winter because it is so different than any other spring/summer/fall wedding. I love the winter wonderland type of theme and with all the snow it can be so pretty.
I admire sentimental things and wanted to include as much as possible from the church where my parents got married, to including my grandmother’s dress, and getting married the month Mike and I met! :) I also like the idea that my guests have something to look forward to after the holidays are over. What I like about the Meadows Racetrack and Casino is that it sets itself apart from any other hotel or wedding venue. It has plenty of entertainment for everyone to enjoy the entire weekend and the hotel is connected to the casino which is convenient for my guests to decide what they want to do or go by foot.

Here are a few of my favorites from their Meadows Racetrack and Casino Wedding!

Hair & Makeup: Salon Richards
Wedding Dress: Allison’s grandmother’s original wedding dress from 65 years ago!
Bridesmaid Dresses: Bridesmaids.com
Tuxedos: Jos. A. Bank
Engagement and Wedding Rings: Jared
Florist: Carrie Ann Powell Floral Designs
Ceremony: Our Lady of Grace Church
Reception: Meadows Casino
Cake: Bethel Bakery
DJ: First Class Entertainment
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!