A Summer Wedding in Every Shade of Pink

Photographer: Abbie Tyler Photography

Wedding Planner: https://soireebysouleret.com/

Lauren and Mike’s wedding was that rare, very special sort of affair that feels deeply personal, layered with family history, generosity, and a sense of place that cannot be manufactured.

Held at the bride’s childhood home in Sewickley, the wedding unfolded beneath an enormous white tent overlooking the estate’s extraordinary gardens, which had been lovingly tended for many years. The property itself was breathtaking, but what made the day feel special was the atmosphere: elegant without stiffness, refined without ever losing warmth. It felt like a true family gathering — the kind of wedding where every detail carries meaning.

The bride’s mother is a talented and devoted gardener, and that shaped so much of the floral direction. We wanted the designs to feel as though they belonged naturally within the landscape rather than competing with it. The palette centered on pink in all its complexity: soft blush, shell pink, ballet pink, cool pinks with lavender undertones, warm garden pinks, vivid saturated pinks, and crisp whites layered throughout to give the arrangements lightness and structure.

August is not naturally peony season in Pittsburgh, but peonies mattered to the bride, so we sourced extraordinary blooms from Alaska to bring that lush, romantic quality into the designs. They were paired with dinner-plate dahlias, abundant hydrangeas, garden roses, and cascading white phalaenopsis orchids woven into the elevated arrangements beneath the tent.

One of the most beautiful things about working in a private home setting is the opportunity to design a wedding that feels completely integrated into the environment. Floral work extended outward into the gardens and architecture of the property rather than existing only on tables. The flowers became part of the evening itself — softening the tent, echoing the gardens, and reflecting the layered beauty already present on the grounds.

The reception felt almost painterly by dusk: glowing candlelight against pink florals, enormous arrangements suspended above tables, and the softness of late summer hydrangeas everywhere. There was elegance, certainly, but also abundance — the kind that feels cultivated over generations rather than staged for a single day.

Weddings like Lauren and Mike’s are a reminder that flowers are at their most powerful when they create atmosphere. Not just centerpieces, but environments. Moments. A feeling guests carry with them long after the night is over.