Photography by Sarah McCloskey
Laura and Peter’s wedding at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens remains one of the very best color palettes I’ve ever worked with — layered, nuanced, and deeply atmospheric in a way that felt both romantic and slightly unexpected.
The bride originally reached out after seeing a wedding I had designed years earlier on Instagram. She told me very directly, “I want exactly this feeling.” And while I never truly replicate another wedding — flowers should respond to the people, the season, and the setting in front of them — I understood immediately what she meant. She wasn’t asking for copies of arrangements. She was responding to a mood.
That mood became the guiding principle for the entire day, in which whites, peachy blushes, and lavenders with smoky brown undertones — colors with softness and complexity rather than brightness — combined in such a beautiful way for this May wedding.
Photo by Sarah McCloskey.
The ceremony took place outdoors in front of the iconic reflecting pool and fountain at Phipps, one of the most recognizable ceremony locations in Pittsburgh. We designed a large floral arch that felt lush and painterly rather than overly structured — full of movement, texture, and layered color.
Photo by Sarah McCloskey
Hydrangeas in soft lavender and white comprised much of the design, while fragrant stock added both height and scent. We used white peonies for warmth and softness, but the flower that truly defined the palette was the ‘Amnesia’ Rose.
‘Amnesia’ is not a background flower.
It’s one of those rare roses that immediately changes the emotional tone of an arrangement the moment it enters the palette. Dusky, smoky, silver-lavender with hints of mauve and taupe, it creates complexity wherever it’s used. Against peach and cream tones, it becomes almost cinematic. The addition of mocha-toned lisianthus deepened everything even further, creating a palette that felt layered and sophisticated rather than overtly pastel.
Laura’s bouquet may still be one of my all-time favorites, and Sarah McCloskey captured it in the bride’s hands here so beautifully.
Photograph by Sarah McCloskey.
This bouquet felt soft but sculptural at the same time. In photographs, especially against Laura’s sleek strapless gown, the flowers looked totally luminous.
What I remember most about this wedding, though, wasn’t the flowers. It was the atmosphere and the vibe. The entire day felt joyful in a very genuine way — intimate, emotional, celebratory without feeling performative. The families were so especially happy, and I could tell instantly that this couple is going to live a wonderful life together.
After the ceremony at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, guests moved to nearby Mansions on Fifth for a lively reception that carried late into the evening. It’s a pairing we often see in Pittsburgh for good reason: the botanical beauty of Phipps followed by the old-world grandeur and warmth of Mansions creates a wedding experience that feels distinctly Pittsburgh while still feeling timeless.
Laura and Peter’s wedding was not the largest wedding we’ve designed, nor the most elaborate, but it was one of the most emotionally cohesive — every flower, every color, every texture contributing to a world that felt entirely its own.
