“We were instantly drawn to each other,” remembers Hunter Sodaro of meeting her future husband Stephen Rogalski while attending West Virginia University. Their friendship soon turned to romance, and it wasn’t long before Stephen proposed to Hunter at the Mount Washington Overlook in Pittsburgh. “My best friend and future maid of honor was there with us at the time and captured it all on video,” shares Hunter. “I uploaded the proposal video on TikTok, and we actually ended up going viral!” 

When planning their wedding, the couple worked with their wedding planner Lorenda Howell to create the celebration of their dreams. “We were unsure on whether or not we were going to a hire a wedding planner at the beginning of the process, but quickly realized that it was a must!” notes the bride. When choosing locations, they quickly fell in love with their reception site first, and then found a nearby Catholic church to house a traditional ceremony to honor the groom’s family. 

Friends and family took their seats at the church pews as live string musicians filled the sanctuary with classical melodies. The bride was stunning in a form-fitting gown with a plunging neckline as she carried a bouquet of all-white florals down the aisle; her hair was worn in elegant curls and a long veil trailed behind her. At last, she met her groom – who was dapper in a white tuxedo jacket with black lapels to match his bow tie – at the altar, which had been adorned with fresh verdure and vanilla-toned florals to complement the décor to come later in the evening. 

“It was the best feeling in the world to finally be married to my best friend and to get to celebrate it with all of our favorite people.”

After the vow exchange, the newlyweds and their loved ones made their way to the resort venue for the joyous cocktail hour and reception. In lieu of a guest book, loved ones left audio messages for the couple on a vintage-inspired rotary phone and enjoyed bubbly from a Champagne display and the couple’s signature cocktail – named after their dog, Braddock – before making their way into the dinner space. 

“We wanted a traditional color scheme of black, white, and gold,” explains the bride of the design, which showcased round tables covered with crisp white linens surrounded by gold chairs with ebony seat cushions. A blend of high and low centerpieces presented gold vases filled with lush greenery and rich florals in shades of ivory, accented with white candles. Place settings highlighted clear gold-beaded charger plates topped with chic black napkins, and instead of typical place cards, luxury sugar cookies personalized with each guest’s name added an extra-special touch. 

“As my husband and I sat at our sweetheart table at the beginning of the reception, we took a moment and looked around… We both felt pure joy. It was the best feeling in the world to finally be married to my best friend and to get to celebrate it with all of our favorite people,” Hunter remembers of their dream wedding. “It was undoubtedly the best day of our lives, and we could not have been happier with the outcome.”