Elizabeth Hitt and Arman Fashandi first met by chance at a neighborhood bar in Pittsburgh on a cold January evening in 2018. It was Wine Wednesday at Shady Grove in Shadyside – an unexpected setting for what would become a beautiful love story. “He asked for my number... and then never called,” Elizabeth laughs. Fate, however, had a plan. Eight months later, she walked into her new legal internship – where Arman happened to work – and the pair reconnected instantly.

Years later, Arman orchestrated a memorable proposal. In the cellar of a close family friend’s home – a gathering place for holidays and celebrations – he transformed the space with candlelight and romance. Elizabeth descended the stairs expecting to retrieve a few bottles of wine, unaware that her closest loved ones were quietly waiting upstairs. “It was effortless and full of heart,” she reflects. “The space already carried so many memories. Now it holds our most cherished one.”

When planning their wedding, the bride envisioned a venue that felt both traditional and European. “Something timeless and romantic,” shares Elizabeth. They found it in the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh. With soaring architecture, marble floors, and historic European influence, it embodied everything Elizabeth imagined. She didn’t want to transform a space; she wanted to honor it. With the guidance of her wedding planner and the dedication and artistry of the vendor teams, the bride’s ideas turned into reality. “I owe every ounce of gratitude and praise to them,” she affirms.

With 80 guests dressed in formal black-tie attire, the celebration began in dramatic fashion. The ceremony, originally unplanned, became a meaningful tribute to Elizabeth’s mother. “It was important to her, and ultimately, it became so important to me,” she reflects. Inspired by a brilliant suggestion from the venue’s wedding coordinator, the couple exchanged vows upon the museum’s grand staircase. Elizabeth made a striking entrance in her Stéphane Rolland gown from Mark Ingram Atelier as she descended from the third floor to meet Arman below, while classical violin music was performed by a trio. Guests looked on from the balcony above – an unforgettable tableau.

“We wanted to accentuate the beauty of the space.”

Elizabeth carried a sculptural bouquet of white ranunculuses, tulips, and garden roses paired with modern green accents. “We can take no credit for the floral vision – our florist is a brilliant creative,” confirms the bride. The ceremony palette – black, cream, gold, and green – set the tone for what was to come: clean, intentional design elevated through rich textures and thoughtful details.

Cocktail hour took place directly in the soaring staircase atrium where guests had just witnessed the ceremony. Champagne flowed as guests mingled among marble statues and European murals. “We wanted to accentuate the beauty of the space,” Elizabeth illustrates. “It was elegant and dramatic.”

Dinner felt like an intimate European supper. "We wanted the evening to feel like a black-tie dinner party that just happened to be celebrating a wedding,” says the bride. The couple opted for a five-course tasting menu that reflected their shared love of food and wine. “Food is the center of our family life,” Elizabeth says. “Our dinners often last four hours, filled with laughter and storytelling. We wanted our guests to experience that energy.” Arman adds, “The food was my priority – and our caterers nailed it.”

Velvet linens in ivory created a moody foundation for the reception tables, layered with ribbed wine glasses, dotted napkins, and gold-edged chargers. Low, elongated floral arrangements added European garden romance, while light from miniature golden lamps cast a warm glow across the hall. “I had no interest in trends,” says Elizabeth. “I wanted to look back in 50 years and still feel it was beautifully timeless.”

Music was a key element of the evening. Three violinists, dressed entirely in white and wearing sculptural headpieces, performed classical and modern compositions from three elevated floral stages placed throughout the reception. After dinner, guests transitioned to a lounge-style celebration near the bar area. Instead of traditional wedding music, the playlist featured a curated mix from the ’60s to the ’90s, along with contemporary favorites.

Dessert was kept intentionally minimal to maintain the dinner-party sensibility. The couple shared a modern two-tiered wedding cake alone, while partygoers enjoyed a trio of petite desserts, as well as Jordan almonds, presented in the Italian tradition, served as meaningful wedding favors symbolizing health, happiness, fertility, wealth, and longevity.

It was a wonderful ending to a wonderful day, and upon reflection, Elizabeth shares, “I could feel the love in the room.”


This real wedding was originally published in the Winter 2026 issue of Inside Weddings magazine. 

To order a copy of the Winter 2026 issue, visit our library of Inside Weddings digital back issues available for purchase.