Mother of: Megan
Venue: Heinz Memorial Chapel and Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh
Vibe: Black tie
Dress: Frascara from Jan’s Boutique in Cherry Hill, New Jersey
The University of Pittsburgh is where Megan and Cole met during their freshman year at a fraternity/sorority mixer. And it’s where they returned for their fall 2024 wedding. The ceremony took place at the iconic Heinz Memorial Chapel on campus, where Cole’s parents were also married.
“Megan is obsessed with the red doors of Heinz Chapel—so much so that she designed her wedding invitations as a die-cut replica of the Heinz Chapel red doors,” says her mom, Betsy, describing how the invitation opened up, just like doors, to reveal all of the wedding details. “It was beautiful!”
So when it came time to shop for a mother of the bride dress, Betsy says, “Red just seemed to be the obvious choice as the accent color Megan played off of, and above all, it’s her favorite color!”
Betsy savored the hunt for her red dress. Megan and her twin sister Celia had “lots of opinions,” Betsy says. “If they couldn't be there when I was shopping, we would FaceTime for their opinions.”
Betsy visited a few bridal salons and tried more than a dozen dresses. “Some were pretty, but I just didn't love them like I wanted to.” She finally found the one at Jan’s Boutique in Cherry Hill New Jersey: the satin fabric on the strapless, mermaid style gown by Frascara fanned out across the bodice with dramatic, architectural flair. “I love the unique neckline,” Betsy says. “And it was the most beautiful shade of red–not an orangey red, but a true red. And, it was very comfortable!”
Betsy wore a treasured charm bracelet with the gown. “It’s my all-time favorite piece of jewelry—I have charms from every major event that’s happened in my life.” On her wedding day, Megan gifted her mom a rose charm in gold to symbolize the rosette on her wedding dress.
“I've never seen her so happy,” Besty says of her daughter. “ She was on cloud nine!”
| Photography by Joey Kennedy