An Intimate Eco-Friendly Wedding at Succop Nature Park in Butler, PA
Looking to hold your intimate wedding in Pittsburgh, PA? Let’s take you through the wedding day of nature-loving couple, Val and John, who held their intimate eco-friendly wedding near Pittsburgh in September of 2023.
Val and John were very eco-conscious and hired me for full-service planning of their micro-wedding. It was awesome to be able to work with them from Day 1 and guide them through every eco-friendly choice they made throughout the planning process. (Related Post: What Does a Wedding Planner Actually Do?)
Check out the photos from this sustainable, nature-inspired wedding below!
The Couple
Like many modern couples, this couple met online. They share a love of nature and the outdoors and enjoy hiking, cooking, and eating vegan treats together. John works as a pharmacist, and Val is a nurse. They live in the city and enjoy walking to shops and restaurants.
Val is a calm, cool, and collected individual, while John is friendly and charismatic, so they were wonderful to work with as a planner. Early in the planning process, they thought about eloping but then decided they wanted their closest friends and family by their side on their wedding day, so they went with an intimate wedding.
They reached out to me to be their planner after finding me on Google because they’re eco-conscious and liked the idea that I focus on sustainability in the planning process. In fact, when asked to describe their vision for the day, they wanted it to be “intimate, loving, conscious.”
The Wedding Day
“Intimate, loving, conscious”... That’s the vibe the couple was going for, and I am happy to say we achieved that. It was a warm evening in September… the perfect temperature, not too much sun, and no rain!
Only the couple’s closest friends and family were there to support them. The house felt calm as the preparations took place, much unlike the usual hustle and bustle of typical weddings.
I could feel John’s emotions swell as it got closer and closer to the ceremony. You could really sense how much love he had for his soon-to-be wife.
John manifested a gorgeous day, confidently stating several times throughout the planning process, “It’s not going to rain.” The sun shone down on the nature park. In perfect timing, the willow tree casted a large enough shadow over the sunny field to keep the couple and their guests shaded during their early evening ceremony.
Read on to learn more about how the wedding day unfolded!
An Intimate Eco-Friendly Wedding at Succop Nature Park
The Budget
While I won’t get into the details of Val and John’s budget, I will note that working together allowed me as an environmentally-friendly wedding planner to help them budget for eco-friendly options. More on how we budgeted and saved money on certain items below!
The Venue
I selected and toured a few eco-friendly venues with this couple, but I was so glad they chose Succop Nature Park for their special day. It was a perfect fit for their love of nature and wanting an outdoor wedding that could also accommodate their small guest count.
The couple fell in love with Succop Nature Park’s tall willow tree that sits in front of a large pond. They knew they wanted it to be the backdrop for their intimate wedding ceremony.
They also fell in love with the gorgeous house on the property, and because they had under 40 guests, they were able to hold an outdoor wedding reception on the house patio.
The couple was able to save a lot of money by holding their micro-wedding on a Thursday instead of the weekend, which was a huge perk!
Related Post: Eco-Friendly Wedding Venues in Pittsburgh, PA
Getting Ready
Val got her hair and makeup done nearby at Lightning Hair Lounge and Wellness Center before heading over to the Succop house to finish getting ready with some close loved ones. Lightning Hair Lounge prides itself on using 100% vegan and cruelty-free beauty products, which is perfect for the eco-conscious bride.
Lace and macrame were textures that Val likes, so we tried to incorporate them into the day. Val purchased a beautiful lace dress from Luxe Redux in Lawrenceville. Luxe Redux is a wedding consignment shop that sells pre-used gowns and sample gowns that might have otherwise gone to waste. (Related Post: 6 Pittsburgh Wedding Dress Shops to Consider for Your Eco-Friendly Wedding)
John sported a green 100% linen suit, a great sustainable and warm-weather option. He chose a cream vest and a beautiful floral tie for a touch of nature.
The Details
As someone who also loves the beauty of nature, I was very excited to work on the design of this couple’s wedding. Helping the couple with their wedding design is also a great way for us to bond, as I get to learn more about their personalities, taste, and lifestyle while making sure I curate a design that is truly reflective of them.
Val and John love nature, so green and beige were obvious choices to include in the wedding’s color palette. They also wanted the day to feel romantic, so adding some dusty rose to the color scheme was a way to add a touch of romance. Pink is also a color that Val tends to gravitate toward.
Natural elements like wood were incorporated to give off nature vibes. Minimalistic wildflower seed paper invitations purchased from Etsy were another way to incorporate nature into the wedding while also being more sustainable than regular paper.
The Ceremony
As you walk toward the tall willow tree at Succop Nature Park, you feel a sense of peace and calm. You might see geese or a crane resting on the side of the pond.
The backdrop is so beautiful that you really don’t need much décor. Rented plants were placed at the beginning of the aisle, and ivory flower petals were scattered down the sides of the aisle. Val is a very crafty individual and made these beautiful macrame pieces to hang on the backs of the chairs lining the aisle.
A bonsai tree was set up for the couple’s unity ceremony. The couple poured soil and water into the plant to symbolize growth and nurturance for the relationship.
Scott and Rosanna, a very talented husband and wife duo, set the mood by performing the ceremony music. I highly recommend them if you’re looking for something low-key and unique for your wedding! Rosanna has an amazing voice, and they are very talented.
My Favorite Moment
After the ceremony, I took hold of Val’s dress train as she and John made their way to the house for a moment of alone time. As I walked behind them, I could hear them reflecting on the day and telling each other the unspoken thoughts they had during the ceremony. I felt so touched by them as they let their emotions flow as if I wasn’t there.
The Cake
Val and John are both vegan and served a full vegan menu for dinner. Butterwood Bake Consortium made a delicious vegan cake consisting of lavender cake, vanilla buttercream, and chocolate ganache. A mixture of fresh and dried florals décorated the cake.
The couple snuck away during cocktail hour to do a private cake cutting, which is a nice touch for couples who don’t like to be the center of attention but still want create that special memory together.
The Reception
Guests mingled throughout the quaint house during cocktail hour. The warm, sunny weather allowed for the patio doors to be open so guests could make their way from the charming rooms of the house to the peaceful brick courtyard/patio. The patio is a hidden gem, a secluded space surrounded by lush greenery.
So the couple and their guests could enjoy the patio throughout the evening, we chose bistro lights to add functional lighting, which made the space feel even more magical.
The couple was able to save money on décor by keeping the florals minimal and renting plants from Pittsburgh Plant Lady. Plant rental is definitely a more sustainable option than using flowers and can be more cost effective. The plants were repurposed after the ceremony to surround the couple’s sweetheart table with even more greenery at the reception.
Val’s bouquet and the other florals were provided by Steel City Florals, a local sustainable florist.
We incorporated the couple’s love of cooking together into the day by featuring herbs in the centerpieces. Guests were able to take home the herbs to give them new life. Bud vases containing a combination of fresh and dried florals were mixed in with the herbs to provide more color and gave the tables a somewhat wild centerpiece feel.
We brought even more nature to the space by using personalized leaf place cards and herbs tied into the napkins with twine at each place setting. We also used stones that the couple collected from their hikes together as table numbers.
We used thrifted and pre-used items to complete the décor and give the sweetheart table a special touch.
Scott and Rosanna continued performing through cocktail hour and some special reception dances, including the couple’s first dance, taught to them by Amanda Wolf Productions.
Love Notes from the Couple
“Sustainability was a very important part during our decision making process. We wanted to make as little of a footprint as possible and Angela was the absolute best resource for that. The most important thing when choosing a planner was to find somebody who understood our values. We wanted someone who could create a vision that aligned with what's important to us. We live more non-traditional lifestyles, and some people just don’t understand. Angela understands. Angela always puts our values first.”
Want to work with an eco-friendly wedding planner to help you bring your vision and sustainability goals to life?
Learn more about how I can guide you here!
Vendor Team
Venue: Succop Nature Park
Photographer: Lucid Memories by Delycia
Planner and Designer: Eco & Ivory Event Design
Officiant: A Simple Vow
Musicians: Scott and Rosanna
Florist: Steel City Florals
Plant Rental: Pittsburgh Plant Lady
Caterer: Medure’s
Lighting: EF Lighting
Hair and Makeup: Lightning Hair Lounge and Wellness Center
Dress: Luxe Redux
Dance Lessons: Amanda Wolf Productions