Photography by Randi Voss
This pair first made their love connection in Shadyside — even though they’d both grown up in Point Breeze. They met each other 10 years ago when Michael McVeagh was working at Henne Jewelers and Rachel Mallinger was waitressing at the Elbow Room. They kept crossing paths between Walnut Street and Ellsworth Avenue, and made a plan to officially meet up. They played bubble hockey on their first date — “I let her win,” says Michael. Rachel disagrees with that memory — and from there, they hit it off. They maintained a long-distance relationship between Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C., for three years of their courtship. In October 2009, after an afternoon spent picking pumpkins, they were headed to the home of Rachel’s brother, located on Mt. Washington. Instead, Michael made a U-turn and parked the car on Grandview Avenue, and asked Rachel to take a walk with him. On a bench overlooking the city, he proposed. “I wanted to do it there because we love Pittsburgh so much,” he says. Back at home, a house full of friends was waiting to celebrate.
We Love PGH
Continuing with the theme of their Pittsburgh love, the couple was wed on the fifth floor deck of the Senator John Heinz History Center, which offered the couple and their intimate party of 100 guests “a unique view of the city. We’re not used to seeing that perspective of the skyline, and it was even more special to have as a backdrop,” says Rachel. Looking back, Michael recalls, “We were in the moment, but the whole world was still going on around us. It was pretty cool going through the experience with the whole city below us.”
Ideal Setting
Cocktail hour kicked off in the museum’s Clash of the Empires exhibit, and the party continued in the Great Hall of the Heinz History Center, surrounded by historic pieces of Pittsburgh, including a car from the Racer roller coaster at Kennywood and a trolley car that once traveled the streets of the city. Rachel and Michael explain that the already existing scenery gave guests something to talk about and allowed them to minimize the amount of decorations they added to the space. The room was set with Chivari chairs and a combination of round and square tables from All Occasions Party Rental. The tables featured tall and low centerpieces of white and blue hydrangeas, orchids, delphinium, and roses in shades of white and blue, arranged by Bill Chisnell Productions. Cobalt blue up-lighting, designed by Benack Sound Productions, Inc., finished the ensemble. “It really made the room stand out,” says Rachel.
Let’s Go Pens
Partway through their first dance to “Penguin” by Christina Perri, Michael and Rachel invited all of their guests to the floor to join in the dance with them. The hockey fans also had a cake topper featuring a bride and groom in hockey gear, created by Michael!
Expert Planning
The couple worked event planner Natalie Berger and the History Center’s Events Director, Maura Minteer, to plan the big day. “We felt like we had a team of experts, who were so creative,” says Rachel. The evening also featured a ShutterBooth photo booth, burnt almond torte from Prantl’s Bakery, dinner catered by The Common Plea Catering, and dancing to DJ Steven Vance. The couple arranged with their event coordinators to have their vintage sports car — a Datsun 280Z — parked out side of the museum, which guests were invited to accessorize with “Just Married” décor, making the newlyweds’ getaway car extra special. Next up, they’ll travel to Ireland for a two week honeymoon!
