HollyHedge Estate

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Cocktail Hour

Reception

After Party

Our Wedding

Once upon a time, in a land far far away…there was a young woman and a young man who stumbled upon each other in Pittsburgh’s BEST bar, Peter’s Pub.&nbsp;&nbsp;It was the summer of 2016 where the two of them exchanged words for the first time on Peter’s dance floor.&nbsp;&nbsp;They started talking and Matt had asked Rachel if she wanted a drink, and of course without hesitation, she said YES.&nbsp;&nbsp;As Matt walked back with two rum &amp; cokes (Bud Lights if you ask Matt), Rachel got nervous and ran away.&nbsp;&nbsp;The following week, Rachel was leaving an Organizational Behavior Business Class, while Matt started walking towards the classroom.&nbsp;&nbsp;Rachel immediately got nervous again so she stared down at the ground as Matt walked past her.&nbsp;&nbsp;Little did she know Matt was looking back at her as she walked away.&nbsp;&nbsp;Fast forward to 1.5 years later, the two of them met again shortly after graduating college.&nbsp;&nbsp;It was Rachel’s 23rd&nbsp;birthday party at her apartment in Southside and she was feeling confident so she decided to invite Matt to her party.&nbsp;&nbsp;She made her famous jungle juice (don’t ask for the recipe) and that called for a night filled with dancing at Jimmy D’s.&nbsp;&nbsp;They ended the night at Sal’s pizza (the best pizza place if you ask Matt).&nbsp;&nbsp;Fast forward to two weeks later and they were officially dating on December 3rd, 2017.&nbsp;&nbsp;The couple had fun living it up in the dirty Southside where they spent most of their twenties.&nbsp;&nbsp;The two of them traveled all over to different places, until one day they planned to go to Hawaii on a cruise around all the islands.&nbsp;&nbsp;It was May 25th, 2023 and the two of them rented a Jeep Wrangler to drive up Waimea Canyon in Kauai, Hawaii.&nbsp;&nbsp;They were blasting music on their drive up, and then got out to walk around and take in the gorgeous canyon views.&nbsp;&nbsp;Rachel stopped to snap a few photos of the scenery, and then suddenly she turned around and Matt was down on one knee.&nbsp;&nbsp;He explained how he wouldn’t want to do life with anyone else and then popped the question: “Will you marry me?!”&nbsp;&nbsp;Rachel jumped up and down and screamed with excitement and almost gave Matt a heart attack because he claims she was on the side of a cliff!&nbsp;&nbsp;That was the start of their engagement.&nbsp;&nbsp;Fast forward to 5 months later, and they got the news that they would be moving down south to Charlotte, North Carolina for new jobs.&nbsp;&nbsp;Moving to a brand-new place has been a wild ride to say the least, but they were extremely excited to start this new adventure together.&nbsp;&nbsp;Now in just a short amount of time, Rachel and Matt will tie the knot and take on the new title of Mr. and Mrs. on May 24th, 2025 (almost two years after they got engaged)…and the rest is history!

The Story

Our Story

The Engagement Photos

Photos

The Bridesmaids

Juli Saunders

Allie Robinson

Jen Strohmeyer

Cara Mergner

Lexi Ricketts

The Groomsmen

Phil Venanzi

Zach Partyka

Kyle Coonelly

Mike Nossokoff

Jesse Scheirer

ADDITIONAL BRIDAL PARTY MEMBERS

Karen Saunders

Raymond Saunders

Monica Venanzi

Mark Venanzi

Wedding Party

Q + A

Room Rates range from $230 - $245 per night (plus tax and fee) depending upon room type selected. Reservations must be made by April 23 by calling (215) 297-5661 or by clicking on this link. Cancellation Policy: If necessary to cancel your reservation, please call the hotel at (215) 297-5661 ext 1 or email innkeeper@1740house.com

1740 House

Rates are $239 for May 23 and $269 for May 24 (plus tax). Reservations must be made by April 23 by calling (215) 794-4004 or by clicking on this link. Cancellation policy: Individuals will be charged for one night’s room and tax if reservation is cancelled after May 19.

Golden Plough Inn

Rates are $229 per night (plus tax). Reservations must be made by April 22 by calling (215) 491-0700 or by clicking on this <a href="http://bit.ly/4gOFCwp" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">link</a>. Cancellation policy: Individuals have 72 hours prior to arrival date to cancel without penalty. Guests will be charged for one night stay if cancelled after this time.

Hampton Inn & Suites

Rates are $179 per night (plus tax). Make reservations by April 24 by calling (215) 945-7980 or by clicking on this&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1730742956216&amp;key=GRP&amp;guestreslink2=true" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">link</a>. Cancellation policy: Individuals have 72 hours prior to arrival date to cancel without penalty. Cancellations after this time, Guests will be responsible for all night stays room and tax. Also, guest will be charged all room and tax if guest is a No Show.

Courtyard by Marriott

We will be providing shuttle transportation from each hotel to HollyHedge for the Wedding Ceremony. The shuttle transportation will also be provided back to the hotels after the Reception.

SHUTTLE TRANSPORTATION

Travel

A spectacular year-round destination!Peddler’s Village is a storybook village with charming colonial-style buildings, award-winning gardens, and distinctive shopping, dining, and lodging. For more than&nbsp;60 years, visitors have followed the winding brick pathways to experience exceptional dining, explore the best of Bucks County shopping, enjoy family fun at Giggleberry Fair, escape from the everyday to a getaway at the Golden Plough Inn (which is one of the hotel blocks you can reserve), and celebrate favorite traditions at annual festivals and seasonal events.

Peddler's Village

New Hope, Pennsylvania is&nbsp;a charming town along the Delaware River that's known for its spring festivals, artistic flair, and historic charm. Home to eclectic&nbsp;shopping, riverside dining, impressive theater, and cultural&nbsp;attractions. In fact, New Hope was even named one of "America's Favorite Towns" by&nbsp;Travel + Leisure! A day in New Hope is a day you won't forget!

New Hope, Pa (Town)

Doylestown, Pennsylvania is&nbsp;a charming town in Bucks County known for its history, culture, and vibrant downtown. It is a spectacular place that's home to magnificent castles, specialty shops, exceptional dining and one-of-a-kind pieces of American history.

Doylestown, PA (Town)

An eclectic mix of Gothic, Medieval and Byzantine architecture, the castle's interior walls, floors and ceilings are elaborately adorned with an array of original handcrafted tiles. The one-hour guided tours are ideal for groups and bookworms will love seeing the built-in bookcases throughout the castle, holding more than 6,000 books. Fonthill is just one stop along the&nbsp;Mercer Mile, an impressive belt of historical attractions in Doylestown. The three concrete structures including the Mercer Museum and The Tileworks&nbsp;celebrate Mercer's life, work and collections.&nbsp;

Fonthill Castle

Henry Chapman Mercer thought the best way to tell the story of America was to show people the tools used in everyday life. The result of his theory is the&nbsp;Mercer Museum, a six-story concrete castle filled with his remarkable collection of more than 40,000 early American artifacts. During a self-guided tour, visitors can explore the 55 exhibit rooms and alcoves displaying different trades and occupations, lighting devices and architectural hardware. Guests can also purchase unique, handcrafted items in the gift shop and view the changing exhibition gallery and learning center, which were added as an expansion in 2011.&nbsp;

Mercer Museum

Lake Galena is&nbsp;a 356-acre lake in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, surrounded by Peace Valley Park.&nbsp;The lake is a popular spot for hiking, kayaking, fishing, and other outdoor activities.&nbsp;

RACHEL & MATTHEW

RACHEL & MATTHEW

Q + A

What is the dress code?

Is there parking at the venue?

What time should guests arrive for the ceremony?

Will the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception take place indoors or outdoors?

Can I bring a plus-one?

Can I bring my kids?

When is the RSVP deadline?

Is there an open bar?

Can I take photos during the ceremony?

Who can I contact if I have more questions?