Set against the vibrant backdrop of fall in Pennsylvania, Shira and Catherine’s wedding at Terrain Events was a cozy, love-filled celebration featuring handmade details, meaningful traditions, and deeply personal touches.
Set against the rich hues of late October in Pennsylvania, Shira and Catherine’s wedding was a love-filled, fall-inspired celebration that felt deeply personal, inclusive, and undeniably magical. With 100 of their closest family and friends in attendance, the couple tied the knot in a setting that embodied their warmth and intentionality—complete with sage and dusty rose tones, handmade quilts, and a venue that, as the brides put it, “felt like a warm hug.”
Like many modern love stories, Shira and Catherine met online—but theirs began under the unique circumstances of the pandemic. “We spent the first month of our relationship dating through text, video calls, and letters (yes, actual handwritten letters!),” shares Shira. “She dropped off pastries to my doorstep, sent poems in the mail, and shared childhood photos virtually. Within that month, I knew I had to meet her in person.”
It wasn’t long before Catherine felt the same way: “Shira was such a brilliant, warm light. A lot of people have told me ‘when you know, you know’—I very quickly knew that a life with Shira is the best that life can offer.”
Their love led them to proposing to one another with a double proposal. Shira planned a surprise-filled day with brunch at Front Street Cafe, pottery painting, wine tasting at Bishop Estate Winery, and a heartfelt at-home proposal complete with macarons. Catherine’s proposal was just as dreamy.
“We had a private tour of the Barnes Foundation, lunch at Bar Hygge, and then a private wine barrel tour at Chaddsford Winery,” Shira recalls. “She proposed in a wine cellar decorated with string lights, flowers, and a custom charcuterie board. And then—surprise!—our family and friends were upstairs waiting to celebrate. It was better than I could’ve ever asked for.”
When it came time to find a venue to host their love and celebrate, there was one they gravitated towards with ease. Terrain served as the perfect venue, chosen for its cozy, inviting feel.
Their sunset ceremony embraced their nontraditional spirit and love for community. “We blended Reform Judaism, secular/spiritual elements, and wrote our own heartfelt, silly, and profound vows,” the couple shares.
Their wedding party walked down the aisle to Julia Stone’s “Love Will Take You,” while Shira and Catherine exited to “Turning Page” by Sleeping at Last—both nods to their mutual love of the Twilight soundtrack.
The ceremony was held beneath a lush arrangement of Myrtle and Magnolia on the Terrain arbor. Adding to the coziness, baskets of handmade quilts—created by the brides themselves—were placed at the ends of each row for guests to keep warm.
From Shira’s mom baking the challah, to being wrapped in her father’s tallis for the parents’ blessing, and using Catherine’s parents’ wedding champagne flutes, every tradition was honored in their own unique way.
Their custom Ketubah featured an illustration of their venue under the full moon, signed by their siblings. Other highlights included a private first look, a choreographed first dance, and a signature drink inspired by Harry Potter. Guests were treated to signage and seating cards adorned with dried flowers, gender-inclusive bathrooms, a boho lounge for outdoor seating. For dessert, guests indulged in a mix of sweet treats including macarons, tiny apple pies, crème brûlée, and a pretzel bar.
It was clear that every detail—big or small—was woven with love and intention.
“Everything was better than we could’ve dreamed,” they said. And truly, it shows.
FIND LGBTQ-INCLUSIVE WEDDING PROS IN YOUR AREA
