PHOTOS BY BECCA GRIMM PHOTOGRAPHY

When Alejandro Met Amelia
Amelia Hare and Alejandro Cuevas met during Amelia’s first semester of freshman year at Penn State University. Amelia, who is originally from Beaver, posted in a State College Facebook group saying she was looking for a conversation partner to practice Spanish with. Alejandro, who is originally from Paraguay, was also completing his undergraduate degree at Penn State. He responded to Amelia’s post, saying he would help her practice the language. After practicing together, the two quickly turned their study dates into actual ones. “Ever since then, it blossomed into more than just conversation partners,” Amelia says.

She Said Yes
Five years later, Amelia took a gap year before medical school to live with Alejandro in Paraguay and travel through South America. While visiting Ushuaia, Argentina, the couple went on a 10-mile hike on a local mountain. Amanda noticed a few people close behind on the hike, but thought nothing of it. When the couple got to the summit, a man from the group pulled out a camera; Alejandro had hired him to capture the moment. Amelia’s mother had hid the engagement ring in Amelia’s bag, and Alejandro grabbed it and proposed. “He blew me away as always,” Amelia says.

The Big Day
Amelia says their inspiration was anti-wedding culture. “This is just a giant party where two people happened to get married,” she says. “We really wanted to break the mold and get away from that typical Pinterest board wedding.”

The couple held their ceremony at Heinz Memorial Chapel, where Amelia has always dreamed of walking down the aisle, and held their reception at Olive or Twist, Downtown. They did not have a wedding cake, opting solely for a cookie table. Amelia made the flowers herself from a craft store and ordered her wedding dress online through Lunss Couture, a custom made wedding dress site. The dress was inspired by vintage fashion that Amelia typically wears and says she wanted the dress to be over-the-top for the big day. “I knew my dress had to be kind of insane, and it was exactly what I wanted,” Amelia says.

Happily Ever After
Amelia, 27, is finishing her last year of medical school at the University of Pittsburgh, and Alejandro, also 27, is working on his Ph.D. in computer science at Carnegie Mellon University. The couple is enjoying life as young professionals in Pittsburgh and hopes to potentially move to Paraguay or somewhere in Latin America eventually.

Ceremony Site Heinz Memorial Chapel, Oakland
Reception Site Olive or Twist, Downtown
Caterer Olive or Twist
Dessert Cookie table by friends and family
Dress Custom made by Lunss Couture, designed by bride
Hair & Makeup Wanderlust Beauty
Rings Handmade in Paraguay
Flowers Handmade by bridesmaids and bride
Invitations & Programs Emilee Hunter at EH Weddings with design by Asia Grant and Carolyn Balch of Redoux NYC
Videographer Maid of Honor Margo Keller and Chris Thompson
Officiant Reverend Larry Bunch
Day of Coordinator Emilee Hunter of EH Weddings
Photography Venue The College of Fine Arts at Carnegie Mellon University; The Renaissance Hotel