What is an Angel Wedding?
What is an ‘Angel wedding’, one might ask? Created by our founder, Dawn Takacs, the ‘Angel Wedding Program’ helps families facing uncertain or life-threatening health issues plan their wedding ceremony or experience in a shorter time frame. The Pittsburgh Brides Community joins forces to donate goods, services, products, and spaces to help these families host some of life’s most precious moments.
The name ‘Angel Wedding’ comes from the goodwill of the volunteers; to us, they are all ‘wedding angels!’
Angel Dress Party
Over the Christmas 2025 season, a Groom reached out to us for help. His bride, who recently said ‘yes’, was devastated by the heartbreaking news that her mother was diagnosed with a stage3 life threaten cancer.
The bride, like many brides, couldn’t imagine the wedding dress shopping experience without her mom present. In less than 72 hours, Pittsburgh Brides collaborated with MK Bridal in New Kensington to help bride Kierstin have a dress party right in her home, with mom and family! There was lots of joy, laughter, and happiness in the living room.
Kierstin, in fact, did find the dress and say yes after a little deliberation, of course, with her mom’s approval! It was a blessed moment for everyone!
Another Angel Wedding Story Begins.
If you have a box of tissues nearby, be forewarned that you might need them. For the ‘Angel Weddings’ assisted and hosted by us in 2025, in both cases, the father of the bride was terminally ill.
This story is uniquely different.
A beautiful, young couple was recommended to us by a current client of wedding pro Taylor Meyer, of Meyer’s Precision Planning. The groom, 25 years old, was diagnosed with stage 3b Cholangiocarcinoma in the fall of 2024. When diagnosed in the fall of 2024, he was not given many options. Having undergone several procedures, including a liver resection, multiple biopsies, and chemo, the groom is now hopeful to begin clinical trials.
Given the uncertainty, the couple’s only wish when we interviewed them was “to be married in the presence of their big family of nearly 300 people.” The groom and bride both told us they know they could have an elopement or a courthouse ceremony, but family means everything to them, and they do not want to be married without their family present.
Pittsburgh Brides–Angel Wedding Program immediately said ‘Yes’ to helping them fulfill their wedding wish!
The first step was Dawn meeting the bride at MB Bride & Special Occasion in Greensburg! We told her that if she were to get married, she would need a dress! This gorgeous, sweet bride said yes to the 3rd dress she tried on, and MB Bride helped expedite it so it would be ready in time for her wedding! We just love the team at MB Bride. Thank you for your assistance!
She was full of emotions and bursting with grace that after 15 months of navigating Cancer treatments with her groom, she was living in a single moment of something to look forward to, a moment of pure joy knowing she was going to marry the love of her life. We cherished this moment with her.
There is more to come on this wedding, and we have an entire team of ‘Wedding Angels’, including planners, photographers, videographers, content creators, mobile bar services, catering teams, DJ services, venues for both the wedding and the reception, decorators/florists, and an entire beauty team to make the bride and bridesmaids all look & feel stunning!
Much heartfelt appreciation and respect to all the local Pittsburgh Brides wedding pros that stepped up in an instant to help this couple host the wedding of their dreams, surrounded by all their friends and family!
If you would like to assist with this wedding, email us at [email protected] to learn how you can help!
Thank you,
Dawn Takacs
Pittsburgh Brides–Angel Wedding Program
