Featured photo by LeAnn Stefan Photography
Laken and Espy Reinard’s story began when she was in eighth grade and he was in ninth, making 2025 their thirteenth year together –– and when they tied the knot.
“Who would have thought we’d be here today?” said Laken. “You have a boyfriend in eighth grade and it’s just fun, but we made it through the challenging years of growing up, going to different colleges and coming back to our hometown in the end –– we stayed together through it all.”
The couple grew up in Brookville, Pennsylvania, but had a long distance relationship in college –– as Laken went to Bloomsburg University and Espy went to Penn State University. After graduating, they moved to Pittsburgh together for five years. Then, on January 5, 2024, Espy proposed to Laken at Keystone Lake –– a spot in between their hometown and Pittsburgh.
“We have been together for so long; it just felt like us,” said Laken.
When it came to organizing their big day, Laken found having a longer engagement was perfect for them. They enjoyed taking their time to plan.
They began touring wedding venues together, and planned a whole weekend out of it. But when Laken and Espy saw The View, a wedding venue in Phillipsburg, Pennsylvania, they canceled the rest of their venue tours.
“We toured the venue that we chose [The View] on Friday night,” Laken said. “And after we left there, we canceled all of the tours for Saturday and Sunday. We knew that that one was the one.”
While the couple enjoyed the early months of planning, not everything went as smoothly during the months leading up to their wedding. Between Laken losing her job and the couple selling their first home, they faced new challenges. The move was even overwhelming for their dog, who got sick and had several emergency vet visits. Although these months were overwhelming, Laken was thankful that they had decided on a long engagement and that most of the plans for the wedding were set.
But, when it came to the wedding weekend, the anxieties from the last few months had subsided, and Laken felt calm.
“I was not nervous,” said Laken. “I just felt so comfortable. We’ve been together for 13 years, we basically grew up together, and he’s just my safe place, my home, my comfort person.”
Their rehearsal dinner was on Halloween, so Laken and Espy decided to do a costume party for it –– adding a unique touch to the rehearsal.
The couple hoped that any weather issues would hold off since the ceremony would be outside, but during the rehearsal it was very windy, with wind speeds in the mid 20s. This made Laken worry about having to move the ceremony inside, but her friends and family assured her that the wind would calm down on her big day.
That night ended up being the only night Laken couldn’t sleep.
“I truly felt like a kid on Christmas morning. I was so excited to wake up and see our paper plans come to life,” said Laken.
The next morning, everything was underway and luckily, the wind had settled. The bridesmaids were slipping into their various pink dresses from Azazie and Birdy Grey while drinking champagne. Laken was getting ready too, choosing a curly updo for her hair and putting on her White Lace Bridal dress –– with elegant lace and tulle details.
Meanwhile, Espy and his groomsmen were suiting up in their tan suits from The Modern Groom in the groom’s suite. The groomsmen wore mauve ties and socks, reflecting the pop of mauve from the flower arrangements, bouquets, corsages, and boutonnières (Ling’s Moments).
As the ceremony began, Laken entered through a large set of doors to begin her walk down the aisle. As she reminded herself to smile, she focused on the wedding party, the lovely flower arrangements, and the beautiful view of the mountains before she reached Espy. Espy, who had claimed he wasn’t going to cry after they did their rehearsal, was in fact, crying at the altar. The feeling of love was overwhelming, according to Laken, as she saw all of the people who love and support them in the audience.
They also had a unity ceremony, which included them locking two heart-shaped locks onto a sign that said their last name and wedding date, as they were “being locked in love.”
Laken and Espy took photos after the ceremony, and then it was time for the reception. They stood at the top of The View’s spiral staircase and took a second to take it all in.
“Take those small moments to look out and appreciate everything,” said Laken when asked about what advice she would give to future brides. “We were able to do it from the top of the staircase before we made our entrance. We just looked out and saw the whole venue filled with all of those people. It was so special.”
As they came down the spiral staircase, they entered to the song “Renegade” by Styx while everyone waved their yellow “terrible towels” that were customized –– an ode to their love of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“Everything was just so fun,” she said. “We had custom terrible towels [Rally Towels], a caricature artist [Mock Creations LLC] who drew cartoons of everyone, and a Pittsburgh cookie table with light up bridges that my sister made.”
When it came to the first dance, Espy and Laken decided on “Weight Of Your World” by Chris Stapleton, as they are big country music fans. But, they didn’t stress too much about their dance.
“We’re not dancers,” said Laken. “We were in the living room of our new house with no furniture –– nothing. And I said, ‘We need to practice.’ I’ve had friends that have actually gone to legit dance classes and practiced, and that was just not us.”
Laken and Espy ended with Zach Bryan’s “Revival,” a song that is special to their group of friends. They all sang and danced in a giant circle, ending the special night with fun and laughter.
Instead of departing in a special car at the end that said “just married,” the newlyweds took their guests and wedding party back to the hotel in a school bus. Espy, Laken and their guests hung around in the hotel lobby to finish off the night.
“The day flies, and there are 24 hours in every day, but somehow this one felt like there were only 12,” said Laken. “It’s so special to just take a moment, like we did at the ceremony, to look at everyone and everything and just see all of the people that love and support us.”
Vendor List:
Venue: The View
Photographers: Jessica and Chad from LeAnn Stefan Photography
Videographer: Michael Glod with The Good Life on Demand
DJ: DJ Mad Maxx
Bar Service: Britt Supko
Caterer: Adler’s Market
Cake/Cupcakes: Mae’s Makin’s
Florist: Ling’s moments
Makeup: Valla Palmiere with Rainbowtique Salon
Hair: Katie Morrison
Dress: White Lace Bridal (dress) and MarWin Bridal (overskirt)
Bridesmaids Dresses: Azazie & Birdy Grey
Suits: The Modern Groom
Caricature Artist: Chip Mock with Mock Creations LLC
Audio Guest Book: Life on Record
Stationery/Signs: Battaglia Printing
Custom Wedding Towels: Rally Towels
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