Real Pittsburgh Weddings

Kimiko Tanaka &
Jamison Toshio Arimoto

August 14, 2008

Family

Toshio and Keiko Tanaka; Tadao and Diane Arimoto

Ceremony

Heinz Memorial Chapel is a beautiful setting for a wedding, and a special place for the groom and his mother, who are University of Pittsburgh graduates. One of the groom's cousins officiated at the ceremony while another performed a viola solo at the very beginning. The groom's grandmother, a well-known local organist from First Baptist Church in Oakland, selected the church music.

Flowers

Vienna's Flowers (viennasflowers.com).

Photographer

Jim Judkis (412/366-2242, jimjudkis.com).

On the Bride

Kimiko purchased her gown at David's Bridal (multiple locations; 877-923-2743, davidsbridal.com). Kimiko's mother sewed a bolero jacket to match the dress.

On the Groom

The groom and all members of the wedding party wore black suits and dresses from their own wardrobes.

Reception

Kimiko and Jamison held a family-style reception at Buca di Beppo at Station Square (3 Station Square; 412/471-9463, bucadibeppo.com) - the site of their first date. With a unique interior and plenty of the couple's favorite color (red), no additional decorations were needed. Guests left with special favors: hand-made cups created by artist Willi Singleton (610/756-6387, willisingleton.com), a long-time friend of Jamison's father's.

Cake

Zingerman's Bakehouse of Ann Arbor, MI (zingermansbakehouse.com) crafted a wedding cake that replicated stacks of books. Kimiko recently finished her studies in sociology, and Jamison completed law school, so the cake was a fitting reflection of both the bride's and groom's personalities.

Tanaka Arimoto wedding

To see ten more Real Pittsburgh Weddings, click here or call 412-622-1360 to order the PITTSBURGH Weddings 2009 Issue.