From Dan Majors and Ryan Brown, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

Ben Roethlisberger is no longer the single best quarterback in Pittsburgh.

On a hot but clear Saturday afternoon, Mr. Roethlisberger, 29, and New Castle native Ashley Harlan, 26, exchanged wedding vows before an Ohio Township church full of family and friends — as well as Steelers officials, coaches and players.

After the ceremony at Christ Church at Grove Farm, the bride and groom were whisked by limousine to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Downtown, for a reception in The Spirit of America Ballroom.

More than 600 guests gathered for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres in the convention center’s Concourse B, overlooking the Allegheny River, then went into the ballroom for dinner and dancing. And, of course, to toast the newlyweds…


You can read more about the wedding here.

The wedding planner shares more fashion, music and reception details here.

More wedding coverage from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review here.

Photos from Ben & Ashley’s wedding here.

From Jason Cato at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review today:

Ben Roethlisberger and his bride-to-be made it known to guests they don’t need a Cuisinart food processor, a set of 700-thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets or Mikasa place settings.

They’ll forgo the typical wedding gifts in favor of charitable contributions.

Steelers quarterback Roethlisberger, who has an eight-year, $102 million contract, today weds Ashley Harlan, a New Castle native who works as a physician’s assistant at UPMC Presbyterian in Oakland. The couple plans to distribute guests’ contributions to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Pittsburgh and Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.

“I have quite a few things here at my house,” Roethlisberger recently told the Tribune-Review. “Rather than get a bunch of wedding gifts, I figured why not do something that’s kind of fun and unique, and she was absolutely all for it.”

“We are thrilled,” said Eleanor Reigel, executive director of the Ronald McDonald House, which provides housing and support for families of children undergoing medical treatment.

This is the first time the local organization has received donations from a charitable wedding, Reigel said. Roethlisberger helped the charity financially with a move from Shadyside to Lawrenceville and sometimes visits families or serves meals, she said.

The wedding money will help cover expenses for families, Reigel said. “We would never, ever turn away a family who needed to stay here. Ben and Ashley’s generosity will help us with that. … I hope it’s a trend.”


You can read more here.

Another fun video from Nick Sampson at Quest for the Continent Productions:





We’ll be posting a “Behind the Scenes” video as well as a “Bloopers” video next week!

From Nick Sampson at Quest for the Continent Productions today:

Watch the fun….





Check back for more videos from Ben’s Camp!

From an article written by JoAnne Klimovich Harrop at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review today:

It is not uncommon to see Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and fiancee Ashley Harlan stay after Sunday service at Christ Church at Grove Farm in Ohio Township, mingling with parishioners where the couple will marry this weekend, a pastor at the church said.

“Ben and Ashley have been very consistent and genuine in their worship,” the Rev. Bruce Cote, senior associate pastor and interim lead pastor, said Sunday. “I often see them talking with other people before and after services.”

The couple joined the church about a year ago. After they did, a letter was sent to parishioners asking them to treat Roethlisberger like any other member. Cote said it is hard to know what Roethlisberger goes through, being such a popular sports figure, but added he and Harlan have embraced the church community.

“That is refreshing,” Cote said. ” ‘Good job’ I say to how they handle themselves.”

One of the greeters said yesterday that Roethlisberger and Harlan are a wonderful couple who attend service weekly when they are in town and that both come from Christian households from which their foundation of faith was formed.


You can read more here.



Quote of the Day:

McCoy was encouraged by Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger after the game, won by Pittsburgh, 28-10.

McCoy writes that Roethlisberger said, “Great job. I thought you played well today. Keep your head up. You’re going to be a great player.” — From the Cleveland Plain Dealer‘s Tony Grossi, on his book review of “Growing Up Colt — A Father, a Son, a Life in Football.”

The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation at The Giving Back Fund is welcoming grant inquiries for support until August 1st for the 2011-12 season!

This is the fifth grant cycle for Ben’s Foundation. The majority of the grants we distribute help K-9 units to purchase dogs and dog safety vests, but other types of needs will be considered.

The Foundation will be distributing grants in the cities and surrounding communities of each regular season away game for the Steelers during the 2011-12 season. The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation invites police and fire departments in these eight cities to submit proposals detailing their needs.

For the first time this year, if the Steelers make the playoffs, the Foundation will also make grants to two cities anywhere in the United States that would not otherwise be eligible to apply. In addition, the Foundation will continue to make grants to several police and fire department K-9 units in the Pittsburgh area following the Super Bowl XLVI.

The Foundation distributed more than $110,000 in grants to K-9 units around the country during the 2010-11 Season.

Eligible departments must apply to The Giving Back Fund by August 1, 2011. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.


To view the full grant requirements, eligibility and evaluation process, click here.


Would you like to donate to Ben’s Foundation? Click here.


For more information, please contact Jessica Duffaut at jduffaut@givingback.org