Pittsburgh Wedding Planner | {SHE} wants you!

By: Blair Mundy

Not sure if you want the assistance of a wedding planner or not? {SHE} wants you to know why you should! Your wedding day should be one of the most enjoyable days of your life.  How much can you really enjoy it if you're worried about if the cake has arrived yet?  A wedding planner alleviates the worries and stress of planning and executing a wedding.  While not only being a stress reliever, a planner can also act as a creative partner to make all of the ideas you had for your wedding day since grade come to life! Choose {SHE}, Be inspired!

Pittsburgh Wedding Planner | Unique Table Runners

By: Katie

If you need something to liven up your guest seating, these one of a kind runners may be just the thing. You can get creative and make one filled with the pages of your favorite book, or even one of your favorite photographs together. Others have made their tables really stand out by adding a giant, long floral arrangement or moss down the middle for a more natural feel. Be inspired.

Photo Credit: Google Images

Pittsburgh Wedding Planner | A Little Something for the Bridesmaids: DIY

By Leila

Want to spice things up for your bridesmaids but dont know how? Treat your favorite ladies to a little shoe- love with this awesome DIY! We found these cool tricks to putting some pep in your bridesmaid's step! Ever heard of red bottomed heels? Well, now the newest thing is coloring the bottom of heels that you already have yourself! A few ideas include glittered bottoms and tiffany blue, I think people would notice that walking down the aisle! Its all about the little things, so... be Inspired!

                                                     Photo Credit/ Link to Instructions:Could I Have That

Photo Credit/ Link to Instructions: FashionLushxx

Pittsburgh Wedding Planner | The Informed Bride

More often than not, the main question when planning a wedding is 'how much is this stuff going to cost me!?' The answer to this question varies across the board as everything ultimately depends on your guest count, reception location, food and beverage, and design choices. Do you want a ton of flowers or do you want small arrangements? Do you want a plated dinner or buffet style? Do you want an elaborate design or simple design? The bottom line for a casual, informal garden wedding for 75 guests is going to be vastly different than a fancy, semi-formal hotel ballroom affair for 150 guests. Inspired Bride shared the results from The Knot and The Wedding Channel on a recent survey they did to reveal the latest wedding budget and trend insights in the $74 billion wedding industry. Here are the key findings in national trends from the survey...

-Since 2008, the average wedding budget has grown year over year, to $27,021. More couples are leaning towards a more casual wedding. While the “semi-formal” style category still reigns, fewer brides are opting for a “black tie” event.

-Here’s news to fall brides, fall weddings are more popular! While summer will always be “summer season”, 2011 saw a drop with only 37% having a wedding in the summer months. (Compared to 41% in 2010 and 2009). Fall weddings became more popular with 36% marrying in the fall months. (Compared to 30% in 2010 and 2009)

-Topline Statistics:
Bride’s Age: 29; Groom’s Age: 30
Average Amount Spent Per Guest: $196
Wedding Vendors Spend Increase: Wedding dress (up 2%), wedding planner (up 4%), music (up 3%), ceremony location (up 14%)

Happy Planning! Cheers to the weekend :-)
{she}

Photo Credit: Inspired Bride

Pittsburgh Wedding Planner | Color + Psychology

We consider ourselves planners who LOVE color. Color is such an important element in our lives and even more important when designing and styling. When picking the colors for your wedding design, did you consider color psychology? Colors can signify different things depending upon the culture or region, and even personality. What do your wedding colors say about you?

{Gold} is the color of success, achievement and triumph. Associated with abundance and prosperity, luxury and quality, prestige and sophistication, value and elegance, the color psychology of gold implies affluence, material wealth and extravagance.








{Silver} has a feminine energy; it is related to the moon and the ebb and flow of the tides - it is fluid, emotional, sensitive and mysterious. It's soothing, calming and purifying. It is associated with prestige and wealth, seen as a glamorous and sophisticated. It works well with most other colors - it illuminates and reflects the energy of those colors which surround it. Silver is more light-hearted and optimistic than gray.






 
{Black} is considered to represent sophistication, power, sexuality, and elegance. This color can be high-impact or understated, depending upon any contrasting colors used.








{White} suggests goodness, purity and innocence. Its elusive nature provides serenity and the essence of perfection. The individual who chooses white as a favorite color seeks excellence and enlightenment in all philosophies. Simplicity, purity and recognition are a constant endeavor.

{Red} is the single most dynamic and passionate color, symbolizes love, rage and courage. Demanding attention, red has great emotional impact. Those who select red are aggressive, impulsive and strive for success.

{Pink} is red's understated cousin. Pink is thought to represent femininity and romance. It is emotional in character, connotes a sensitive heart. Universally representing caring and sharing, pink indicates a strong personality. The affectionate and concerned individual prefers pink. Gently, you offer love, attention and nurturing to those in distress.

{Purple} is historically known as the color of royalty, purple still implies elegance and wealth. In lighter shades, purple is considered very youthful.







                                            
{Green} is the color of life, and represents freshness, security and tranquility. Green creates an atmosphere that is calm and restful, and characterizes the intense power of nature. If you selected green, you seek stability, balance and persistence. You are a moral and affectionate individual.

{Blue}symbolizes tranquility. Blue is cooling, soothing and orderly. The color of royalty, blue brings comfort and serenity to our lives. Blue lovers have a basic need for a calm, harmonious and tension-free existence. Capable, conservative and sensitive to others, you make a loyal and trustworthy friend.

{Yellow} is truly joyous and virtuous in its purest form. Yellow exudes warmth, inspiration and vitality, and is the happiest of all colors. Yellow signifies communication, enlightenment, sunlight and spirituality. If your favorite color is yellow, this indicates that you look forward to the future, and that you are intellectual, highly imaginative and idealistic. You tend to have a cheerful spirit and have an expectation of greater happiness.

                                                   
{Orange} is the color of autumn, spice form and design. In bright tones, orange is jovial, cheerful and playful. Deepened, it becomes exotic and exciting. If orange is your choice, you have abundant energy with an eye for structure and organization. Your social nature finds you surrounded by family and friends.

{Gray} is emotionally-neutral. It does imply a certain amount of conservative tradition and formality. If gray is your favorite color, you tend to be a careful, articulate individual who is focused and dedicated to your commitments.

{Brown} is sensuous in nature, represents an importance of hearth and home. It symbolizes physical comfort, ease and contentment. Should you seek brown, you are conscientious, steady and dependable. Your inner security, honesty and high virtue show that you take life seriously.

Photo Credit: The Knot, Google Images, Karen Tran, Clark + Walker, Alante Photography, Victor Sizemore

Wedding Woes: The Guest List

9 times out of 10 we would say that our client's number one concern when planning a wedding is the BUDGET! Furthermore, 9 times out of 10, the GUEST LIST directly correlates to the budget. Weddings bring out all types of emotions from people you least expect it from. It can be very overwhelming and stressful to come up with a list of people to invite to the most important day in your life without breaking the bank. Everyone loves you and has been there for you in some type of way in your life so it is completely natural to feel obligated to let everyone share in your special day. So what do you do when the budget doesn't allow you to invite that old college roommate, your 2nd and 3rd cousins, your uncle and his family of five, or your parent's list of co-workers? You trim GRACIOUSLY :-)

Food and beverage expenses at the reception are always 48%-55% of your overall wedding budget. Because this is the biggest item, the guest list makes or breaks the budget. Not to mention that you are also paying for a favor, napkin, chair/chair cover, menu card, etc. per guest and as those numbers go up you are also increasing your table count, linens, centerpieces, and cake size needed. The fact of the matter is some people just cannot be invited. They may be slightly offended or not. The good news is they love and care for you so they will soon understand and get over it. Don't let guest list drama get the best of you or take away from the positive, fun experience of wedding planning. Finalizing your invited guest list is all about being organized, diplomatic, and realistic.

Here are a some suggestions that help our brides avoid stress and cut down on the guest list:

• Determine priorities: immediate/close family and close friends.
  


• Remove whole categories...no children, no co-workers, no relations beyond 1st cousins.
  


• Limit the number of additional guests. For example, if your girlfriend Sarah is casually dating and is not in a serious, committed relationship you know of for any significant time, she does not get a plus one and will sit at a guest table amongst people she knows.
  


• Hold the wedding on a non-traditional day/time. Friday and Sunday weddings are becoming more popular. Weekday weddings are also becoming options for couples.
  


• Hold the wedding at a distant location. Money and traveling will deter people from attending.
  


• Ask yourself questions such as, "Would I be offended if I weren't invited to their wedding?", "When is the last time I spoke to this person?"
  


• Organize your guests into an A list & B list. Send out your A list first and for every no you receive, send out an invitation from your B List.
  


• Communicate honestly. If someone is offended about not being invited, don't get offended or defensive. Simply respond, "Though we would love to have you there, our budget only allows us to have a certain number of people share this special occasion with us. If something changes, you will be the first to know."
  


• Stand firm. If your number is 200, don't make exceptions. If you make an exception to 201, then 202....you will soon be at 220 because you will keep making exceptions.
  
  

Photo Image: Google Images