check out the sierra club’s article on 10 steps to a green wedding. the article includes tips ranging from using conflict-free diamonds or wooden bands, to engaging in ecotourism on your honeymoon. A must-read for the earth-conscious bride! (and really, by now, shouldn’t we all be?)
use the i do foundation when creating your wedding registry. the I Do Foundation links engaged couples with a host of charitable giving options for your wedding. you can register at one of their partner stores (which include target, linens-n-things, jc penney, and tiffany, among others), or you can do a charity or honeymoon registry. It’s a win/win; you get what you need, while a percentage is donated to the charity of your choice. what a great idea!
There is a new site online that caters to newly engaged couples with questions about wedding photography. Check it out here.
ok, so my exciting news from last week was…(drumroll please)…I made Grace Ormonde’s platinum list! Grace Ormonde publishes Wedding Style magazine, which is the magazine of the wedding industry. Grace only accepts, as she put it, ‘the best of the best’ in her publications. To be included on her platinum list is quite an honor for a wedding photographer.
is it important to you that your guests dance the night away at your wedding? keep a basket of slippers (or flip flops, for an outdoor reception) in the ladies restroom or near the dance floor. if their feet start hurting, having a comfy alternative for your guests to slip on will be kindly appreciated. just don’t forget to get a pair for yourself!
amaryllis the florist in cranberry had a chocolate and champagne evening last night where they showcased different tablescapes for area wedding planners. i had the great pleasure of attending the evening’s festivities and was once again blown away by the caliber of their work. as soon as you walked in, you were met with a tree that touched the ceiling that had candles and balls of flowers hanging from it’s branches, and roses and orchids scattered along the base. and that was just the beginning…
here are some of my photos from the night:
this is part of a huge dome of 150 red roses.
yes, those are real grapes
this is on the side of a huge trellis, and those are real pears
the table under the trellis
this tree was my fave
this is at the base of the tree
i think these are just gorgeous
another one of the base
and the dream team that put it all together: emily and jim
My husband Ray won an award for being a rockstar salesman, so we were invited to Nemacolin Woodlands resort and spa for an awards banquet and dinner. We stayed in a two bedroom townhouse, and we both got massages at the woodlands spa, all courtesy of his company. I’m sad to say, this was the first professional massage I’ve ever gotten, and now I’m not sure how I’ve lived without them! I definitely recommend going to Nemacolin for a romantic getaway. Let me tell you, I felt pampered the entire time we were there. It would be perfect for an anniversary or a honeymoon if you’re going to stay local. The grounds are beautiful, and they have a ton of activities, including golfing, an equestrian center, fly fishing, a ropes course, and boutique shopping, complete with a hardy & hayes jewelry shop, where I spotted a strand of mikimoto pearls that were to die for. Plus, their spa is considered one of the premiere spa facilities in North America. It made it hard to come back to reality. If you’ve never been to Nemacolin, it’s about an hour and a half from Pittsburgh, and it’s close to Ohiopyle (great for white-water rafting, kayaking, and hiking), Christian W. Klay Winery (a friend of mine got married here a few years ago; good wine and a fabulous old barn perfect for an intimate, rustic reception), and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater.
the weather ended up being beautiful on saturday for russ and sue’s wedding. They are so much in love, sue was just radiant. I swear she’s smiling in every single picture i got of her. Everyone I met was so warm and friendly. I don’t think I stopped smiling all day either! They are such a terrific couple; I’m so excited for them as they begin their new life together. they got married at a church just north of pittsburgh, and reserved the main dining room of the grand concourse in station square for the evening for their reception. if you haven’t been, it’s quite a sight. the architecture and detail of the place is just gorgeous. There are huge marble columns and stained glass and rich mahagany woodwork. also, if you remember from their engagement session, russ is a huge train lover, so this was the perfect location for them (it’s an old train station)! Cadillac Jazz provided the entertainment for the night. This was my first time working a wedding with cadillac jazz, and I’ve got to tell you, I was sooo impressed. The music was wonderful; they provided the perfect atmosphere for the evening. I recommend them without hesitation if you are looking for a jazz band for your ceremony or reception. Vanilla Pastry Studio from the West End did their cake; it was so moist and rich, I was in heaven! Hats off to Simone for pulling everything together; it was quite a grand affair.
Here are a few of my shots, the rest will be available online in two weeks:
I just want to thank my most recent couples who have booked me for their weddings. russ and sue are getting married on february 24 (i’m shooting their engagement photos tomorrow!), cara and nathanael are tying the knot on october 5 at pittsburgh center for the arts, dana and jim’s wedding is june 30 at the southpointe golf club, and chrissy and dan will also be at southpointe on august 4. I’ve met such wonderful couples so far this year- i can’t wait to capture the joy of your wedding day for you!
i’ve still got dates available for 2007. drop me a line if you’d like me to shoot your wedding!
i’m loving the images that come from ‘day after’ bridal shoots. the big day is over, you can feel free to let your hair down, kick off your shoes, and get some amazing images in your gown with your new husband! you can focus on getting some creative, artistic shots, with no need to worry about a little bit of dirt or grass stains. check out trash the dress for ideas on what some of the world’s top wedding photographers are doing with couples just like you after their wedding.
i’m feeling a little inspired. if you are too, give me a call. i know a few locations around the ‘burgh…
I came across this post in a forum I frequent, and thought it was interesting. How many of you currently planning weddings are going green?
Trendcentral wrote:
“A growing trend in the UK, brides are the latest consumer group to go socially conscious. Many brides-to-be don’t want to shatter their fantasy diamond with the reality that the diamond industry is often linked to funding civil war and child soldiers in African countries such as Angola, Sierra Leone, and Congo. Thus, young couples are opting for ethical “conflict free” rings. UK jewelry company Cred is committed to providing a fair trade alternative for conscious couples. Becoming the ultimate marriage status symbol, the company only works with small scale mining communities like Oro Verde where human rights and fair labor standards are carefully monitored. There is even a rumor that fashion designer Katherine Hamnett is launching an ethical engagement ring.
Some couples are even adding a new twist to their registries. For example, we’ve heard of couples swapping in the standard wedding list of pots, pans and china for more ethically-sound items from organizations such as Oxfam Unwrapped or Good Gifts. Instead of receiving a silver platter or ice cream maker you’ll never use, for $58 you can buy a water filter tap and tank that will supply water to 1,000 needy people a day, or for $49, educate a child in Africa for a year. Up next: green wedding celebrations complete with solar-powered band, organic food and recycled decorations?”
If you’re looking for someone local to help you out, Simone from 5 Senses Events specializes in eco-friendly weddings and events. Plus, she’s super fab and fun to work with!
Check these out: TigerLilly makes tiaras and headbands for your wedding day, which convert to necklaces so you can wear them again. Genius!
I wish they were around when I got married! I spent over $200 on my tiara/ headpiece for my wedding, wore it once, and my dog just ate it this summer. (seriously). I would have loved to have something like this that I could actually wear over again. They are in salons across the country, and while there are some in PA, it doesn’t look like there are any in the ‘Burgh just yet. But I bet you can have it shipped to you…
