Here’s one of our recent bouquets—a dramatic hand-tied combination of peach and ivory roses, porcelain spray roses and ivory gerbera daisies, accented with feathers and jewels.  Approx. cost $120-$140.  Click all the photos for a larger image.

Smaller versions of the bride’s bouquet were made for the toss bouquet and anniversary bouquet (given to the couple married the longest before the anniversary dance).

Bridesmaid bouquets were 7 orange/coral gerbera daisies hand-tied and accented with beargrass loops.  Approx. $40-$60.

These bouquets went to Betsy’s Barn (check out Betsy’s new website, the recent additions to the barn, and the new lodge), where after many years of personal friendship, we finally did the same wedding as DJ Nathan.  Always good to be back at Betsy’s, and great to see DJ Nathan!

One of last week’s weddings took us to St. Bernadette in Monroeville, where we met Leaann Marie of Leann Marie Photography for the first time.  She was nice enough to let us use some of her photos here (they’re much better than the ones we take), and she has some more photos posted at Navy Blue & Green Wedding Details | Lee & Brian.

The bride’s bouquet was a hand-tied arrangement of green hydrangea, green hypericum berries, white spray roses, white roses and white freesia.  The bridesmaids’ bouquets were hand tied bouquets made from green hydrangea, green hypericum berries, green pomps and white roses.  Click the photo below for a larger version.

One we arrived at Oakmont, we had to laugh at the appropriately themed groom’s cake (click the photo for a larger version).  Setup was underway for the 2010 LPGA U.S. Open, so the historic course was bustling with activity.

Not to worry, Lee ordered a very classic stacked four tier wedding cake, which we adorned with more green hydrangea, green pomps and green hypericum berries.  Click the photo for a larger version.

The centerpieces were elegantly simple—a single head of green hydrangea in a large bubble bowl, surrounded by candles.  Click the photo for a larger version.

One cool part of Oakmont’s historic banquet hall is the fireplace with mantle on one wall.  The mantle was put to good use, as a showplace for the bouquets during the reception (click the photo for a larger version).  Some of the greatest golf champions have dined in this hall, but tonight all eyes were on the bride.

DJ’ing the wedding was our longtime pal Bob Pfeifer of Pifemaster Productions, who provides his recap and yet some more photos at Brian and Lee Stecko Wedding.  Good thing Lee likes to smile!

And so another wedding season begins!

May has traditionally been one of the busiest wedding months, and marks the real start of the season here in western Pennsylvania.  Tomorrow we have two weddings—complete setup at Betsy’s Barn, and one with the ceremony at Geneva College and reception at the Marriott Pittsburgh North in Cranberry Township—and a shower at the Butler Country Club.

We’ll have some follow-up tomorrow here as well as our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/bloomery/.

According to Anna Post:

She suggests asking the couple for permission and letting them preview the photos that include them or their family. Getting permission isn't mandatory, but Ms. Post is absolute about one thing: "Never, ever [post] any photos that would show the bride and groom or the wedding in an unkind or unflattering light."

If friends and family do post pictures that aren't your favorites, remember that they're probably not trying to offend you but, rather, trying to share with others how much fun they had at your wedding.

This is especially a hot topic because people are losing their jobs over photos posted by other people on social networking sites.  These sites are not a private as you may think, and once something is on the Internet, there’s no taking it back.

Full story and more advice at http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10116/1053062-51.stm.

One of Anna Posts's most recent books deals with etiquette in the modern age, and is available from Amazon (we are asked all the time if a bride has to carry white flowers, and no, she doesn’t):

Henne Jewelers would like to say thank you, with a $15,000 diamond ring.

The store, a Shadyside institution, had a rough January. First, a gunman held up the store in daylight, and then burglars rammed an SUV through the front doors at night and stole items. The damage totaled about $20,000.

"That happened within a week of each other," said co-owner John Henne, whose great-grandfather founded the business 123 years ago. "But it was remarkable, the outpouring from the community. We had people coming in saying, 'I want to buy something because of what happened.'

"There was so much support, we thought this would be a real neat way to thank the community."

Henne will do so May 22 with its Diamond Dash treasure hunt, a contest in which teams answer trivia questions, race from one clue to another, and hope to win a $15,000 Mark Patterson diamond ring.

"It's gorgeous," Henne said about the 1.5-karat diamond ring, on display in the store's showroom. "There was just a couple here ooh-ing and aah-ing over it. It's a very special ring."

Full story at http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_678872.html

From the folks who bring us lolcats comes a new blog, featuring truly…interesting…moments from weddings.  One of the recent posts features a grandmother doing a keg stand.  Visit The Wedinator and judge for yourself.

It’s our last show of the spring season, so come see us at the Bridal Events show, Sunday April 25, 2010 at the Sheraton Four Points Pittsburgh North, in Cranberry Township.

We’ve been at this event several times in the past, and it’s a great event.  Besides us, you can see a lot of our friends, also, such as Mimi’s Bake Shoppe, Frozen in Time, Paul Meyer Photography (Paul is the featured photographer), Pittsburgh Boudoir, The Atrium and The Succop Conservancy.  We work with these professionals time and time again, and we look forward to seeing them tomorrow and often this wedding season.

We recently found an online service that helps you find and book local photographers for your wedding, event, modeling portfolio or whatever.  Snapm is a mix of professional and amateur photographers, so prices, styles and capabilities vary, but most have a portfolio on the site and links to their other work.

Full story at http://snapm.com/

(hat tip: Lifehacker)

Want to rent a photo booth for your wedding, but don’t like the cost?  Check out a new software app called Party Booth:

Party Booth simulates a classic photo booth producing a vertical 4-photo strip. The application features a fullscreen mode that converts any computer with a webcam into a photo booth kiosk. All the photos are saved to disk with option to upload to photo sharing services. All you need is a computer and webcam.

There are options to print the photos using a classic photo booth layout, and you can customize the borders with your own wording and images.

Full story at http://www.partyboothapp.com/

TLC’s Cake Boss is coming to Pittsburgh! 

Date: Saturday, January 9, 2010

Time: 9am-noon (Market District, Bethel Park)
2-3pm (Market District, Robinson)

Full info at http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/ae/s_660790.html.

Come see The Bloomery on Jan 10, 2010 at the Sheraton Four Points North (Cranberry Township).  We have hundreds of mini calla lilies, roses and hydrangea on order for some gorgeous floral arrangements.  We hope to see you there!  For more information, visit http://www.bridalevents.com/.

[update]

Sorry we missed you at the show!  We spent the weekend at Children's Hospital with our daughter.  We're home, she's better, and we apologize the cool stuff wasn't able to make it to the show this year.

It’s cool to be a florist!  In the past few years, Renee Zellweger voiced a florist in Bee Movie, Jennifer Anniston played a florist in Love Happens, Ashton Kutcher is set to play a florist in the upcoming The Arrangement.  There’s even a florist reality show, Flowers Uncut, on TLC.  Some of us say it always has been cool, and everyone else is just catching up.

A second florist-centric reality show is set to premiere Christmas Day on Halogen network.  Called In Full Bloom, the show focuses on New York City florists:

“In Full Bloom” is a half-hour series where luscious, gorgeous, colorful, dramatic flowers are the focus. Follow New York City’s premier floral designers as they plan, prep and pull off beautiful and elegant affairs fit for royalty. Watch the designers as they meet with brides and clients, choose decorations and flowers in the early morning hours at NYC’s famed flower market and then work during the final frenzy of the event day when they have only hours to arrange and execute every detail before the guests arrive. Before and after shots reveal the stunning transformations and the client’s reactions.

The pilot episode features the work of floral designer Shawn Rabideau who founded Fine Floral, a full-service design company that produces and designs intimate to large-scale events. Through the past decade, Shawn has been involved with and overseen the production and design of numerous private events for such clients as Kenneth Cole, Paige Davis, Jennifer Lopez, Star Jones and Barbara Walters, in addition to many corporations.

If you don’t get Halogen, you can watch the pilot online at http://www.halogentv.com/infullbloom.

In today’s Parade Magazine, one of their Unexpected Food Trends reminded us of a blog post we’ve been meaning to write for a while now.  Here’s the trend:

Many brides and grooms are skipping tiered wedding cakes in favor of childhood favorites like cupcakes. "Red velvet and chocolate are most popular," says Patty Rothman, owner of More Cupcakes in Chicago. Meanwhile, Brooklyn-based baker Sarah Magid says her biggest request is an organic spin on another childhood staple: Twinkies. "I also have made silver-dusted Ring-A-Dings," she says. Other sweets such as doughnuts and s'mores are popping up on wedding buffets, too. And some couples say, "I do" to Cracker Jacks and lollipops. Talk about happy endings.

( http://www.parade.com/food/slideshows/unexpected-food-trends.html?index=2)

We read this as we nibbled on a gourmet cupcake from Mimi’s Bake Shoppe in Cranberry Township.  Something we've needed in the North Hills area has finally arrived--a gourmet bakery!  We first met the folks from Mimi's at several bridal shows, and enjoyed their cake samples.  A lot.  Their wedding cakes are delicious.  Mimi's is a good as anyone at making your basic wedding cake, but where they truly excel is in the artistic cakes.  You can check out their photo gallery for samples of their work.

Mimi’s creates their cupcakes in a dizzying array of flavors.  So many flavors, in fact, their “Flavor of the Day” is really five or six.  You can check out their Flavor of the Day calendar so you know when to stop in and try some of your favorites (hint: their cherry cola is scary good).

Another trend we’ve seen that Mimi’s also does well is custom cookies you can use as seating cards.  These cookies also double as favors, and are customized with your guest’s names.

Mimi’s is easy to find, they’re located in the little plaza on Route 228 across from Quaker Steak and Lube and Uno Chicago Grill.