Saturday, September 15, 2007

Create your free wedding countdown clock, which you can embed in e-mail, use in your forum signature, or add to your wedding webiste.  Choose from a number of different designs, completely free from When Is My Wedding.  A sample countdown is below.

For a different style of countdowns, have a look at Daisy Path's free wedding announcements.  Instead of a countdown, these are more of a timeline to your wedding day.  You choose from several different timeline styles (such as the sunflower below), one of three markers (such as the doves below), then add some text and even a small image of your own.  These also can be used in e-mail, or forum sigs, etc.

Did we miss any?  Please let us know in the comments!

Saturday, September 15, 2007 9:56:19 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #    Disclaimer  |  Comments [1]  | 
 Friday, September 14, 2007

These days, many brides are doing much or all of their table settings themselves.  If you're decorating your own tables, one simple way to spice up your place settings is with folded napkins. Here's a website which shows you how to easily create any of 27 napkin folds.  Happy decorating!

Napkin Folding Instructions: 27 Photographed Napkin Folds

(hat tip: Lifehacker)

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Friday, September 14, 2007 5:16:13 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #    Disclaimer  |  Comments [1]  | 
 Saturday, September 08, 2007

Imagine a long tree-lined drive winding up a hill to a stately mansion hidden at the top.

A circular drive takes you right to the front doors, and encircles a small seating garden.

You enter through large wooden doors, into an oval foyer.  The floor is black and white marble, and your wedding cake greets you and your visitors, lit by a crystal chandelier from above.

Passing through the foyer and out the doors, you enter into one of several outdoor gardens, perfect for appetizers, cocktails or the ceremony itself.  Imagine the colors in the fall from the wooded grounds surrounding the manor house.

Steps lead down to a small sculpture garden, perfect for mingling and unique photographs of your bridal party.

Above the main entrance is a spiral staircase.  The bridal party's dressing room is on the second floor, and you'll begin your walk down the aisle by descending this staircase.  It's also a perfect setting for more photographs.  Our bride said she wanted to be on our website, so here she is, with her bridesmaids, and a little flower girl trying to peek over the railing.

From the entry foyer, hallways lead you and your guests to dining rooms at either end of the house.  At one end are a trio of smaller dining and serving areas, with one of the bars.

At the other end if a large banquet riim, lit with crystal chandeliers and paneled with antique wood.  The woodwork accents in this room are the kind they just don't make anymore.  The patio bar is behind the majestic fireplace, and doors lead out to another small patio.

The formal dining room also leads you to one more dining room, similar to the ones at the other end of the house.  Two smaller libraries, also paneled in dark wood, are used for mingling and serving cookies and beverages.

Our bride today chose a hand tied bouquet of two dozen Sweet Unique pink roses, finished with braided ribbon and pearl accents (approx. price, $110-$125).  Her bridesmaids carried hand tied bouquets of white and blue hydrangea, pale pink roses, pink spray roses, lavendar stock, pale blue delphinium and greenery, wrapped with periwinkle ribbon to match their dresses (approx. price $80-$95).

Our bride's cake was a beautiful multi-tier cake with tiny rosettes and draped fondant ribbons, accented with the same flowers used in the bridesmaids' bouquets.  The cake was made by Autumn Bupp, from Autumn's Cakes.  For her centerpieces, our bride rented our metal wire stands, and we created arrangements with the same flowers we used for the bridesmaid bouquets--white and blue hydrangea, pale pink roses, pink spray roses, lavendar stock and pale blue delphinium (approx. price $115-$130).

If this sounds like your idea of a dream location for your wedding, then you can make it a reality at The Mansion.  We've done a number of weddings at The Mansion, and it's simply one of the most beautiful wedding settings in the north Pittsburgh area.  The Mansion is located a few miles south of Butler, PA, approx. 20 min north of the Butler Valley Interchange on the Pennsylvania Turnpike.  Earlier this year, The Mansion was for sale, and it looked like 2007 might be their last year.  The sale was not completed, and they are happily booking weddings and other events for 2008 and beyond.

To contact The Mansion:

Donna Mullan, Manager
The Mansion
141 Mansion Lane
Butler, PA 16002
724-586-6171 (leave message if no one answers)

Saturday, September 08, 2007 7:15:48 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #    Disclaimer  |  Comments [0]  | 
 Saturday, September 01, 2007

One of the biggest trends in wedding flowers is unique corsage and boutonniere designs.  We've done some really cool designs, and have some great idea books in the shop, so if you're interested in trendy corsages and boutonnieres, ask us when you come in.

One of our recent designs is a twist on the traditional boutonniere.  Instead of flowers pinned to the lapel, a pocket square boutonniere features several small flowers and is worn in the pocket of the jacket, much like a pocket square handkerchief.  The pocket squares are made on a card, which is easily slipped into the breast pocket of the suit or tuxedo.  In some cases, the pocket will still be sewn shut.  The pocket can be opened by carefully using a pen knife, or you can ask the tux shop to make sure the pockets are cut open.

pocket square boutonniere 

Saturday, September 01, 2007 9:49:35 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #    Disclaimer  |  Comments [4]  | 
 Friday, August 31, 2007

(note: we do not sell these in our shop, but they are available from the seller on eBay at http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZsomeweddingstuff).

This has to be one of the funniest cake toppers ever:

The bride holds the fan jersey (made of real cloth) under her arm while she drags him away from his game, his ticket still in his hand.  This topper is unique and has the logo of the team, water cooler, football, helmet, cloth jersey and shoes.



NFL Steelers Wedding Cake Topper!

(hat tip: The Burgh Blog)

Friday, August 31, 2007 10:31:35 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #    Disclaimer  |  Comments [4]  | 
 Monday, August 27, 2007
Was the weather terrible on your wedding day?  If so, you could win a second honeymoon on Windjammer cruises, or a $500 L.L. Bean gift card, or a romantic dinner for two.  The Farmers' Almanac is holding a Worst Wedding Weather contest:

According to the old Italian proverb sposa bagnata, sposa fortunate, "a wet bride is a lucky bride." Yet even if wedding day rain truly does bring good fortune, most brides would rather do without that kind of luck. With the amount of planning and money most couples and their families invest to ensure the special day goes off without a hitch, inclement weather is always an unwelcome guest.

Luckily for our readers, the long range weather forecasts printed in each edition are claimed to be between 80 and 85 percent accurate by them. Often referred to as “a bride's best friend,” the Farmers' Almanac has been helping brides and grooms pick the best day for their big event for the better part of two centuries. But sometimes, no matter how much planning and predicting go into a wedding, Mother Nature still sends her regards in not-so-nice ways.
Of course, if your story involves a cruise, maybe the grand prize isn't so appealing.  For full details on how to enter, visit
Worst Wedding Weather Contest - Farmers' Almanac

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Monday, August 27, 2007 11:59:07 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #    Disclaimer  |  Comments [1]  | 
 Tuesday, August 14, 2007

The definition of a mixed marriage in many cases refers to the mixing of dogs and cats in the same household:

LuAnn Verbosky, off-site adoption manager for the Animal Rescue League of Western Pennsylvania in East Liberty, says that many cat-vs.-dog conflicts with couples are solved by challenging misconceptions about canines and felines. Some people think all cats are aloof and reclusive, for instance, while many cats, in fact, are very affectionate. Other people might think all dogs are hyperactive and overwhelming, while many are calm and mellow.

Usually, mixed-pet households work out fine, says Verbosky, who often sees happy couples come back to rave about their adoption of a cat or dog, after one person was reluctant.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review printed two very similar articles at http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/search/s_521987.html and http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/search/s_522082.html.

Tuesday, August 14, 2007 7:59:58 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #    Disclaimer  |  Comments [0]  | 

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review featured the Trash the Dress project, and local photographer Kim Reed was highlighted:

"I think the appeal of the wedding gown is that it's so out of the ordinary, and it's such a dichotomy to see this woman in a gorgeous gown that you're used to seeing in cathedrals," says Kim Reed, of Kimberly Reed photography in the North Side. "I think it's almost a little bit of the shock factor to it."

Full story at http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/search/s_521992.html.

Tuesday, August 14, 2007 7:50:53 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #    Disclaimer  |  Comments [0]  | 
 Wednesday, August 08, 2007

YouTube is good for more than just water-skiing squirrells and teenagers embarassing themselves (but who can get enough of either, really).  More and more florists are using YouTube to show off their wedding work.  Some videos are better than others, but you're not hiring these folks for your wedding video anyway.  There are some amazing designs shown in these videos.  If you're lucky, some of these great florists are in your area.  We'll try to keep a running list here until it becomes overwhelming.

Here are a few to start with:

Avante Gardens of Anaheim, CA - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7ulaBIDOzI
Datura of Middletown, CT - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4sNfe0WgCs
Kebbie Hollingsworth - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioQBVdLZFPs
Stephanie's Flowerhaus - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56e5Aa4JcMo
Mitchell's of Orland Park, IL - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hr2t5De-Nbw
Everyday Flowers of Tustin, CA - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9MIfd6okG0

Here are some which show the creation of wedding and event flowers:

Everyday Flowers of Tustin, CA - http://youtube.com/watch?v=LMPTJfcs_ww
http://youtube.com/watch?v=3fFXB6EFN5Y

 

Wednesday, August 08, 2007 5:50:28 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #    Disclaimer  |  Comments [0]  |