DIY Churro Bar

One word. Awesome. I seriously cannot even describe how much I love this idea for a wedding. I grew up eating churros. They were literally a staple in my diet as a child. When I think of churros, visions of trips to Disneyland dance in my head. Oh, and incase you were wondering, Disneyland has the best churros ever. Hands down. At least that's what my 5 year old self tells me. When I stumbled upon this DIY Churro Bar, I raced over to the blog so I could post this. 

In a nutshell, here's how it was done: 

1. First, purchase pre-formed (uncooked) churros in bulk. A good place to check out is Costco.
2. Second, set up a toaster oven with directions on how to cook. Two minutes is ideal.

3. Next, set up a roll station with ideal "rolling" ingredients - things like cinnamon sugar, oreo's, nutmeg, etc... Cinnamon sugar is a must-have.

4. Finally, set up a dipping station with various toppings - things like chocolate sauce, caramel, and even ice cream. 

5. Oh, and don't forget direction cards too. You'll need to clue guests in on how to make their churros. Set everything up on a long banquet table, and you're good to go! 

Enjoy! 

Photos courtesy of Carly Taylor via A Subtle Revelry.

Thank You!

As the hustle and bustle of our fall wedding season begins, I just wanted to take this opportunity to say THANK YOU to all of our clients. You have entrusted us with planning one of the biggest moments in your life, and for that, I am extremely grateful. 

I vividly remember when the first thought of starting my own business popped into my head...I was in my apartment my junior year of college after just finishing a huge research project on a "creative job I'd like to have one day". Fast forward 6 years later, and I not only have that "job", but I have a full-time wedding planning company that continues to grow year after year. I took a huge leap of faith not knowing if one single bride would even pick up the phone and call me. Well, she did...and now she is happily married, and is the proud mama of a beautiful baby girl.

We all get caught up with the daily in's and out's of life, that sometimes we need to take a few moments to reflect on where we came from, and where we are going. There are times when I look around my office and see all of my client's wedding binders neatly organized in a row, and I think to myself "I am really lucky". Lucky to have built a business from scratch, lucky that my business has continued to grow, and most of all, lucky to have some pretty amazing clients. 

To all of my past, present, and future clients - thank YOU from the bottom of my heart for making Simply Perfect Weddings what it is today. 

With love,

Cake Pops :: Cake on a Stick!

Incase you haven't noticed, cake pops are all the rage in the wedding world right now. These super cute bite-size treats make the perfect favor to send home with your guests. They can even substitute for your entire wedding cake (as pictured above)! Lovebites, a Pittsburgh based bakery makes these delicious little sweet treats if you are interested in giving them a try. Check out their wedding section for details on cake flavors and various packages available. 

P.S. Rebekah, the owner/creator of Lovebites, has so graciously offered a discount to all SPW brides, so if you're interested, give me a buzz, and I will fill you in on all the details : )

Photo courtesy of Magic Your Way Weddings & Photography via Lovebites.

Black + Yellow Chalkboard Framed Signage

I stumbled upon these black + yellow 'Bride & Groom' chalkboard signs on Style Me Pretty this morning, and wanted to share with our Pittsburgh brides. These signs are super simple to make, and would be a great addition to a black + yellow color palette. 

Tip :: Get creative with your frames, and don't fret if you can't find a chalkboard small enough to frame...use chalkboard paint on virtually any surface (even glass!) for an instant chalkboard!

Photos courtesy of Annie McElwain Photography via Style Me Pretty.

Real Weddings 2011 :: Kate & Adam 06.18.11 {Part 2}

Last week we posted Part 1 of Kate & Adam's "Kate Spade Garden Party" themed wedding. Today, we are bringing you Part 2 with more of their preppy details! Enjoy!

The dress/custom hanger. Kate's dress was handmade by her Mother. Absolutely incredible!

The invitation. Don't forget to send your photographer an invitation! 
 

Apple escort cards. Too cute!
 

The Cake.

Custom card basket.

Guestbook signage.

Guestbook/gift table. 

Centerpiece. Gorgeous!!

Place setting - custom napkin rings and menu cards. Love the preppy look!

Menu cards.

Stripey Straws. Need I say more?

Table # & centerpiece.

Tables. Love those Chiavari Chairs! 

Flip flops! Helpful tips here.

Favor Table Signage. 

Favors - Eat'n Park Smiley Cookies.

Late night bite. Mini sliders! 

Photos courtesy of Leeann Marie Photography.

Suspended Wedding Decor

One of my favorite trends in the wedding industry right now is suspended decor. I absolutely cannot get enough of it! You can hang virtually anything to match the look and feel of your wedding style. My favorite look right now is hanging decor from trees (more on that later), which works great for outdoor events. Whatever route you decide to go, proper planning is key. Be sure to discuss your wishes for hanging decor well in advance with your venue(s), and decide when these items will be hung. I recommend a test run prior to the wedding day, in order to iron out any kinks that may occur. Remember, hanging decor is not the easiest task in the world, but if you plan ahead of time, you can save yourself a great deal of time and stress in the long run.

Below are a few ideas that I hope inspire you...happy planning! 

Flower bottles.

Hanging frames. 

Chandeliers from trees. Swoon!

Vintage bird cages.

Mason jars. Oh, how I love thee!

Ribbon streamers.

Paper lanterns. 

Photo credit # 1 :: Eat Drink Chic

Photo credit # 2 :: Ruffled Blog   

Photo credit # 3 :: Everything is Better in Heels  
Photo credit # 4 :: Ruffled Blog 
Photo credit # 5 :: Green Wedding Shoes 
Photo credit # 6 :: Chiq Weddings
Photo credit # 7 ::  Wedding Bee

Latest Review :: Kathryn & Mike 5.21.11

Kathryn & Mike hired us for Wedding Day Coordination, here's what they had to say about our services: 

"Clearly, I wish you were still here to help with my thank you notes and post wedding organization. You were a breeze to work with. I have a reputation of being an extreme type A, slightly neurotic person in general so I have no doubt that I was an uber organized, probably tense and most likely wound tight bride. But you made me feel so relaxed and totally normal! You had a great knack of making me feel like I was taking care of it all while not worrying about a thing. They say that the best athletes make their sports look enjoyable and like a piece of cake, and this would definitely apply to you! As an out of town bride who wanted to be hands on and plan my own wedding, I would 100% say that your services as a weekend-of-planner was the best decision we made. Everything went off without a hitch, and if too much dancing and fun was our biggest problem, then I would say you orchestrated a total success. You have it down to a complete science and run your business like a true professional. Thank you!" 

Photo courtesy of Muse.