End of Wedding Season | Maternity Leave

For those that don't know, my husband and I are expecting our first child (a baby boy!) due in August! This past weekend we wrapped up our final wedding of 2012! It feels unbelievably surreal to say that. Even though our season was relatively short compared to recent years, we completed 7 weddings in just 10 weeks all while I was pregnant. It was no easy feat, and I have to thank SO many people around me for their amazing support and assistance.

As I begin my maternity leave and get ready to hand over my trusty clipboard + wedding tote for bottles + a diaper bag, I can't help but look back on all of the incredible moments I've witnessed at the 40+ weddings I've been lucky to have been apart of. 

To my Clients - As I've said many times in the past, I am extremely lucky to have worked with soooo many amazing couples. Many of my brides have become very dear friends, and I am so grateful for that. Today, I am reflecting on this post I wrote nearly 1 year ago. These could not be more fitting words for how I feel about all of you. Seeing so many of you purchase your first homes, travel the world with your spouses, and become first time parents is what I love so much about my continued friendships with all of you. Please continue to keep in touch! 

To Meghan - Simply put, you ROCK! How can I ever thank you for all of your hard work and countless hours that we've spent together pulling off some amazing weddings?! I think we make one heck of a team! 

To Rob - THANK YOU for your unending support that has allowed me to do what I love for a living. There are no words to describe how grateful I am to have such a supportive husband. I love you! 

Lastly, to Baby Schmitt - Thank you for not surprising us with an unexpected appearance at a wedding ;) Mommy is SO ready to meet you and fill her days with lots of cuddles and play time together! Just a few more weeks baby boy!!! 

My official maternity leave begins this week and will extend through the end of the year and into early 2013. We are currently in the process of restructuring some of our service levels, but I do plan to be back for the spring/summer wedding season of 2013. Details regarding our new service levels are now available on our website.

Ok, now that I have cried through this post multiple times, I will wrap things up and just simply end this post with another huge THANK YOU! :)

  

xoxo,

 

Vacation Notice :: Bon Voyage!

My husband and I have created a little tradition in our household. Every 4th of July weekend (which also happens to be our wedding anniversary - lucky us!), we go on vacation. The trips may be near or far, but either way, we pack our bags and hit the road together. This year we're headed to the beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia. I will be out of the office from July 2nd through July 10th. Since we'll be traveling internationally, I won't have much access to phone or email while away. All emails and phone calls will be returned on Monday, July 11th. 

Wishing everyone a happy and safe 4th of July weekend! 

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain

Dreaming of Spring...

Hopefully everyone is adjusting to the "spring forward" time change. Just a quick hello letting our readers know that we're still here...late February into early March has been a bit hectic for us. With the recent passing of my grandfather and our 2011 wedding season already underway, we've had to put blogging on the back burner for a few. Rest assured though that we'll be back to our regular blog posting next week. 

Until then, we are anxiously awaiting the arrival of Spring in the 'burg! 

Photo courtesy of Jenn Alton Photography via Prepare to Wed.

Valentine's Day Giveaway

Happy Valentine's Day to all of our lovely readers! We wish you all nothing but love and happiness today. In honor of this romantic holiday, we're giving away a FREE 1 hour consulting session to one lucky reader. Our consulting sessions are the perfect way to "jump start" the wedding planning experience. Pick our brains during a one-on-one Q&A session to start the wedding planning process off on the right track...budget, vendors, guest list, etiquette questions...no topic is off limits! 

Here's what you'll get :: 

• (1) ONE hour consulting session with Sumer Schmitt {owner & principal wedding planner}
• Swag bag full of wedding planning goodies, vendor discounts, and more!
• $100 credit towards the (optional) purchase of our comprehensive 'Complete Wedding Management' or 'Wedding Day Coordination' service levels

We just revamped our swag bags and added loads of new wedding planning goodies! 

To enter, simply comment below and tell us your favorite Valentine's Day memory - whether it was an elaborate proposal, a cozy night in (or perhaps it will even be tonight!), we want to hear from YOU! We'll pick a random winner on Friday.

Good luck!

Anthropologie Bridal Line Launches Valentine's Day

Calling all you Anthropologie obsessed ladies! Anthropologie is set to launch their bridal line, BHLDN, on Valentine's Day...fitting, right?! We are nearly jumping out of our seats with excitement for the line! Stay tuned with more details once the line is released.

In the mean time, click here for a sneak peak of the line!

2011 Bride's Choice Awards

We are very pleased to announce that Simply Perfect Weddings has won the Bride's Choice Awards 2011 for the 2nd year in a row! Thank YOU to all of our fabulous 2010 clients for your love and support - you guys ROCK! Much appreciation & love! xoxo

Here is the official press release :: 

Pittsburgh, PA – January 26, 2011 - WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, is thrilled to announce Simply Perfect Weddings has been selected to receive the prestigious annual WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 for Wedding Planning!

Recognition for the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 is determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 750,000 WeddingWire newlyweds. Our past clients are among those that shared their experiences on WeddingWire, the largest wedding review site in the nation.

Simply Perfect Weddings stands among the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire community, representing quality and service excellence within the wedding industry. Awards were given to the top wedding professionals across 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, and were based on the overall professional achievements throughout the past year.

“WeddingWire is honored to celebrate the success of the top-rated wedding professionals within the WeddingWire community,” said Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “With the annual Bride’s Choice Awards™ program, WeddingWire has the unique opportunity to recognize the best wedding professionals across the US and Canada. We applaud Simply Perfect Weddings for their professionalism and dedication to enhancing the wedding planning experience last year.”

We are happy to announce that Simply Perfect Weddings is among the very best wedding planners within the WeddingWire Network, which includes leading wedding planning sites WeddingWire, Martha Stewart Weddings, Project Wedding and Weddingbee. We would like to thank our past clients for nominating us to receive the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011.

For more information, please visit our WeddingWire Storefront today.

For more information on the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011, please visit www.WeddingWire.com.

Happy New Year | Special Promotion

Welcome 2011, and Happy New Year to all of our readers! We hope that each and every one of you had a wonderful holiday season. I'm sure a few of you may have gotten engaged over the holidays, and if you did, then please accept a HUGE congratulations from us!! We can't wait to hear all about it! We're glad you stopped by, and hope that you will find this blog helpful as you begin your wedding planning journey. We love feedback from our readers, so feel free to drop us a line if there is a topic you'd like to see featured on the blog.

In honor of the New Year aka engagement season in the wedding industry, we wanted to offer a New Year promotion to one of our newly engaged readers. We did a similar promotion in October (our anniversary month) and due to the overwhelming success, we decided to offer it once more. 

ONE lucky bride will receive 25% off a complete wedding management planning pkg - a savings of over $600! First bride to book this full-service planning pkg in the month of January gets the discount! {Last time we ran this promotion, it took less than 96 hours for the lucky bride to snatch it up!}

Start the year off with your wedding planning on the right track, and contact us for more details!  

Happy planning!

Happy Holidays!

Well, we're officially on holiday break! This will be our last post for a few days, as we spend this time with our families for the holidays. Also, just a reminder that our office will be closed starting today, Wednesday, December 22nd through Monday, December 27th. We will be back in the office on Tuesday, December 28th.

From all of us here at Simply Perfect Weddings, we wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas, and a wonderful holiday season!

Photo courtesy of Craig Photography. Sneak peek from our 12.4.10 wedding - more pics to come soon!

Thanksgiving Holiday Schedule

Just a quick post to let everyone know our Thanksgiving holiday schedule for this week:

We will be closed starting Tuesday, November 23rd through Sunday, November 28th. All emails and phone calls will be returned on Monday, November 29th. 

Wishing everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

Now Offering Gift Certificates

Are you looking for the perfect holiday gift to get your newly engaged friends or family members? Simply Perfect Weddings is now offering gift certificates towards our consulting sessions. Our consulting sessions are the perfect way to "jump start" the wedding planning experience. Pick our brains during a one-on-one Q&A session to start the wedding planning process off on the right track...budget, vendors, guest list, etiquette questions...no topic is off limits!

Pick the number of hours (2 hours for $150 or 1 hour for $75) and purchase your gift certificate in time for the holidays. Gift certificate can be redeemed by couple anytime within 6 months of purchase.

Each consulting session includes:

• (1) ONE or TWO hour consulting session with Sumer Schmitt {owner & principal wedding planner}
• Swag bag full of wedding planning goodies, vendor discounts, and more!
• $100 credit towards the purchase of our comprehensive 'Complete Wedding Management' or 'Wedding Day Coordination' service levels (optional)  

Black Friday Special :: Purchase a gift certificate by November 30th, and receive a $25 discount off a TWO hour consulting session! 

Contact us today for more information!

Happy Holidays!

Wedding Gowns For Sale

The wedding gowns above are for sale from a recent client of ours. These gowns are both Oleg Cassini Designs purchased from David's Bridal this year (2010). The first gown pictured is a size 16 (retails for $1,100) and the second gown pictured is a size 14 (retails for $1,200). 

Dresses may be sold separately and the bride is accepting any reasonable offer. Also for sale are the accessories as shown below. The entire jewelry set retails for $700. The bride is accepting any reasonable offer for these items as well. 

Please contact me at sumer@simplyperfectwedding.net for more details!

"Like" us on Facebook

Are you a fan of Simply Perfect Weddings on Facebook yet? If not, head on over to our Facebook page and "like" us to receive daily wedding planning tips. Starting today, we'll be posting quick and simple wedding planning tips, advice, & insight on Facebook, as a thank you to our awesome fans! 

Have a topic that you'd like to see featured on our Facebook page? Email us, and we'd be glad to share our advice!

Happy planning!

Boudoir Photography

If you're getting married, you may have already seen this specialized photography service being offered by your wedding photographer. As a wedding planner, I get a lot of questions about this "mysterious" photography service that everyone is talking about; therefore, I wanted to share a new website that explains it all...Wink Boudoir by Leeann Marie Photography. Leeann is a Pittsburgh-based wedding photographer who you may have already seen on our blog before. Leeann has been offering boudoir photography for quite awhile now, but recently started a new site dedicated solely for boudoir clients.  

So, what exactly is boudoir photography?! For starters, if you are unfamiliar with boudoir photography, click here and here first. Boudoir can make a great gift for your soon-to-be husband, or better yet, surprise your hubby with these photos after the honeymoon! 

Now that you have a better idea of what boudoir actually is, I'm curious to know your thoughts...will you be scheduling a boudoir session? Or, if you've already had a session, what was your experience like - would you recommend it to other brides-to-be?

Italy Recap :: Part 1 (Venice)

Ciao! We're back from Italy! It was a trip of a lifetime, and an experience I will remember forever. During our 12 day tour of Italy, I kept a journal of our daily activities, and wanted to share those experiences with our readers. I've gotten lots of questions from friends and family that are considering taking a trip to Italy, so I thought this recap would help give some insight to those of you looking for your next travel (or honeymoon) destination. I've included a few photos as well, which I hope you enjoy.

Days 1 & 2 – Up, up and away…we’re off to Italy!

Our journey to Italy begins with an overnight flight to Dusseldorf, Germany. We arrive in Dusseldorf bright and early where we have a 3 hour layover. After a bite to eat (nothing like a delicious soft pretzel at 7am!), we board our flight to Venice. At this point, we haven’t slept in 24+ hours, so we dose off for a few. In the middle of our flight the pilot announces that we are flying over the Swiss Alps…boy am I glad I woke up when I heard that! I was lucky enough to have a window seat and it was one of the most amazing views you’ll ever see! Snow covered mountains as the sun is just beginning to rise…absolutely breathtaking!

After a quick 2 hour flight, we land in Venice! We grab our bags and meet up with our family & friends (there are 9 of us traveling together), and the rest of our 40 person tour group. Venice is made up of 100+ small islands all connected by canals and bridges, so naturally there are no cars in Venice…only boats. We are welcomed to Venice with a leisurely water taxi ride to our hotel, on the island of Lido. Our entire group was jetlagged and sleep deprived, but our boat ride into Venice had all of us excited for what was to come! We pull up onto the shore of Lido where we are greeted by our tour director, Monique. She escorts us to our quaint (and absolutely adorable!) hotel right on the water, Hotel Riviera. After a “meet and greet” with our fellow travelers, we headed out on the island of Lido for some gelato and pizza. Lido had the best gelato out of anywhere in Italy, and it was super cheap too…only 1 Euro for a small cup of heaven! ; ) Early night tonight…I think we were all in bed by 8! Excited for our journey ahead…goodnight!

Day 3 – Sightseeing in Venice

Bon journo! Early wake up call this morning to catch a boat across the lagoon to Venice. Upon arrival into Venice, we have a guided tour of Doge’s Palace, St. Mark’s Basilica, and St. Mark’s Square. The rest of the afternoon is free to explore Venice! First stop on our free afternoon is lunch…we were starving! We went to a local Italian sandwich shop where we enjoyed delicious panini’s. Of course we had to save room for dessert too…another stop for a quick gelato! We spent the entire afternoon strolling through the streets of Venice admiring all of the flower window boxes, beautifully decorated gondola’s, and charming architecture. I am instantly in love with Venice and have to keep pinching myself that I’m really in Italy! Towards the end of the day we made our way to the famous Rialto Bridge that overlooks the Grand Canal…one word…Stunning! After a few photos, we headed back to Lido on our water taxi to get cleaned up for dinner. I had been admiring all of the outdoor Italian eateries and was thrilled that we ended up having dinner at an outdoor restaurant that I had my eye on since we first arrived! This dinner was literally the best spaghetti and pizza I’ve EVER had…absolutely delicious! On the way back to our hotel we stopped for yet another gelato (yes, I know this is our 2^nd gelato stop of the day, but can you really blame us?!) and watched a street concert with an Italian band playing Michael Jackson songs…quite entertaining considering there was a clear language barrier with the words to the songs. Awesome day today…we’re still a bit jetlagged, but still having the time of our lives!

Day 4 – Sightseeing in Venice

Today we have the entire day to ourselves (i.e. no wakeup call and no guided group tours), so we decide to head back across the lagoon to Venice again. We spent the morning in Venice strolling through the streets picking up a few souvenirs along the way. There is a heat wave in Italy as the hot & humid weather is coming up from Africa. Temperatures reach a boiling 100 degrees today! After a quick bite to eat (pizza again), we took a boat back over to our hotel in Lido for a few hours of R&R. Later that afternoon, we traveled back over to Venice and decided to take a boat ride up the entire Grand Canal (normally we got off near St. Mark’s Square and just made our way to the Grand Canal on foot). So glad we decided to do this…amazing views and some great photo opportunities! After we made our way up the Grand Canal, we attempted to find a restaurant recommendation that we received from one of our Italy guide books, but were unsuccessful. Fortunately though, we found a small little restaurant down an alley way where the owner greeted us with friendly hospitality and lots of wine! After we left dinner we got caught in a sudden rain storm and decided to make our way back to the boat. I’m certainly not complaining though…the rain instantly cooled things off, and running through the streets of Venice was surprisingly lots of fun! Tonight is our last night in Venice, and I am starting to get a bit sad (I wish we had another day to spend in Venice). So far I am extremely impressed with Italy and excited to head to Florence tomorrow morning!

Check back later this week for my recap of Florence! 

Until next time...ciao! 

Out of the Office :: Arrivederci!

For the past 2 years, my husband and I have started a tradition in taking a mid summer vacation from work. After all, July 5th is our wedding anniversary, so it's only fitting, right?! July also comes right in the middle of our wedding season, so it allows me to take a nice break and recharge my batteries. This July will be by far the biggest vacation I've yet to take, as we'll be heading across the Atlantic to journey to Italy for 12 days! I am beyond thrilled, and also very blessed to be given the opportunity to take such an amazing vacation! 

Since I will be traveling internationally, I will have very limited access to email, and will not be checking voicemail until I return. I will be out of the office beginning Thursday, July 1st through Monday, July 12th. I will return to the office on Tuesday, July 13th.

I hope you all enjoy your 4th of July weekend! See you when we return!

Ciao!

Let Them Eat Cake :: Saturday, April 24th

Hey everyone! Just wanted to spread the word about "Let Them Eat Cake!", a fundraising event taking place at the Children's Musuem this Saturday, April 24th. If you like cake (I mean who doesn't, right?!), then this is definitely an event you'll want to check out! The event features a cake decorating and tasting contest, an open wine/beer bar, entertainment, and a silent auction. 

For more details about the event, check out the "Let Them Eat Cake!" Facebook fan page! 

2010 " Day Of " Discount!

Attn 2010 brides! We are almost completely booked for the 2010 wedding season...only a few more dates are left during the months of August - December. If you're considering hiring a " Day of " wedding coordinator, head on over to the Simply Perfect Weddings website for more info about our services (" Day of " services begin at $950). 

Curious as to what " Day of " actually means? Well, here's a look at our standard service level: 

• Two face-to-face consultations to obtain a clear understanding of your visions and goals for the day, discuss contracted vendors, and develop timeline of the wedding day.
• Unlimited phone call and email consultations
• Preparation of wedding day timeline 
• Communication with all vendors the week prior to the wedding to confirm arrival/delivery times. Also distribute final timeline to wedding day vendors.
• Provision of your personalized wedding day emergency kit (with everything you could ever need!)
• Full rehearsal coordination (up to 1 ½ hours) – Including: directing flow of processional, offering advice, communicating special seating requests to ushers, and distributing wedding day itinerary to family members and bridal party
• Full wedding day coordination (up to 12 hours) that includes the following:

• Delivery and set-up of all ceremony and reception items such as Guest Book, Card Box, Toasting Glasses, Table Numbers, Seating/Place Cards, Favors, Lighting Candles, and additional decorating assistance as needed. (Size limits apply)
• Direct wedding ceremony & reception
• Lining up and cueing wedding party for their walk down the aisle, along with introductions
• Assistance with handing out bouquets, pinning corsages & boutonnières
• Cueing both ceremony and reception musicians to ensure correct pace and timing
• Assisting your MOH with the bustling of your wedding gown
• Supervision of all onsite vendors to ensure everything is provided as contracted, including greeting vendors, overseeing deliveries, and answering vendor questions.
• Secure all gifts at the end of the evening to ensure they are going to the correct place
• Assist with basic clean-up of ceremony and reception sites

Promo :: The next 2 brides to book our "Wedding Day Coordination" services (for a 2010 wedding) will receive a $100 discount!

Simply Perfect Weddings Team :: Meet Danielle

Good morning everyone! A few weeks ago I introduced you to Meghan, one of the two newest additions to our team. Today, I wanted to introduce you to Danielle, the other new member of the Simply Perfect Weddings team. Both of these ladies are fabulous, and each bring a different element to the team. Watch out Pittsburgh, this summer the SPW team is coming to a wedding near you! ;)

Meet Danielle!

1. First off, tell us a little about yourself:

My name is Danielle, and I am from Mt. Lebanon, PA. I have one older sister who is living in Chicago, IL. Currently, I am working on my Commercial Interior Design bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University in Columbus, OH. I love to go out to eat with friends and family. I am a born and raised Pittsburgh sports fan. Dancing has been a huge part of my life since I was three years old. I am very interested in creating atmospheres for people to have fun in!

2. If you had to describe yourself in three words, they would be…

Determined, Creative, Compassionate

3. What is one thing you absolutely cannot live without?

Hot or Iced Tea

4. If you could visit any location in the world where would it be, and why?

Italy, to see the old architecture

5. If you could have an endless supply of any food, what would it be? 

Any type of seafood

6. Describe your perfect day off – no work, no school, and no “to-do’s”. 

I would hope it is sunny outside to sit by a pool reading a magazine, working on my tan

7. Top 5 songs currently on your iPod/iTunes playlist? 

1. Bell Bottom Blues – Eric Clapton

2. Need You Now – Lady Antebellum

3. Carry Out – Timbaland/Justin Timberlake

4. Far Behind –Candlebox

5. Best I Ever Had – Drake

8. You just found a $100 bill {you checked & no one claimed it}, what do you do with it?

Go out to dinner!

9. Finish the sentence. “Never have I ever….”

 

. . . been over seas

10. If you could attend any celebrity wedding {past, present, or future}, whose would it be? 

Gwen Stefani

Simply Perfect Weddings Team :: Meet Meghan

If you haven't heard the news already, I am delighted to announce the newest members of the Simply Perfect Weddings team, Meghan and Danielle. Meghan and Danielle will be assisting me with weddings for our 2010 season, and I thought it would be fun to introduce them to our clients and readers with a Q + A session.

Today, meet Meghan!

1. First off, tell us a little about yourself:

I am originally from the Altoona/Johnstown area but I now reside in Pittsburgh, where I attend school. You will almost always catch me in a pair of heels because I am only five feet tall! I am obsessed with fashion, cupcakes, frozen yogurt, and the 1940s. Yoga and dance are my preferred choice of exercise. I love quotes.. they cover my work space for motivation. Also, music is a huge part of my life. I have had the delight to play the role of wedding singer at numerous weddings over the years. Now I am tickled to be diving into my passion for wedding planning by joining Sumer and the SPW team! : )

2. If you had to describe yourself in three words, they would be…

Genuine. Sophisticated. Caring. 

3. What is one thing you absolutely cannot live without?

My newest little compact piece of technology: The Kindle. It holds 1,500 books.. perfect for my reading fix. It is great for vacation and long trips instead of carrying around a load of books! 

4. If you could visit any location in the world where would it be, and why?

Greece is very high on my list of must see places. The landscapes and history are unbelievable. And the locals’ zesty hospitality for visitors is a definite plus!

5. If you could have an endless supply of any food, what would it be? 

I am a huge fan of pasta—Fra Diavlo and Gnocci especially-- from a little restaurant in my hometown. But my real addiction might be the fresh bread before the entrée!

6. Describe your perfect day off – no work, no school, and no “to-do’s”. 

I would have to start off spending some quality time by the pool. Laying out and swimming is a must for a relaxing day! Then I would have a lovely appointment to have my nails done and maybe even a massage! Meet my girlfriends for lunch, followed by some shopping at Urban Outfitters and Ann Taylor Loft.

7. Top 5 songs currently on your iPod/iTunes playlist? 

Anything by Ingrid Michaelson...her cover of Can’t Help Falling in Love with You is by far my favorite.
Already Gone – Kelly Clarkson
Waking Up in Vegas – Katy Perry
It Feels Like Home – Chantel Kreviazuk
Break Even – The Script

8. You just found a $100 bill {you checked & no one claimed it}, what do you do with it?

Take my family out for a night..dinner and a movie!

9. Finish the sentence. “Never have I ever….” 

Traveled out of the country..but this summer that will change when I venture to Austria!

10. If you could attend any celebrity wedding {past, present, or future}, whose would it be? 

Hands down Giuliana and Bill Rancic (E! Network, The Apprentice). They had a gorgeous September wedding in Capri, Italy. (Such a romantic setting!) It was a small, elegant wedding with around 170 guests. The ceremony itself was held at Santa Sophia Church, built 500 hundred years ago. The architecture is absolutely breath taking. The elaborate reception had a 16 piece orchestra. Not to mention some of the celebrities on the guest list would have kept me highly entertained, especially my favorite comedian, Chelsea Handler.

Recent News!

Good morning! Hope everyone is enjoying the arrival of spring here in the 'burg...I know, I am! I just wanted to make a few announcements this morning since we've been a little MIA on the blog as of lately...not to worry though, regular blog postings will be back this week. 

First up...I'm very pleased to announce that the Simply Perfect Weddings team for the 2010 wedding season is finally complete! Please give a warm WELCOME to Meghan and Danielle! I hope to introduce them to you all very soon.

Next, check out some of our recent press:

Last week I was thrilled to receive an email from Patty Bell, owner of On Location Makeup here in Pittsburgh saying that she wanted to interview little ole' me! Patty is highly respected in the wedding industry, and I was honored that she asked me for an interview. You can check out the interview here! 

Last week I was also excited to hear that I had been selected to be featured on "Be a Planner", a blog and wedding planning certification course in FL run by Melissa Margarita-DiStefano. Check out the "Be a Planner" feature here.

Lastly, don't forget to book your one-on-one consulting session by the end of March to receive the introductory rate of $150! More info about the consulting sessions can be found here.