Budget Friendly Flower Inspiration :: Carnations

I know what you must be thinking...carnations...bleh! Carnations are unfortunately one of the flowers that get a bad wrap, and to be perfectly honest, I'm really not sure why. I'm a flower lover. There's really not an 'ugly' flower in my book. Sure, I have my favorites just like any other girl, but I actually like the ruffled look of carnations. Flowers stem from nature, and to me, nature is beautiful. Just my two cents.

Maybe the real reason why I like carnations is because carnations were my late grandmother's favorite flower. Every Friday night my grandfather would bring her home a bouquet of carnations accompanied with Chinese take-out...their usual Friday night routine. They were married 71 years. Pretty awesome, if you ask me! So today I am bringing you some carnation inspiration in her honor. Enjoy!

Photo credit # 1 :: Chelsea Fuss via Sweetest Occasion Blog

Photo credit # 2 ::  w-weddingflowers.com
Photo credit # 3 :: Martha Stewart Weddings
Photo credit # 4 :: Unknown 

Sunday Brunch Weddings

I absolutely LOVE weddings that are held on "off" days and times. Something about switching it up from the typical Friday or Saturday evening excites me. Not only are "off" days/times extremely cost-effective, but you also have more opportunities to set your wedding apart from the rest. Think: Sunday Brunch! Then, think about all of the amazing delicious treats you could serve your guests...pancakes, anyone?! Sunday brunch weddings are becoming a bit more popular than they were in recent years, but they are still not considered mainstream by any means. I've seen Sunday brunch weddings out West and down South, but haven't seen many up here in the Pittsburgh area. I'm just dying to have a couple interested in a Sunday brunch wedding come my way! Any takers?! :) 

More on Sunday brunch weddings coming later this week!

Photo credit # 1 :: One Stylish Bride

Photo credit # 2 :: One Stylish Bride  

Photo credit # 3 :: Green Wedding Shoes  

Tin Can Flower Vases

I'm really loving the tin can look right now. Super fun and never boring, this look is perfect for the bride looking for a fun eco-friendly DIY project. If you like this look but it doesn't quite fit the theme of your wedding, then give these a try for your bridal shower or next dinner party! Bonus points for recycling too! ; ) 

Photo credit # 1 :: Flourish Studio Photography via Ruffled Blog

Photo credit # 2 :: Style Me Pretty via Re-nest.com 

Photo credit # 3 ::  Bleubird Vintage Blog

DIY Hot Cocoa Favors

You may or may not already know this about me, but I absolutely despise coffee. My beverage of choice in the morning? Why, hot cocoa of course! I stumbled upon these cute little DIY hot cocoa favors on the Ruffled blog this morning, and immediately wanted to share. Super affordable (only 35 cents each!) and easy to make, these would make great favors for fall + winter weddings. 

For complete detailed instructions on how to make these for your own wedding, click here. 

Photo courtesy of Ruffled.

Introducing a New Consulting Service for Pittsburgh Brides

Here at Simply Perfect Weddings, we understand that beginning the wedding planning process can be an overwhelming and daunting task for many brides. We've recently received quite a few phone calls from brides in need of some guidance to get them on track with their wedding planning - the only catch was that they couldn't necessarily afford to hire a full-service wedding planner. These phone calls have inspired us to offer a new level of service to Pittsburgh brides!

While we do currently offer hourly consultations, along with full-planning and wedding day coordination services, we've decided to add a NEW cost-effective & convenient one-on-one consulting package to our service menu. We realize that many brides can greatly benefit from sitting down with a professional wedding planner for a few hours to "pick our brains" about their ideas and answer their questions, regardless of their budget. The consulting package is not only for brides who are just beginning the wedding planning process, it's also for brides who may be "stuck" in the middle of their planning, and just need someone to answer their questions and guide them in the right direction. The consulting package is a one-on-one "coaching session", and includes the following items:

• (1) two-hour consulting/coaching session with Sumer Schmitt {owner & principal wedding planner}
• $100 credit towards the purchase of our comprehensive 'Complete Wedding Management' or 'Wedding Day Coordination' service levels
  
• Simply Perfect Weddings "swag bag" full of wedding planning goodies, vendor recommendations/discounts, helpful wedding planning checklists, and more!
  

Consulting packages are currently being offered at an introductory rate of $150 for the month of February.

Consulting sessions are scheduled by appointment only. As weddings are our full-time job, we do have weekday availability, as well as evenings and weekends. Prior to our session, you will be asked to fill out a pre-consultation questionnaire to help us better understand you, as well as your wedding day vision.

If you would like to obtain more information about our consulting sessions, or would like to book a session, please contact Sumer at sumer@simplyperfectwedding.net, or check out our website.

We look forward to hearing from you! Happy Planning! : )

Wedding Day Decorate + Setup Package

It's the week of your wedding...you've got everything meticulously planned, your vendors are contacted & confirmed, and your timeline is finalized, but then you realize who the heck is going to set up all of my decor?! There's 100+ seating cards, menus to be placed, candles to light, favors to be displayed, and the list goes on and on! These exact thoughts went through my mind the week of my wedding. And although I was lucky enough to have family help me out the day of the wedding, I wasn't thrilled that my family (and soon-to-be husband) had to rush around and take care of these details the morning of our wedding.

This situation made me stop and think that other brides were probably going through the same thing. So, last year I added a 'Decorate + Setup' package to our service menu. I understand that hiring a wedding planner or day-of coordinator isn't for every bride; therefore, I wanted to create a smaller, affordable option for brides who were in need of someone to set up all of their details that they had worked so hard on the last 12+ months. Our 'Decorate + Setup' package starts at $350 and includes the following items:

• (1) one-hour face to face consultation to discuss your setup details
• Up to 5 hours of set-up time on the day of your wedding (includes both your ceremony and reception sites)
• Decorating help from Sumer (owner & principal planner), and one additional assistant
  

Here's what our previous brides have said about our 'Decorate + Setup' package:

"When we got engaged I decided that I was going to take care of everything myself - DIY decorations, vendors - the whole nine yards. Unfortunately, there was one thing that I couldn't do, set up the reception decorations. This is where Sumer and her brilliant decorate and set up package came in. Sumer set up all of the centerpieces, the place cards, the card box, and every other little decorating detail, so that when our guests arrived the reception was perfect! I can't explain how pleased I was with the decorate and set up package, it was exactly what I needed at a great price and it turned out beautifully. Thank you Sumer - everything was beautiful, you did a fantastic job! All of the centerpieces looked exactly the way that I wanted and I couldn't have been more pleased! Thank you again for everything!" {Danielle & John}

"Thank you for all of your help and expertise!! It was such a comfort knowing that you were there and taking care of all the details! You and your husband make a great team!!" {Kelsey & PJ}

For more information, or to set up a complimentary consultation, please visit our website.

DIY Save-the-Date Stickers

I just adore these simple, yet creative DIY save-the-date stickers courtesy of Martha Stewart Weddings. These stickers are the perfect way to ensure that your guests remember your BIG day! All guests have to do is simply peel and stick to their calendar.

5 simple steps on how to make your own save-the-date stickers at home:

1. Buy 1-inch round labels from an office-supply store, and follow the manufacturer's instructions to download and customize the template.
2. Print labels with your date using a laser printer.
3. Cut each sheet into rows of labels.
4. Laser print note cards with a message to "save the date."
5. Affix a row of labels to each note card with a glue stick.

Content & photo courtesy of Martha Stewart Weddings.

How to Stock the Bar

I'm currently in the middle of helping several of my 2010 clients calculate their estimated alcohol needs for their wedding receptions. This is a huge task in itself, as every crowd is different; however, I recently stumbled upon this very helpful article from The Knot and wanted to share. Below are some excerpts from the article.

Drink Up

How much liquor will you need for 100 guests? Talk to your bartender; in the meantime, here are some averages:

• Beer: 5 to 6 cases
• Whiskey: 1 liter
• Bourbon: 1 liter
• Gin: 2 to 3 liters
• Scotch: 2 liters
• Light rum: 1 liter
• Vodka: 5 liters
• Tequila: 1 liter
• Champagne: 1 to 1 1/2 cases
• Red wine: 2 cases
• White wine: 3 1/2 cases
• Dry vermouth: 1 bottle
• Sweet vermouth: 1 bottle

{Knot Note: Ask if your beverage catering service will take back any unused alcohol.}

The Open Bar

An open bar is the most gracious approach -- no guest should pay for anything at the wedding -- but it's also the most expensive. Guests can order any drink on the planet, and you'll have to pick up the hefty tab when the party's done. Because there’s no limit, people may drink like guppies. Know anyone who tends to imbibe too much? Tell the bartender in advance.

The Limited Bar

You offer a selection of drinks -- beer, wine, and mixed vodka drinks, for example -- and set specific consumption times, such as the cocktail hour, the toasts, and an hour after dinner. Consider hiring waiters to pass drinks on trays rather than letting guests go up to the bar. You'll have to pay for the waiters, but you'll probably save money on alcohol, and fewer guests will go overboard. If you limit the amount of time the bar is open, make sure the waiters circulate during dinner to refill glasses of water and soda.

The Cash Bar

Don't have a cash bar without a great reason (there really isn't one). After all, you don't invite people to your house for dinner and then charge them for the butter. Trust us on this one. It's not a good cost-cutting solution and is way too controversial.

A Dry House

If you, your families, and most of your guests don't drink alcohol, skip it. Serve sparkling water, soda, and nonalcoholic mixed drinks instead. If you want some bubbly for toasting, go for some token champagne or sparkling cider.

Resources: Leslie Lamb, beverage catering director of Gordon's Fine Wines & Liquors, Waltham, MA

Content courtesy of The Knot.

20 Things to Never Do When Planning Your Wedding

Earlier this summer, Terrica of Fabuluxe Events, Inc. shared her list of "20 Things to Never Do When Planning Your Wedding" and today I wanted to share this list with you.

Planning your wedding can be fun, exhausting, exhilarating, stressful, exciting and frustrating. Here are 20 tips that you should never do whilst planning the party of the year.

1.) Never book any venue without seeing it. My only exception to this is if you have a wedding planner working your behalf and doing the scouting for you.

2.) Never work with any vendor without a contract. Ever. This includes Aunt Jan and Uncle Marty. Contracts put everyone’s expectations and obligations on paper.

3.) Never start planning or interviewing vendors without a budget. You will waste your time and the time of the vendors you meet. Whenever a potential client says “There is no budget” or something similar, they are not impressed. The red flags go up.

4.) Never start your wedding planning in the “middle”. In other words, start at the beginning and work your way down with tasks and duties. Find a planning timeline to help you figure out where you should be in your planning process. Don’t start designing your floor plan when you haven’t chosen a venue.

5.) Never be afraid to speak up with your vendors. If you have questions or concerns, ask while changes can still be made as opposed to being stuck with something you will regret on your wedding day.

6.) Never take your family and friends for granted. Using the “But it’s my wedding” carte blanche will get very old, very fast. Your bridesmaids and groomsmen will spend a small fortune to participate in your day. Please treat them nicely.

7.) Never believe anything you see on the wedding shows. Ever.

8.) Never choose a dress under the condition you will lose weight to fit in it later. Stress eating is a huge monster during wedding planning. It is easier to take a dress in than it is to let it out.

9.) Never forget what you are planning for—your wedding, which is the birth of your marriage. I encourage you to plaster pictures all over your planning binder of you and your honey. That is your motivation.

10.) Never pick a vendor that has poor communication skills or makes you feel silly, “cheap”, "spoiled, or otherwise about your choices. Period.

11.) Never put your registry information on or with your invitation. Times may have changed and “some” etiquette rules can be bent. I don’t feel this is one of them. You do not want people to feel like there is a cover charge for your wedding. This information needs to be sent word of mouth, on your wedding website/newsletter or with your bridal/couple shower invite.

12.) Never choose a photographer with your budget solely in mind. This is the only thing that will preserve your memories for your special day. Please choose someone with style, talent and charisma so that you can remember your day fifty years from now as if it were yesterday.

13.) Never go to your catering tasting starving. Everything will taste good. You need to be discerning with mingling flavors and scents…and be able to appreciate them.

14.) Never go to your florist without a concept. There are several breeds of roses, lilies, and orchids. Your floral designer will be more than happy to provide you with inspiration, guidance and ideas, but you need to know where the destination is before you get in the car.

15.) Never assume a vendor’s “retainer” is the same as a deposit. A deposit is refundable. A retainer is not.

16.) Never think you will be able to make everyone happy with your decisions. Don’t try to make them all angry either. Ask for ideas, and find ways to incorporate everyone into the wedding. Nothing will make your FMIL beam brighter than to point at something and say "I picked that!”

17.) Never try to micromanage your day while wearing the gown. The day will be a blur anyway, it will go by so much faster (and harder) if you are playing the starring role and the director. Enjoy your day. Save your sanity. Please get a wedding coordinator. If you do, let her/him do her/his job.

18.) Never withhold the final payment from a vendor with the belief that this will pressure them to show up. If you have chosen to hire professionals for your wedding, this will never be an issue. The wedding industry thrives on reputation, and several vendors have reputations that precede them. Many have the philosophy if you do not pay them on the due date, they will not be there, and you will be without the vendor anyway.

19.) Never lose sight of the fact that you will have several hundred people at your wedding with different tastes and likes. While you cannot make them all happy, as a host, it is your job to make it enjoyable and comfortable. Remember this when it comes to design, location and food.

20.) Never forget to read this blog. (ok, I was really running low. Shameless plug over).

Skip the Champagne Toast!

I often get asked if the traditional champagne toast is necessary during the reception, and the answer is NO! While you probably still want to keep the toasting tradition, you can definitely remove champagne from the equation. Toasting with champagne can really add up when it comes to your alcohol budget, and the truth is, most guests don't even drink it! As a wedding coordinator, I see a lot from behind-the-scenes and too often I see guests take one sip of their champagne and then never touch it the rest of the night. Most guests will already have a drink in their hand; (whether it be from cocktail hour or wine during dinner) therefore, there is really no need to pay extra for champagne service.

What do you think? Will you skip the champagne toast for your wedding?

Photo courtesy of Brides.com

Light up Your Wedding :: Paper Lanterns

Paper lanterns are a quick + easy way to add character to any event! As you will see from the inspiration below, paper lanterns can be used for almost any wedding style you are trying to achieve...romance, chic, southern charm, rustic, or even contemporary. We've brought in paper lanterns to the design of several of our 2009 weddings, and we're continuing to use them throughout our 2010 weddings as well. Our favorite place to order paper lanterns is from Luna Bazaar. Check out their huge selection of paper lantern products here.





{Photo credits}
Photo # 1 - Romantic Glow
Photo # 2 - Chic Pavilion Wedding
Photo # 3 - Accordion Lanterns
Photo # 4 - Yellow + Lime Green Wedding
Photo # 5 - Rustic Wedding

Coffee + Dessert Reception

It's no secret these days that couples are trying to cut back on their wedding budgets and are paying closer attention to the money that is being spent on their wedding day. With the average dinner reception eating up 50% or more of a couple's wedding budget, it's quite fitting that there be an alternative choice to the typical sit down dinner reception. My personal favorite alternative is the coffee + dessert reception. You can still have the fabulous wedding cake that you've always dreamed of, and in addition, you can add some of your favorite desserts to the mix as well. Donuts, cupcakes, cookies, candy, ice cream...the possibilities are nearly endless! If you're looking to cut the high price tag of alcohol out of the budget as well, then forgo the alcoholic beverages and serve a variety of specialty coffee & dessert drinks instead. Not only is this a great cost-cutting measure, it's also something unique that your wedding guests probably haven't seen before! Enjoy!






{Photo credits}
Photo # 1 - Dessert Bar
Photo # 2 & 3 - Mini Donut Coffee Drinks & Donut Stand
Photo # 4 - Cupcakes
Photo # 5 & 6 - Cookies & Milk & Milkshake Shooters

DIY Paper Creations

I love DIY projects! To me, they are a great excuse to get your bridesmaids together for some bonding time before the wedding. Today I wanted to feature these two DIY paper creations from Martha Stewart Weddings - Hanging Pom-Poms and Pom-Pom Napkin Rings. Below we've included complete instructions on how to make these for your wedding reception or bridal shower.


What You'll Need for Both Projects:

Tissue paper in the colors of your choice {we recommend using a strong craft tissue paper or crepe paper for better durability}

24-gauge white cloth-covered floral wire

How-To Make/Hang Pom-Poms:

1. Stack eight 20-by-30-inch sheets of tissue. Make 1 1/2-inch wide accordion folds, creasing with each fold.

2. Fold an 18-inch piece of floral wire in half, and slip over center of folded tissue; twist. With scissors, trim ends of tissue into rounded or pointy shapes.

3. Separate layers, pulling away from center one at a time.

4. Tie a length of monofilament to floral wire for hanging.


How-To Make Napkin Rings:

1. Stack four sheets of tissue. Cut a 10-by-5-inch rectangle, going through all layers. Make 3/8-inch-wide accordion folds.

2. Fold an 18-inch piece of floral wire in half, slip over center of tissue, and twist to secure. Trim ends of tissue.

3. Separate layers, pulling away from center one at a time.

4. Bend wire into a loop to fit around napkin, and twist end around loop to secure.

For additional helpful tips on making these projects, check out the comment section at the bottom of this article.

Photos courtesy of Martha Stewart Weddings.

2009 Wedding Trend :: Balloons at Weddings

The words Balloon and Wedding in the same sentence probably scare you and send flashbacks of the 80's running through your head, but they shouldn't anymore! Balloons are back and they are bigger than ever this season! As seen above, the cover of the Summer 2009 issue of Martha Stewart Weddings is of a bride holding balloons in her wedding gown. Balloons can be used as part of your reception decor, released at the end of your ceremony, or just used as 'props' in your wedding day photos. They are an inexpensive, easy DIY project and can really add a pop of color to any venue.

What do you think?! Would you incorporate balloons into your wedding decor?

Photos 1 & 2 courtesy of Martha Stewart Weddings. Photo 3 courtesy of Amy Atlas Events.

Eco-Friendly Wedding Tip :: Electronic Invites

Our third tip in our weekly Green blogging series is to opt for electronic invites instead of paper invites. Now, I don't necessarily mean your actual wedding invitations (this is an option - more on that topic later though!), but if you think about it, there are lots of opportunities to 'Go Green' even before you walk down the aisle. Invites for engagement parties, bridal showers, bachelorette parties, rehearsal dinners, and even save-the-dates can all be done electronic!

One of the most popular electronic invitation companies is evite, which many of you are probably familiar with. evite offers bridal shower invites, bachelorette party invites, wedding/engagement invites, and a TON of other invites for a variety of gatherings. A few other companies you may also want to check out are: Pingg, OurWedVite.com, and MyPunchbowl.

I'm anxious to hear your feedback. What do you think? Would you send electronic invites for your pre-wedding celebrations?

DIY Ribbon Vases

Found this creative idea for DIY ribbon vases from Martha Stewart Weddings. These vases are easy to make and would be the perfect project for a bridal shower or outdoor wedding.

"Bring varied, commonplace cylinder vases into beautiful harmony with an easy ribbon treatment. Choose ribbons in various widths and colors that match your palette, in satin, grosgrain, or both. Cut the ribbons 1/2 inch longer than the circumference of the vase. Wrap around vase, side by side or layered, using double-sided tape to secure."

Photo courtesy of Martha Stewart Weddings.

DIY Wedding Cake

I recently found this great 'how-to' video on making your own wedding cake from one of my daily blog reads, The Wedding Cabaret. As soon as I saw it, I realized I had to share it with our readers as well!

This 'how-to' video is about 10 minutes long, and is packed full with helpful tips on how to make your own wedding cake. This is a great idea for the DIY bride, or for the bride looking to save some $$. Enjoy!




Video courtesy of YouTube - REALMEALS.TV: DIY Wedding Cake

Thrifty Holiday Gift Ideas

Looking for unique AND affordable gifts for the holidays this year? Check out these three great gift ideas I found courtesy of Oprah:

1. Gratitude Boxes - Buy an inexpensive decorative box and fill it with messages from the heart (ex: "100 reasons why I love you", "Thank you for....", etc...). Check out this article for more tips on making your own gratitude boxes.

2. Treasure Boxes - Fill a wooden "treasure box" with mementos from the past and organize them in chronological order (ex: fill your box with your child's keepsakes or if your planning a wedding, fill your box with memories from the time you 1st met your fiance through your engagement). Check out this article for more ideas on how to fill your treasure box.

3. 12 Dates of Christmas - Here's something you and your fiance can do together this holiday - during the month of December, plan 12 fun and inexpensive date nights together (ex: ice skating, a walk in the park, staying in for a movie night, etc...). Check out this article for more ideas for your date night.

Vendor Spotlight: CakeRental.com

Cake rentals have become increasingly popular over the last few years; however, the concept of 'renting a cake' is still foreign for some people. Therefore, I wanted to talk a little more about this available service for brides on a budget. CakeRental.com (Fun Cakes Rental) is a cake rental company available to brides nationwide (they have shipped to just about all of the 50 states). If you've never heard of this concept before, you're probably asking yourself 'how does all of this work exactly?'. Well, here's how...Fun Cakes uses real fondant & cake decorating techniques to cover foam tiers. Your wedding cake will look and feel very real...just as if you would have ordered directly from a bakery. Inside one of the foam tiers will be a piece of real cake for the bride & groom to cut into for the traditional cake cutting ceremony. Once the cake cutting ceremony is over, the cake will be brought into the kitchen and guests will receive a slice of sheet cake from a local bakery. After the wedding is over, you will ship the cake back to Fun Cakes...hence where the term 'renting a cake' comes from. This service is available for a fraction of the cost of a real wedding cake...custom design & order a traditional 3-tier wedding cake for only $250 (plus shipping) or choose from one of Fun Cakes pre-designed cakes and receive a 3-tier wedding cake for only $150 (plus shipping). Not bad, huh?!

To summarize, here's how to get your very own cake from CakeRental.com:

• Choose your cake design from Fun Cakes' many pre-designed cakes or feel free to design your own (they will custom make your cake exactly to your specifications)


• Secure your wedding date with a refundable deposit ($200)


• Fun Cakes will design your cake & ship it directly to your door in a sturdy wooden box prior to your wedding date


• On your wedding day, slide the cake out of the box and display at your reception. Guests will receive a slice of sheet cake from the back and will never know that they weren't eating the exact cake that was originally displayed!


• Once the wedding is over, place the cake back into the wooden box, ship to Fun Cakes and your $200 deposit will be refunded back to you.