Celebrity Wedding :: Ivanka Trump & Jared Kushner

You may or may not have already seen their wedding photos, but I just had to share these anyways! Ivanka Trump married Jared Kushner this past October 2009 in a breathtaking autumn affair designed by none other than Preston Bailey himself.

I've always been a fan of Ivanka and respect her greatly for being a savvy business woman; therefore, I naturally couldn't help but gush over her gorgeous wedding photos! Ivanka wore a custom designed Vera Wang wedding gown inspired by Grace Kelly. She topped off her look with jewels from her very own jewelry line, the Ivanka Trump Collection.

For more inside details regarding the planning of Ivanka's wedding, check out her interview with Brides.com

Photos courtesy of InStyle Weddings.

Get Married Unveils Top 10 Bridal Trends for 2010

The following is a look at the top 10 bridal trends for 2010 as determined by Get Married’s editorial and production teams as well as leading industry experts:

1. Non-linear aisle: Brides are personalizing the procession by altering the traditional aisle with a circle or a triangular double aisle, enabling the couple to enter from multiple spots with a central meeting point. Stephanie Davis, Get Married magazine editor-in-chief and new bride, wedded lake-side on a circular dock from which she and her groom entered. “Our family no longer has two sides, so everyone sat together and, as an added bonus, there wasn’t a bad seat in the house!”

2. Comfort foods with a kick: Chef Wolfgang Puck believes that comfort foods have become more popular in the current economy. Think burgers, pizza, ribs, pot pie, and risotto—but comfort does not have to mean pedestrian. “Upgrade ingredients and prepare them with great expertise. Serve hors d’oeuvres like Kobe burgers, wild mushroom risotto, smoked salmon pizzas, slow-braised short ribs or a simple chicken pot pie with lobster,” advises Puck.

3. Gifting techie gadgetry: Registries and wedding gifts have increasingly become more high tech. Brides want electronic recipe finders, books and charging plates, and matching his-and-hers PDA cases—all examples of great gadgets for the couple as well as thank-you gifts for parents and the wedding party.

4. Texture-inspired invitations: Top bridal designer Monique Lhuillier shares inspirations and details from her various collections: “A lot of fabric details from the dresses translate into the invitations. We use techniques of embossing to mimic textures and incorporate the same colors from the gowns into the invitations.” Look for details you would see on the runway on your wedding invitations.

5. Old, new, borrowed and cobalt blue: From hints of blue in bridal fashion to saturated color throughout the wedding décor, “blues will be the most requested color in 2010,” according to Shane Murray of The Wedding Report. Bright cobalt blue is a hot hue for 2010, offering fresh, bold and atmospheric twist on the bluesy tradition.

6. Wear-again bridesmaid dresses: The urban legend of wearing a bridesmaids dress by choice after the wedding is a reality with the new silhouettes that mirror what is happening on the runway. Gorgeous and glamorous dresses with drop waists, bubble skirts and ruffles add an additional sense of style for bridesmaids to wear—and wear again.

7. Three-dimensional save-the-dates: Inform your friends and family of your wedding day with a twist. Three-dimensional elements on the save-the-dates, like a paper umbrella (signifying a destination wedding), adds character, humor and relevance.

8. Old Hollywood glam, for men!: A return to Cary Grant’s sense of style is making a comeback this year for grooms, looking charming and dapper in a white tuxedo with black-rimmed lapels. This cool old-school look brings back the sharp-looking vest and nostalgic pocket watch.

9. Blogger brides abound: Now more than ever, Get Married is seeing brides enjoy sharing snippets of surprises, ideas and images throughout their wedding planning experience. Personal blogs offer a space for brides to share, gather inspirations and explore. Check out Get Married’s robust and newly-skinned wedding blog.

10. Personalized plus: From the décor designs and inspirational invites to a great gifts and super-fab favors, Get Married is observing brides’ aspiration for distinctly personalized wedding details. Designing invitations, save-the-dates and thank-you cards and adding monograms to guest books, aisle runners and gifts (like cosmetic and travel bags) offers a hint of personal bridal style. An assortment of personalized décor, invitations, gifts and favors are available at www.shop.getmarried.com.

Photo & content courtesy of Get Married.

Winter Inspired Bridal Bouquets

What a beautiful winter morning here in Pittsburgh today! I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas! It always amazes me at how quickly the holidays seem to pass. Even though Christmas has come and gone, the new year is still ahead and we couldn't be more excited here at Simply Perfect Weddings! We've got lots in store for 2010!

Today, I wanted to share a few winter inspired bridal bouquets. I love incorporating interesting elements into bouquets, and what better time of year to incorporate them than winter?! There are so many unique things you can add to your winter bouquet...pine cones, berries, crystals, mistletoe, and even Christmas ornaments!

Are you having a winter wedding? What unique elements are you incorporating into your bridal bouquet?! We'd love to hear from you!

{Photo Credits}

Photo # 1 - Charlotte Geary Photography
Photo #2 - Brides.com
Photo #3 - The Knot

Happy New Year Holiday Card Download :: The Wedding Chicks

Love this DIY freebie from The Wedding Chicks! Say "Happy New Year" to all of your family and friends with this adorable holiday greeting card. It's free to download, and printing instructions can be found here.

Photo courtesy of The Wedding Chicks.

2010 Event Assistant Internship

Simply Perfect Weddings is now accepting resumes for our event assistant internship program for the 2010 wedding season!

Details ::

Our 2010 wedding season is currently scheduled to run from April through October (subject to change), and we are looking for two additional interns to assist on actual wedding days. Interns will have the opportunity to assist on 7-10 weddings throughout the 2010 season. Most weddings are scheduled on Saturdays; however, there is an occasional Friday wedding. *Please note that we are located in Pittsburgh, PA*

What You'll Learn ::

You will have the opportunity to receive hands-on experience to see what really goes on behind-the-scenes during the execution of a wedding! Interns will assist with everything from decor setup, vendor deliveries, timeline execution, and much more! This is a non-paid internship for serious individuals looking for real hands-on experience in the wedding and event planning industry.

Who We're Looking For ::

Hardworking individuals who are passionate about weddings! Individuals must be able/willing to work weekends. Hours will vary, but will not be more than 10 - 12 per event. Weddings are one of the happiest days in a couple's life, but they can also be very stressful for families. The staff at Simply Perfect Weddings is here to take that stress away from them; therefore, it's absolutely essential that our assistants are professional, detail-oriented, friendly, and are able to think quick on their feet!

How to Apply ::

Please email your resume to sumer@simplyperfectwedding.net. We will be accepting resume submissions through February 15th, and will begin interviewing candidates in late February. No phone calls, please.

Holiday Closing Schedule

I can hardly believe that the holiday season is underway! With the holidays comes engagement season, and we are already hard at work planning weddings for our awesome 2010 couples. Over the holidays, we'll be taking a short break to rest up for the coming year ahead. Below is our holiday closing schedule:

We will be closing up shop starting tomorrow, Wednesday, December 23rd through Sunday, December 27th. We will reopen on Monday, December 28th, and then close again starting Thursday, December 31st through Sunday, January 3rd.

From our family to yours, we wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year! We'll see you after the holidays!

Alternative to the Traditional Pittsburgh Cookie Table

If you're like most Pittsburgh brides, you'll probably be incorporating the traditional cookie table into your reception. While I am a fan of this tradition (I mean, who doesn't love cookies?!), what about putting a spin on this tradition instead?! Instead of displaying cookies on platters across a banquet table at your reception, package cookies inside of a bakery box enclosed with keepsake recipe cards. Include 2-3 types of your favorite cookies inside each box with their associated recipes. Each couple {or family} gets their own bakery box to take home at the end of the evening. For an added touch, order bakery boxes in your wedding colors or include your monogram on the outside of the box.

Photo courtesy of Style Me Pretty.

2010 Color of the Year :: Turquoise

Earlier this month Pantone unveiled the 2010 Color of the Year, Turquoise. Pantone describes Turquoise as an "inviting, luminous hue". "Combining the serene qualities of blue and the invigorating aspects of green, Turquoise inspires thoughts of soothing, tropical waters and a comforting escape from the everyday troubles of the world, while at the same time restoring our sense of wellbeing."

Personally, I've always been a fan of this versatile color, and love how easily it can be paired with both warm and cool undertones. What are your thoughts on the color? Will you incorporate Turquoise into your wedding color palette?

To see the official press release, and learn more about Pantone click here.

DIY :: Holiday Card Display

Even though this post is completely unrelated to weddings, I still wanted to share this creative holiday card display! After browsing through my favorite blogs in my Google reader, I stumbled upon this great idea thanks to Swanky Tables {original content courtesy of Canadian House and Home}. The holidays are my favorite time of year, and one of the things I love most about Christmas, is opening our mailbox to find greeting cards from friends and family! I always have every intention of displaying the cards we receive in some sort of 'cute and creative' way, but it never ends up working out that way. However, I'm thinking about giving this DIY project a whirl this holiday season.

Here's a simple how-to guide for putting together your own holiday card display:

Paint a vintage frame white, fit it with bulletin board and then use spray adhesive to affix pretty wrapping on top of the cork. {After the holidays, the board can be used for mail and shopping lists.}

Photo courtesy of Canadian House and Home.

Real Weddings 2009 :: Kelsey & PJ 11.21.09

Kelsey & PJ tied the knot on November 21, 2009; however, the pictures shown above aren't from their actual wedding...they are actually from their pre-wedding photo shoot taken just 2 days before their big day! Kelsey & PJ got dressed in full wedding attire, rented a vintage Rolls Royce, and off they went for a photo excursion all over Pittsburgh! The photos turned out so great that I just had to share them with all of you! The photographers for this shoot {and their actual wedding} were Elizabeth and John Craig, owners of Craig Photography here in Pittsburgh. I'll be sharing photos of Kelsey & PJ's actual wedding day in the coming weeks, but until then, I hope you enjoy these photos as much as I do.

For more information about Craig Photography, check out their website and blog.

Photos courtesy of Craig Photography.

Southern Weddings Magazine :: Volume II

Last week my much anticipated copy of Southern Weddings Magazine arrived in my mailbox! I was beyond thrilled to receive this magazine just in time for our 6+ hour drive into NYC for Thanksgiving weekend {just ask my husband - I read the magazine in the car at night with the reading light on!} I've read the magazine cover to cover, and must say that I am blown away by this issue! Spending nearly 10 years in North Carolina, it's no wonder why I love all things Southern. The magazine features great planning advice, color palettes + design ideas, and absolutely stunning photography! In my opinion, this magazine is a must read for all brides!

To get your copy of Southern Weddings Magazine, click here.

Photo courtesy of Southern Weddings Magazine.

Paloma's Nest :: Custom Ring Bearer Bowls

Aren't these ring bearer bowls just the cutest thing?! I recently discovered Paloma's Nest in the latest issue of Southern Weddings Magazine, and instantly fell in love with these custom ring bearer bowls! Infact, Paloma's Nest is home to the Original Ring Bearer Bowl! Paloma's Nest is based out of Austin, TX; however, they ship worldwide. Click here to check out their fabulous collection via their Etsy shop. Each piece in their collection is customized specifically for you, and is designed to become a handcrafted modern heirloom. For more information about Paloma's Nest, you can check out their website here.

Photo courtesy of Paloma's Nest.