Pittsburgh flair: Eat 'n Park Smiley Cookies

If you're looking for a great Pittsburgh-inspired wedding favor, look no further than the Eat 'n Park Smiley Cookie. Whether you're getting married in Western Pennsylvania or are a couple from the 'Burgh saying your vows elsewhere, it's easy (and pretty affordable) to add this sweet treat to your big day.

Of course if you're in Pittsburgh, you can stop into any Eat 'n Park to pick up the local treat. But now you can also order the cookies online to be delivered anywhere. Plus, the Web site let you design your own cookie, so you can customize the smiling faces to match your wedding colors, whether they're blue and orange or black and gold:
While the cookies would make a great favor at your wedding reception, they'd also be a great item to include in out-of-town welcome baskets for your guests. Visit Eat 'n Park's online store for all the details.

Pittsburgh flair: Capture your wedding memories with FlashBox

Ever wish you had a better way to remember all of the guests at your wedding? Something other than fuzzy photos or stammering best wishes as the videographer makes his way around the room during dinner?
Check out FlashBox Media, a new and innovative product, and an alternative to a Pittsburgh wedding videographer, that's sure to be the talk of any event. A FlashBox Video Kiosk is set up at your wedding reception, and your guests can approach it at any time to record their messages when they are ready to do so. This results in video clips that are personal, heartfelt, funny and sweet, creating a unique keepsake for years to come.

And FlashBox is something you'll find only in Pittsburgh. A team of Carnegie Mellon graduates developed the technology, and the service is currently only available to events in Western Pennsylvania. No other brides in the country can have this at their wedding receptions.

At your reception, a FlashBox director will monitor the kiosk throughout the evening, encouraging your guests to record a message and assisting them in doing so. Guests can share a favorite memory or embarrassing moment, sing a song, give marriage advice or even perform a skit.

Then, after the wedding, comes the best part! The team at FlashBox will professionally edit the video footage and can even integrate still photos from your wedding. Network-TV caliber computer graphics give your video the look of a television show produced in Hollywood. You'll receive the finished DVD with a personalized keepsake case.

Visit FlashBox's Web site to view sample videos and learn more. And be sure to click on the KDKA icon to see the kiosk featured on Pittsburgh Today Live.

Poll results: What's your wedding budget?

In our last poll, I asked you to share your wedding budget. While the average wedding costs nearly $30,000 in the U.S., I felt that average number in the Pittsburgh region was likely substantially lower. Based on the poll results, that seems to be true:

What's your wedding budget?

• Less than $10,000: 42 percent
• $10,000-$19,999: 9 percent
• $20,000-$29,999: 25 percent
• $30,000-$39,999: 12 percent
• $40,000 or more: 12 percent

That adds up to 76 percent of weddings for the poll with a budget under $30,000. Of course, "averages" can be greatly skewed by the extremes, and if there are a handful of people out there spending a few hundred thousand dollars on their wedding, the average may be right on. What these results show is that the "typical" Pittsburgh wedding may actually have a budget of less than $10,000.

For budget-friendly wedding ideas, browse through our posts tagged with "budget," and come back to the blog soon for more money-saving tips.

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Area couple on Friday night's "My Big Redneck Wedding"

Tune into CMT tomorrow night at 9 p.m. for the season finale of "My Big Redneck Wedding." The episode features a Westmoreland County couple, Kelli and Ron, who get married at a demolition derby.

If you haven't seen the show before, it features somewhat outrageous, rural weddings--no doubt made more outrageous with the assistance of the TV network. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Kelli and Ron were planning a justice of the peace wedding before CMT contacted them for the show after hearing Ron suggest his demolition derby idea on a radio talk show.

Tune in Friday and then stop back to share your comments about the show.

Pittsburgh flair: The cookie table

"No Pittsburgh wedding is complete without one." You can find a cookie table at nearly every wedding in Western Pennsylvania: a long buffet table filed with trays and trays of sweet treats. Many local reception venues even include the table for cookies in their packages, offering to "tray your cookies" for you.

While we like to consider this a Pittsburgh tradition, historical research shows that the cookie table may have actually originated in nearby Youngstown, Ohio. Several other regions across the U.S. indulge in the cookie buffet as well, but nowhere so predominantly as Northeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania.

Traditionally, female relatives of the bride all pitch in and bake dozens and dozens of homemade cookies in several varieties before the big day. You can also order the cookies from a local bakery, or mix it up with a combination of homemade and bakery treats.

Give your cookie table a modern twist and combine it with a current national trend, the candy buffet. Pair trays of cookies with bowls of candy and provide bags for guests to create their own favor to take home. Or, go for a different look and serve the cookies out of clear cookie jars instead of tray. Hang a tag from each jar identifying the type and the baker (e.g. "Grandma's Famous Chocolate Chip Cookies."

If you're getting married in Pittsburgh, many of your local guests will expect to find cookies at the reception. But your out-of-town guests may be clueless about the tradition. If you want to give them a local history lesson, clue them in with a simple sign explaining the cookie table. In my experience, most out-of-towners are delighted by the idea (case in point, the picture below of an out-of-town college friend of the bride and groom, who went a little too crazy over the cookies).
No matter how you choose to include the cookie table on your wedding day, it is an old-time tradition that will never get old.

Images, from top: Shout Youngstown, Design Mom, Perfect Memories
Sources: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Wikipedia, Miami University of Ohio

Bridal competition, right here in Pittsburgh

If you happened to walk by PPG Place downtown yesterday, you might have seen a couple dozen brides in wedding gowns stuffing their faces with wedding cake and "champagne."

CoverGirl hosted a competition for 22 brides-to-be, who raced through a wedding-themed obstacle course that challenged the durability of the company's Outlast makeup collection. The women donned wedding dresses over their street clothes and chowed down on a piece of wedding cake and a glass of apple juice to win the prize. Read more and watch the video at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Sign up for our new eNewsletter: Perfect Memories, Perfect Pittsburgh Weddings

You can now receive wedding ideas from Perfect Memories right in your email inbox. Sign up for our new wedding planning e-newsletter, "Perfect Memories, Perfect Pittsburgh Weddings," and receive free, customized wedding advice. Each month, you'll receive articles and tips related to your stage in the wedding planning process: from choosing your reception venue to picking your dress and from hiring a florist to deciding on your first dance song.

You'll also be the first to know about special promotions, contests and announcements from Perfect Memories.

Click here to start receiving "Perfect Memories, Perfect Pittsburgh Weddings" today.

Pittsburgh's record-setting wedding vow renewal

Head over to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette to watch some video of this weekend's world record-setting marriage vow renewal ceremony.

The ceremony, officiated by Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, was part of the year-long celebration of Pittsburgh's 250th birthday. Read our previous coverage here. 750 couples renewed their wedding vows together. From the footage, it looks like many of the couples who participated were older. . .celebrating 40 to 60 years of marriage.

Perhaps they'll do it again in 50 years in honor of Pittsburgh's 300th birthday.

Pittsburgh flair: Black & gold DIY invites

Yet another idea for throwing a stylish black & gold wedding. Miss Chickadee at Weddingbee shared photos and instructions for her DIY save-the-date cards, in black, white and yellow:
She created save-the-dates, but you could easily translate this concept into wedding invitations, menus, programs and more. Simple and stylish.

For more black & gold ideas, check out my previous posts on a black & gold wedding: style, candy and Terrible Towels.

Image from Weddingbee

Pittsburgh flair: The Terrible Towel

Want to really bring some Pittsburgh into your wedding? Have a Terrible Towel send off at the end of your ceremony or reception. Imagine the bride and groom walking through a stream of guests waving the towels, acting like the Steelers just won the Super Bowl:
Whether you're having a black & gold wedding or not, the Terrible Towel send off can be a great way to incorporate some Pittsburgh-style fun into your wedding (take a look at Knottie Pittsburgher's bio for a real wedding example). Plus, using Terrible Towels offers some side benefits as well. Terrible Towels:

• Can double as favors for your wedding guests.
• Raise money for charity. Proceeds benefit the Allegheny Valley School.
• Prevent messes, unlike rose petals, rice, confetti or bubbles. Chances are your site won't restrict them.
• Make for one cool photo.

The Mike Feinberg Company sells Terrible Towels at bulk discounts. If you can't afford to buy one for every guest, ask around: many of your hometown family and friends probably own one already. Or you can just line your exit with your bridal party members, saving on the number of towels you need to purchase.

Image from Charm Bracelet

New Year's Eve wedding in Etna

Head over to the Post-Gazette to watch this video and read this story about a couple who were married in Etna on New Year's Eve.

The couple, Franklin and Daniele, exchanged wedding vows outside at the same gazebo where they met as teenagers at the bus stop. Very cute story, and I love the cars honking their good wishes in the background!

Pittsburgh flair: Sports garters

Many Pittsburgh brides choose to wear a garter that represents their (or their husband's) love for one of our local sports teams--usually the Steelers, though I'm all about showing the love for the Penguins and Pirates myself. Google "Steelers garter" and you'll find thousands of Web sites selling different versions of this wedding tradition.

Unfortunately, combining the ultra-feminine laciness of a typical garter with the sporty colors and logos of your favorite team can result in gaudy hideousness (case in point one and two). And, whether the garter is officially licensed or not, many sites charge a premium for purchasing a team-affiliated item.

Enter Kristi's Charmed Life on eBay. Here you'll find the garters previously sold on the Morning Glory Garters eBay site. The sports team garter sets feature sheer organza accented with a bit of ribbon, a sports pin and one team logo for a simpler, cleaner look than most other sports garters out there. Plus, for around $20, you can purchase both a keepsake and a toss garter in the set, making this site my recommendation for Pittsburgh sports garters.

Kristi's Charmed Life currently offers garters for the Steelers, Penguins and Pirates. She also sells a Penn State garter in her college collection, though no Pitt or WVU garters are currently for sale.

Visit me at the Pittsburgh Bridal Show this Sunday!

Stop by the Perfect Memories booth at Sunday's Pittsburgh Bridal Show from noon to 4 p.m. at the Four Points Sheraton Pittsburgh North. Admission to the show costs $5. Take home some sweets from our mini candy bar and learn more about our wedding planning services. We'll also be giving a way a door prize (a collection of four wedding planning books).

Hope to see you there!

Pittsburgh flair: Heinz Chapel weddings

One of the most popular locations for ceremonies in Pittsburgh, Heinz Memorial Chapel is a gorgeous setting for weddings. Couples have been saying "I do" at this historic chapel in Oakland since 1946 (check out this great story about three generations of brides who wed at Heinz Chapel).

Of course, since it is such a popular venue, having your wedding there can be tricky business. You or an immediate family member must be affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh in some way (as a student, alumni, faculty, staff or board member) or be an employee of Heinz. Booking your desired date and time at the chapel might be a bit challenging, especially on popular dates. To secure your spot, take the advice of some former Heinz Chapel brides:

• Call Heinz Chapel on the first of the month, 12 months before your wedding, at 8:30 a.m. (so if you're having a July 18, 2009, wedding, you'll want to call on July 1, 2008).
• Recruit several family members to call as well to increase your chances to get through (you'll often face busy signals and will need to keep redialing).
• Try calling from an on campus phone at Pitt. Many brides swear you'll have a better chance to get through.

Of course, if you can be flexible with your date and especially with your time, you'll have an easier time. Many Friday and Saturday morning time slots remain open, and if you pick an off-season date, you can often find Saturday afternoon and evening ceremonies available.

If you're getting married at Heinz Chapel, remember that you'll face some restrictions since so many couple marry there each weekend, most notably with time and decorations. The benefits, however, far out way the restrictions, as you'll be sure to have a beautiful ceremony with great memories (and photographs!) to last a lifetime.

Images from Heinz Memorial Chapel

Renew your vows and help Pittsburgh set a world record

I posted a few months ago about Pittsburgh's plans for the largest marriage vow renewal as part of Pittsburgh 250. You can now register to take part in this record setting event, which takes place February 10, 2008 at the Carnegie Music Hall in Oakland. Visit this site for more information and to register for "Re-Union: World's Largest Wedding Vow Renewal."

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, about 500 of the 700 spots for couples remain. If registration fills up, 1,400 people will renew their wedding vows together in a ceremony officiated by Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl. Afterward, couples will enjoy champagne and cake and take home gifts bags for their participation, plus have a chance to win prizes.

The site says to dress as if you're attending a wedding and encourages couples to don their wedding gowns and tuxedos.

Whether you just married the love of your life or have been together longer than you can remember, sign up for this unique event and be a part of Pittsburgh (and world record) history.

An inside look at a Pittsburgh Pirates wedding

Did you ever wish you could see the wedding of a Pittsburgh sports star? Saundra at planning. . .forever events recently planned the wedding of Pirates starting pitcher Zach Duke and his gorgeous bride Kristin in Indiana. You can get an inside look at their wedding, and at the life of an event planner in her four-part recap:

• Part I
  
• Part II
• Part III
• Part IV

Enjoy...and congratulations to Zach and Kristin!

P.S. My schedule's a little off this week. . .come back tomorrow for a brand new Fab 5!

Pittsburgh flair: Black & gold M&M's

Trick or treat! I had to do a candy-related post today, and what better way to express your Pittsburgh pride than with some black and gold M&M's?

You can buy M&M's in 22 different shades, which makes it easy to coordinate with your wedding colors if you want to use them for favors or a candy bar. But, if you're putting together Pittsburgh-themed welcome baskets for your guests or have a Pittsburgh-themed wedding, pick the colors that represent our town best.
MYMMS.COM sells 7 oz. or 5 lb. bags of individual colors online. You can also head down to the Strip District or many other candy stores and hand pick your own combination.

Also, you can add an extra touch by personalizing your M&M's. Create a custom message like you names and wedding date, welcome or thank you (if you go through the business site, you could even upload your monogram or other artwork). Unfortunately, the site doesn't offer customized candies in black--but then again, just customizing the yellow ones and buying a bag of standard black will save you some money.

On top of all that, you can even have the candy arrived packaged in one of four favor options. You could certainly do this part yourself for less, but if you don't want the hassle, this option's for you.

I hope everyone has a great Halloween! Don't eat too many sweets!

New local wedding resources

I recently added a couple of resources for brides and grooms planning weddings in Western Pennsylvania to the Perfect Memories Web site:

• Pennsylvania Marriage License Guide: What you need to know about obtaining a marriage license in Pennsylvania, and links to local county offices.
• Pittsburgh Wedding Calendar: Dates for area bridal shows, trunk shows and more. Submit events here.

I hope to add more resources to the site in the future to make your planning easier, so check back often. Are there any topics you'd like to see a resource on? Leave me a comment below and I'll see what I can do!

Pittsburgh flair: PNC Park weddings

Take me out to the ballgame. . .err, wedding. . .
PNC Park, home of the Pittsburgh Pirates, can be a unique setting for your wedding. With many different options to choose from, the ballpark boasts amazing views of Pittsburgh. When the Pirates aren't playing, you can host your reception in the swanky Lexus Club or on the Pittsburgh Baseball Club Level, in Gunners or Keystone Corner (you can even leave out the pools tables for your guests, if you want!). Your wedding can be as formal and traditional as you like--added baseball elements completely optional.
Want to get even more creative with the space? Use the dugout for a cocktail hour. . .or as a memorable spot for your wedding ceremony!
I also love the idea of tying in a Pirates game with your pre-wedding activities. You could host your rehearsal dinner inside PNC Park, or at one of the nearby restaurants like Outback Steakhouse, Atria's or SoHo. Then you and your wedding party can enjoy the game. Or, purchase group tickets for all of your out-of-town guests for a pre-wedding get together (if paying for everyone's ticket is out of your budget, you could offer them the chance to purchase at the discounted price--they might be interested in a chance to check out the ballpark).

First image: Clip from Modern Bride, Photo by Weddings By Heather
Second, third and fourth image: Pittsburgh Pirates

Pittsburgh flair: Guest welcome baskets

Many brides choose to provide a welcome basket or gift to their out-of-town guests--usually containing snacks or information on the wedding and local attractions. You can drop these welcome packets off at the hotel before your guests arrive and they'll be awaiting them at check-in (Tip: On the day your guests check in, have someone make sure your guests are actually receiving the gifts. Hotel desk staff can get overwhelmed by several different weddings on the same weekend and may forget to hand them out).

To really welcome your guests to the area, treat them to a basket of local goodies. You can head out to the store and pick up some Pittsburgh classics, or order from A Basket of Pittsburgh. This gift basket company offers three different welcome boxes ranging from $12-$20 (not a bad price for the contents and the work you'll save by not putting them together yourself). Each one comes in an incline box, and you can add a personalized ribbon with your names and wedding date. Some of the treats included in these welcome boxes include Clark bars, Troyer Farm snacks and Iron City beer nuts.

Just add some info on your wedding and some local guides and you'll be all set!

(I'm having some difficulties uploading images right now. . .check back later! UPDATE: Problem solved. -Lauren)