Incorporating Animals into Your Wedding July 26, 2018

Animals can add such a unique element of fun to your special day! It’s hard not to crack a smile when you see llamas dressed in tuxedos headed in your direction. Whether you’re using your own furry friend or renting some special guests for your event, you’ll be sure to capture some special (and comical!) moments that you’ll cherish forever.

So, you’re sold on the idea but aren’t sure what animals to use or how to incorporate them into your wedding? Here are a few different options:

 

1.    Incorporating Exotic/Rental Animals

Incorporating animals into your wedding isn’t quite as crazy of an idea as it may seem at first. Traditionally, in Hindu or Sikh weddings, the groom will ride in on a decorated white horse or elephant. As these pictures show, it’s sure to capture your guests’ attention!

 

Although renting an elephant might be a bit of a challenge, renting horses, llamas, or doves for your event can be an easier, much more reasonable option.

There are plenty of companies around Pittsburgh that will rent out animals for weddings. For doves, PA Dovecote in Allison Park is one local option. They offer any number of doves ranging from two to twenty or thirty!  Or, if you prefer not to release the birds, a pair of love doves in a beautifully decorated cage will make for a great photo-op. You can also check out Memory Maker White Dove Releases or Doves of Love for more pricing options (links included at the end).

 

If you’re Looking for llamas or other farm animals, the businesses listed in the links below are a great starting point! And, of course, you can’t forget the Pittsburgh Zoo or National Aviary options. These venues allow your guests to visit just about any animal they could imagine – and the Aviary will even allow a special guest (penguin, parrot, owl, etc.) to appear at your event! For more information, check out http://www.pittsburghzoo.org/Wedding-Receptions or https://www.aviary.org/wedding.

 

2.    Incorporating Your Very Own Furry Friend(s)

Your pet is already such a huge part of your life – why not incorporate them into your special day? The moments captured with your furry best friend by your side will be memories that are sure to make you smile for years and years to come. Aside from capturing your guests’ attention (and receiving a ton of “aww’s!” as your pet walks down the aisle all dressed up!), including your pet on your wedding day adds a personal touch to an already special moment.

 

Of course, there are some factors to take into consideration before you make your pet an official guest and/or work them into the ceremony.

• It’s important to leave plenty of time to do a few runthroughs prior to the main event. Watching your pup run off in the other direction is funny the first few times, but when it’s your actual wedding ceremony you’re going to want him/her to make it from one end of the aisle to the other in a decent amount of time.
• Consider your dog’s personality. Do they like crowds? Are they comfortable receiving lots of attention for extended periods of time? Make sure you’re keeping your four-legged friend’s best interest at heart when you’re making these decisions.
• There are some logistics to work out before your wedding day. Remember:
  • You may have to train your pet
  • You’ll need to hire someone to care for them throughout the night and return them back home
  • You’ll need to communicate with your venue to make sure animals are welcome

However, don’t let these aspects deter you from including your pet. There are plenty of businesses that you can hire to care for your pet during your event, handling all of these logistics for you. For example, Pawfect Day (http://www.pawfectday.com/weddings/) will groom your pet, take care of bathroom breaks, play with them, and even return them back home after your event.

Whether you’re renting animals or using your own furry friend, your guests are sure to love this fun addition to your wedding day. As long as you take the time to make the right preparations, you’ll have an easy, unique aspect of your wedding that your guests will be talking about for years to come!

 

Links

Doves:

PA Dovecote – http://www.padovecote.com/weddings.html

Memory Maker White Dove Releases –  https://memorymakers.net/wedding-releases/

Doves of Love –  http://dovesoflove.net/

 

Farm Animals:

Wild World of Animals – (https://wildworldofanimals.org/our-work/parties-events)

Mywedding.com – search for “Pittsburgh horse and carriage rental” -(http://www.mywedding.com/find-vendor/pittsburgh-pa-us/horse-carriage-rental)

Entertainment Unlimited – (https://www.entertainmentunlimited.com/animal-acts/

 

 

Our 5 Favorite “Getting Ready” Photos September 25, 2017

***Photos courtesy of Leeann Marie Photography, Joey Kennedy Photography, and Dawn Derbyshire Photography

 

Some of the most precious moments happen while you and your bridal party are getting ready for your wedding day. Here are our 5 favorite photo moments to capture on the morning of your special day!

 

1)   Accessories, please!

Considering the time and energy you’ve put into selecting the perfect accessories for your big day, it only makes sense to photograph them! We love photos of the bride’s jewelry, shoes, nails, and even the garter!

 

For an elegant backdrop in your jewelry photos, bring a decorative tray with you! This monogrammed jewelry tray available on Etsy is perfect. https://www.etsy.com/listing/506143131/monogrammed-acrylic-tray-jewelry-dish?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=jewelry%20tray&ref=sc_gallery_1&plkey=6fe41db62fb87725b4c7f834714e98b320ffcc02:506143131

 

 

2)    Pop… Fizz… Clink!

Enjoy some time with your bridesmaids by popping mini bottles of champagne in cute matching satin robes or even PJ’s! Trust us, the photos will be adorable.

 

 

3)    The DRESS

Your dress deserves a spotlight of its own – at least for a minute! For photos of your dress, be sure to have a large window or another well-lit backdrop.

 

Pro Tip! Buy a customized wooden hanger for polished photos of your exceptional gown. This customized hanger (available on Etsy) is chic and classic. https://www.etsy.com/listing/111274165/wedding-hanger-bridal-hanger-with-date?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=customized%20gown%20hanger&ref=sr_gallery_1

 

4)    Strike a Pose

Recreating some of your “getting ready” moments for your photographer can make for the most precious photos. While you are putting on your dress or fastening your necklace, take a minute to pose!

 

Wedding, Editorial, Commercial photographer

Pro Tip! Schedule your photographer’s arrival to coincide with the start of your eye makeup. Capturing your base makeup isn’t too exciting.

 

5)    Guaranteed Tear-Jerkers

Who doesn’t gush over a photo of a father helping his son tie his tie on his wedding day?  Or a photo of the flower girl gazing up at the bride and her dress? Here are some of our favorite gushy getting ready moments:

 

Pittsburgh’s National Aviary Is Perfect For Love Birds August 17, 2015

We couldn’t help but share this recent Hello Productions’ wedding at The National Aviary, located in Pittsburgh. Located in West Park on Pittsburgh’s historic North Side, the National Aviary’s diverse collection comprises more than 500 birds representing more than 150 species from around the world, many of them threatened or endangered in the wild.

 

We of course went wild over these two “love birds”. Photo credit to Tara Petro Photography.

 

 

Looking for more information about having an event at the Pittsburgh Aviary? Visit their website at http://www.aviary.org or give Hello a call!

 
 
 

Five Things To Do When You First Get Engaged August 4, 2015

Have you or someone you know recently get engaged? First of all, congratulations! It’s such an exciting (and often overwhelming) time. Here are five things to do put on your checklist. You will have plenty of time to figure out all the other details later!

 
1. Start a notebook.

From the moment you get engaged, your friends and family (and probably some strangers!) will immediately start sharing their ideas and you will want to write them down (or at least the good ones). It’s also not a bad idea use a binder or a notebook with a pocket to save pictures, clippings and samples.

 

2. Set the Date.

It may seem early to narrow down the date right away, but you will need the date for almost all aspects of planning. If you both have your hearts set on a certain venue, you may need to be flexible with the date. Popular venues often book events more than a year in advance. If you’ve picked a particular day or weekend, you will want to have several venue options in case your first or second choices aren’t available.

 

3. Set the Budget.

It’s important to sit down and decide on your budget at the beginning of the planning process. If your parents or other people are contributing to the wedding, make sure to include them in the conversation. Once you have your numbers in mind, you can steer your planning in the appropriate direction and be mindful before things get out of hand (and over budget!).

 

4. Set the Style.

Even if you’re not sure of the venue or any other details, you and your fiancee should start to discuss the type of event you want to have, such as formal or casual, indoors or outdoors, or perhaps a theme. Knowing the style of wedding you want will help you ask questions when choosing a venue.

 

5. Celebrate!

It’s so exciting to get engaged. Take time to write down how it happened. You may want to use your story for a wedding website or as part of your ceremony. Tell your family and friends so they can share in the excitement with you.

 

Bonus Tip: Consider a Consultant.

With so much research and planning, many brides and grooms opt to have help. Consider hiring a wedding planner (like Hello Productions!). Not only can they save you time researching venues, caterers, florists, photographers and bands, but they also offer support and alleviate stress on the actual wedding day. Most wedding planners offer a range of packages, from full wedding planning to day of help. You can request a quote from Hello Productions here!