This bride, this wedding... will always hold a special place in my heart. Keirstin and her mom came to Glitter & Grit just four days after I unofficially opened for business. They were both frustrated from prior shopping experiences and close to giving up on finding the wedding dress that was right for Keirstin. Truth be told, my heart sank a little as I realized how... almost beat down they seemed, and what a hard time they had been having; I wasn't sure that I could bring them back from there...

Keirstin might have been my first purchasing customer, but what was more fulfilling than that for me was turning her experience around. Hearing her vision for her wedding day, I knew Keirstin was in the right place; I couldn't have been more excited when she told me they were getting married at Stage AE, and she would love to find a dress with which she could wear her leather jacket. If you know me at all, you know I'm a complete sucker for a bride in leather! When they left the store, the smiles, gratitude, and happiness filled me up with joy. That was the moment I knew, without a doubt, that I was in the right place, doing the right thing.

Keirstin wore the Elizabeth by Nicole Miller (you MIGHT recognize the back!), with a custom sash by Camilla Christine, both from Glitter & Grit. Keep reading to hear more from the bride!

all photos are courtesy of Josh Mariana Photography

q. When you tried on your dress, how did you know it was the one?

a. Before coming to Glitter & Grit, I had gone to at least 4 or 5 more traditional, larger bridal shops.  They were pretty awful experiences!  Other than, "Not strapless!"  I was having a hard time articulating what I wanted in a dress.  When I tried on what would eventually become my dress, I knew it was the one because it was comfortable!  I loved the way the satin felt, and it accentuated all of my favorite parts about my body.  The back is so cool!  I could immediately picture myself both walking down the aisle and partying my ass off in this dress.  Plus, my mom started crying when I came out of the dressing room!

q. What was your groom's reaction to seeing you in it?

a. Rob's face said it all.  His smile was ear to ear, and his eyes were all sparkly.  Turns out they were tears!  Right after the ceremony, we had a brief minute to ourselves in the back room.  He made me step back so he could really soak it all in.  I loved that he wanted to do that!

q. Please share your favorite thing about Rob.

a. My favorite thing about Rob is his inquisitive nature.  He pays incredible attention to detail in everything he does.  Rob is always pushing himself to learn new things, and is able to talk to pretty much anybody about pretty much anything.  He's also hilarious, and quite romantic.  I love that combination of characteristics. It's what makes him a great fit for me.

q. Did you incorporate any traditions into your wedding?

a.Our wedding party was not-so-traditional.  Only our siblings stood by our sides during the reception - my brother on my side, and Rob's sister Christine on his. However, we still did incorporate quite a few traditions into the wedding. We both come from Irish heritage, so we asked out siblings to read an Irish blessing during the ceremony.  Also, for our return down the aisle we had our guests ring bells for good luck according to Irish tradition.  During the reception, we used my mother's heirloom champagne toasting glasses, which my great grandmother brought to America with her from Ireland.  

q. Please describe the most memorable moment of the day.

a. The whole day was so magical!  To choose one, I'd say stepping out of the backstage area to see the ceremony aisle and backdrop come together the way they did.  It was spectacular! Add on top of that the emotional tidal wave that hit me seeing all of our friends and family together in support of our love, as well as my favorite person in the world waiting for me... memorable moment, indeed!

q. Do you have any special advice for future brides?

a. Be genuine to your own style as a couple.  Choosing the venue was the biggest decision for us.  Stage AE really set the scene for the whole vibe of our wedding!

Sunshine! Warm weather! Fun parties!

I'm feeling inspired by the actual, final arrival of Spring... This little collection of Etsy finds features the Arlee by Whitney Deal, available at Glitter & Grit; a perfect find for your modern museum wedding, bringing in bright pops of color and geometric shapes, to play off of the bodice details on the dress. You could even play with this idea - and dress - for your shower!

Arlee by Whitney Deal, available at Glitter & Grit * geometric bib necklace by Boo and Boo Factory
needle felt bouquet by Fairyfolk Weddings

swizzle sticks by French Knot Studios * gold pinata by Confetti Ln
LOVE sign by Red Cedar Woodcraft * heart magnet favors by Lovelyfest Goods

invitation suite by upup * Aria belt by Camilla Christine, available at Glitter & Grit
Geo Curtain by French Knot Studios

I'm very honored to present to you the socially conscious pop-up bridal shop, Wed Altered, at Glitter & Grit April 4th & 5th, and at the I Made It! Hitchburgh event on Sunday, April 6th! Offering ethical and eco-friendly wedding dresses, veils, accessories and more, Wed Altered is the perfect place to start planning for your socially conscious, green, offbeat, alternative, or all around one-of-a-kind wedding.

Let me tell you a little more about the collections that will be available that weekend:

Dame Couture offers a collection of vintage-inspired dresses, cut and sewn in Chicago, often using re-purposed vintage fabrics and trims and natural fibers. Looking for a 50's silhouette and lace? You'll love these designs!

Peace Love Bling sources their designs from women business owners, artists, and disadvantaged women who have fled Tibet and Western China to find education and safety for their children.Ooffering handcrafted, genuine jewelry that is fairly traded at affordable prices, Peace Love Bling is a great place to find accessories for yourself and your bridesmaids.

The Rania Hatoum Collection represents sophistication and modernity in each gown with an understanding that every woman wants to look and feel beautiful on her wedding day. Rania reveals her culture, background and everyday influences as she strives to make fashion that is timeless and elegant. Only the finest fabrics, lace and embellishments go into each gown Rania designs, truly creating one-of-a-kind pieces.

Behind every Celia Grace wedding dress is a story as beautiful as the dress itself: handmade eco silks, a Fair Trade women’s sewing group, and a water filter donated to a family in need.  Celia Grace wedding gowns are simply gorgeous, flattering, and comfortable and fun to wear thanks to light-as-air silk heirloom silks and vintage-inspired lace.  Each dress is made for the bride with great care and exquisite craftsmanship. Celia Grace provides its seamstresses with safe, fair, and empowering work that gives the women dignity, respect, skills, and self confidence so that they can better themselves, their families, and their communities.

Solitary Pearl dresses are pretty, flattering, and practical enough that you can enjoy your day. Almost every dress is 100% silk, the kind of silk you can just look at and feel it’s richness and beauty. Most of the silk used by Solitary Pearl to make wedding dresses is hand-woven using natural processes at a Fair Trade certified company in Cambodia. They support the women in their community and do absolutely beautiful work. The silks that aren’t handwoven come from facilities their suppliers checks to make sure the artists are treated fairly. With the exception of a very small amount of laces, they work with all natural fabrics. All Solitary Pearl fabric waste is given to local artists at no cost. It helps them grow, and it helps the designer's goal to be environmentally conscious.

A favorite amongst fashion-forward brides, Veronica Shaeffer has a reputation for classic, feminine gowns with thoughtful, unexpected details. Veronica's bridal gowns and accessories  speak to a bygone era of true femininity and luxury.  Only the finest fabrics are used and each piece is the utmost in quality and detailing, made in the US. I can't wait to see her 1960's-inspired 2014 collection while it's here!

Janay A Handmade and Lindee Daniel are already a part of the earth-friendly offerings at Glitter & Grit; Janay A creates handmade wedding gowns for eco-chic, unique brides.  Designer Janay Andrews is passionate about sustainability, and merges this with a love for clean, focused designs to create her signature gowns and custom dresses for brides across the continent.

Lindee Daniel's eco-luxury collection evokes elegance with an edge, weaving together exquisite sustainable fabrics and endless details, while giving back, helping at-risk youth.  Her gowns are created by hand in Los Angeles, using exquisite and exclusive wild and peace (cruelty-free) silks, organic cottons, and other natural fabrics. Colors are either from the natural color of the fiber, or by a natural dyeing process.

If ethical and earth-friendly are on your wedding must-have list, I hope you'll take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to experience all of these amazing collections - and don't forget to schedule an appointment!

i was working on my computer at home one day last week, with the t.v. on in the background, not paying much attention to whatever mindless crap that was showing. then this commercial came on. and i found myself having a very physical and emotional reaction to it. seriously. take a moment and go watch it - i'll be right here when you're finished.

if you're in pittsburgh, i don't need to tell you that it feels like the last week or two has really solidified that this has been a rough winter.... i thought it would be nice to offer a mini-escape from the cold temps with a little interweb love today. enjoy the links below!

* a bright and lovely winter salad *

* 6 tips for a lasting relationship *

* such a sweet, sweet song *

* infinite reasons to be happy & hopeful *

* what is it about ladders? i want them everywhere *

* reconciling marriage as a feminist *

* sarah jessica parker's new shoe line offers some great wedding options  - for you or your 'maids *

* every wedding is perfect *


and ^ that ^ is all you need to know. have a lovely weekend, friends. hug your hunnies.

i never really understood the whole wedding video thing. until i met megan from pictory productions.

one look at her work, and i instantly felt my first wedding regret: i didn't have anything capturing all of those moments in between photos, the action that we missed, or our besties doing a reading from calvin & hobbes, to the surprised enjoyment of our guests. i only have my foggy memories of the kind blessing our bartender/officiant gave us, my father-in-law's teary toast, and i've only heard about the fun that happened away from the tables and dance floor.

if you've ever thought that you might like a videographer for your wedding, you should consider pictory productions.

if you haven't? you should DEFINITELY consider pictory productions.

read on for more from megan:

when did you enter the wedding industry?
-Knowing zilch about the wedding industry, I shot my first wedding for a friend in the fall of 2011. Within six months, I made Pictory a full-fledged company.

what was your most glittering moment in your business?
-Surviving my first year in business. I went from 2 weddings in 2011 to 20 in 2012. It was trial by fire, completely chaotic for a newbie and I loved every minute of it.

what's your grit, or your specialty?
-I specialize in creating 5-minute highlights of the entire wedding day. They're candid, intimate and upbeat. They're like pocket-sized dance parties that you carry around with you and want to show random strangers while you wait in line for coffee.

what is your favorite part of what you do?
-Being able to provide a memory that you'll love for a lifetime. A former bride once sent me a video of her baby watching their highlight. His eyes lit up and he was dancing to the music. That's what it's all about.

please share a most memorable moment in your adventures in the industry.-There's no one single moment that stands out. Most awkward moments include me watching the camera and not my surroundings which cause me to fall down into things like stairwells, groundhog holes and coy ponds. However, my favorite moments are always near the end of the reception when the last few songs are played. There's boundless energy and affection in those moments that I feel honored to be a part of.

please describe your ideal client, i.e. who will love you?
-My couples are fun and relaxed. They don't have a panic attack or start ranting if the limo driver is late or if their dress gets dirty. They're more concerned about being with each other and their loved ones than how the table settings are arranged.

gritty details:
established: Spring of 2012
price range: $1,950 - $2,650
inclusions or options: 5-Minute Highlight, 30-Minute Film and Raw Footage
location: Pittsburgh, PA / Earth
website: pictoryproductions.com
facebook: Pictory Productions
vimeo: Pictory Productions

elizabeth came to glitter & grit with a vision of a glamorous rock & roll bride swimming in her head. we brought that vision to life with the meticulously beaded mary by nicole miller, a faux fur stole by norma ishak (both available at glitter & grit!), and drop-dead flowers by mt. lebanon floral (a glitter & grit star vendor). the end result is somehow both edgy and dreamy; a perfect combination. thank you, elizabeth, for being so sweet and easy to work with!

i had a realization last week: i really love it when guys come along for a bride's appointment. be it a fiancee, dad, son, grandfather, or good friend, men have a different voice of support that can be insanely helpful.

we ladies have just a little bit of trouble completely removing ourselves and our tastes when shopping with someone else. personal preferences, while openly acknowledged, come into play and things like, "it looks lovely on you; it's just not my style - but it's so you!" are said. it's only natural for us to see a beautiful dress on a friend or loved one and take a second in our minds to consider whether or not we would wear it! there's nothing hurtful in such things, but it's not exactly helpful, either.

the comments that men make are purely based on how the dress looks on you, and their understanding of your style.  they're not distracted by that tiny moment of imagining the dress on themselves (well... at least i don't think so - and if so, to each his own!). it's a really refreshing perspective, and one that's worth considering. to witness a dad's heart swell with love for his beautiful daughter; to hear a fiancee's pure, simple compliments; to see the son's approval via two thumbs up? priceless.

each couple feels differently about the traditions of keeping the dress secret from the groom, and i completely respect that (my husband decided that he did not want to know, while i would have been more than open to him seeing it before the wedding!). but talk about it - don't just assume that he wouldn't want to be a part of the process. consider including your dad or other important men in your life; you won't regret it, i promise!

and... not to toot my own horn, but a few of my male guests have commented on how comfortable they are in glitter & grit. win!

i'll give you two guesses what inspired this post. and you shouldn't need both of them!

it's been COLD. we all know that. inspired by frosted windows, weird super-cold dry snow, and the lindsay by nicole miller (available at glitter & grit), here's a little icy "white wedding" etsy collection. enjoy! and stay warm...

frosty little bridesmaids dresses by ouma

back drop necklace by chrysanth * lace robe by tessa kim * head wreath by the yellow peony

cake topper by oh dier living

distressed white mason jars by the roche shop * assorted silver straws by the pretty party shoppe

i mean, really: with a name like schnoodelberry farm, do i really need to say anything else?


how about this:

COME. ON.

okay, but really: this is a magical place, perfect for your smaller wedding, especially if you're an animal lover! i went a couple weeks ago to check it out and was treated to a surprise, freshly cooked breakfast that was DEEElish, and a lovely kiss from joe the llama. score! the owners, nada and fred, are laid-back and their home and grounds are both beautiful and well thought-out. schnoodleberry farm is also a bed & breakfast, so there is a room available for bride's accommodations the night before and for getting ready before your wedding.

keep reading for more photos and some info from nada.

when did you enter the wedding industry? what made you want to do so?
-We have been having family weddings at our farm for the past 20 years, but opened up to the public in 2012. We wanted to do this when we saw how much people enjoyed our family weddings. We also wanted to share the joy of our beautiful gardens and farm animals.

what was your most glittering moment in your business?
-We are most proud of the close relationship we have with everyone who has gotten married here as they have become like family and continue to keep in touch.

what's your grit / what sets you apart?
-Schnoodleberry Farm is truly my dream. It is a one-of-a-kind place where the gardens and farm animals blend together as part of the environmental landscape. Where else can you get married where some of your witnesses are peacocks, turkeys, alpacas and butterflies.

what is your favorite part of what you do?
-I love being part of such a personal and important part of someone's life and being able to share that day with them by helping to create their dream wedding.

please share a most memorable moment in your adventures in the industry.
-One couple who are planning a Spring 2014 wedding wanted goats in attendance and so the groom purchased goats as a Christmas gift for the bride and they are now living here at Schnoodleberry Farm.

please describe your ideal client, i.e. who will love you?
-Schnoodleberry Farm's niche is for the client who is planning a small intimate wedding of 50 or fewer people (although we can accommodate up to 150). The ideal bride and groom would be excited about having farm animals such a llamas included in their wedding photos and the sounds of peacocks and chickens in the background of their wedding video. They would embrace all of this as part of a very elegant and sophisticated wedding celebration.

gritty details:
established: 2012
price range: $1,000-$2,000
amenities / inclusions or options: Venue rental, parking accommodations and bride's overnight accommodations the night before
Location: North of Pittsburgh, 6 miles from Saxonburg and Butler, 13 miles from Cranberry
website: visit us on Facebook or WeddingWire.com
phone: 724-352-5828 (home) or 724-822-0500 (cell)
facebook: Schnoodleberry Farm