are you looking for a beautiful, peaceful oasis within the city to hold your small wedding, or other wedding events {rehearsal cookout, day after brunch, etc.}? yes? then. you need to know about choderwood. nestled between the allegheny river and allegheny river boulevard - at the base of washington boulevard - in highland park, this property is perfection in a just under one-acre package.
there is such a variety of gathering spaces, and such an air of relaxation, i was immediately imagining all the different kinds of soirees i could hold here just so that i could spend as much time as possible enjoying the river views, company of chickens, and the sound of the breeze in the trees. three minutes after your arrival, any notion that you are within city limits is gone, gone, gone.
and, in my opinion: the best part of this? the owners, jody and steve, are amazingly kind, interesting, and imaginative. i really feel that they thought of every possible setting a person could dream of, and made it possible. choosing choderwood for your event supports their dream, and validates all of the hard work and consideration that they put into the property!

here's more from jody:

when did you enter the wedding industry? what made you want to do so?      
- After decades in Corporate America, my husband and I both retired from our jobs during 2013 and are starting a new chapter in our lives.  We have a very unique home situated on the Allegheny River in the City of Pittsburgh. During the 12 years that we have lived at Choderwood, we have lovingly created a variety of gardens (potager garden, shabby chic garden), koi ponds, a Meditation Hut, fire pit, swimming pool/pool house with fig and lemon trees, Amish built garden shed and chicken coops, and a hot tub overlooking the Buddha Bed as part of our urban sustainable homestead.  We enjoy entertaining and sharing our touch of Eden on the river.       

what was your most glittering moment in your business (what are you most proud of)?
- I organized the first ever City of Pittsburgh Urban Chicken Coop Tour - Chicks-in-the-Hood, which has successfully showcased urban chicken farmers throughout the City while raising money for local non-profits such as Grow Pittsburgh, Just Harvest and the Food Bank.  I was  featured on the front page of the Wall Street Journal for the Coop Tour, and as a lawyer, it certainly was a big deal to be featured on the front page of the WSJ without being indited!

what is your favorite part of what you do?
- I enjoy entertaining and ensuring that people have a memorable, fun-filled good time.  Watching people relax and enjoy themselves is my favorite thing! 

please share a most memorable moment in your adventures in the industry.
- One of the most memorable events we've hosted was a clam bake at the fire pit along the banks of the Allegheny River on a starry summer night.

please describe your ideal client, i.e. who will love you?      
- Choderwood is a relaxed, non-traditional urban venue for the non-traditional bohemian, cowgirl/cowboy with a touch of anti-bride symptoms!     

gritty details:
established: 2013
price range: Prices vary depending upon number of guests, starting at $300
amenities / inclusions or options: We supply the venue {comfortably accommodates about 75 guests}. We can make recommendations for all of your other wedding needs from caterers to party tents to music to wedding doves or goats! 
location: Choderwood is located in the City of Pittsburgh on the Allegheny River, very close to the Pittsburgh Zoo.
phone: 412-441-4975

one of the most-asked questions at glitter & grit is where to find bridesmaids dresses that aren't a nightmare of crappy fabric or provided with terrible customer service... a lot of people end up at david's for their bridesmaids because it makes things easy when your ladies are spread out all over the country. STOP THAT RIGHT NOW. seriously. there ARE other options! since i have no immediate plans for offering bridesmaids dresses in my little shop, i thought i might send you in the right direction.

first up is bella bridesmaid. with over 40 locations around the country - and growing - you can easily choose dresses for your friends to check out in their area. bella bridesmaid was created to fill the overwhelming need for chic, stylish, and wearable bridesmaids dresses. with collections including joanna august, jenny yoo, and ivy & aster, your 'maids will be able to select a beautiful, modern dress to wear as they stand beside you on your big day. what i really love is that this is a store catering specifically to your bridal party, so you won't be sifting through prom dresses to find more appropriate options. visit bridget at pittsburgh's location to check out the selection!

next, i want to share something truly awesome with you. let's all just admit that pretty much no matter how much you want your friends to find something that they're so comfortable with, they'll actually wear it again, it's pretty rare that, in fact, happens. i'm not saying never-ever, but most of us love the excuse to buy something new to wear to each event we attend! {guilty. so very, very guilty.} so let's be real and give your bridesmaids a change to borrow their dresses for your wedding. what!?! little borrowed dress is awesomesauce. browse their online collection and email, tweet or pin your favorites to get your party’s opinion.  bonus: order a free fabric swatch to ensure a perfect color match! double-whammy-bonus: they'll include a second size with every rental - free of charge, just in case!

and lastly? free-for-all's are pretty damn good. if you truly want your ladies to wear their dresses again, get rid of the label. shop out of the box. it totally works... i asked my gals to select something that was in one of the colors that we were using to decorate; and left the rest up to them. and they looked awesome.

ansley, the president and event director of bliss events ltd., was another amazing vendor with whom i worked on my first photo shoot, before glitter & grit opened. i was just blown away by the vision put into that project, and ansley was an absolute delight to work with. she's a star vendor because i could tell how much thought and care she put into that little project, where we were each our only clients; i can only image how hard she'll work for you! below is a little from the lady herself:

when did you enter the wedding industry? what made you want to do so?
– I entered the wedding industry in 2007 when I began working at Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens.  I had experience with corporate planning, but when I came to Phipps I fell “IN LOVE” with planning weddings!  Two years later, I launched Bliss Events Ltd. and never looked back!

what was your most glittering moment in your business (what are you most proud of)?
– That’s a really hard question……  I’ve had so many moments that really made me feel proud of all the hard work I put into each event!  Every bride I work with is incredibly special to me.  I feel all “glittery” inside when on their wedding day I see them insanely happy ~ filled with joy & love.  That’s so gratifying, more than I could ever explain!

what's your grit? what sets you apart?
– I would have to say my grit is that I don’t have any rules for my clients when it comes to their style.  It’s their wedding and I help them through the entire planning process, backing them and “their dream and vision”!  Why not have fun; it’s your wedding!!!

what is your favorite part of what you do?
– One of my most favorite parts of working with my clients would be having fun with them while we are working.  I want them to ENJOY their engagement and the planning stage, and not stress!  This is one of the most memorable times of their lives and they should enjoy every second of it!

please share a most memorable moment in your adventures in the industry.
– That would hands down be planning an entire wedding in only 7 ½ weeks from start to finish.  The bride didn’t even have her dress, venue, anything…  There wasn’t time to blink, just act and pull her vision together!  This was over 2 years ago, and we still keep in touch with each other.  It’s strange to think that in a short 7 ½ weeks that you can pull together an entire wedding and create a friendship along the way. 

please describe your ideal client, i.e. who will love you, what's your style/niche?
– I love to never have a wedding be like any other.  They are all unique in their own way and I embrace the different personalities and styles that my clients posses. 

gritty details:
established: January 2009
price range: $2,000 - $20,000
amenities / inclusions or options: custom packages are available
Location / travel boundaries: Bliss Events is based in Pittsburgh, PA.  We have coordinated events in destination cities     in the US, and coming soon, Bliss Events will be a destination specialist for weddings in Italy.
website: www.blisseventsltd.com
phone: 412.889.7517
facebook: Bliss-Events-Ltd-Pittsburgh-Wedding-Planners

the only thing worse than a monday disguised as a tuesday is the friday that won't quit after said tuesday (deeeep inhale), while the sun is shining and summer is winding down...   here are some fun things to help you finish out your day.

* car maintenance for the ladies. or anyone less-than mechanically inclined *

* dear bridal industry: we do not owe it to you to be pretty *

* three ways to arrange supermarket flowers *

* this sauce looks amazing. i'll probably be making it this weekend *

* “The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud.” {Coco Chanel} ~ see 9 more quotes from powerful women here *

* fictional couples who broke our hearts: can you choose just one as a favorite? i can't *

* 6 things to do on a saturday morning in pittsburgh *

* gorgeous DIY watercolor paper flowers *

* the ultimate kid-friendly wedding. i'm pretty obsessed with everything about this, but especially the bridesmaids' skirts! *

* i don't know about the "greatest," but i'll agree to "great:" slow-mo cat gifs. win *

coming soon to glitter & grit: hand in hand sustainable soaps! i don't even know where to begin with HOW AMAZING this company is, and i am thrilled to be offering their products to you. why would a bridal shop carry soap, you ask? read on to find out!

not only do these soaps have gorgeous packaging (designed by the amazing Joy Deangdeelert Cho of Oh Joy) and beautiful, natural scents; there are so many little bonuses packed into that little bar, it makes my heart all aflutter:

• when you buy one bar of hand in hand soap, they give one bar to those in need of better hygiene and cleaner water, through existing non-profit organizations that have the infrastructure in place to properly distribute their soap to those who need it most
• for every bar of soap purchased, hand in hand donates one month of clean water to one person through their clean water program. they just "cut the ribbon" in june on their first well that will provide clean water to those who would otherwise not have access to clean water. this first well will provide clean water to over 240 families every single day.
• 50 square feet of rainforest saved for every bar of soap sold.
• Each bar of soap is 100% eco-friendly, biodegradable, and contains ingredients ethically harvested from sustainable resources.
• hand in hand soap is certified by fair trade usa, to be made with ingredients by workers and farmers who are justly compensated and treated fairly.
• hand in hand does not test on animals, and all of their soaps are vegan. yay, cruelty-free!
• green packaging and shipping: all soaps are packaged in 30% recycled materials. hand in hand purchases carbon offsets for each shipment, as a way to counterbalance or compensate for the greenhouse gases produced during shipment.

*phew!!!*
i think that's everything...

so, where do you come in? couples have been giving hand in hand soaps as their wedding favors! what a wonderful way to thank your guests while doing good, right? as a part of hand in hand's wedding favor program, you will be able to purchase your hand in hand favors at wholesale price (just $5.50/bar!) through glitter & grit, and your order can either be shipped directly to you, or to the store for you to pick up. in just a few days, samples of the bars will be in-store for you to view - and smell! - before deciding which amazing scent and/or stunning packaging you choose for your favors. how kick-ass is this!?!

we had a day or two of cool weather here in pittsburgh and my brain was immediately ready for fall... instead of the usual rusts and browns, peaches and apples, i'm really being drawn to simple, natural colors. here's a little round-up of some great etsy finds that remind me a a toasty, oat-colored fall sweater, inspired by the lindee daniel laya gown, available at glitter & grit. enjoy!

laya gown by lindee daniel, available at glitter & grit * baby's breath bridal crown by which goose
wildflower felt bouquet by muncle fred art * wheat boutonniere by seasonal bounty

paper flowers by balushka (what an amazing backdrop!)

bridesmaids dresses by armoursans anguish * rustic clutch by kelly's keepsakes
wonder wrap bracelet by 31 bits, available at glitter & grit

so, you need alterations for your wedding dress? i have just the seamstress for you.

i heard about jen rocket long before i finally met her, and it was ALL good. instantly upon meeting her, i knew why. she's sweet, professional, and seriously talented. she gets involved in lots of cool projects that show her diversity and open-mindedness. here's some more about her, from the lady herself:

when did you enter the wedding industry? what made you want to do so?
-February 2012 I decided I wanted to work for myself like my mother did. I had 10+ years sewing professionally, honing my skills, and building my studio I felt ready for the challenge. So I opened up my studio to the public via my website and social media with the help of my wonderful husband/business manager Joey Rocket -and voila!

what was your most glittering moment in your business?
-I have these moments often. When a bride has her final fitting, there is a moment when she is glowing, and everything else disappears as she looks at herself in my mirror. I can tell that, for the first time, her dream dress has come to life and she is ready to go down the isle. That moment is why I do what I do.

what's your grit / what sets you apart?
-What sets me apart is intimate, personal attention. I am able to give each bride individual attention during their fitting, because it is just the two of us. I enjoy working with the bride on every detail of her gown to ensure that she has the absolute best results.

what is your favorite part of what you do?
-I am so happy to be able to work with so many beautiful gowns! I get to go inside them, see how they work and tweak them until they are perfect. I also find that many of my clientele are somehow fitted to my personality. I am sure word of mouth has something to do with that.

please share a most memorable moment in your adventures in the industry.
-I did an upcycle of a mother's 1981 Alfred Angelo gown for her daughter. It was very involved, and we had such a fun time with each fitting. She brought her family with her most times, and it was like a party in my studio. There was a moment when she put on the almost final version of the gown, and her grandmother smiled for the first time since her husband had passed. It was very special to be part of that. 

please describe your ideal client, i.e. who will love you?
-I enjoy creative people.  When someone comes to me with a vision--something that others would think impossible, but they have faith that it can be done, I love the challenge. We have tons of fun working together, sketching, and hashing out the idea. When I break out my stash of fabrics, trims, appliques etc. we go nuts!

gritty details:
established: February 2012
price range: Alterations start at $100, custom gowns start at $900 (see the project agreement pdf on the about me             page of my website). Alterations include basic sizing and hem work, reworking parts or whole gowns, and upcycling     vintage gowns.
amenities / inclusions or options: Personal attention. A commitment to your happiness and satisfaction.
Location / travel boundaries: Highland Park area; 5620 Callowhill Street #2, Pittsburgh, PA 15206. I do limited house         calls; call to check.
website: www.jenrocket.com
phone: 412.862.5459
twitter: @jenrocketstudio 
facebook: Jen Rocket Sewing/Design Studio
instagram: Jen Rocket

because no one can really focus on work all day long, i've rounded up some mostly entertaining but occasionally thought-provoking, not ALL wedding-related links from around the interwebs for you, below. enjoy, and have a lovely weekend!

* I believe that loving the skin you're in is really important. Akirah Robinson talks about moving your body because it FEELS good. *

* Like birdcage veils? Here's how to wear one! *

* 31 Mantras to get through that Fear Of Missing Out, and stay focused. *

* Perfecting the cheese plate *

* Glitter & Grit dress-up night, as seen by Rachel Tokarski Photography *

* A glow in the dark temporary tattoo!*

* Everyone in Pittsburgh is talking about the Knit the Bridge project, but have you seen the time lapse video? So cool.*

* Some kick-ass online dating advice *

* Wish you could green your routine? These might be the perfect thing *

* Alpacas have the best haircuts *

i'm just a little partial to today's star vendor, hot metal studio... they were the photographers for my wedding! i simply obsessed over their work, and then fell in love with their personalities. tif and jonathan (the cutie-patootie wife & husband team) really helped us feel relaxed and accommodated our every whim, including a drive up the road to the nearby alpaca farm for a few phenomenal shots! i'll let tif tell you a little about them...

when did you enter the wedding industry? what made you want to do so?
-Whoops, by accident?  We like to take pictures and shot a friends wedding for free.  It kind of snowballed from there. (we found out there were free cookies, so that sealed the deal)

what was your most glittering moment in your business (what are you most proud of)?
-Man that's hard.  Each wedding has a few of these moments in it.  It's really an ongoing thing.

what's your grit? what sets you apart?
-We love a unique wedding, and we're a bit unique ourselves.  

what is your favorite part of what you do?
-People!!! We've got a passion for loving on people, whether through photos or in life. 

please share a most memorable moment in your adventures in the industry. -One time, Jonathan had a fist full of sparklers thrown at his crotch by a drunk wedding goer.  That was memorable. 

please describe your ideal client, i.e. who will love you, what's your style/niche?
-Oh this is a good one.  We love personality and especially when it shines through your wedding.  We do this almost every weekend and couples are always surprising us with something amazing.  

gritty details:
established: 2009
price range: $350-$4000
amenities / inclusions or options: Full Res images with every wedding. Albums and prints available
location / travel boundaries: to infinity and beyond
website: hotmetalstudio.com
phone: 724.493.2691
facebook: www.facebook.com/hotmetalstudio
instagram: hotmetalstudio_tif

oh, and one last thing? you've got to check out their "about us" video; it's the best thing ever.