Are you sitting down for this?

Planning your reception seating can be a huge headache. Your mother isn't speaking to her sister. You don't want a "party table." Everyone from work is coming, yes, everyone. Where do you put them all?

There are a few ways to tackle this task, but first you have to wait until you have all of your invitation responses in. Enlisting your planner to get those last few stragglers on the phone can be a big help. Once you know who is and is not attending your wedding and reception, the fun begins!

Google has a great template here.
If you are more a visual person, like me, try this method.

The good news is that you typically do not have to complete this until a week or so before the big day, so you have some time.

Once everyone is settled into their places on the chart, you can start to think about how you will let guests know how to get there at the reception.

You can make things as complicated and fun as possible:


As simple and beatiful as you like:


As tailored to your theme as you can possibly get:


Or the best reflection of your personalities that you can imagine:


Whatever you choose to do, make it big! There is nothing worse than 150 people all squinting at the same tiny poster!

Candles

Nothing says drama like a table full of candles. The flattering glow makes everyone look amazing, I guarantee your guests will be stunned, and you cannot beat the price. What's better than that?!


This combination of white flowers and silver vases makes a very simple and chic statement




Simple and elegant


This is my absolute favorite! The wooden boxes used to elevate the bowls could be books, cake stands, or even wine glasses.

Something Borrowed offers a huge selection of votives and church candles in every size and shape. With 12-15 candles on each of your ten tables, you could potentially decorate everything for right around $200!

Macarons

A unique addition to the cookie table, macarons will surely wow your guests! Macarons (pronounced like macaroni without the EE at the end) are also gluten free. Made with almond paste, egg white, and buttercream frosting they are a more elegant GF choice than a rice crispie treat!

If you can't make your way to Lauderee, head over to Jean-Marc Chatellier's French Bakery in Millvale - hands down the best macarons in Pittsburgh. Just a few dollars for a little piece of heaven.

There are a million adorable ways to display macarons, these are our favorite:


All lined up on a towering topiary


Simply presented as they are, delicious


As part of your centerpiece or as a subtle pop of color on the dessert buffet


Or even cascading down your cake!

The sweetest thing

Candy buffets - guests love them! And as a bonus, they take the pressure off of you when it comes to favors and extra desserts. A cute velum bag at each seat and fully stocked jars of goodies are all you need for a sweet ending to your big day.


Do it Steeler style!

Keep it elegant with black and white treats


Match your bridesmaids dresses


Go crazy with childhood favorites

Most companies charge per person, usually from $5-$10. That can get a little pricey with bigger weddings, so why not do it yourself?
Ordering bulk candy couldn't be easier!

You'll need about 1/4 pound of candy per guest, so for 100 people plan on purchasing a minimum of 25 pounds of candies. 5 different types of candy should be more than enough variety for most guests.

For an all pink candy buffet*, you could get:
Raspberry candy sticks, 80 sticks, $15
Pink and white sixlets, 5lbs, $30
Maple bacon salt water taffy, 5lbs, $30
Pink wintergreen buttermints, 5lbs, $20
Strawberry yogurt covered pretzels, 5lbs, $25
Total: $100 or $1 per person!

Something Borrowed has beautiful apothecary jars and scoops available for rent for just $10, bringing your grand total to $1.50 per person for a sweet and thoughtful sendoff! Enjoy!





*All prices from nuts.com
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Our new intern

We are so lucky to have a new member on our team: Brittany!

Brittany attended CAPA, the Creative and Performing Arts high school in downtown Pittsburgh. Her area of study was musical theater and costume design. Then she went on to pursue the art of floral design at the Floral Design Institute of Portland, Oregon. She has obtained a certificate in advanced floral and wedding design. She then worked with Blooms Florist as a designer and wedding consultant. She then went on to achieve a certificate as a event planner and is doing an internship with On the Nose Events where she is getting hands on experience to learn and become great event planner.

We have worked together on several events, including an intimate New Year's Eve wedding. For that she created the beautiful chandelier hanging here:

The couple collected branches from their family homes while visiting for the holidays. Brittany wired, formed, and sculpted this gorgeous wreath to hang over the stage during the ceremony.

We are looking forward to seeing what other amazing creations she can whip up!

Something Borrowed

Here at On the Nose Events, we are super excited to announce the launch of our new business:

Something Borrowed!

Something Borrowed specializes in wedding and event decor rentals. We know firsthand how tough it can be to plan your dream wedding on a budget; Something Borrowed is just what you need! Browse through our hundreds of items online or stop by our studio to see it all in person. Don’t see what you want? Contact us and we’ll work with you to get the exact look you want at the price you need.

We love planning weddings and events, but can’t stand how wasteful and cost-prohibitive beautiful decor can be for our clients. Our solution?  To curate a collection of the most-requested items and offer them at a fraction of the price, with none of the waste. Something Borrowed will save you time, money, storage space, and the hassle of trying to coordinate one more thing on your big day!

The site is simple to navigate and fun to shop! Check it out! Looking for the perfect decor for your next event? Try Something Borrowed!

Here are some photos of our rentals in action:

Apothecary jars, church candles, hanging votives, and twinkle lights

 

Burgundy linens, apothecary jar, glass votives, submersible LEDs, and cylinder vases

 

Twinkle lights illuminating the ceremony

 

Contact us to learn more or to make an appointment for a consultation

 

Something Borrowed Online

Facebook Page

Location, location, location

Pittsburgh has so many unique wedding venues! As I started to research and write my piece about all of them, I came across this:

http://iheartpgh.com/2012/01/09/15-creative-places-to-have-your-wedding-in-pittsburgh/

Couldn't have said it better myself. Enjoy!