One way to bring a unique element to your wedding is your cake topper. Something so simple has the potential to make a big statement at your wedding, and there are plenty of choices these days! Sites such as Llardo, Etsy and Pinterest supply countless ideas to make your cake topper unique.

Monograms and initials are also a great way to top your wedding cake! We love them because they are personalized, go with any theme and add a touch of elegance.

Personalization can go a step farther by including names instead of initials.

We also love the idea of using a saying on the top of your cake!

The classic Mr. and Mrs. is always a beautiful choice for your cake as well!

Flowers are also a gorgeous way to add color and incorporate your theme on your cake.

We love the use of these cake toppers to bring a smile to your guest’s face!

For more fun and fabulous cake toppers, make sure to check out our Pinterest boards!

Photography is a very important part of a wedding. It is the best way to capture special moments and preserve them for a lifetime. It is also a wonderful way to share the big day with those that could not attend. We reached out to fabulous Pittsburgh photographers and asked them about some of their favorite outdoor locations to shoot photos. We received some great responses and beautiful shots that highlight each photographer’s work.

Cyndi from Araujo Photography said, “Pittsburgh has so many surrounding areas that are gorgeous!  I usually prefer perfect lighting and minimal background distractions over popular landmarks. That is why this field in Sewickley that we just stumbled upon was perfect!”

Elizabeth, from Craig Photography said, “One of our fave places to photograph is Mellon Park because the mix of architecture, florals and Mother Nature makes for so much depth in photographs.”

Tiffany, from Hot Metal Studio said, “We are big fans of nature and natural light for portraits. Most outdoor locations also happen to be outside the city of Pittsburgh. I recently had the opportunity to shoot at the Hyeholde and was blown away by how beautiful it is.”

Laura, from Laura Kathleen Photography, said, “There are so many great spots in Pittsburgh, but one of my favorites is Mt. Washington.”

Lynne Goldstein, from Goldstein Photography, said, “This shot was from the Mellon Institute on Fifth Avenue. The pillars make a great, royal, and elegant background for a bride and groom. The steps are wonderful for bridal parties.  … But the reason I love shooting at the Mellon Institute is the lighting.  It is always perfect!  This shot doesn’t even show off the architectural appeal of my favorite spot, but it shows the lighting and the intimacy between the bride and groom.”

Michael Will sent us a stunning image from Washington’s Landing.

Do you have a favorite location in Pittsburgh? Natural light and outdoor locations are popular with photographers and make for some absolutely stunning shots! Thank you to all of the Pittsburgh photographers who submitted images!

Just a few weeks ago, West Elm opened in Bakery Square. The Event Group’s offices are located in the East End of Pittsburgh, so we thought we would take a quick field trip to check out this new store. Many of our brides enjoy shopping at West Elm for apartments and homes decorations and furniture, and it is a popular place to couples to register.

The store is large and bright with lots of furniture and home accessories.

It was fun to check out their Pittsburgh section. This section was home to locally-sourced gift items, and each item is made by a local Pittsburgh resident. We loved the personalized touches. Many of the gifts would make great wedding gifts to a Pittsburgh couple. This section is unique in that in changes every few weeks so there is always something new to check out.

So if you are ever in Bakery Square and looking for a great place to find a wedding or shower gift, be sure to check out West Elm!