Photo courtesy of LNS Studio LLC
2019 Northern Connection
Wedding Guide
2019 Northern Connection
Wedding Guide DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel PittsburghCranberry At the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Pittsburgh-Cranberry, we take care of everything so you can relax and enjoy the best day of your life. Allow us to plan your perfect day at our newly renovated venue designed with a contemporary mid-century modern flare. We have every-
thing you need in customizable packages for ceremonies, weddings, after parties, overnight accommodations, farewell brunches and all of life’s celebrations. With a grand ballroom accommodating events of 50 up to 700 guests, we are the perfect location for the most intimate of affairs or the grandest of galas. Our all-inclusive wedding packages may be custom tailored to your personal taste allowing your vision to come to life. You will work directly with our preferred vendors
to choose the fresh floral centerpieces, color-coordinated napkins, chair covers, sashes and bridal cake of your dreams. Top of off your evening at Ember & Vine, woodfire oven + social bar with an impressive selection of craft beers, signature cocktails and late night bites. Learn more at doubletreewedding. com or contact our wedding coordinator at 724-778-4171 to schedule an appointment to visit our Hotel.
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Lenzner Coach Lines You’re getting married! Congratulations! It is now time for the planning to begin. A wedding means a long checklist of to-do items, and Lenzner Coach Lines would love to help take care of all your transportation needs. We offer various size vehicles for bachelor/bachelorette parties, rehearsal dinners, wedding party transfers and guest shuttles for your big day. Travel as a group and leave the driving to us! Plan your celebrations to include the safety of a professional driver so everyone can have fun. You can remove the stress of driving for your out-of-town guests by offering transportation from the hotel to your venue and back on your special day. Lenzner Coach Lines has been providing safe and reliable transportation in the Pittsburgh area and across the nation since the company was founded in 1939. We also offer motorcoach tours to various locations across the U.S. and Canada, and we are proud to be the transportation of choice for many local schools, universities and professional sports organizations.
Please call the Lenzner Coach Lines charter department today to discuss all the wonderful options we offer, and get started on making transportation one thing you don’t have to worry about! Call: 1-888-345-2436
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LNS Studio LLC
LNS Studio LLC specializes in wedding, engagement, portraiture, events, pets, and landscape photography. Owner and primary photographer, Lauren Smith, knows how to coax the best expressions from her subjects. “Most photographers tell their wedding couples to act naturally, but for many it’s not natural to be in front of a camera. I tell my brides to take a deep breath, look at their partner and think of the reasons why you’re getting married and how much you love them. Those candid moments between them are usually the favorite photographs,” said Lauren, who covers the Pittsburgh area but is willing to travel to nearby states and has her passport ready to go for those destination weddings! She loves working with clients to create their vision. “I do outdoor and urban settings
or activities that have meaning for the couple like mini-golf or biking. I also use props or furniture in an open field to make the mundane into something extraordinary,” said Lauren. She advises booking early; the sooner the better. “Many dates are popular, so it’s best to book when you have solidified a date, or for family shoots when there is a day that works for everyone being photographed,” said Lauren. For more information on LNS Studio LLC, visit: lnsstudiollc.com, facebook.com/lnsstudiollc or instagram. com/lnsstudiollc.
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Table Talk Linens Table Talk Linens offers a wide variety of classic and trendsetting linen rentals for every budget. At Table Talk, we transform banquet tables and chairs into elegant pieces that beautifully accent any event. We invite Bride’s to come in for a creative consultation to achieve their desired look. Table Talk houses our linens on site at our Babcock Boulevard warehouse and show room. Because our linens aren’t shipped in from other states, Table Talk can be flexible to your needs right up to the moment your event begins. Table Talk Linens offers all levels of service from simply renting linens to full set up at your venue. It is our goal to make this process as
fun and creative as possible. Table Talk Linens priority is to make your event a great success while being stress-free. 412-828-5000 Check out our website at www.tabletalklinens.com Like us on Facebook @tabletalklinens Email us at info@tabletalklinens.com 3238 Babcock Blvd., Pgh, PA 15237
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Life is Too Short to Blend In Find your unique style at Jewelry by Alicia & Scott. From unique and rare gemstones and diamonds to the most classic of styles. Shop our in-stock inventory in our showroom, or make an appointment to have
a custom-design consultation. Using the most up to date tooling and technology paired with an in house bench jeweler, this husband and wife duo can tackle almost any design. Check out Jewelry by Alicia & Scott on Facebook and Instagram to see what fun projects they are currently working on. Store Info: 306 Warrendale Rd. Wexford PA 15090 724-934-6296 info@jewelrybyaliciaandscott.com www.jewelrybyaliciaandscott.com
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Windswept Entertainment & Events Windswept Entertainment & Events is dedicated to making your wedding special. Windswept helps take the worry out of event planning. Our event specialists and crew take pride in offering excellent service and ensure that your special day will run smoothly and efficiently from start to finish. Our tents are made with UV-blocking fabric. Keeping the inside cooler in the summer and warmer on colder days means you can create the exact venue you want any time of the year. With our Party CAD Design System, you will also be able to see the setup and positioning of chairs, tables
and tents as well as enjoy a virtual reality walkthrough. Need an on-site consultation? Our professional event specialists can visit the event site to measure and ensure the perfect set up for your event. We can be your one-stop shop for: DJs / Bands, Fabric Draping, Lounge Furniture, Custom Lighting, Dance Floors, Tables, Linens / Sashes, Chair Coverings, Dishware, Flatware, Generators, Tents, Stages, Entertainment, Restrooms (3 or 5-unit options with flush toilets, hot running water and climate controlled) and more. Whatever you need to make your day special, Windswept Entertainment & Events has it. Our goal is to have you experience the very best in party rentals! www.WINDSWEPT.com 724539-1009.
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The Art Expose By Janice Lane Palko When you open the door at The Art Expose, it’s like opening the lid of a treasure chest as it is filled with an abundance of beautiful and unique pieces from around the globe. Located at 120 Church Road in Wexford, it is the place to visit when you are looking for that “special something,” be it a gift, an item for the home or just to treat yourself. “We consider ourselves a bou-
tique because we are small and carry niche merchandise,” said Carolyn Dorazio, owner of The Art Expose and curator of the collectible, one-of-a kind items that come from around the world. There are items from Madagascar, Australia, Italy, Cambodia, Africa to name a few and from around the U.S. There is wearable art—Secret Threads clothing from India and Rowallan handbags from Scotland as well as decorative items like prints from Italy and Quill art from Vietnam. The more you browse The Art Expose, the more you discover. If you are looking for an heirloom quality wedding gift--one that will make the bride and groom recall your good wishes on their big day--The Art Expose has it. You can choose from hand-crafted porcelain pieces, sculptures and glassware. “If you see something and you want it a bit different, I can contact the artist to have it customized and get the item usually within 5-7 days,” said Ms. Dorazio. With such a stunning array of one-of-a-kind pieces, those who have never ventured into The Art Expose may think that they only carry expensive items. “We have items ranging from the inexpensive to the pricey, but no matter what the piece is, it is special and cannot be found in a chain store,” said Ms. Dorazio, who invites anyone to discover the treasures awaiting them in Wexford. The Art Expose is open Tuesday-Friday 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday 12-4 p.m.
Getting Fit for Your Wedding Day By Joella Baker
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our wedding day is the perfect motivation to help you focus on getting fit, losing weight and making sure you fit into your dress on your special day. If you already have a great fitness and nutrition plan, then stick to it and simply make a few changes pre-wedding day. If you’re starting from scratch, below are nine tips to keep you on track as your wedding day approaches. • Start a fitness routine or add to your current routine. If you’re new to exercise, start out slowly. Ask for help and do what you can to stick to a plan. You may want to join a gym and get a personal trainer. It’s best to have someone who can hold you accountable through your fitness journey. • Start a food log. During your wedding preparation, you will be sampling foods, going to parties and celebrating a lot. It’s important to keep this under control as much as you can. When you go to sample foods, don’t eat everything, take a couple bites, and that’s it. Get a notebook and write down everything that you eat each day. • Fill up at breakfast. So many people think a granola bar, a small bowl of cereal, a piece of fruit is enough breakfast for you. It’s not! You need to fill up at breakfast. It will keep you from getting too hungry throughout the day and over-eating later. • Cut back on the alcohol. Alcohol is filled with calories, and even though you’re in celebration mode, it’s important to watch all the calories you take in. All of them. That includes the alcohol. If you do drink, sip your glass slowly and enjoy it for the flavor instead of drinking it for another purpose. • Get your rest. Getting enough sleep will keep everything in check. When you get enough rest, you make better choices in your food. When you get enough sleep, you’ll be rested enough to stick to your workout plan. Try to go to sleep at the same time each night and wake up at the same time each morning. Sticking to a schedule will allow your body the consistency it needs to be rested and stay strong. • Drink a lot of water. It will keep your body hydrated. This will help you make better choices when eating. It will also help your skin to look beautiful and glowing. • Always start your day off right. This means get up on time. Don’t hit that snooze button. Get up and exercise. Eat a great breakfast and start your day off the way you need to. • Keep a snack on hand. When you get hungry during the day, grab a healthy snack. This will keep you from getting overly hungry and binging on foods you shouldn’t eat. • Manage your stress. Easier said than done—I know. But keeping your stress levels down will also help you in being more mindful of what you’re eating. What’s a great way to relieve stress? Exercise, of course. It all comes full circle. The three main things you need are great food, lots of water and exercise, and you will be ready for your big day. So, start today. Get to the gym, meet with a personal trainer or sign-up for some great classes, strength classes and cardio. Stick to your plan. Eat smart, get a lot of sleep and always have a bottle of water with you. 4 4 4