The Blog Of Accents Unlimited LLC

DISCOUNT ANNOUNCED - 2011

2011-11-29T01:32:00.007-05:00

Hello devout fans!

If you are a new inquiry as of Thanksgiving and book by Christmas Eve for your 2012 event, you will receive 10% off DJing services!

To sweeten the deal - I will randomly select one of these names for FREE uplighting or GOBO!!

Rules:

* Discount expires 12/24/11 at 11:59PM.

* Sorry - previously signed clients are not eligible.

* MUST receive contract and deposit by 12/24.

* Will pick name for free uplighting OR GOBO on 1/2/12.

*You MUST mention this post to get the discount.

GOOD LUCK!!!

Vendor spotlights coming VERY shortly!

SAVINGS!!

2011-11-16T10:06:00.002-05:00

Hoilday sale coming soon. Stay tuned!

Nice 1st dance option...

2011-10-07T03:14:00.003-04:00

LOVE

'I Can't Wait' - Runner Runner

Closing of a door -- and the opening of another...

2011-10-06T22:42:00.004-04:00

After serious thought, reflection and discussion with my husband, we are shutting down planning and coordination services, effective immediately.

ALL OTHER SERVICES REMAIN (and another added--see below) - DJ Services, Candy Buffet, Uplighting, Gobo, Slide Show Services and custom invitations and other projects.

We have loved every aspect of planning. To see an event from discussion to fruition was incredibly satisfying. We say thanks again to all of the clients that we have helped through these five years. We plan on posting some other pictures of our recently completed events soon. We also will be adding a vendor feature here in the near future. I want you to know about all of the wonderful vendors I have used with my clients! I would like to share what I have learned and continue learning with you and it is my goal to offer trends and ideas here from time to time. In addition, I will add more info for DJing clients here as well!

Our new venture?

ETSY!

We are opening our shop in the next few months. We will be offering everything from invitations (with many new designs!!)and wedding items to kids' party supplies and the like! We are so excited! We will update you when it opens and give you more info about our shop.

We may not be planning your wedding any longer, but we are still here to help you with EVERYTHING wedding. Need a vendor, need advice? PLEASE feel free to ask ANY wedding questions you want. We are here for you!

LED GOBO, up lighting + a full dance floor!

2011-06-08T18:18:00.006-04:00

Here is a video of us in action! You can see the PACKED dance floor as well as our up lighting.

Here are some pics of the gobo. Pardon the quality as it was still somewhat lit in the room (the hotel would not turn down the lights before and during dinner). I will post professional ones when I can.

Enjoy!

ANOTHER NEW SERVICE - GOBO!!!

2011-05-04T15:29:00.003-04:00

YES! We have gobo LED lighting now! We can project your monogram, name, etc. on the wall or floor.

Please contact us for more information.

Now offering LED up lighting!

2011-04-27T21:54:00.006-04:00

I am excited to announce that we have just purchased 6 LED up lights with plans to buy more soon. I cannot wait to show you pictures! We will be using them at a wedding in June, if not sooner, and will get you pics then.

We went with a great new product that is better than even the LED cans! They are more eco-friendly, they do not overheat or burn out (like a traditional up light) and they cover a larger area per inch than any can!

We are featured in Whirl!

2011-02-08T00:51:00.005-05:00

Whirl Magazine has featured us in their 2011 Wedding Guide.
Here is the online link: http://www.whirlmagazine.com/2011/01/28/inspiration-station/ and here is the publication page (below). We are very proud and over the moon! Thank you Whirl!

PS - We were also mentioned in Whirl in 2010 regarding our DJ services for Autumn and Derek's wedding!
http://www.whirlmagazine.com/2010/09/17/autumn-pollock-derek-kellogg

Wedding Wire Award Winner! 2 years in a row!

2011-01-31T21:31:00.004-05:00

WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, is thrilled to announce Accents Unlimited LLC has been selected to receive the prestigious annual WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011!

Recognition for the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 is determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 750,000 WeddingWire newlyweds. Our past clients are among those that shared their experiences on WeddingWire, the largest wedding review site in the nation.

Accents Unlimited LLC stands among the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire community, representing quality and service excellence within the wedding industry. Awards were given to the top wedding professionals across 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, and were based on the overall professional achievements throughout the past year.

“WeddingWire is honored to celebrate the success of the top-rated wedding professionals within the WeddingWire community,” said Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “With the annual Bride’s Choice Awards™ program, WeddingWire has the unique opportunity to recognize the best wedding professionals across the US and Canada. We applaud Accents Unlimited LLC for their professionalism and dedication to enhancing the wedding planning experience last year.”

We are happy to announce that Accents Unlimited LLC is among the very best within the WeddingWire Network, which includes leading wedding planning sites WeddingWire, Martha Stewart Weddings, Project Wedding and Weddingbee. We would like to thank our past clients for nominating us to receive the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011.

For more information, please visit our WeddingWire Storefront today at http://www.weddingwire.com/reviews/accents-unlimited-llc-west-mifflin/101f562c321e911a.html
For more information on the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011, please visit www.WeddingWire.com.

About WeddingWire, Inc.
WeddingWire.com, the nation's leading technology company serving the $70 billion wedding industry, is the only online wedding planning resource designed to empower both engaged couples and wedding professionals. For engaged couples, WeddingWire offers the ability to search, compare and book over 200,000 local wedding vendors, from wedding venues to wedding photographers to wedding cakes. WeddingWire also offers an online community and a suite of cutting-edge planning tools for weddings, including wedding websites and wedding checklists, all at no charge. For wedding professionals, WeddingWire provides free online management tools creating the only market opportunity that gives local businesses control over their clients, reviews, leads and performance. Businesses that join the WeddingWire Network appear on WeddingWire.com and other leading sites, including MarthaStewartWeddings.com (NYSE: MSO), ProjectWedding.com and Weddingbee.com (both part of eHarmony), and Celebrations.com (part of the 1-800-Flowers family of brands, NASDAQ: FLWS).

Newest Save The Dates!

2010-11-30T17:13:00.006-05:00

Check out the newest Save The Dates we have done!

Wedding Recap: Katie + Robert

2010-10-25T18:54:00.017-04:00

Sandy of Red Lotus Photography took these breathtaking photos of Katie and Robert's wedding. She captured everything (THANK YOU for getting all the decor elements!). She was incredibly great to work with and I recommend her. I love her style! These were taken from her blog (check out the rest). Sandy - I hope to work with you again soon.

Coordination/partial planning/DJ/candy buffet/slide show/invitations and all things paper: by us!!
Venue - Fox Chapel Golf Club
Photography - Red Lotus Photography
Floral - Flowers By Stacy

Lanterns, luminaries and lighting - oh MY!

2010-09-28T16:51:00.019-04:00

I have been immersed in reading the many breathtaking wedding blogs out there. And there are many. These blogs are a great inspiration to me and feed my creative soul.

With this inspiration, I am going to periodically present ideas that you could use in your wedding or event. I will link appropriately and also offer my own ideas.

Enjoy!

Lighting and Decor ideas.
I love luminaries and lanterns. These add beautiful hues of light throughout any space! These can be used in venues that do not allow candles. Thank God for LED, battery operated votives and floralytes. The luminary will hide the lighting source.

These would be soo pretty on any table. This seller offers different sizes and colors. The white ones below: 3 for $15.

{Pic courtesy of greenbaboondesigns on Etsy}

These could be hung in staggered lengths and in bunches - using several styles and colors.

{These are from the Paper Lantern Store and starlamps.net}.

Other neat lighted inspirations

{pic courtesy of The EveryDay Bride}

{Tin can pic (clicky for a how to!) courtesy of Shi Shi Girl}

{Pic courtesy of Paperacorn on Etsy}

{pic courtesy of treasureagain on Etsy}

Newest Review!

2010-08-11T10:18:00.013-04:00

Sorry for the lack of posts. It has been the busiest summer we have ever had!

Katie was a phenomenal client to work with. So creative and so hands on - and I love her for it!
I cannot wait to post professional pics of her wedding. It was so pretty. See below for ones that we took.

I am also going to upload her video as soon as I figure out how. I have been having issues trying to upload it. Will edit this post when it can be added.

Here is a review from Katie who used multiple services with us:

Invitations
"I used Jodi for my invitations. She did a fantastic job of listening to what I wanted, and creating something that was even better than I expected. She worked tirelessly to make sure that I had an invitation that I loved. I have received so many compliments on the invitations and how truly unique they are. She was very flexible with pricing, and I felt that she would do anything to make sure I was satisfied with my invitations. You cannot go wrong using Jodi for your invitations. From a very picky bride-to-be, I highly recommend her service."

DJ Services
"Jodi did a fantastic job as DJ for our wedding. She did a great job of announcing everything, and staying on top of our schedule. The music that she selected kept everyone dancing and having a great time. Jodi and her husband, Mark are professional, reliable, and very easy to work with. In the planning process, she is always available to discuss any questions or concerns that you might have. She will go the extra mile to ensure that your reception is fabulous and exactly what you want. I would recommend Jodi to anyone!"

Day Of Coordination and Slide Show
"I used Jodi of Accents Unlimited as Day of Coordination for our wedding. She was not truly a "Day of" coordinator, because she helped me throughout the entire planning process of our wedding. Jodi was also available to discuss any details or planning of the wedding, and even came to my venue to make sure that everything would be perfect.
Her assistant, Ellen, is also fantastic and did a great job of coordinating our ceremony. Ellen and Jodi work seamlessly together to ensure that everything runs smoothly. Jodi handles problems and challenges so well, and it was so nice having someone as a "go-to" the day of the wedding. She set up our reception beautifully, and we had so many compliments on how gorgeous everything was. Jodi also created a slideshow for us, which was amazing, and we will treasure it forever. We also had a candy buffet that Jodi set-up and managed. It was wonderful and it was nice not having to worry about dealing with the set-up or maintence. Previously in our planning, Jodi created our invitations, and we are still receiving compliments on them. She also created the programs for our ceremony, and signage for our reception, which was pretty and perfect, and done with our budget in mind. Jodi and Accents Unlimited are truly a multi-service business. Everything that they do is done with class, intelligence, and care. Jodi truly wants your wedding day to be perfect, and everything that she does is done with that in mind. I would recommend Jodi to everyone."

--Katie, Pittsburgh --7/10

Invitations

Candy Buffet

Dancin'!

Watching the slide show

Recap of the Diamond Dash!

2010-05-25T00:44:00.022-04:00

The 1st Annual Henne Diamond Dash was a HUGE hit!!

Here is the video from Channel 4. http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/video/23645986/index.html

Even though our company, or any other sponsor involved - aside from the amazing Henne Jewelers -- are not mentioned in this news story, Channel 4 used some footage for the piece from OUR location! :) How cool is that? Sorry! Had to gush a little. It was so cool!

--At :49 into the video, you see the couples singing (our idea to have couples sing a few bars from a song --- if that song was to be their vows) and that is one of our two assistants there that day! Lori stated: "...Go to the next location..."

A special thanks to her and Ellen Small for helping out --- since we had a wedding.

You girls ROCK!!

A HUGE congrats to Bill & Leeanne Stickman as they won that gorgeous bling!

See some great photos of the Dash from Joanne Bartone Photography! She was also one of many great sponsors for the Dash. Great pics, Joanne!

THANK YOU to:
Henne Jewelers

Mark Patterson

Kiss 96.1

Bar Louie

Mocha Rose

Exceptional Limo

Chairendipity

Pittsburgh Candy Buffet

Joanne Bartone

..any many others!

Accents Unlimited will be taking place in the 2nd Annual Henne Diamond Dash in 2011! Stay tuned!

PLEASE leave comments on YOUR 2010 Diamond Dash Experience! We want to hear more!

My two awesome assistants, Lori Reick and Ellen Small

That is a WTAE cameraman!

Contest

2010-05-21T02:21:00.002-04:00

Well....

Maybe WE will do a contest too...

STAY TUNED.

This Saturday -- who will win? Want to win a 'lil more?

2010-05-21T02:06:00.005-04:00

We are SO excited for this Saturday!

PLEASE let us know how the Dash goes! Comments are STRONGLY encouraged, fellow fans!

If you win the Diamond from Henne Jewelers, we will add a little somethin'-somethin'.

If you win the bling, and contact us (with proof--in other words, show us that rock!!), we will give you:

- a FREE slideshow OR $200 off any DJing or Planning Package -

Bling or no bling-- ALL "Diamond-Dashers" are getting a coupon from us on Saturday! That is the only clue we can give you. ;-)

It is going to be a GREAT time! You have until FRIDAY to sign up for the Dash!

WIN a $15,000 Engagement Ring!!!!!!!!

2010-04-28T19:43:00.004-04:00

We want to personally invite everyone to participate in a high-tech treasure hunt for a $15,000 diamond ring hidden somewhere in downtown Pittsburgh. We have partnered up with the folks running the Henne Jewelers' Diamond Dash on Saturday, May 22, and we want to give everyone the chance to join in on the fun!!!

The Henne Jewelers' Diamond Dash is a city-wide treasure hunt brought to you by Henne Jewelers. In this high tech treasure hunt, teams of two will be solving clues and riddles delivered to each team's cell phone via text message! The game is totally FUN and totally FREE!

Some lucky team of two will be celebrating at Bar Louie, Station Square (apx 2pm) with a diamond ring worth $15,000!!! The Henne Jewelers' Diamond Dash will kickoff at Heinz Field at 10am and teams will get ready to run, bike and dash around Pittsburgh for a hidden $15k diamond ring!

So you must be thinking how can I win a spot to compete for a $15K diamond ring? Good question! Everyone has to sign up to play at http://hennediamonddash.com, and submit their story on why they should win one of the limited spots in the contest.

If spots are limited, how can I be sure to win one? As a member of the Accents Unlimited community you are privileged to a keyword that will enter you in an exclusive pool of candidates. When submitting your story you must include the codeword, "ACCENTS" to be placed in the special candidate pool.

When will I find out if I'm selected? You will receive an email confirming your spot within a couple days. The contest will only be accepting entries until Thursday, May 20, and by the nature of limited spots the earlier you enter the greater your chances of being accepted.

We are very excited to be a part of this event. We hope that an Accents Unlimited community member wins!!!

Best of Luck! We'll see you on Saturday, May 22!!!

Cheers!!

As promised...

2010-04-05T16:53:00.006-04:00

As I stated many posts ago, here is the professional picture montage -all done by Joanna Fassinger -- of Autumn & Derek's wedding.

Tiffany & Larry - 9.6.09

2010-04-05T16:37:00.014-04:00

My personal favorite Pittsburgh videographer, DMB Videography posted this video montage that she created for Tiffany & Larry. I wanted to share it with you. I also got to work with the amazing Joanna Fassinger.

Tiffany & Larry, who reside in Florida, were married at the fountain in Highland Park and their reception was at the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium.

We planned most of this wedding (at the time of hire, only the reception venue had been decided) in about SIX weeks! We arranged all the elements, found the rest of their vendors and handled just about everything in between. Couple and guests had a wonderful time!

We also created their table numbers and drink menu.

Both venues are spectacular choices for a wedding or event!

Buying bulk candy?

2010-02-19T08:47:00.009-05:00

Some of you may be thinking about candy as a wedding favor or for a candy buffet. You may have been scouring the internet looking at pricing and shipping.

Well...

Did you know that you can buy candy in bulk right here in Pittsburgh? I bet you didn't!

The McKeesport Candy Company began in 1927 and is located in-- yep, you guessed it--McKeesport. It is located about 10-15 minutes from Kennywood. Here is the address for your GPS or to Google: 1101 5th Avenue, Mckeesport, PA 15132.

They feature over 2,800 varieties of candy ranging from candy bars to unwrapped and wrapped bulk candy from companies such as Brach’s, Jelly Belly, Ferrara Pan, Just Born, just to name a few. I have worked them and they are super! The prices are reasonable and you aren't going to pay shipping (if you are able to pick it up, that is). They do ship nationwide. As of today, they are offering free shipping on orders over $69.95.

The website: http://www.candyfavorites.com

They can even do personalization on the packaging of most bulk and wrapped candy for you as well!

If you pick up your candy in person, it will be cheaper than the price online! 25% percent!!!! Take a look at their site and then give them a call with your order.(412)678-8851.

Enjoy this tasty morsel of savings and deliciousness.

Valentine Special

2010-02-15T16:57:00.002-05:00

I am still in the spirit of love even though Valentine's Day is over.

From now until February 28, 2010, We are offering 20% off DJ and Planning packages!!

You must mention this blog to get the discount. Enjoy!

Doubletree Bridal Showcase

2010-02-04T21:08:00.005-05:00

We are going to be participating in the Doubletree Hotel's Bridal Showcase by the Pittsburgh International Airport on Sunday, March 7, 2010 from 12pm to 4pm.

We will have information about all of our services, information folders, giveaways, service discounts and more!

You can take this opportunity to meet me in person and ask any questions!

Hope to see you there!!

Please call the hotel to get information on registration.
This event is free.

Slide Shows aren't just for weddings!

2010-01-26T11:50:00.009-05:00

A slide show presentation can strike a cord in anyone if done right-even if you don't know them! It should provoke emotion and truly showcase its subjects.

Slide shows can be used for so many occasions:

Weddings
Parties
Anniversaries
Birthdays
Graduations
Bar/Bat Mitzvahs
Holidays
Corporate Functions

They also make thoughtful gifts! Give a slide show as a Mother's or Father's Day gift- or for that special grandparent. How about for the family who lives far away or serving in the Armed Forces?

We work with you to get it exactly as you want it. Each show is about 15 minutes but it can be as long or as short as you like. You are given 2 DVDs. If presentation equipment is needed, we have that too. Pricing and further information is available on our website.

We have more samples to come soon!

We've been awarded!

2010-01-20T16:58:00.004-05:00

And the award goes to...Accents Unlimited!!

We have been awarded a 2010 Bride's Choice Award™ with Wedding Wire!

The Bride’s Choice Awards™ are determined exclusively by recent newlyweds through extensive surveys and reviews, which means our past clients have spoken and selected us to receive this honor. We are ecstatic! Thank you all that made this possible!

Card Box Solutions That Go Beyond Your Wedding

2010-01-19T14:29:00.010-05:00

Are you wondering what you will provide to house guests' cards at your reception? Thinking about making your own? The task can be daunting! You want it to be elegant yet functional.

Look no further and buy this!

Kelly Marie Collections has what you need.

These are beautifully hand-crafted and come in different styles (black or white) and sizes (8" x 10" or 11" x 14"). It also comes with 2 beautiful skeleton keys with tassels attached, that lock the box so that you don't have to worry. Whether you decide to do pictures or something else on each of the 4 sides (there is a 5 x 7 photo insert on the top as well), it is easy to get them in and out.

We used this 8" x 10" one at a wedding and used the monogram we created:

If you are not accepting gifts, use it for guests to write down and insert words of wisdom. If you are accepting donations to your favorite charity in lieu of a gift, this is great for that, too.

What is wonderful about them, is that they can be used after the wedding. Use it for displaying your wedding pictures. Re-use it for birthdays, anniversaries, showers, parties and so on. It will be a conversation piece, no matter where the setting!

This could also be a child's keepsake box and be displayed in their room. Get one for each child!

A cube box style is also available.

The customer service is AWESOME. Kelly is SUPER nice, friendly and accommodating.
It is refreshing to connect with a fellow business owner with the heart and genuineness that she has! You won't get that service with a wedding store website.

If you decide to buy your own card box, please buy from Kelly Marie.

If you decide to rent one instead, rent from us! We have the black 8" x 10" available. Please contact us for details.

More DJ Pictures

2010-01-05T00:08:00.016-05:00

Here are some better pics of our equipment and lighting. All photography by the talented Joanna Fassinger.

These pictures take place during the regular dancing portion of this wedding (Autumn! ;) ). For first dance, parent dances, we use just the starlight ball (the white-lighted sphere - think modern disco ball) for the softest effect. We have some other lighting options available too for your wedding or event.

Happy New Year!

2009-12-31T11:14:00.003-05:00

2009 was a very prosperous year - professionally and personally!

- Mark and I had our first child!

- We worked with the best clients!

- We had more events than ever and got to work with new venues and vendors as well as with our favorites ones!

- We got the Bose!!

- We made new business relationships and friendships!

We look forward to 2010 and to working with more wonderful clients and vendors. We wish you the best in the New Year and all it has to offer!!

Happy Holidays

2009-12-24T11:36:00.001-05:00

Accents Unlimited would like to wish all of you very Happy Holidays and a wonderful New Year!

A Slide Show Super Sample

2009-12-24T11:24:00.014-05:00

I wanted to provide something to show you, so that you would have an idea of our slide show services. We can do any type of event. Graduations, weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, etc. We generally recommend a show of around 15 minutes when showing at an event.

This particular slide show is for a 2009 Grad. It was done for the daughter of a friend of mine. Because of that, it was pretty long! Some of the songs and quotes were picked by the mom, and some were picked by me.

Enjoy!

Ashley from Jodi Colella on Vimeo.

Special Wedding Savings!

For the month of January, we are offering couples our slide show services at 50% off if they book DJ Services with us! You will receive 2 DVDs, we will provide the equipment and sound as well as play the slide show during dinner!

Please go to the contact us page if you are interested. You must mention this blog post to receive the discount!

Free Fitness!

2009-12-04T13:07:00.003-05:00

Hi all! Accents Unlimited is teaming up with Balance Fitness. They are offering a FREE TWO WEEK boot camp or ONE WEEK FREE of Group Fitness. You must mention Jodi of Accents Unlimited. Great for brides wanting to firm up before their wedding or honeymoon-but not just for brides!

http://www.balancefts.com

They have 2 locations - Robinson and Cranberry

They offer personal training, yoga, pilates, zumba, body sculpting and much more!

Send an email/comment if you have any questions, otherwise go to their website.

Enjoy!

Love this! Ahh technology!

2009-12-03T01:26:00.002-05:00

The Planning Portal Explained

2009-12-01T13:42:00.009-05:00

Here is more information on the planning portal we offer to our DJ clients.

The planning portal is a great, interactive tool that allows clients to plug in information for their wedding or event as well as search the database for songs.

There are three sections that we like clients to use:

Planning Form
Allows you to design and coordinate every specific detail of your event, from event location and times to first dances and bridal party introductions. We also have a section so that you can enter the bridal party names phonetically so that we may pronounce correctly.

Event Timeline
This system will allow clients to coordinate with us and the other vendors the sequence of activities to take place during their special event.

Request Lists
This allows you to search for music right on the portal. You can do keyword searching, browsing, listen to song samples, read lyrics, view song suggestions, and build custom request lists, including a do not play list. In addition,you can attach special instructions or dedications to songs. Lists can be saved for continued progress. The planning portal has a default database of over 70,000 songs, updated weekly.

If you have a request that isn't on the database, you are able to enter it manually. We will search for a legal mp3 for your special request. If it is not available for download, please contact us so that we can come up with a solution.

With these valuable tools and communication between us, this allows for a seamless event to your specifications!! We are still there to assist with the planning, but thought this interactive tool was a great addition!

To take a test drive click here.
Plug in the date of January 1, 2012 and the password is client.

Just watch...

2009-11-23T03:57:00.000-05:00

Personalizing your wedding

2009-11-10T00:56:00.015-05:00

I constantly try to find ideas and look at growing trends that are more personalized and that add different details you don't see at most weddings.

Here some ideas that I suggest and love.

Create your own guest book
Places like Snapfish and Shutterfly often have great deals on photo books. Some of the big pharmacies are also offering them as part of their photo services. With the holidays and Black Friday fast approaching, some sweet deals may be offered.

Create a book with engagement pictures or other pictures of you both. Make them small enough to allow room for guests to write around it. Perhaps on some pages, ask some questions that guests can answer: What is your fondest memory of us? What words of wisdom can you offer us? You could also begin the book with the explanation of your love story.

Monogram it!
This is your stamp and distinctive label. This is something you can "brand" throughout your entire day. It can be simple or elaborate; traditional or modern; black or color-- and it can even change from ceremony to reception if you wanted to.

Put a monogram on paper projects like save the dates, menu cards, programs, etc. Rent a gobo and have it spot on a wall or floor of the reception. You can have a custom monogram created into a your cake topper! I have also seen it drawn onto the actual cake.

We love creating monograms! Contact us if you are interested in having us make you one or to see examples.

Table naming
I have worked with some brides who have come up with some fabulous ideas for their tables. The Armstrong Farms wedding I did in June named their tables after places they had vacationed. Another couple named their tables after landmarks and other spots around the college they attended.

You can keep the table numbers but create customized ones with various photos of you both.

I assisted a client with customized table numbers using her dog. They came out so cute and were a conversation piece!

There are so many other ways to make your wedding day unique. These are just a few. I will continue with this in future blog entries to give you even more ideas!

We are live!

2009-11-01T22:20:00.007-05:00

Our website is back up, as you may have noticed.

We are still working on it and learning our way around, but we hope you like our new direction into Flash. We have an HTML option there too, but you will get the best results in Flash.

More photos, colors and text will be consistently added. I am awaiting some pics from photographers we have worked with, so bear with us on the quality of some of the photos. We may offer multiple talents--but a photographer I am not!

We apologize for any inconvenience we may have caused during our transition.

WEBSITE MAINTENANCE

2009-10-28T12:49:00.005-04:00

The time has come!!

Our accentsunlimited.net website will be down for the next few days. PLEASE contact me here or go to www.weddingwire.com/accentsunlimited to get my contact information.

When we return, our site will be Flash!! :)

Thanks for your patience and keep checking back!

Favors

2009-10-20T23:07:00.013-04:00

So you are stumped about what to give as favors. There are many possibilities!

My thoughts are these: go green, go edible or go practical.
Edible favors are often a top pick of brides and work wonderfully. Everyone eats!

Edible Ideas
Sarris Candies, based out of Canonsburg, PA, has some options for you! I especially like the individual chocolate covered pretzels with personalization! It's only $1.25! and the Petites for $3.25 where each guest gets a mini box of four chocolates!

Go Green
You can grow herbs in cute mini pots or get these:

Give flower seed packets with customized label
Edible equals eco, too. Things like a grandmother's cookie or candy. Perhaps even include the recipe.

I couldn't resist these green woven boxes
Although I provided a link above, Google around for the best price.

Practical
Donate!
Give a donation to the charity of your choice and create an elegant but simple card at each setting stating that. Some charities may even have something to place at each setting.

Candy/Cookie/Dessert Buffet
These can double as favors. Provide cute, personalized to-go containers and bags for guests to take home.

Don't do:
Personalized products. I was at a good friend's wedding and she gave wine glasses with their names on them. A great idea, but honestly, I never pull it out to use it. If you choose to give an item, choose something that they will re-use. Don't give things with your names or pictures of you on them. They love you and all, but do you really think they will bring out your personalized drink coasters with engagement photo on it? Probably not. DO add a personalized label to an item, rather than personalizing the item itself.

Anything with strong odors.
NEVER EVER use anything strongly scented where food will be served. It ruins the appetite and can get quite nauseating. It can also affect people with allergies.
This goes for your candles at the venue as well.

I would say however, that coffee grounds or beans could be an exception but it is best to have it in closed containers.

Have fun!!

Place Cards

2009-10-20T22:58:00.007-04:00

I was glancing through an addictive wedding blog, Style Me Pretty, and saw these great ideas for place cards. These photos were taken from there.

I love the "split peas" (or what I think is that), but would rather see the place cards completely done in a nice font and not hand written.

10.17.09 Stephanie & Wesley

2009-10-20T01:24:00.015-04:00

We had the priviledge of DJing Stephanie and Wesley's wedding. It was at the Sheraton Station Square.
We showed up nice and early so that we would be ready to go and more importantly--not to intrude on the cocktail hour in the main area of the hotel.

Stephanie looked great and we absolutely loved the time and thought they put into their songs.

They also requested karaoke at the end. I will admit that I wasn't sure how that would play out, but once we saw the sense of humor of not only the bridal party, but also the guests--it totally fit them and everyone LOVED it!

Here are some pics! Enjoy! (click on each one to enjoy them bigger)

(above) They had the entire bridal party and some others come up during a certain point in their song and blow bubbles! I was so moved by the moment that I teared up. It was soo cute. I can't wait to see the professional pictures.

10.16.09 Autumn & Derek

2009-10-20T01:08:00.017-04:00

We provided DJ services for an awesome couple and their families were amazing. Autumn looked SO beautiful! We loved all the elements to her wedding--from the chair covers, to the centerpieces, and the awesome Stanley Cup groom's cake. The night went too fast! I loved working with them!

The Le Mont venue and staff were great and I recommend them highly. I was also excited to work with Joanna Fassinger again! :)
She has incredible talent.

10.21 - Just added (Thanks Joanna!): Autumn, Derek, wedding party and guests singing along to "Don't Stop Believin'!"

Click to see larger:

I will share more when I get them! As you can see, I am not a photographer.

Ladies and Gentlemen, may I have your attention, please?

2009-10-19T15:21:00.007-04:00

We now have Bose!
YAY!

What does this mean for you?

When booking our DJ services, you are getting THE BEST sound quality and look anywhere.

We dropped quite a bundle on these babies!!

We have used them at 3 weddings so far and we always get compliments about them. Although I love my JBL speakers (still using for karaoke), no one really ever stops to chat about them!

We have 2 L1 Model 1 with 2 bass bins each.
We also have the L1 Compact for ceremony or small party needs.

The Pittsburgh Cookie Table

2009-10-19T14:57:00.004-04:00

I have had this in my files for a while.
I am putting it here for all to use on their cookie tables.

You don't know how many times I have heard out-of-town guests say how nice it was to have the explanation on the table.

I usually provide this for the bride if they want. Generally, it is in nice, readable font and placed in a frame.

The Cookie Table: A Pittsburgh Tradition

By Suzanne Martinson, Food Editor, Pittsburgh Post Gazette

You can have a designer wedding gown and tuxedo or hand-me-downs. You can have an “A-list” guest list or just the closest of kin. You can receive your guests at the fanciest restaurant or at a potluck at the firehall. But you aren’t truly a Pittsburgher unless you have The Cookie Table.

When we first moved here and a bride-to-be mentioned The Cookie Table, I was puzzled. “What do you need cookies for?” I asked. “At a wedding, you eat cake.” Little did I know.

The Cookie Table is as much a part of Pittsburgh as the Pirates and the Steelers and the Penguins. We may bleed black and gold, but at any event worth writing home about, we have cookies.

And most of these cookies are homemade by the mother of the bride, sisters, aunts, cousins and grandmothers. Sometimes both sides of the extended family get involved. Friends are also called into the fray. Happy to do it, in fact. The Cookie Table is, indeed, the gift of love.

Nobody knows the exact origin of the tradition, which has been exported to other parts of Pennsylvania, other states, too. It may be Italian or Slovak or Polish or Croatian or Greek. The Scandinavians may get involved, and the Indians, too. The Germans do cookies, and so do the Irish. If we’ve left anybody out (like the English), add them to the cookie equation. There may be no greater tribute to cross-cultural friends and marriages than The Cookie Table. It’s what makes America great; a medley of cultures taking the best from each. The best being favorite family cookie recipes.

Remember, in Pittsburgh, people don’t wonder, “How was the wedding?” They ask, “Were the cookies good?”

10.10.09 Mike & Michelle

2009-10-19T14:25:00.006-04:00

Mike & Michelle are a gorgeous couple! Their wedding was wonderful! We provided DJ services for them as well as projector rental.

The dance floor was full and everyone had a blast!

10.3.09 Lindsey & Kevin

2009-10-19T12:48:00.017-04:00

Lindsey hired me 2 years ago to plan their wedding. We carefully selected each vendor and worked on everything with ease.

Her ceremony and reception were both held at the lovely Soldiers & Sailors Museum & Memorial.

We were worried that the weather was a factor for us. They wanted so much to have the ceremony outdoors, but it had been rainy and cold all week. By Saturday, the clouds parted,the sun appeared, so the couple gave us the green light on having it outside. The wind gave us some trouble before she came down the aisle, but everything else went along perfectly.

Lindsey looked beautiful and was truly glowing the whole day. I especially loved the sparkler send off at the end!

She used our full planning services with day of coordination. We also made her invitations, menu cards, programs, monogram designs, table numbers, card box design,and provided the cake toppers.

Some great vendors used for this wedding (most pics from October Productions):

Mocha Rose Floral & Event Design
Cake by Bethel Bakery
Photo and video by October Productions
Linen by Mosaic
Catering by Chef & I

9.12.09 Cindy & Jan

2009-10-19T12:24:00.007-04:00

We were hired by this fun couple to DJ their wedding. It was not a typical wedding by any means.They wanted a late 60's themed wedding with karaoke! I had no idea how to envision this wedding, but let me tell you, it came out pretty groovy!

Words that come to mind: Simple, pretty, fun, classy and farrr out (had to say it)!

The reception was held at the Westinghouse Lodge located near Monroeville. All guests were to dress in Woodstock-era wear.The centerpieces were pretty daises. The groomsmen and bridesmaids wore matching attire. The meal was family-style.

Karaoke was a hit! We also had blocks of just music so it didn't get boring.

The couple did a great, interactive favor idea. They created a green screen. Guests were able to take pictures "with" the Beatles, or "at" Woodstock, etc. The pics were then printed and placed in a frame for the guest. The finished product was impressive, and was faster, easier and more fun than Photoshopping them!

They are developing a side business with this for parties and events. I will keep you posted as I will be using them next summer for a family party.

6.6.09 - Abbe & Dan

2009-10-19T11:06:00.035-04:00

I had the distinct pleasure of working with Abbe's mom on the wedding planning, since Abbe lives outside of PA. She was so great to work with! We assisted them on partial planning, day of coordination and DJ services.

Armstrong Farms is a gorgeous farm in Saxonburg (straight up Route 28). Luckily, the weather was perfect so the ceremony was held outside. The day went wonderfully!

Click on the images below to enlarge them.

(mine - oh I soo am not a photographer!)

Photographer Joe Appel (WOW. Incredible work.):

Our baby!

2009-10-19T10:21:00.003-04:00

Here is an updated pic of our son! He is 9.5 months already!

Not to be biased, but we do have the cutest kid around! ;-)

(click to see Aidan in full screen)

New site on its way!

2009-10-19T10:14:00.002-04:00

I am FINALLY converting to Flash! YAY!! I should hopefully have it live by November 1st.
You may notice my site may be down or "broken" during that time.
Bah-bye Yahoo!!

2009-03-20T03:12:00.006-04:00

The ad is true: "Having a baby changes EVERYTHING".
It truly has. Here is our Aidan.

Just like his mommy, he likes to be early. He was born January 7, 2009 (wasn't due until January 30th). Mark and I are so happy! He is a wonderful baby.

Happy Holidays!

2008-12-25T02:14:00.004-05:00

Happy Holidays to everyone!

I apologize (again) for not posting more. We have been quite busy and I am expecting the arrival of my first child in about a month or so!

Due to this, I will not be taking appointments after January 10th. I will update as to when we will be available for them. It all depends, of course, when Baby wants to arrive...

Please check out our availability checker on our website to see if we are free for your wedding date.

Also, please feel free to contact us for inquiries and we will get back to you as soon as we can!

Thanks!

Toy & Keith - May 24, 2008

2008-06-09T15:49:00.014-04:00

Toy and Keith's story is such a special one. They were married exactly 10 years to the day that they met. So, the day needed to be perfect. Let me tell you, Toy did a fabulous job on all the details of her wedding. We cannot take credit for any of the creative design as it was all Toy's! There were so many elements that had that personal touch and that really stood out. It was all so beautiful. We think she has a definite future in this business! :) We were able to transform Olympia Banquet Hall into a wedding venue and reception venue. We assisted her in pulling all the logistics together and coordinated for the day of. Her mother hand-crafted each centerpiece and they were gorgeous!
Arbor by Mocha Rose Floral Designs.

Lindsay & Jeremy - April 12, 2008

2008-06-09T15:07:00.015-04:00

We had the very distinct pleasure of working with Lindsay with all of her wedding details. She was a beautiful bride and the day went wonderfully.

We helped with selecting vendors such as Holy Cross Banquet Hall, Mocha Rose Floral Designs, October-Productions. The groom's father officiated the beautiful and unique ceremony. We add interesting touches such as chocolate brown overlays, dessert buffet and menu cards. But, my favorite accent was Lindsay's idea of giving the caterer an old family recipe for meatballs served during cocktail hour. It was one of the many details that the guests were buzzing about.

We created all 'paper' projects: invitations, menu cards, programs, table numbers, favor labels, and out-of-town brochures.

Attention current and potential DJ clients!

2008-03-24T16:01:00.005-04:00

We have purchased a wonderful service that will make music planning a snap! You will be sent an email, giving you an account name and password so that you have access to the event timeline, playlists, forms and checklists, etc. You will also be able to listen to songs before selecting them and as well as view lyrics. All information will be stored via a protected server, so that you can go back to it, as needed. These are just a few of the many features this services possesses.

Aspects of this service are already showing up on our website!

Also, there is an availability checker as well for our future clients who want to see if we are free for your date!

Diamond Class Action Lawsuit

2008-02-21T18:42:00.016-05:00

Did you know that there is a huge class action lawsuit with De Beers? You may be entitled to money back on your ring or any diamonds you have purchased.

The following is an excerpt from Marilyn Lewis' article from msn.com:
If you bought a piece of diamond jewelry -- or jewelry with a diamond in it -- between Jan. 1, 1994, and March 31, 2006, you may be eligible for a refund as part of a recent settlement of a class-action lawsuit alleging that De Beers, the big South African diamond company, had cornered the market for diamonds for decades, keeping prices artificially high. In settling, De Beers is shelling out $295 million to put the trouble behind it -- $135 million of which is earmarked for consumers rather than wholesalers.

A dream job

2008-02-21T18:30:00.004-05:00

It is truly amazing how many inquiries I get about employment at our company. If I could, I would have employees. If that ever happens, I will post something on the Accents Unlimited website.

So you want to be in the wedding business? I get this question, too.

Do your homework. Research, research, research. I recommend any education courses dealing with planning and coordinating. ABC is a great start. They will give you all the tools that you will need.

Make sure you know what you are getting into. This is a full time job so if you are going to do this too, make it your priority.

Wedding Wire

2008-02-21T18:08:00.008-05:00

I love Wedding Wire. I think it is a great option for clients. It allows you to search for anything wedding. It has a very user-friendly interface. You can also view and post reviews for vendors. So, I encourage my past clients to add reviews for my services as well as other vendors used. It is somewhat new and really isn't known yet but that is going to change. Martha Stewart just partnered with them. My only criticism is that they need to improve their community board as it is a little confusing.