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[sandrachile]

A Zero Waste Wedding in Pittsburgh

If you have been on Facebook lately, you have probably seen videos of turtles tangled in plastic, birds whose stomachs are full of plastic, and reports about Global Warming.

Whether your political inclinations deny or are against global warming, the truth is, our planet is polluted, and right now, you are either part of the solution or part of the problem, there is no middle ground.

But the problem is that when it comes to bringing environmentalist values to wedding planning, if you are not in California, or don’t have a 6 digit budget, it becomes a little hard, and you might end up giving up for the sake of the circumstances.

So I want to show you, where you should be focusing your energy and resources, but first, let me introduce you to the “Buyerarchy of needs” which will be inspiring our whole journey, and I hope you look at this, read it, meditate on it, and then apply it.

1: Focus on the things that don’t cost you anything, pick a vibe, a feeling as the guidance for your wedding day. 

If you look around for wedding day inspiration, everything is based on color palettes, flowers, or decor. However, since we are trying to be intentional and not use as many material things during the wedding day, it is better to base your inspiration on intangible things rather than material things, instead choose to get inspired by feelings, or the vibe you want your wedding to have. For example, the vibe for the image below was: contemporary, artsy, and fresh.

2: Focus on finding the core vendors for your wedding

(Yes, before setting up a date or even the location). Once you pick the vibe, you will need to gather the elements that will bring your vision together. But Unless you are working with the proper people, translating a concept to reality within a budget, can be hard. So, before even selecting the date for your event or the location, we highly encourage you to select the group of humans that will bring this to life. The core vendors are: Wedding Planner Venue Caterer Officiant Photographer Since the “ethical” journey begins before the wedding day itself, when reaching out to vendors, ask them upfront about what environmental practices they have in place. 

Asking this up front will set the tone for the rest of the planning process, and if this is something that is not present in their practices, your question will surely push them in the right direction.

3: Where and When?:

Choose the date and the venue.

Whether you decide to marry at home, or in a big space, there are some things that you need to take into consideration, such as accessibility for your guest, location of your party hub, weather, and of course, environmental practices. 

If you go for the most popular choice, a venue, ask them and yourself the following questions:

Does your venue send all the garbage to a landfill, or does it have any recycling practices in place? Do they offer furniture, or do you have to rent these items separately? Does the venue have decorative elements, or is it a plain room that needs a lot of stuff to look good? Does it offer in house booze/catering, or can you bring your own?

So many questions, right?

From the low waste perspective, it is a priority to choose a space that offers dishes, cups, and straws that are not plastic. 

(I doubt you want a turtle in the Caribbean to swim among the straws from your wedding day, right? … #justsayin)

4: Let’s tell the world: The stationery (Oh poop! When things get real)

Although an online invitation is often times more eco-friendly, in practice, not everybody is a fan of receiving an email, and being inclusive of older generations who are less e-literate, is a good way to honor them. So when it comes to papers, what alternatives are low waste?

The invitation is the first thing your guests see, it sets the mood for the day, it tells your guests whether joining is going to be worth it, and it announces what kind of party this is going to be. Once the invitations are sent, things get real, and telling your guest that this is an environmentally friendly kinda day deserves to be announced in an environmentally conscious way. Here is where the value of a designer that can custom work for you is a thousand times better than printing some DIY, but make sure the designer is open to working with eco-friendly papers. 

Have you heard about paper made out of elephant poop?

When it comes to being low waste, there is nothing better than options that ethically made, creative, and contribute to giving opportunities to economically and socially marginalized groups. So do your research in regards to papers, and if you are feeling like DIYing, you can DIY the envelopes from the newspapers at your grandma’s house.

PS: Oh! And forget about RSVPs! Nowadays everybody texts, so you can use an automated text message RSVP service which is the easiest way to gather replies from your guests, and automatically organizes and counts for you. SCORE!

(If you never saw paper made of poop, now you did | Stationary by the kick ass: Fresh Cut Prints )

5. Creating a wedding atmosphere: Decorations

One of the things about low waste, is that sometimes it might be a little on the plain side, so for a wedding, which we want to look special, we really have to put thought into what we bring in. 

Using what we have, or what you can realistically keep afterward is key. So, first, my biggest and probably most overlooked decoration element that is also functional is: LIGHTS!!! I’m not talking about regular light bulbs, but lighting can make an amazing decoration, which afterward leaves zero trace.

Another suggestion is to use real plants as a decorative item. Not only they will give you a decoration the day of your wedding, but will decorate your house for the years to come, and imagine having the same plants that witnessed you saying “I do”, witnessing your anniversary year after year!

"Did you know that glass can be recycled forever and ever?"  -- FUN FACT

Another element that is overlooked but it is quite easy to make, and to compost afterward is dry flowers. You can actually invest time in planting your own and meticulously dry. Finally, for any other need, hit your local thrift store! You would be surprised to see the amounts of linen available there.

Oh! And also… keep an eye on the dumpster! Someone else’s garbage always has the potential to be your treasure.

5. Time to get pretty

An element of your wedding that takes a lot of mental energy, a big chunk of your money, and it makes a massive statement in regards to the environment is fashion. And if you want to make a statement, the options for your outfit are: Ethically sourced. Wear your own. Make your own outfit. Or Vintage. This groom decided to wear his own clothes, and the bride opted for the vintage.

The statement piece for the bride was her earrings, which were upcycled. Altogether their outfits were around $30, which allowed more $$ to be allocated for other services.

As you can see, going this route is a great way to maximize your budget, but if you feel uncomfortable with the idea of wearing a vintage style of clothing, you can always purchase vintage garments and budget for the services of a seamstress that can transform your vintage piece and gives it a modern twist.

6. Beauty

I have to be the first in recognizing that zero/low waste and the beauty industry are not the best of friends. Beauty is perhaps one of the most forgotten subjects when it comes to thinking low waste wedding, maybe, because it is not you using that bottle of shampoo that will end up in a landfill, you don’t think much about it. Nowadays there are many makeup products companies using cruelty-free and vegan options (yay). But I learned from Becky, owner of the hair salon that does my hair, Tula Organics, that certain brands go to the extent of manufacturing products with 100% wind power, and they purchase carbon offset credits to balance any climate impact of their aerosol hairsprays.

She also told me about Dragon Master Foundation, a charity organization fighting to find a cure for cancer, and to whom you can send personal care and beauty containers to be recycled. This is an amazing initiative, to make the world greener and fight cancer at the same time.!

In summary:

A low impact, environmentally wedding is not unrealistic. Even if you don’t live in California, it is totally possible right here in Pittsburgh, and even with a small budget. All you might need, is to think through and plan with time, along with a good group of ethically minded wedding vendors.

Supporting Cast: Planner & Aesthetic designer: Devoted To You Events @devotedtoyouevents Florals: greenSinner @greensinner HMUA: Tula Organic @tulaorganic Venue: Kingfly Spirits @kingflyspirits Lightning: EF Lighting @eflighting Plants + Greenery: City Grows @citygrows Photographer: Sandrachile @sandrachilep Invitation Fresh Cut Prints @freshcutprints Paper Mr Ellie Pooh @mr.elliepooh Cake: Mediterra Cake House @mediterracakehouse Jewelry/Accessories Adaptive Reuse @christineterrell Calligrapher- Scarlet Day Calligraphy @scarletdaycalligraphy

[sandrachile]

Ethical, Christian, and unpredictable Destination Wedding | St Louis MO

Pua + Corey

I started 2018 writing down a business bucket list.

There were a few things I wanted to accomplish, and every year I feel like materializing these wishes on a paper. It somehow helps me remain focused.

The bucket list included weird (for you) things:

A Christian wedding.

A destination wedding (hopefully at the beach).

A shoot or wedding in Miami.

And a shoot with someone whose first language was not English.

I was blown away when, the following week, someone contacted me for an engagement session in Miami and I shot their engagement in my most favorite urban place in the world: Wynwood. And as an amazing bonus, I also shot a photography session at the Miami ice Cream Museum, which was in their last week (ever!).

While in Miami I received an email from Pua and Corey.

Pua is the youth pastor at a church in the suburbs of St Louis Missouri, while Corey worked at the Dream Center, a Christian ministry in the heart of Saint Louis Missouri, bringing hope to one of the poorest neighborhoods in the country. Their intimate destination elopement in Florida sounded amazing! and was answering to 2 of my bucket list goals at once. WOAH! Lucky me!. And as I began to learn about Pua and Corey, I fell in love with them more and more.

Their passion for social justice and their ethical heart… The secluded private residence where the wedding was going to be, with a ceremony right in the sand!? Oh em gee! This was going to be the wedding of my dreams!

But Michael had another plan….

Hello I’m Michael, and I’m here to wipe everything down…

A month before the wedding, the panhandle area of Florida, where (for a year!) Pua and Corey had made arrangements to get married, got a non pleasant visitor: Hurricane Michael, leaving all their planning in ruins on the beach.

[insert all the crying face emojis here]

Now, they were faced with a new decision:

To move the wedding to their hometown? (and therefore to plan a whole new wedding in a month!)

or

To move the wedding date? (which involved postponing all their upcoming plans, including the honeymoon)

[I swear, I witnessed this part of their journey with panic attacks….]

But there is a bible quote that says

"“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.”"  -- Philippians 4:6-7

This piece of the Bible has nothing to do with God himself, but more with our attitude and how we behave in relation to God. It calls us to be positive and optimistic, to have an attitude of thanksgiving despite the circumstances.

And it reminds us to be faithful, that nothing is too big or small to ask God for. And to acknowledge that God cares for us, and will help us feel at ease.

Pua was freaking out, and rightfully so! To put together another wedding in 30 days was nuts! And not to mention, expensive! But her and Corey faced this challenge by practicing their religion, and did what their beliefs commanded: they prayed.

There were safety concerns in regards to getting married at the original location, so Pua and Corey decided to move the wedding to St Louis instead, and here is where their people said “we got ya” and their community stepped in to help. Meanwhile, I re-routed our airline tickets to the Bible Belt, and recruited my good friend Jenni to help me in a wedding with a whole different scenario.

Wedding in St Louis:

The ceremony ended up being at Pua & Corey’s church, run by none other than the teens Pua is a pastor for. The ceremony was performed by a (really funny) relative. The dinner was held in the church basement. And then everybody moved to a barn that someone from the church let them borrow so they could all go dance, and long story short, everybody offered what they could to make the wedding happen.

The night that changed my life….

At the end of the night, Pua and Corey themselves helped us pack leftovers for homeless (first time a couple engages personally with this process), and let me tell ya, that night changed my life…

After every wedding, Nick and I averagely distribute around 20 to 24 meals in downtown Pittsburgh, but St Louis was different, and the reality I witnessed there shocked me.

On our first stop, I shared over 60 plates of food. Corey and Pua were nice enough to not only donate the wedding day leftovers, but they also went above and beyond to save the extra food from the rehearsal dinner.

The homeless situation in Pittsburgh, is way different than St Louis. Here I usually get asked for a cigarette, but in St Louis I got asked for basic things, such as water and blankets.

I saw so many homeless people there, it was heartbreaking. People of color, Asians, and white people. Women, teenagers, elderly, and disabled people.

I’m not gonna lie, I felt disappointed in St Louis….

In Pittsburgh, homeless people are a direct result of the opioid crisis, but in St Louis, it seemed different (out of the 80 people we fed and saw that night, I did not see one who was intoxicated or visibly high). My short stop through St Louis changed my perception drastically. There is so much need around us, and we are so so privileged, but I feel lucky that out of all the weddings that take place in the world, I get to serve people like Corey and Pua, who took time out of their own wedding to share what they had and how they could.

How did this wedding produced social impact?

The wedding of Pua and Corey was crazy, it was beautiful, ethical, full of intention, spiritual, and impactful.

Pua gifted her bridal party leggings from Girlfriend Collective, a size inclusive brand that, through ethical manufacturing, uses post-consumer water bottles extracted from the ocean to produce their leggings.

Corey and his wedding party opted for to use something they already owned (and will continue to wear).

The couple skipped on the favors, instead, they donated that money to the relief efforts of the Hurricane Michaels.

They intentionally payed to rent real plates/glasses at the reception to avoid generating plastic cups/paper waste.

Avoided straws.

The leftovers from the wedding day fed 45 people, while the leftovers from the rehearsal fed 40 to 50 more, giving us a grand total of almost ONE HUNDRED PEOPLE, whom 4 days before Thanksgiving were in the streets, hungry, cold, and trying to sleep under the rain, but we reminded them that THEY MATTER TOO. Overall, this wedding changed my life and pierced my heart like no other before, and it was the perfect reminder that no matter how much we want to stay to ourselves, we are meant to live in community, we need them, and others need us as well.

Special Acknowledgement:

[sandrachile]

Same Sex Home Session In My Hometown | Viña del Mar, Chile

Isaac + Coke

[bilingual tex at the end of the page | Texto bilingüe al final de la pagina]

Birdhome 882

I spent the beginning of the year visiting my people in Chile, and during my trip I got to witness my country and what it has become… Chile is a country with Catholic roots, which makes it quite conservative. Thanks to the media, the LGBTQ community has gained some visibility but Chile continues to be a homophobic country, where gay folks have to remain in the closet to keep jobs and make a living.... or simply to be safe. Perhaps this is why Coke and Aisak are creating their own entrepreneurial adventure, and inspired by the Netflix show Stay Here by @genevievegorder and @peterlorimer they decided to transform their house into a hip AirBnb called @birdhome982  I bet Airbnb never imagined that through their platform they are giving minorities, the opportunity to make an income in places like my beloved Chile, and I bet @netflixlat never thought that by making their service available, they are literally transforming lives.

Comencé el 2019 visitando a mi gente en Chile, y quiero compartirles algunas de las fotos que tomé, y lo que observé durante mi viaje. Chile es un país de raíces Católicas, lo cual lo hace conservador. Aun cuando la exposición mediática ha contribuido a la visibilidad de las minorías sexuales, Chile continúa siendo un país homofóbico, en el cual las personas LGBTQ continúan teniendo que permanecer en el closet para realizar tareas normales, como conservar su trabajo o permanecer seguros. Quizás esta fue la motivación de Coke y Aisak que decidieron lanzarse con su propio emprendimiento, e inspirados por el show de Netflix Stay Home, de @genevievegorderer y @peterlorimer  decidieron crear un alojamiento airbnb llamado @birdhome982  Creo que @netflix nunca imaginó que llevando sus servicios a lugares tan remotos como mi querido Chile, lo que en realidad estaban haciendo era transformar vidas.

[sandrachile]

How To Propose Like A Champ

1- Decide your style of proposal.  

Elaborate: Plan a special surprise for your partner, something where the focus is on the experience as a whole, rather than the question in itself.  

Simple: Just kneel down and pop the question

2- If you decided for the second option, this would be a good opportunity to hire a wedding planner.

Yes! They handle proposals too!

If instead, you are going with the first option, this would be a good time to bring along a good friend of your partner, and one of your friend's for support.  

3- If you are proposing with a ring, at this point it's the time to buy it. Rings can take weeks, if not months to get ready. The proposal date will be affected by this deadline. Also, if you are aiming for a diamond, make sure you don't purchase a Blood Diamond but research ethical options instead. (Do Amore for example, builds a well for every ring sold)  

4- Not everyone proposes with a ring. Some people propose with puppies (yes, puppies!), tattoos (like the quote Phoebe and Brett got on their arm, Certificates, and even ring pops. Don't be afraid to try something outside of the books.  

5- If you are on the traditional side, then it's time to go talk to the family. Either dad, mom or both (or another relative, like grandparents), and always always, start with " I love your [daughter/son/] [and then you add that you want to marry him/her] ...."  

If you are a male proposing to a female, here are some tips to ask the father respectfully 

6- Once you have the ring in hand, and the parent(s) approval, set the date for the big question. 7- It’s time to get in touch with a photographer. Any wedding photographer will photograph a proposal. Find one that is eager to help you, and to "play along" with you.  

8- Capturing the moment on video is an amazing way to relieve the moment, so if your budget allows it, hire someone. I promise, you will not regret it.

9- Once the moment arrives, relax, breath in and don’t allow your nerves to take control. Sometimes the journey is as important as the destination, and proposing would be one of these times. Take your time, be intentional in your words, and do what comes from your heart.

10- And finally: Ask your closest family and/or friends to come meet you after proposing, there will be nothing better than sharing the joy with them while showing off a ring (if any) all together.

Now that you are ready to propose, take advantage of the following holiday special

Pittsburgh Proposal photography

Happy Engagement Season!

[sandrachile]

Eco friendly Elopement at Phipps - Pittsburgh

Juliet + Tim

Does wedding planning stresses the heck out of you?

Well, you are not alone, this is why Juliet and Tim completely streamlined it and planned their wedding in ONE WEEK. Yup, I said one week. But if that wasn't enough difficulty, they added an even more fascinating detail: their wedding was planned in a week from out of state.

#LevelGod

Juliet and Tim are a young couple currently going to college in Indiana (the state, not Indiana, PA) They are barely 21 years old, and personally, I am beyond jealous of how they have their life so together (you don't wanna know what I was doing at 21 but you bet it involved large amounts of not knowing what to do with my life, lol).  

They have the cutest little boy, and are planning to eventually move to Pittsburgh, which is why they decided to get hitched right here in The Burgh. Their wedding day was full of "meant to be" events and intentional choices. From the venues, chosen to minimize carbon footprint, to Juliet wardrobe choices (second hand, the most eco friendly way to shop), to yours truly here, chosen because of my ethical approach. The happy couple promised each other love, friendship, and commitment to each other under the Quaker tradition and the Baha'i faith, in a meaningful ceremony surrounded by the 33 people who were able to attend on such a short notice, and the beauty of the Broderie room at Phipps Conservatory.  

"[Phipps is one of the most sustainable buildings in the city]"

During the ceremony I sent Nick (my assistant) to buy a lock, and after the ceremony we all walked in the rain to Schenley Bridge to put it on, giving us the opportunity to take some badass portraits. (Thanks Nick!) After that, the videographers and the couple all got into our van, and we headed to Pointbreezeway, where the perfect fall comfort food, courtesy of Bistro To Go, awaited for us. They chose this reception venue for its character, which did not required decorations, part of their commitment to minimize waste. It was a lovely dinner, with the most fun group of people, if you don't believe me, just scroll down below...  

At the end of the night, thanks to Bistro To Go who allowed us to repurpose the leftovers, we were able to feed homeless people who were getting soaked in the street. Not only a great way to extend the blessing of a wedding beyond the guests, but also an efficient way to reduce any potential waste from the day.  Thank you to Juliete and Tim for their generosity, but also thanks because they were the first couple who provided containers for the food, and these were compostable.  This was also the first time where wedding guests are seriously concerned about helping us pack the food. Between Bistro To Go, Eva from the videographer team, and Nick, we had the task down, but we truly apprecciate their support.

That night we fed 13 people, here are a few of their faces, real grateful individuals that we were able to impact with Juliet and tim's wedding day.

But that is not all! This couple also took advantage of my new and improved business model plan in which the couple can upgrade to a USB in exchange to a donation to charity, and they decided to benefit "Beverly's Birthdays" an organization based in Pittsburgh providing birthday experiences to children at social risk. And finally, $100 of the fee that this couple paid is going to Kiva loans, to support another small business under the category of  "Single parents", per request of Juliet. An amazing experience for an amazing day.

Congratulations Juliet + Tim (and little Kazimir)

Ceremony venue Phipps Conservatory,  Broderie Room Reception pointbreezeway.com Dress alwaysbride.com Shoes dsw.com Groom's outfit  josbank.com Flowers wholefoods.com Videographer MarieMarryMe.com Caterer bistroandcompany.com Cake Piebird piebirdpgh.com Cookie table piebirdpgh.com + gluuteny.com Musician Lisa and Perry Scott from the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra Favors  pghpopcorn.com Cake topper Made by Juliet's mom, inspired by this post HMUA julealashbeautybar.com Rings are family heirloom from Tim's side and one found at an antique mall in Ohio. Crown from Oleg Cassini & Leather jacket from Top Shop, but purchased at a consignment store. Guy's spotted mismatched sweaters from dad's collection.

[sandrachile]

Party animals at the Morning Glory Inn - Pittsburgh Ethical Wedding

Tammy + Nathan

Tammy and Nathan were an amazing Pittsburgh couple who got married on a beautiful October day at the Morning Glory Inn . Tammy wore the heaviest and most elaborated dress I have ever seen, one gorgeous eye candy piece by none other than Antonio Gual, purchased at Glitter and Grit in Lawrenceville. Nathan on the other hand,dressed by Todd Snyder looked like a member of some European royal house, ready to sail from Luxembourg on a fancy yacht. The bride, much like myself, has a soft spot for bunnies. (Did you know that bunnies are the third most popular pet in America, but the number one in abandonment?, How unfair!).

It was a priority for Tammy to include her own rabbit pets in her portraits, so I had no issue volunteering to drive to her house just for this purpose, where once I saw the bunnies I almost lost it, I must admit. Adorned with flowers from The Farmer's Daughter, the wedding party were Ewok, Trixie Ann and Hilda; her 3 attention seeker fur babies. Well, there were other humans in there too, but after Ewok bit the mother in law, I am afraid to take the spotlight off the dogs. With glorious food from Fish Hawk Acres  and a vegan cake from the Gluten Free Goat, the party got lit thanks to the playful spirits of the guest. The couple did a dollar dance where the money was donated to one of my favorite local charities: Rabbit Wranglers, an organization that restores the health of unwanted sick rabbits and find them a new home. And signed up for a charitable registry, so they could share the joy of this day with others.   All in all, it was an amazing day, beautifully surrounded by kind people... and a few other beasts. Thank you Tammy and Nathan for letting me be your wedding photographer and have the opportunity to share your wonderful day.

but wait! that's not all...

And at the end of the night, thanks to the generosity of this couple, the logistical help of the amazing Fish Hawk Acres crew, we boxed all the leftovers and delivered it to the people in the streets in one of the most successful round, feeding 23 people AND 1 dog :) 

[sandrachile]

Engagement and FURBABIES! in Butler PA

Tammy + Nathan

Butler PA is about an hour away from my house, and it's where Nathan and Tammy grew up. These two animal lovers met at work. Even though they had grown up only a few miles from each other, and went to the same high school AND the same college. In the beginning, Nathan and Tammy were just friends and Tammy even tried fixing him up with several of her friends. One day everything clicked... After 11 years together, they are ready to get married. The whole family will be attending the wedding, so it was only fair that the whole family would attend the engagement session as well, and in this case (lucky me!) the whole family meant 3 pekingese FUR BABIES!  Unfortunately, not everybody was as excited as I was... lol

Regardless, this was an adorable engagement session, and Hilda, Trixie Anne, and Ewok simply made my day. 

Congratulations Nathan and Tammy!

Special thanks to Lizi Capuano for showing me around Preston Park

[sandrachile]

Pittsburgh Cookie Table

Let me be honest, I am NOT one who is attracted to wedding traditions, because I believe that traditions conflict with our own individuality, however, there is one local tradition that really steals my heart. If you are not from Pittsburgh, let me enlighten you: The Pittsburgh Cookie Table

In Western Pennsylvania, Every Wedding has a glorious table with cookies.

Nobody knows where the tradition really comes from, but I am sure it is rooted with people not wanting to arrive empty handed to a party. (In my home country of Chile, for example, when you arrive at someone's house, you always bring either bread or sweets). 

I have seen all kinds of cookie tables, my favorite one was the one on Missy & Christina's wedding back in 2015. Not only did they have beautiful cookies, but the display was simply amazing, and oh my God, there were so many! They gathered their family a month before the wedding, and everybody made a batch of cookies, right there in their kitchen. It was a moment of family fun, as well as economical, because everyone collaborated to put this together.

This cookie table thing got me thinking, and wondering more about them. So, I decided to ask around, and get input on cookie table logistics. I gathered the following tips to share with "yinz"  

Tricia:

from @vintagealleyrentalspgh  a local company that styles weddings and events say: www.vintagealleypittsburgh.com

A cookie table does not have to be 50 dozen of cookies on plastic platters.  It can be fun rustic crates, old suitcases or even old drawers filled with goodies. It can be beautiful glass apothecary jars with small signs on the front of them noting the family member made a particular cookie. Jars are a nice way to showcase a family that has contributed to the table and what cookie they made.  It's all about balancing and distributing all of the cookies properly when setting up the table so that it looks even on each side - and the best part of it is - if you are too overwhelmed with the cookie table you can hire a professional to style a beautiful table for you.

Kimberley:

from @kimberley_ashlee a gourmet catering for weddings and events www.kimberleyashleecatering.com

 As a newcomer to Pittsburgh, the Yinzer Cookie Table is a new thing for me. It's endearing, and I can see why guests love it! As an innovator, I am recommending to clients step out of the traditional cookies, and go with macaroons. They come in delicious flavors and such vibrant colors that can tie together event color themes. Truffles are another favorite of mine. The ones we make are customizable, and easy one-biter, that can be packaged to double as a favor.      

Melissa:

from @DevotedToYouEvents  The coolest wedding planner in town www.devotedtoyouevents.org

If you are already planning to do a cookie table at your wedding, you can add some to go boxes or bags and VOILA! your cookie table now becomes your wedding favor. Trust me...your guests will thank you for offering something edible as a take home token from your wedding. As much as they love you, no one needs or wants a magnet, a coaster or one glass with your photo or wedding date engraved. But they will appreciate those cookies after a long night of drinking and dancing and as a BONUS, you more than likely saved money by doubling your cookie table as the favor and were able to allocate that to somewhere more important. 

Nikki:

Nikki Penberg from @VeganPittsburgh an organization that encourages veganism by making it accessible among local restaurants and food vendors. www.veganpittsburgh.com

Expecting vegan guests? Don’t panic! There’s no reason for anyone to be left out when it comes to your traditions! Given the growing demand for vegan options in Pittsburgh, there are many local bakeries and caterers that can accommodate… and the sky’s the limit when it comes to vegan flavors, fillings, and textures! You could easily serve vegan cookies to all your guests, and no one would be the wiser!

As you can tell, everybody has something to say about the cookie table, but no one has said that this tradition has to end (not even me!), so keep them coming, friends, and LONG LIFE to the Pittsburgh Cookie Table!

Published in the Huffington Post

[sandrachile]

I'm getting old(er)

Tomorrow is my Birthday!... Usually, I hide my birthday because I don't like aging. So when you know my birthday date, you are part of a secret friendship society, surrounding a secret that nobody talks about, but we are all well aware of... lol.

In case you didn't know, I was born 35 years ago in a military hospital in Valparaiso, a coastal town, right in the middle of the country. I am the first born to a couple who had 2 more children, and later on divorced, right before they killed each other. Growing up among crazies, and during a military coup was interesting, and it shaped my life giving me two natural abilities that define who I am: One, is my fearless ability to ridiculized myself, and second, is my passionate desire to help others. So, for this birthday, I decided to put both together and leave my fear of aging behind. I hired a luxury photographer with THIRTEEN years of experience who could capture my soul in pictures, and I teamed up with Heartfully the wedding registry that gives back, to set up a birthday registry to help others. If you were thinking of sending me a card, forget the card! and share the birthday sentiment by chipping $5 to wish me a Feliz Cumpleaños, and to give others the ability to continue a healthy life (click below!)

Thank you for contributing,  Thank you for following my journey, and especially, Thank you for being a friend <3

[sandrachile]

Nagymezo Utca

Wedding Photography ruined my life as a traveler. Yes, I know it's a weird statement, but let me explain. Ever since I began documenting couples, my vision of everything has completely changed. Before I would travel and enjoy sights, animals, wildlife, and people like a normal tourist, but since I became a wedding photographer I can no longer see things in the same way anymore. Now I visit places and all I can see is how gorgeous a couple would look here or there, and that is exactly what happened when I walked into our old Air BNB in Budapest. The minute I saw that building in Nagymezo Utca, I needed a couple to photograph, that is how I ended up photographing Roberto and Zsanette, who had recently gotten engaged during a trip to Rome. Roberto, it's a violin player, who has played with famous musicians, in fact, his violin is signed by none other than André Rieu.  Roberto and Zsanette met when he was 18 and she was 15, and they laughed when I told them it would've been illegal over here. Regardless the cultural differences and the massive language barrier, we managed to take a few pictures right where I envisioned, as soon as I walked into the building.

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Geek + Ethical Wedding in Southside Pittsburgh

I don't think I have ever feel so fulfilled photographing a wedding than the day I documented Sharon and Quinn's big day. It's not a secret that I am an advocate for something so simple, yet so transgressor as embracing who we truly are. So when I met this couple I got really excited to learn how they were committed to bring their personalities into their wedding day. Sharon and Quinn are into all things geek. They met playing online video games, and through the years their relationship has strengthened among RPG Games, consoles, comic books, and all those nerdy things that I admire, yet I'm so embarrassingly ignorant about (like seriously, the only video game I have ever played is .... Tetris). However, where they totally captivated my soul, is in their ambition to make their wedding as ethically conscious as possible. Ethical rings, sustainable vendors, vegan food, even a vegan cookie table... I swear I heard heavenly trumpets when I first saw that table. But wait, that's not even the tip of this amazing iceberg. They donated their food leftovers to local homeless people (if you missed that blog, read it HERE). And like if that wasn't enough, I got to mentor Joanna in the wedding world, and I got to spend an amazing day, working side by side some of my wedding industry besties. It was a the most magical day ever, filled with emotions, love, dance, and gratitude for those who surround me, the couples that hire me, to my beloved Pittsburgh, the city that has welcomed me, and to God who gives me the best most badass clients any photographer could ever wish for. Congratulations Sharon and Quinn! May you live a life of friendship, love, compassion, and nerdy things <3

Badass Vendors:: Venue Clear Story Studio Officiant Jodi Affuso Wedding planner  Devoted to You Events Wedding Dress Lace & Liberty Shoes Irregular Choice R2-D2 Flats Groom's outfit? Suit Supply Florist Leafhopper Designs DJ BPM deejays Food JPC Event Group Cake Bella Christie and Lil Z's Sweet Boutique Cookie table Friends & Family (made with love) Makeup artist Dessa Poljak Hair stylist Nicole Beckett Wedding bands Chapel Hills Jewelry Ring Box Belladora Bride's watch Votch Invitations The Laughing Owl Press Co. Groom's Pocket Watch Tokyo Flash Boutonniere pins: Pathfinder Society Faction pins and the groom made the swords.

"Special thanks to the second shooters for their invaluable contribution. Forever grateful for your talents > Caroline Moore from Moore Click Photography >> Joanna Moore from Joanna Moore Photography "

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Kicking off wedding season a week earlier than last year's, celebrating Hadi + Nick's wedding. This year with something that I'm sure no other photographer would volunteer for: The bride is riding with me. So let's keep our hands together in prayer, that may I not crush, or get lost, or be quintessentially latina and arrive an hour late 😬😂. Happy Wedding Day @not_jamberry ... and see you soon @morninggloryinn 🙌🏼♥️☺️ [PS: the rain can go home] . . . . —————————————————— 📸 #sandrachile #pittsburgh #WeddingPhotographer #PittsburghPhotographer #funphotographer #elopementphotographer #weddingpittsburgh #destinationphotographer #radcouples#hipsterbride #bride #worldchanger #fotografachilena #filltheheart #gotengaged #isaidyes #Livecolorful #loveandwild #radcouples #wildsouls #rockmywedding (at Morning Glory Inn)

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About Weddings and elopements…

with Carly + Alex

You don’t need a reception. You don’t need a church. You don’t need a white dress. You don’t need a Tuxedo. You don’t need a gazillion people around you. You don’t need personalized napkins or cups. You don’t need makeup. You don’t even need shoes. What you actually need is:

To stop your lives for a day, to commit to each other. You need a deep understanding of love. The commitment with yourself first, that you will love your significant other despite their failures and mistakes, you will love them at their worse, even more than they can love themselves.

To express each other’s expectations and promises.

To make an effort to wear something that makes you feel special That can mean, a puffy dress, flowers, a tux, high heels, makeup, or no makeup, a big hair, or a shaved head. Feeling special will help you understand that you are indeed special, and acknowledging your worth in a relationship will help you through the tough times.

…And although technically, you could go without a photographer, I need to tell you that you totally one. The pictures will help you remember what love feels like, the day you loved the most.

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Engagement Session or Excuse to Get Professional Pictures of the Cat?

Rachel + Sam

I like people who stand up against injustice. People who are proactive to create a better world. People who are able to step outside their privilege to empathize with minorities like myself. People who care about the things that truly matter. And this is pretty much the definition of Rachel and Sam, and I’m OBSESSED with them. Rachel and Sam met in college, and after traveling around the globe helping farmers, and strengthening impoverished areas, they decided to get hitched, right here where they live. But pictures make introverts like them nervous, so I suggested to do a test run with an engagement session where they feel more at ease: their home. Personally, I can’t empathize enough, how truly important taking pictures before getting married prepares you for the big day. I want all couples to do it, it really is a huge giant massive help, for them and also for me as the photographer.

I think Rachel and Sam ended up looking super cute, however, at some point there were doubts: Was it this truly an engagement session? or was this just an excuse to get professional pictures of the cat??? … Judge for yourself…

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Love at first... bratwurst | Brookline - Pittsburgh PA

 Victoria + Josh

Victoria was living a pretty stagnant life in a small college town outside of Pittsburgh. She promised herself that if something amazing didn't happen within a year, she was quitting her job(s) and moving to the city.

A year went by and not much happened, so she fulfilled her own promise and moved to the Burgh.

When she got to Pittsburgh, she was underwhelmed by her first experiences, so he joined meetup.com, Tinder and various other Facebook groups, in hopes of meeting new people with fresh perspectives.

About a month in, her and Josh matched on Tinder.

He messaged first and was very clearly in love with the city he grew up in.

He offered up suggestions for places to go, food to eat, transportation tips, and eventually, they decided to meet up at a local hot dog shop.

Two (very) strong beers and a bratwurst later, it was the best "first date" both of them ever had.

After that that initial date, a handful more came along and it quickly transitioned into   more.

They moved in together after four months and became dog parents after six.

This past April, things got a little twist

when they bought their first home together!!!. (hashtag adulting!)

Josh finally proposed to her in October, right at home.

Because home is such an important element in their lives, I suggested we did their session there.

Often times engagement sessions take place outside, but I am a firm believer that it is always better to stay home :)

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Fun and Love at Keystone Lake | Pittsburgh PA

Amber + Stephen

When you think about engagement photography, what do you think of?

If you are in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania like I am, you probably think of a couple with matchy nice outfits (meaning, a girl wearing a dress, and a guy wearing a collared shirt of some sort). You might also think of pictures of them in front of one of the gazillion bridges that are a characteristic of this city.

This is not wrong. However, I am ignorant, actually, super ignorant, and when it comes to set expectations for cultural events, I have no preconceived idea of what a couple is actually expecting. People in Chile don’t get engaged the way they do here, and they don’t have engagement pictures taken. The Chilean concept of “dressing nicely” is also different. So when it comes to engagement pictures, my expectations are different because, there are in fact, no set expectations, and lately, I have realized that now that I am a wedding and portrait photographer of couples, this plays to my advantage.

Every once in a while, there is a couple who is open to this lack of expectations and they roll with me and my ideas. This time it was Stephen and Amber.

This easy to laugh, adventurous, festival loving couple were completely open to what I had in mind. Thank God! because I told them: “what if we do your session in the water?”, and instead of running frantically away from me, they were on board!

(A year before, I had actually suggested the same idea to another couple, but the fiance was too afraid his pants would get ruined, so that was the end of my suggestion.)

Stephen’s pure, uncontrollable, excitingly overwhelming, romantic thoughts and feelings towards Amber were evident. He is one thousand percent obsessed with her, and Amber is one thousand percent obsessed with Steve.

So, this pre-wedding session, although different, was, in the end, the most magical representation of their relationship: Adventure, a little bit of nature, laughs, and lots of love.