Pittsburgh Wedding Planner | Tamara + James

Pittsburgh born + NYC living, Tamara served effortless chic for her wedding day. Tamara + James started their day with getting ready at the stylish Hotel Monaco before saying iDo and celebrating with their closest friends + family at the Garden Room at The National Aviary. With greenery + trees surrounding their space, we just loved their urban garden! The neutral + timeless palette of nude, white, and black set the backdrop to the clean aesthetic of the venue that boasts natural light and a perfect indoor/outdoor feel. Statement tables flanked the dancefloor and gave fabulous ‘Jeff Leatham’ floral vibes. Guests mixed and mingled in the garden before dining + dancing the night away. At the peak of the dancing the confetti cannon surprised everyone and was a whole moment. Such an epic happily- ever-after for the Hippolytes!

Event Planning + Design: Shayla Hawkins Events
Reception: The National Aviary
Caterer: Atria’s
Photography: Raif Rucker Productions
Desserts: Bella Christie
Rentals: All Occasions + Marbella
Floral Design: Hens + Chicks
Stationary: Weigel Creative
DJ: DJ Finesse
Linens: Mosaic
Custom Suits: LaTouche
Lighting: Every Event AV
Hair: Bebe Beauty Lounge
Makeup: Beat by Nesh + Leandra Baldwin

Pittsburgh Event Planner | Sienna's 1st Birthday Luau

If there is one thing {SHE} loves -- it's keeping it in the family! Recently we posted an ultra fab 60th surprise birthday party for Roberta + now we have the pleasure to feature her granddaughter's incredible 1st birthday luau.  The family's backyard provided the perfect setting to create a tropical paradise + it didn't hurt that the weather was literally picture-perfect!  Guests initially learned of this fantastic celebration with a one-of-a-kind invitation -- a gold foil tube containing colorful stationery + a Hawaii lei, which they were asked to wear on the birthday girl's day.  Upon arriving at the party, they were greeted by Polynesian dancers amongst a 15' tall balloon arch with "Aloha" on top.  The family's gazebo was converted to a 4-sided tiki hut bar with the cutest grass skirt stools.  The dessert table was far from simplistic which was comprised of a grass-covered table with not one, not two, but three birthday cakes -- because every fantastic one-year-old, like Sienna, needs 3 cakes! Behind delicately hung coconut cups with florals spilling over + gold painted pineapples.  The kiddos didn't go home empty-handed -- the favors were an array of colorful sand buckets filled to the brim with flip flops, fluorescent zinc sticks, sunglasses, flip-flop straws + a custom cookie. And as if that wasn't enough -- the day was topped off with Polynesian dancers perform with dances and song. Skysight Photography + Post Script Productions did such an unbelievable job, allowing all of us to commemorate the day!

Planning: {SHE} Shayla Hawkins Events
Photography: Skysight Photography
Videography: Post Script Films
Floral Design: City Stems
Stationery Design: Loree Mayer Designs
Linens: Mosaic
Rentals: All Occasions Party Rental
Rentals: Prop Shop
Cake Design + Desserts: Bella Christie
Entertainment: Tuika's Polynesian Island Magic

Live inspired + celebrate stylishly!

Pittsburgh Event Planner | Peachie's Mardi Gras Ball

One of the best and most exciting things about our job is we never know what our next job or who our next fabulous client is. So every single new consultation has an element of surprise! When we got the call to plan a big bash with a four week turn around for Peachie's birthday 5.1, {SHE} had no idea it was the beginning of a wonderful relationship and friendship! We started the planning with an info gathering session with Peachie's sister and closest friends. Though Peachie knew about the party, they wanted to keep a lot of the details + surprises unknown to her. Peachie is innately a giver and always taking care of others so it was important that she could just show up, be celebrated, and be the guest of honor. What originally was going to be a winter wonderland experience at a ski resort turned into a New Orleans meets Pittsburgh experience when {SHE} got involved because the initial venue was simply inadequate for this affair. Pressed for time and decisions, {SHE} put the brainstorming cap on quick and learned one of Peachie's favorite places to travel was to New Orleans and {SHE} loved Mardi Gras so it was the perfect theme for this vibrant lady in red! Moreover, her February 27th birthday often falls right within the Mardi Gras festivities! Don't even know where to begin with the details for the PARTY. OF. THE. YEAR! {SHE} can assure there were none left out. From the second line grand entrance, to the array of colors and ambience of N.O. streets, to the completely customized and unique centerpieces for each guest table, to the live speed paint artist, to the masked aerialists, to the taste of Bourbon Street in the food and beverage--we were celebrating in her beloved hometown but you felt the soul and culture of Mardi Gras + New Orleans! Mecca Gamble captured this amazing celebration beautifully and Emmai Alaquiva's cinematic story allows us to relive the fun over and over and over! This special celebration will never ever get old. 

Planning: {SHE} Shayla Hawkins Events
Party Venue: Heinz History Center
Caterer: Commonplea Catering
Photography: Mecca Gamble Photography
Videography: Emmai Alaquiva
Floral Design: Hens + Chicks Floral Design
Stationery Design: Bellamy + Belou
Linens: Mosaic
Rentals: Marbella Event Rental
Cake Design: Bella Christie's
Lighting: Three Rivers Entertainment
DJ: GQ
Master of Ceremony: Tee Jay
Jazz Ensemble: Calvin Stemley + Stemtec
Aerialist: Iron City Aerialists
Speed Painter: George Williams