danielle pasternak, wedding coordinator, wedding planner, scranton

Vendor Spotlight: ALH Designs

02.29.2012 / Vendor Spotlight / 2 comments

First and foremost, Happy Leap Year Day! (is that right??) I feel like this is one of those bonus days like that extra hour we get during daylight savings, you know?

Anyway, as part of our Vendor Spotlight series, I’m happy to introduce you to April Cohen of ALH Designs. I met April through a mutual friend on Facebook (what would be do without it, huh?) and I’m so glad to have met her. And if you’re feeling up to it, head over to her blog and check out the feature she did on us!

1. Hello. Who are you?

Hmmm.. Who am I? Well I find that it is always difficult to talk about yourself, but here it goes! I am a graphic designer and have been working in the industry for 11 years now. A little over two years ago, I started ALH Designs. ALH Designs is a custom stationery + design studio based out of the Philadelphia area.  Everything I design is completely custom, based upon what my clients want. If you can dream it, I can design it! I grew up in Boyertown, PA, but for the past five years I have been living in the Philadelphia area.

2. Who or what got you started in the industry?

I have been working as a graphic designer for over a decade and had the pleasure of designing both of my best friends’ wedding stationery. It was at that moment that I knew I found my niche and moved into the world of weddings. Wedding stationery is my concentration, but I do work in all areas of graphic design.

3. What is your favorite part about being in the wedding world?

My favorite part of working in the wedding world is meeting all of the couples that are in love. There is so much love and emotion that surrounds a wedding and I feel so lucky to be a part of such a special day in people’s lives. Each wedding that I design for is so unique and I will create a completely custom invitation for all of the couples that I work with. Every couple is different and I believe that they deserve to have their own unique look for their special day.

4. Besides weddings, are there any other special events that you service?

Besides weddings, ALH Designs specializes in creating custom designed stationery for your social events such as weddings, birthdays, bridal/baby showers, mitzvahs, christenings and much more!

5. Where do you go to be inspired?

There are a bunch of places that I go to get inspired. My favorite blogs are Style Me Pretty and Oh So Beautiful Paper, but Pinterest is becoming another one of my favorite sites to go to!

6. What sets you apart from other fellow professionals?

ALH Designs offers clients a completely custom wedding invitation suite. The wedding invitation suite is created and designed based upon what my clients want or envision. Everything that is created is based off on the colors and theme being used and most importantly, the budget! I truly believe that a bride should be able to have fabulous stationery at an affordable price!

7. Whether you’re single, married, divorced or widowed… we all have words of advice when it comes to relationships. What is your advice to couples tying the knot?

Enjoy the wedding planning stage as this is such a fun time of your life! Try not to get too stressed out or you won’t end up enjoying it. On your wedding day, take some time for just you and your spouse. The day goes by way too fast and it is nice to have some time for one another on the best day of your lives. Remember that marriage is not always 50/50. Some days you will wake up and may have to give 90% and your spouse will give 10%. Other days you may wake up and give 25% and your spouse will have to put in the 75%.

8. Aside from weddings, what are some other hobbies/hidden talents/secret powers of yours?

In my spare time, I love to be able to relax and enjoy time with my family. Our lives can be so busy that nothing is better than watching a movie at home with the man I love. I myself, am a newlywed. I was just married in December, so take some time out of your busy schedules to just enjoy spending time with your significant other.

9. Finally, do we connect with you?

Any way you want to.
Phone: 267.888.6095
Email: april@alhdesigns.com
Website: www.alhdesigns.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/alhdesigns
Twitter: twitter.com/alhdesigns
Pinterest: pinterest.com/alhdesigns/

2 comments
  • Vendor Spotlight: ALH Designs | Danielle Pasternak | Wedding Invitations Stationary March 28, 2012 9:13 pm

    [...] original post here: Vendor Spotlight: ALH Designs | Danielle Pasternak I Love Social BookmarkingSubscribeDiggdel.icio.usStumbleUpon Posted by admin on Feb 29, 2012 in [...]

  • Heather April 19, 2012 8:39 pm

    April at ALH Design does amazing work! Great spotlight!

    • Oscars Red Carpet 2012: Favorites and Fabulousness

    02.26.2012 / Inspiration + Ideas / no comments

    Watching the Oscars is something that I will always love more for the fashion than anything else. It’s one of the most glamorous nights in Hollywood and I love when people pull out all the stops.

    Below are some of my absolute favorites from the Red Carpet… (photos from justjared)

    First and probably my most favorite all-around look is the fabulous Kristen Wiig. Kristen wore a gorgeous, nude J. Mendel dress will jewels from Neil Lane. This dress would work for a bride or a bridesmaid (no pun intended)… but really. Her hair is natural and dark (love it!). Some were saying that the look was too casual, but I really thought it was just right.

    Michelle Williams’ look was a top-favorite mostly because of her haircut. This is the first time I’m seeing it and I love it on her! Plus, her coral/salmon/not-red Luis Vuitton dress was great on her. Loving that neckline for her.

    Octavia Spencer was sporting a lovely Tadashi Shoji that just screamed elegance. The beading was beyond flattering and her poise just radiated through. Bravo.

    This Valentino Couture dress on Shailene Woodley was just breathtaking. Some said it was too “old” for her, but she said that it was a dress that was essentially her. Either way, the shape, color, and dynamic of this dress gave me goosebumps. Can’t wait to see the bridal gowns that will emerge from this look!

    Finally, Kate Mara looked rather sexy, too in a beautiful blush dress with a GORGEOUS one-shoulder detail.

    I also LOVED Gwyneth Paltrow’s white cape number, Penelope Cruz’s blue (and amazingly tailored) dress, as well as Cameron Diaz in her beautiful blush dress and kick-butt short hair. What were some of your favorites?

    Also, how did you feel about the Sasha/Seacrest incident? I wasn’t a fan. It’s one thing to be a character and ham it up, but it crossed the line of respect, in my opinion.

    cheers and love,

    no comments

    Good enough.

    02.21.2012 / Inspiration + Ideas / no comments

    As a direct by-product of my amazing mother, I have the same “tendencies” when it comes to accomplishing things off my to-do list. If I’m going to do something, I’m going to do it right. Especially when it comes to my clients and their wedding day. Therefore, “good enough is never good enough” might be the quote of the day, but it’s also something that’s always in the back (or front) of my mind.

    What does it mean to you?

    no comments

    From Julia: Seating Charts vs. Escort Cards

    02.21.2012 / Inspiration + Ideas / 3 comments

    Every so often, you’re going to be seeing a new face on the blog talking about her own upcoming wedding, adventures, tips and fun finds. We introduced you to Julia before and now she’s here to talk about the pros and cons of seating charts vs. escort cards.

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    ok, how gorgeous is this table from mindy+mark’s wedding? photo by swoon over it.

    If you brides are anything like me then in the days leading up to your big day you’re investing much of your energy thinking about all the special little details.  And, like me, I’m sure you feel like you’ve thought of everything from your somethings old, new, borrowed and blue down to your day-by-day honeymoon itinerary.  So when I was perusing the blogosphere and stumbled upon some adorable seating chart options and then I saw these really cute themed escort cards, I suddenly realized I had yet to hammer out one very important detail.

    Deciding who sits where and with whom at your reception may not matter much to you, but trust me, this is one part of your wedding you should put some serious thought into it.  If the wrong people sit together you could have one big reception fiasco that would totally distract from you and your groom. I suggest you take care of this potential problem before it occurs and give your guests some structure as to where they belong.  And if you can’t decide between seating charts and escort cards, here are a few thoughts that may sway you in the right direction.

    Seating Charts

    I love the idea of seating charts because I tend to be a little obsessive about having things simple and organized.  Seating charts can be done up however you want and you can even connect it with your theme. Some photographers even offer the option of having your favorite engagement shot as the focal point of your seating chart.   If you’re one for order, alphabetizing, and minimal expected chaos, then this is the way for you.

    PROS: Organized, simple, themed, easy for guests to find seat

    CONS: Less fun/interactive for guests, guests don’t get to take your chart home as a keepsake

    Escort Cards

    Escort cards are great because they give couples the chance to show their style and incorporate the wedding theme.  If you’re having a winter wedding (like me!) then here’s one cute option that allows you to spread some of your holiday cheer. Guests can really enjoy escort cards (and you can have fun making them!) but keep in mind the potential headache for guests as the awkwardly stand by the entrance searching through 100+ little cards desperately trying to find where they should sit.

    PROS: Really show off your personality/creativity, easy to tie into your theme, guests can enjoy their place cards even after the reception is over

    CONS: Guests may have a hard time finding their cards

    Now that you’ve seen what some of your options are, how do you plan on directing your guests to their appropriate tables?

    {first two photos by swoon over it, last photo from pinterest/green wedding shoes}

    3 comments
  • Anna February 22, 2012 10:27 am

    Another pro for escort cards (why we’re using them), is to show a meal choice for a served dinner reception! We’re using little stamps to denote which individual is getting which meal. Should be pretty cute!

  • Malia {Something Navy} February 22, 2012 1:01 pm

    Such a great article you have hear, I love hearing the pros & cons. I’ve been in debate, if I wanted to do a seating chart/escort cards for various reasons. But this brings a lot of things to light, decisions, decisions, decisions.

  • Just Julia | On Enjoying the Moment | Danielle Pasternak April 7, 2012 4:32 pm

    [...] Julia, who is also a December bride. After that, she talked to us about the decisions of seating charts vs. escort cards. Today, I wanted to share a story that she sent to me about “enjoying the moment”. [...]

    • Etsy Find: a stunning engagement ring from singleBbeautiful

    02.17.2012 / Etsy Finds / one comment

    I only recently started crushing on engagement rings via my Pinterest board: beautiful rocks. I’ve never been much of a large diamond/bling lover myself, so I’m very excited to start seeing some unique finds and creations.

    Below is a stunning combination from Etsy seller singleBbeautiful with the following details: 14kt palladium white gold, .30ct HVS1 diamond, ideal cut. Really anything that involves conflict-free stones is pretty awesome in my book.

    Enjoy your weekend everyone. xo.

    one comment
  • Stephanie Elizabeth February 20, 2012 1:01 pm

    These are really cool! I love finding unique sets as well.

    • Vendor Spotlight: SimplYouDesigns

    02.15.2012 / Inspiration + Ideas / one comment

    Just by chance, Jessica Siegfried of SimplYouDesigns and I ran into each other on Etsy a few years ago. After some conversations and meetings, I discovered that Jessica is not only stunning on the outside, but just as beautiful on the inside.

    How could I not share all of her awesome-ness with you all? Enjoy.

    love session photo of jessica and her hubby, jason – by dolci momenti photography.

    1. Hello! Who are you?

    My name is Jessica Siegfried… Born and raised in Dunmore, and based out of Northeast PA, I specialize in affordable custom wedding stationary. Each one of my designs are made to order. Everything is personalized to you… paper, inks, envelopes, embellishments. If you envision it, I’ll make it happen!

    2. Who or what got you started in the industry? 

    My entire life I have been smitten with weddings. When I was little, I spent my afternoons in my father’s tuxedo shop. My mother would sew beautiful bridal purses and wedding bags, and I’d stand in awe as she’d hem the gowns of my older cousins in our kitchen. I fed my wedding obsession working my way through college as an assistant wedding photographer, designing invites for family and friends, and even did a few stints as a bridal model along the way.

    Years later, in 2006, I got engaged and my inner Bride-zilla broke loose! I was determined to do it my way all while sticking to our budget. Everything was to be a reflection of us, so I did it all myself. I realized that I was lucky to be able to do that… and decided to offer my services others via Etsy. Every bride is unique, so their stationary should be also! Plus, My husband said I was suffering from “wedding withdrawl” and needed an outlet for all the extra time I had after our wedding! lol

    3. What is your favorite part about being in the wedding world?

    There’s soo much!! The beauty, the excitement, the glamour, the love… the hope of a new bride to be.

    4. Besides weddings, are there any other special events that you service?

    I do! (No pun intended!) I actually have extended my services to include all special events, along with a commercial division. So now I accommodate anything from a billboard to a birth announcement, business to holiday cards and everything in between.

    5. Where do you go to be inspired? 

    I’m a huge fan of Green Wedding Shoes, and I love DIY sites and Etsy…Real Simple Weddings is a favorite of mine, and Martha Stewart (of course!).

    6. What sets you apart from other fellow professionals? 

    Even though my designs are made custom for you, they come with an affordable price tag. I understand that in order to have your dream wedding/dress/band/etc. you might not be ready to drop beaucoup bucks on stationary. There’s no reason why a bride on a budget shouldn’t have their visions brought to life by an award-winning designer.

    7. Whether you’re single, married, divorced, widowed… we all have words of advice when it comes to relationships. What is your advice to couples tying the knot?

    Remember to stop and BREATHE. Some people get so caught up in the planning that they forget to enjoy this monumental moment. Don’t think of it as a to-do list, rushing through to what’s next. You have your whole life ahead of you, together… Don’t forget to stop and enjoy THIS time.

    8. Aside from weddings, what are some other little known things about you?

    I’m an award-winning Art Director at a full-service advertising agency in Scranton and am in my second term as the President of the American Advertising Federation, NEPA. Oh, and I’m obsessed with Pit Bulls. In June of 2009, a fat little pit pup named Lola entered our lives and stole our hearts. As an effort to help promote and support the breed I do pro-bono design work with some of the local Pit Bull Rescues throughout NEPA. This summer I plan to launch an apparel shop on etsy named “Pittie Chicks” featuring feminine apparel and donate a portion of each sale.

    photo by the fabulous alison conklin.

    Get in touch with Jessica:

    email: Simplyou.design@yahoo.com
    web: simplyoudesign.com
    shop: simplyoudesign.etsy.com
    facebook: facebook.com/SimplYou.Design

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    SimplYouDesigns, Dolci Momenti Photography and Alison Conklin are all highly recommended creative professionals of Danielle Pasternak Events.

    one comment
  • Nicole Langan February 16, 2012 9:38 am

    Yay, Jess! :)

    • When I see this picture, a million things go through my mind…

    02.13.2012 / Inspiration + Ideas / no comments

    First of all, I have to say that this photo was taken by the amazing Daniel Moyer at Amanda and Mark’s wedding last August. It’s one of those photos that I love looking back on because so many things go through my head.

    Amanda was the type of bride that I BEYOND loved working with. She was uber-organized, incredibly focused, and grew to become a great friend to me. She was also very worried that it was going to rain on her wedding day. Her mom and I advised her to focus on her Plan A (a lovely outdoor ceremony) and be prepared for Plan B (a just-as-lovely indoor ceremony) just in case of inclement weather. Well, Amanda’s wedding day was the day Hurricane Irene decided to blow through the Lehigh Valley. With Plan B in place, she remained cool, calm and collected and I was so proud of her. But at this moment in the picture, the sun in shining in and just filling up this room with love. It was somewhat the calm before the storm outside, but a foreshadow of how lovely the day was going to be.

    There are also some clients that involve a close friend or family member (or sometimes even the fiancé if he’s lucky) in their wedding planning process. In this case, I had the opportunity to get to know Amanda’s mom through those meetings and conversations. If you look in the upper-right-hand side of this photo, you see the biggest smile on her face. I’m pretty sure she was laughing (as we all were) as we were trying to get Amanda into her dress. The buttons on the back made it a true team effort.

    As far as Daniel (the photographer) goes, I can say so many good things here. He was the type of person that anyone could enjoy working with. He was energetic the entire day and maintained a super-positive attitude – definitely the type of person I like to surround myself with. It’s no surprise to me that his business is growing and becoming more successful each year. We wish him nothing but the best and you can find him on our list of recommended vendors.

    Finally, I really like my hair in this picture! Ok, not so insightful, but it’s true.

    How about you? Did you ever have a picture that just made you smile for so many reasons? I think that’s the true art behind a simple photo: the memories it holds.

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