Author Archives: Kelli Burns

New Wedding Trend: Recycled Weddings Making a Difference
March 7, 2017 2:22 pm Leave a Comment
Making a Difference instead of Making a Splash

Planning a wedding is a serious task – there’s so much to consider in order to reflect the two of you, how to entertain
your family and friends, and sometimes as we know “the devil is in the details”. In the process of planning it is
possible to lose sight of what is important in the middle of all the tulle, lace, invitations, favors, and photo booths.
Ultimately, the point of a wedding is the marriage – how you two will live your lives together. A recent trend has
couples making a difference, opting to spend or donate their wedding budget on a cause or charity close to their hearts.
If you want to give back and extend your celebration to the wider community, consider looking into some of these
different options.
Photo courtesy of Black Sheep Bride, Meigan Canfield Photography

Photo courtesy of Black Sheep Bride, Meigan Canfield Photography
Pinterest can be a helpful tool but it can also lead to a serious case of “wedding envy” and spur competition to make
each wedding more opulent and fantastic than the last. Instead of the hottest wedding trend, try researching your
church, community center, or a cause close to your heart to find a way you can contribute. Gather your wedding party to
work for a weekend on a Habitat for Humanity project or spend a few hours serving meals at a homeless shelter.
Ismini & Mark Svensson traveling around the US, performing 50 Acts of Kindness. Photo
credit: CNN, Svensson family
Check out vendors – from wedding dresses to venues to photography – who give back to charities on Black Sheep Bride to find one that fits you. You can find someone in nearly
every vendor category that will support a cause that’s special to you, making even your wedding expenditures count.

• Are you environmentally conscious and looking for a stunning but Eco-friendly gown? Check out Pure Magnolia gowns and
Restitch Studio, both Black Sheep Bride vendors specializing in making you gorgeous for your day while reusing already
existent or sustainable materials.
• Looking for a photographer who gives back? Check out Sandrachile
Photography in Pittsburgh – she donates to Too Young To Wed, an organization that combats forced child marriage
as well as Rabbit Wranglers, which rescues neglected and abused rabbits.
• A major wedding budget item is food, and quite often there are lots of leftovers from weddings. In Pittsburgh,
consider donating leftover wedding reception meals to 412FoodRescue, an
organization that collects good food that would otherwise be discarded and distributes it to community organizations in
need.
• Flowers are a considerably large chunk of a wedding budget, and are often completely neglected after the few hours
they are used to grace the reception tables or other parts of the venue. In Pittsburgh, why not give those flowers a
second chance to bring a smile to faces by donating them through an organization such as Centerpieces 4 Seniors to a Senior retirement home, where they will
be enjoyed for days. Started by Kelli Burns and Rose Davidson, these ladies collaborated by asking brides and venues to
donate floral arrangements to the organization, which delivers them to senior care homes. They will pick up arrangements
after any event, and often brides who choose Kelli Burns Entertainment for their DJ services will opt to donate their
floral arrangements after seeing how much Kelli and Rose care for their service to Centerpieces 4 Seniors.

Kelli Burns and Rose Davidson delivering flowers through Centerpieces 4 Seniors.

Recycled Weddings recently got national coverage in an article in The New York Times, highlighting four couples who
chose to donate their time, money, and host their special day in a non-traditional but meaningful way. One couple chose
an LGBT community center integral to their relationship for their venue, another was married at a homeless outreach
shelter where they serve meals. An Indian couple traded the traditional Indian wedding for a simple ceremony at City
Hall and dinner with family and friends, instead donating $20,000 to a charity that feeds children victims of Boko Haram
violence and encouraged their guests to donate too. For every “big wedding” aspect they celebrated, a final couple
involved their wedding party and families in packing brown-bag lunches for homeless shelters and other outreach.
How can your wedding make a difference?
Wedding Trends for 2016
January 15, 2016 1:57 pm Leave a Comment
This is an exciting time of the year, the very beginning of
the year. It is also a very weird time of the year. We are still emotionally hungover from the holiday season, the
marathon run that begins the day after Thanksgiving and ends the second day of January. In addition to feeling a
hurricane of emotions, some good some bad, we are also riding high on optimism and hope for the future. That is why we
make New Year’s resolutions, but resolutions are not the only thing we pay attention to; we also pay attention to
trends. Like resolutions, trends affect everything around us and ultimately change how we behave. We build weddings on a
foundation of what is popular at the time and 2016 is poised to be a very interesting year for weddings. For starters,
they will be more techie than ever before.

Marta
Segal Block of The Huffington Post writes, “For the past few years technology has been at the top of every
wedding trends list. But what those lists mean by “technology” has gotten a little old: hashtags, charging stations,
that cool thing Disney does with the movie on the cake…Hardly the stuff of fairytales for most couples interested in
technology.” Some technological innovations Block touches on are photo apps, drones, on demand bar service, and more.
Perhaps the most important of these things is the on demand service, which is preventative measure against overspending
on alcohol at your wedding. This is accomplished by giving the bride and groom the ability to order more alcohol if
needed during the wedding itself.

Then there are trends that have nothing to do with technology, nothing really to do with increasing the efficiency of
your wedding planning, but they deal more with the aesthetics of the wedding. This might involve your stationary and it
seems that glitter on your stationary is out and foil stationary is in. The most aesthetic jarring change in trends for
weddings in 2016 seem to involve the things that you sit on and at: Tables and chairs.

Danielle
Rothweiler of The Huffington Post writes, “Keeping with the idea of tossing the formalities aside when planning
a wedding, banquet round tables are starting to not be “in” anymore. Long tables, square tables and even a mix of
everything look amazing at a wedding. However, the lucite and mirror tables are how you kick your wedding up from a 9 to
a 10.”

Kicking your wedding up from a 9 to a 10? Who doesn’t want that to happen at their wedding? That is a big jump and if it
requires something as simple as a changing of the guard in terms of tables and chairs, you should absolutely consider
it. Remember how important aesthetics are to the overall vibe and success of your wedding.

In 2016, there will be technological innovations, a change in aesthetics, and last, but certainly not least, a greater
presence on social media that may psychologically impact a bride and groom’s mentality going into the ceremony and
reception. Rothweiler writes, “It doesn’t matter if it’s a massive celebrity wedding or a random “Real Weddings” feature
that a bride wants. Everything blends together in social media land, and a bride can drown in the inspiration available
to her. Getting overloaded on wedding details is not the bad part here. What’s bad is when the bride figures out what
she wants, and her decision was influenced (unbeknownst to her) by hashtags like “Wedding Goal”.”

In 2016, a couple preparing for their wedding is more vulnerable than ever when it comes to hashtag psychology, pooling
over Instagram photos of pricey weddings and wondering if their wedding can ever match up. This adds unnecessary
pressure to an already stressful situation. You have to keep in mind that every wedding is different and no one set of
standards applies to them all. Weddings should not be competitions; they should be about two hearts coming together as
one and that is something you will not find in a toy box of hashtags.

At Kelli Burns Entertainment, we always keep our eyes on trends, because that
makes us better at making your wedding the best it can possibly be.
In the New Year Manage Your Emotions with Wedding Apps
January 5, 2016 12:29 pm Leave a Comment
The holiday season is confusing. Not only is it
confusing, it is downright overwhelming. So much shopping to do. So many people to see. It is as if you’re in a
whirlwind moving at the speed of light. One minute you’re at the mall and the next, someone’s house you may or may not
know and everyone is singing carols and there’s glass of hard eggnog in your hand.

Even if you had a personal planner, the holiday season is tough to manage – not because of all the events you have to
attend per se, but rather the emotional toll it has on your mind, body, and soul. While this season might not be too
easy to get through, we ask that you look at the silver lining. This emotional rollercoaster you’re currently on? Well,
it’s a lot like being engaged and eventually getting married – all that planning, all those emotions flowing like
electrical currents around you and your partner.

So, if you’re someone that’s currently planning a wedding, consider this time of the year your rigorous training period,
as you groom your mind, body, and soul so that it can deal with the sudden shifting of your emotions, from elation to
disappointment to frustration to joy then melancholy, all within a three second span. If only we had an app or something
that could manage our emotions so they don’t get the best of us or an app that’s constantly keeping our hormonal heads
clear…oh wait, there are, but the best ones are for wedding planning.

According
to App Ninja, “The wedding planner apps for iPod, the wedding planner Android app and other wedding planner apps
can be the difference between a great wedding on a tight budget and a disaster. These apps will give you all of the
tools you need to make this possible. Yes, you can have a wedding that is unique and different even on a smaller
budget.”

While wedding apps do a marvelous job of managing money and dates, the most important thing they do is manage your
emotions, creating a less stressful atmosphere for you and your partner. Remember that when emotions become cloudy,
couples begin to fray around the edges and that is not beneficial to any wedding prep. The stress begins to get the best
of us and that, as you all are well aware, can sour the love and make the engagement process a nasty one. How do you
want your wedding to be? An explosion of joy that is strategic and poignant or a vacuuming out of all the stress in your
bones? Of course, you want an explosion of joy and planning accordingly via a wedding app is a surefire way to make that
a reality.

At Kelli Burns Entertainment, we do more than just provide Pittsburgh’s best
wedding & event services; we will also help you in the process of creating custom apps for your individual wedding.
Remember that every wedding should be tailor made to you and your partner, and wedding apps will you assist you in that.
Be Thankful You Can Breathe New Life into Tried-And-True Wedding Favorites
November 24, 2015 3:55 pm Leave a Comment
In only a couple of days, most of us will be sitting
around tables with friends and family sharing in delicious food and good conversation. Then, after that, we have about
two more months of these gatherings until the New Year opens the glitzy drawbridge and we can enter the next stage of
our lives. This is a very exciting time of the year as we give thanks for all the people and things that make us happy.

When you think of Thanksgiving or this time of the year, chances are you do not think of weddings, bridal parties, or
anything related to nuptials. Perhaps you should; after all, “The holiday season is a popular time for popping the
question and more than a quarter of engagements take place between Thanksgiving and Valentine’s day,” according
to HNGN.

Hmm…that makes sense. This is the season of celebrations, friends, and families. If you are going to pop the question,
now is a good time, especially since you are constantly with loved ones. Maybe there is no better time of the year to do
it. At the very least, it is convenient. The specialness and cheerful atmosphere is there for the taking. So yes, there
is a wedding-like enthusiasm in November and December, but this is not a blog post about the surge in engagement
proposals this time of the year; rather, I want you to think of what you are thankful for when it comes to weddings
nowadays. Now hear me out.

If Thanksgiving reminds us of all the ways in which we are fortunate, and of all that we take for granted, we should
apply that same attitude to weddings and wedding planning. In other words, what wedding trends do you take for granted?
What wedding trends do you like? Regardless of how you feel, the ball is in your court when it comes to imagining and
reimagining wedding trends and that is something we should all be thankful for. These days the most beautiful thing
about getting married is that you can completely customize the wedding, make it all about you and your partner. Just
look at this Huff Post Weddings
article.

Stefania Sainato writes, “We surveyed top wedding planners and vendors across the country to
get the inside scoop on how they’re modernizing the most popular wedding trends to date. Get their expert advice on how
to breathe new life into tried-and-true favorites and make them your own!”

Maybe that is the overarching message of Thanksgiving, “breathing new life into tried-and-true favorites and make them
your own.” Sainato covers 10 different wedding trends, including mason jars, burlap with lace accents, photo booths,
candy bars, chevron, barn or Gatsby-themed weddings, overly produced wedding photos, muted color palettes, creative
signage, and sparkler sendoffs.

Now that list might make you dizzy, but the trick to
customizing your wedding is to take these “classic” trends and spice them up or, in other words, show them how thankful
you are in a different way. Take photo booths for example, which are a staple at most weddings. Having your
photo taken is always fun, but it is easy to become complacent because of the same old photo booth where you and your
date or you and a bunch of friends cram into something that is the size of a cubicle and make funny faces for a few
seconds. Photo booths should be about emotion and fluidity. It should not turn wedding guests into stiff, almost-stoic
mannequins. Sainato suggests we add things like unique backdrops and funky-looking furniture to the photo booth
experience. We need to have the photo booth match the personality of the wedding reception. This might also mean upping
the technological magic and offering a video booth option for your wedding guests.

Remember, every aspect of your wedding is completely up to you, so you must determine what trends you are grateful for
and what trends you could do without. Although Sainato offers up some nice suggestions, the ball is always in your
court. At Kelli Burns Entertainment, I will help you
breathe new life into tried-and-true wedding favorites and make them your own, and that is something I am very thankful
for.
Ideas for a Halloween Wedding
September 30, 2015 3:57 pm 1 Comment
October is almost here, and the changing leaves
and cool weather have us thinking of Halloween and how much fun these seasonal weddings
can be – especially with the holiday falling on a Saturday this year! From touches of orange to a gown with ornate,
black detailing there are so many ways to add a spooktacular touch to your nuptials.

Attire

Whether you are a bride looking to stray from the white dress norm or are interested in adding a pop of bright color to
your big day, Halloween is the perfect time to do so. In recent years, black wedding gowns have become a fashion-forward alternative to the traditional white gown, providing you with plenty of options
to choose from. Every bride deserves to feel beautiful and confident on her wedding day, so choose the dress that speaks
to you, regardless of its color.

Looking for a more subtle homage to the holiday? Pumpkin colored ties and bright orange bouquets are two great ways to
incorporate some spooky spirit. One of my favorite ideas: A pumpkin
basket for your flower girl to carry. Orange flower petals or dried leaves in shades of spice and burgundy with
look stunning on the aisle.

Decorations

From your save the dates to the wedding cake, there are so many little touches that can be added to your event. Touches
of orange throughout the venue, glowing jack-o-lanterns and themed décor are some of our favorite ideas. Vintage
candelabras and cobwebbed branches will add to the bewitching fun. Add a unique spin on the popular cookie table and
create a candy buffet instead! Choose all your favorite chocolate treats and let your guests fill goodie bags to take
home.

Music

Set the mood with a dance floor that looks like it came straight off the set of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” music
video. Smoke machines and mood lighting paired with Halloween hits like “Monster Mash” and “Ghostbusters” will have your
guests on the dance floor in no time.

There are so many fun and unique ways to incorporate Halloween into your October wedding. Make the day your own with these
ideas and enjoy the haunted fun!
Centerpieces 4 Seniors
September 17, 2015 4:55 pm Leave a Comment

Don’t flowers just make you smile? After visiting many nursing homes it occurred to us that having fresh flowers could
make the nursing homes brighter and happier. Dazzling flowers immediately bring smiles and excitement to a mundane day.

This is how the idea started. Simply bring in flowers for the residents of nursing homes to brighten their dining rooms
and start a wonderful conversation.

Then the idea grew. Knowing that I perform at weddings and other events, I thought it would be good to save the
centerpieces that were destined for the trash. By donating flowers to local nursing homes we keep the party going! Then
we got other professionals like DJ Jeremy Ganss, Ansley Esterline from Bliss Events, and Melissa from the Blooming Dahlia involved in the program.

With their help we were able to make 6 arrangements out of just one centerpiece!

We are now in our 3rd month of making a difference in senior lives.. The re-purposed centerpieces are delivered to local
nursing homes to bring happiness and cheer to the residents and care givers. We share small details of the fun event and
residents begin to connect with pleasurable events from their past. Seeing seniors smile as they talk about the
centerpieces and enjoy their dining tables is so refreshing!

How Can You Help?

Let us know if you have an event and are willing to join us in brightening the lives of seniors. Donated centerpieces
will be picked up at your event and delivered by Centerpieces 4 Seniors friends.

Thank you!

Kelli Burns and Rose Davidson

kelli@kelliburns.com

rosedavidson611@gmail.com
Choosing Your Perfect Honeymoon
August 13, 2015 1:00 pm Leave a Comment
There are plenty of details to consider when planning your wedding day. After
months of preparation, the big day will go by in the blink of an eye. And then it’s time to relax and enjoy a week or
two of newlywed bliss. So how do you decide where to go?

First, discuss time and budget with your significant other. Before you choose a location, consider how much time you
will be able to take off of work and how big your travel budget is. From exotic, far off locations to a cozy trip across
the country, here are options that will fit every lifestyle:

Beach

With soft sand and all-inclusive resorts, beach honeymoons provide an escape from the world into your own private
paradise. For the couple looking to unwind and enjoy some time alone, a tropical resort is the perfect option.

When choosing a beach destination, consider
weather. We recommend avoiding a trip during hurricane season, or choosing a warm, sandy location outside of the
hurricane belt. One hot honeymoon destination is Bora Bora. A coral island in the French Polynesia, Bora Bora is an
exquisite, volcanic island surrounded by coral reefs. A well-known tourist destination, there are plenty of adventures
for you and your spouse to encounter – think snorkeling, swimming and quad touring the mountains – as well as time to
relax and enjoy each other’s company and the crystal clear waters. Newlyweds Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux spent
their honeymoon here – and so did our celebrity clients, Lisa and Henry Swager!

Adventure

Are you and your spouse looking to kick off your marriage with the adventure of a lifetime? From mountains to rivers to
ancient runes there are many ways to satisfy your desire to explore. Look into national parks and eco-lodges and plan a
guided tour for one of the first days of your trip. Your local tour guide is sure to have better information than any
site on the internet, so ask plenty of questions and learn about all that the area has to offer. Then spend the rest of
your trip visiting and exploring the spots mentioned.

For couples looking for a trip a bit closer to home, a trip out west to Yellowstone National State Park and the Grand
Canyon is a great idea. Another adventurous – and tropical – destination choice is Costa Rica. Spend an afternoon
zip-lining through the jungle or kayaking a river, then relax on the beach in the evening.

City

If you love the rush of city life and the feeling of being on the go, a city honeymoon is the trip for you. From outdoor
markets to museums and a bustling nightlife, there are plenty of cities both near and far that will give you the chance
to learn and explore together. Immerse yourself in local culture with reservations at a popular restaurant, a tour
around the city and tickets to a local theatre.

While Paris has always been the city of love, there are many other options to consider. Barcelona, Spain is one of our
favorite choices. Looking for some other ideas? Visit The Knot to see their list of most
romantic honeymoon cities.

No matter what trip you choose, your honeymoon will provide you with memories that will last a lifetime. Take some time
to relax after all the stress of the big day and enjoy the company of your new spouse.
How Long Should your Wedding Reception Last?
August 10, 2015 12:28 pm 3 Comments
A couple of the questions I frequently hear couples puzzling over are “How long should the
music last?” and “How many hours should the reception be?” There are plenty of traditions incorporated into most wedding
receptions and based on the number of guests, dinner courses and your open bar package, the length of time you spend at
the reception can vary. Here is a little more information on events commonly included in the
reception:

Receiving Line

Depending on the location of your wedding ceremony and reception, the receiving line is almost always at the ceremony
location. For couples who plan to take pictures after their vows, your guests will probably beat you to the reception.
In this case, I recommend having the receiving line right after the ceremony.

Cocktail Hour

Kick off the reception and give yourself time to get to the wedding after your photos and enjoy your guests at the
cocktail hour. Greet your guests and give them time to mingle while the event staff serves hors d’oeuvres.

First Dance

Once the DJ announces your parents, your wedding party and, of course, your grand entrance, head to the dance floor!
This is a beautiful moment to celebrate the beginning of a memorable evening with family and friends.

Champagne Toast & Speeches

When everyone is seated and the first course has been served, the best man will give the champagne toast, with a
response from the groom. Then it’s the maid of honor’s turn, sometimes followed by your parents and other guests.

Dinner

Depending on if you have a buffet meal or sit-down style, dinner will progress differently. The dinner typically will
take one hour. Once dinner is over, the dance floor will open up for the celebrations to continue!

Other Traditions

There are many other traditions that may be incorporated into your wedding, including the parents’ dances, the longevity
dance and the throwing of the garter and bouquet. Many families also choose to include customs that celebrate their
ethnicity, like the Hora, a Jewish wedding dance, and the kalamatiano, a Greek one.

Talk to your significant other about wedding traditions that their family follows and be sure to include some that
incorporate both sides of your new family!

As a quick rule of thumb, I recommend a reception with four hours of music for up to 75 guest and five hours for 150
guests. For a wedding with 200 guests or more and multiple courses, six hours may be needed. While four or five hours
do not sound like a long time, remember what a big day it has been. If the event goes too long, it will seem to drag on.
End your big night on a high note! From early hair appointments, to the wedding, photos and more, you’ve been busy.
Enjoy the celebrations – they will fly by!
Make your Dog a part of your Wedding Ceremony
July 22, 2015 9:57 am Leave a Comment
For all you dog lovers looking for a way to make your special day memorable and unique, consider including your pooch in the ceremony. With help from local dog trainer Mr. O, your dog can learn to accompany you down the aisle! Whether you are looking for a flower girl, ring bearer or furry additions to your bridesmaids and groomsmen, Mr. O can train your dog to participate.

Mr. O’s Dog Training Place offers a variety of training options for dogs, including a wedding dog training course. This course will teach your pup to walk down the aisle and sit or lay with your wedding party throughout the ceremony. Training will be taught without a leash and when the ceremony concludes your pet will walk back down the aisle and wait with you to greet the guests.

Let your pets enjoy the festivities of your wedding ceremony as well. After all, they are a part of your family! The Dog Training Place can provide a trainer to attend your reception, allowing you to relax and avoid the worry of having to keep an eye on your pets all night. Instead, the trainer will watch over your pets, make sure they are fed and help to pose them for pictures while you enjoy your special night to the fullest.

Located at 2622 Leechburg Road in Lower Burrell, Pennsylvania, Mr. O’s Dog Training Place can be reached at 724-339-1962.
Brandi and Colin – Personalized Wedding, The Corinthian with DJ Jeremy Czarniak
July 7, 2015 10:54 am Leave a Comment
Brandi & Colin Snyder

Personalized Wedding at The Corinthian

March 21, 2015

It is easy to get caught up in the excitement and chaos
that come with planning your wedding. As bride Brandi realized in preparing for her very personalized wedding at
The Corinthian, time can get away from you. “You can plan and prep like crazy like I did for two years and still
those last few weeks will be nuts.” However, through all of the decision
making it is important to remember one thing: make your wedding YOUR wedding!

Coming up with a fitting theme or simply adding in small
details that are personal to you and your fiancee is a great way to make your wedding day memorable. Brandi kept
this in mind as she and her husband planned their wedding and believes that it is a big reason their day was so
special.

Brandi personalized her wedding, tailoring the menu
cards, seating charts, invitations, gift bags, table numbers, and cake
toppers all to fit her and her husband Colin’s personalities. She created centerpieces using empty bottles of
wine that she and her friends had shared over the years.

“I didn’t call it a theme it was more us. I wanted the day
to be us, some of our favorite things.”

To incorporate Colin, she topped the cake with bride and groom Pez
dispensers, which she said Colin has collected all his life. She also thought of Colin’s collection of vinyl records
while trying to figure out how to personalize the wedding.

“Colin is the guy who gets up super early on record store day to wait in
line for limited or special release of albums. So my thought was making vinyl the table numbers. I went to a local
thrift store and bought a whole bunch of 45s so I could make them into table numbers. I did have to go back though
because Colin decided to keep some of them.”

Brandi raved about the benefits of these DIY, or “do it
yourself,” projects, saying they involve time and effort but the personal touch they put on a wedding and the
money they save are well worth it. She also raved about her DJ Jeremy Czarniak and wedding photographer Shannon
Kenyon.

“Jeremy was so personable, fun and just a breeze to work with! I love
Broadway musicals and was able to walk down the aisle to “For Good” from Wicked. I couldn’t have thought of a better
song and would never have thought of that without him suggesting it. I know that is something small and probably
only means something special to me but I am still beyond ecstatic that that got to be my ceremony song because of
his suggestion.”

Brandi loved that Jeremy kept everyone on the floor at the reception
with fun dancing songs and a Grease sing-a-long that everyone loved and, over all, exceeded her and Colin’s
expectations.

Brandi’s wedding photographer, Shannon Kenyon, also seemed to be big
part in Brandi’s memories of the day. “I suggest to any couple to do engagement photos, you totally get to see how
working with your photographer will be. Shannon was so much fun and easy to work with and was ok with every
suggestion or idea I had. However, the ones she suggested were the best. She definitely has a great eye.”

To see more Shannon Kenyon Photography: www.shannonkenyon.com

For DIY wedding ideas: http://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/things-to-diy-instead-of-buy-for-your-wedding#.mfYzOa3NR

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