May in Middleburg

Check out James Christianson's beautiful photos of Coventry and Davis' spring wedding in Middleburg, Virginia. James did an amazing job capturing the spirit and beauty of the day. 

Coventry wanted a wedding at her family home in Middleburg, with all the graceful and natural touches that speak to hunt country living.  She also was sure to incorporate her family and family history in ways I absolutely adored.  Seen here in James' blog post -- a birch cross made by her parents (similar to the one they had at their own wedding) and original artwork created by the mother of the groom.

I cannot wait to see and share more photos!  Thank you James!!

Pineapple Productions on Style Me Pretty

We are thrilled that one of our favorite weddings from last year was featured this week on one of our favorite wedding blogs, Style Me Pretty. Click below to see the post about Lizanne and Joe's quintessential D.C. wedding.

http://www.stylemepretty.com/2010/06/02/traditional-elegance-from-pineapple-productions/

photo by Lynne Brubaker

Sara and Jeff - New Year's Eve Wedding

We are so excited to see Sara and Jeff's New Year's Eve wedding featured on the District Weddings blog today!  Check it out here.

2010 Trends - Pop Culture

ReelMovieNews

Everyone seems to be abuzz about the new Tim Burton film, Alice in Wonderland.  Due to open this week, the film has already inspired:

an array of shadows by Urban Decay 

Urban Decay

polish colors from OPI

nailpolishdiva

and a Vogue photoshoot by Annie Liebovitz of fashion’s icons

We predict many weddings and celebrations in the coming year will be inspired by the whimsy and vibrancy of this charming tale. Here are just a few examples of how this classic novel and modern film could make an appearance in your event.

Invitations

Etsy

NoFussFabulous

Decor

CelebrationShoppe

Country Living

CarpeItem

Details

Jessica Claire

Drugstore

Jessica Claire

Martha Stewart Weddings

CupcakesTaketheCake

Don't be late, March 5th is a very important date!

Lisa Dawn Photography

2010 Trends - What's New In Food

We love drawing menu inspiration for events from trends featured in influential restaurants and culinary magazines, like Bon Appétit and Saveur.

Last year’s food trends were highlighted by cupcakes in every size shape and flavor, a love affair with bacon and a continued interest Latin-infused specialty cocktails and cuisine.  What mouth-watering cuisine will be the taste(s) of 2010? Here are some speculations.

Photo credit: http://www.pierreherme.com

The cupcake trend is definitely still popular for events, and DC now boasts close to a dozen cupcake shops, but many people are ready for a new sugar fix. This year the desserts go upscale and downsized. Picture miniature two-bite caramel dipped apples, exotic truffles laced with spices like gray sea salt and fennel seed, and decadent confections that are almost too pretty to eat, like perfect, jewel-toned macarons. Presentation, like last year, will continue to be almost as important as taste in the form of kicked up candy and dessert bars a la Amy Atlas.

Bacon became hugely popular this past year. It was featured prominently in new ingredient-focused cookbooks, several fan blogs emerged confessing undying adoration for the once-typical breakfast accompaniment, products like bacon studded chocolate chip pancake batter are now available through gourmet food stores, and Arlington-based Restaurant 3 even featured a bacon tasting menu earlier this year. 

 

Photo credit: http://www.dallasnews.com/

What will be the next hot comfort food? Chicken skin (think a CSLT sandwich), brussels sprouts (they have started to appear onto menus nationwide) and eggs (fried and draped over burgers, deviled and served as bar snacks, poached for French-inspired salads) are all new “it” ingredients, which may be in line to be the next big trend.  Trays of deviled eggs with a spicy twist may become new hors d’oeuvres of choice.  Or picture a delightful first course of grilled asparagus topped with a poached egg and thin shards of shaved parmesan. With such a versatile ingredient, the possibilities are limitless. 

Photo credit: http://ediblecrafts.craftgossip.com

Latin and South American-inspired cocktails, like mojitos, margaritas and caipirinhas are moving over for more delicately crafted classic cocktails. A perfect martini, gimlet, and manhattan are just three examples of the kinds of drinks that are making a comeback. As Latin-inspired cuisine takes a backseat to farm-to-table and more local, regional food interests, we may look to our neighbors up north for culinary inspiration.

Photo credit:http://www.kevineats.com

Vancouver, a far cry from the Equator and the site of the Winter Olympics, offers an exciting culinary scene, including a slow food movement and a handful of eco-conscious restaurants. Vancouver has an emerging group of chefs and restaurateurs who value using ultra fresh, local and seasonal ingredients. Alderwood grilled salmon, venison carpaccio and roasted caribou are all examples of the novel cuisine being crafted by Vancouver chefs. Canada also now boasts over 600 wineries and some are making noteworthy wine according to Wine Spectator. In lieu of tequila or margarita bars at events, can we look forward to caviar and ice wine tastings? Will catering companies amass requests for fresh preparations of local game meat and duck instead of more traditional dishes?  It is predicted that chefs will begin to utilize different proteins and cuts of meat this year as well. It will be fun to see what influence Vancouver will have on our country’s cuisine. It will also be an important year for the local movement as more catering companies source ingredients from local farms and gardens.

It is always exciting to see new culinary trends emerge, particularly as they are interpreted for large scale events. Regardless of which trends stick around and which are fleeting, 2010 and the decade ahead are bound to be highlighted by some incredible innovations in cuisine. So, raise a glass and welcome the new year!

2010 Trends - What's New in Interior Design

In the next several posts, we will present trends for 2010 from pop culture and industry that we think will bring exciting inspiration to the event industry.  Today, we take a look at the interior design industry and color trends for 2010.

We love looking to interior design for inspiration for our events. So many of our weddings in particular are in home settings. The ideas found on the pages of Elle Décor, House Beautiful, Veranda, etc. translate beautifully into the understated elegance requested by the majority of our clients.

There are two color trends emerging in the design press and blogs we follow – turquoise and gray. We think these colors will be very popular for weddings and events this year.  When House Beautiful asked 14 industry color experts to predict the hot color for the New Year, 6 selected some shade of pale blue or turquoise. The second most selected color was some variation of gray. (Dec/Jan issue)

Pantone selected Turquoise as the 2010 color of the year. "In many cultures, Turquoise occupies a very special position in the world of color," explains Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. "It is believed to be a protective talisman, a color of deep compassion and healing, and a color of faith and truth, inspired by water and sky. Through years of color word-association studies, we also find that Turquoise represents an escape to many – taking them to a tropical paradise that is pleasant and inviting, even if only a fantasy."

Here are just a few examples of some inspiring interior designs incorporating turquoise and how they could be translated for an event.

Veranda via Simplified Bee

Santa Barbara Chic

Elum

Turquoise in its paler tones can be appropriate in all seasons and is a great color for everything from a beach-inspired wedding to a glamorous, urban soiree. For a striking and bold combination, try pairing turquoise with colors like poppy red, tangerine or fuschia.

House of Turquoise

Row 1: Rivaaj Magazine, Perfect Palette, Style Me Pretty; Row 2: Bella Bliss, Perfect Palette, Perfect Palette; Row 3: Martha Stewart Weddings, Jonathan Canlas, Martha Stewart Weddings, Snippet & Ink

Homes and Gardens

Amy Atlas

Dauphine

House of Turquoise

Brides

Viceroy Miami Kelly Wearstler

Grey Likes Weddings

Elle Décor (December 2009) asked a few influential names in interior design to predict how we would decorate in 2010.  Jonathan Adler was quoted as saying, "Gray will be the new chocolate brown. It could be a reflection of our economic mood, but I don’t care. I think it looks fantastic-especially as a foil for a bold color like orange. And don’t even get me started about gray and yellow!"

We couldn’t agree more, Jonathan. Here are just a few interiors we would love to build an event design scheme around and some ideas on how to do so.

Traditional Home

 

Stephanie Williams

Martha Stewart Weddings

Apartment Therapy

Snippet & Ink

Style Me Pretty

Row 1: Martha Stewart Weddings, Style Me Pretty; Row 2: Martha Stewart Weddings, Smock; Row 3: Snippet & Ink; Row 4: Amy Atlas, Polyvore, Room Service

Turquoise and gray are incredibly versatile colors, ones that can be equally strong for contemporary or traditional style and we look forward to incorporating them in our events this year!

Finally, here are a few more trends that the interior design industry is predicting that we think might  make there way into the event industry:  Victorian vintage, Scandinavian minimalist design, and retro glamour.

A Few of Our Favorite Things – 2009

Happy New Year!!! We hope you had a wonderful holiday season and are excited about the year ahead. In thinking back over 2009, there were several moments and trends that punctuated the year for us. So, below are just a few of our favorite things from last year. Enjoy!

Personal Touches
There has been a growing interest for more unique ways to put a personal stamp on an event. It was one of our most exciting challenges last year to work with clients and vendors to find the details that would help set each event apart.

Creative Escort Cards

photo by Patricia Lyons

photo by Tom McCall

photo by Ralph Alswang

Sweet Treats

photo by Lynne Brubaker

photo by Elizabeth Duncan

photo by Elizabeth Duncan

photo by Rodney Bailey

photo by Tom McCall

Dramatic Decor
We had so much fun working with clients to design dramatic lounge areas and other fabulous decor. Incorporating one really big element can really make an impact on the overall event experience.

photo by Jennifer Baciocco

photo by Patricia Lyons

photo by Freed Photography

New Destinations
Each year, we are pleasantly surprised by the opportunities we have to work in new areas or venues. In 2009, our work took us to some very unique destinations, including Napa, California. We also enjoyed working for the first time at some places closer to home.

Napa Valley

photo by Jennifer Baciocco

Gibson Island Club

photo by Michael Bennett Kress & Associates

National Cathedral

photo by Rodney Bailey & Associates

Cosmos Club

photo by Lynne Brubaker

Rehoboth Beach

photo by Patricia Lyons

Chatham Bars Inn, MA

photo by Ralph Alswang

Color Watch– The Return of Pastels
We are always interested in color trends. While we often work with our clients to determine the best color palette for their event, we tend to follow their natural preferences. Last year, the single most commonly used color chosen by our clients was yellow - bright, sunny yellow to soft, buttery yellow. But, more prominent than that was a return to using soft, pastel colors mixed together in beautiful new ways.

photo by Freed Photography

Photo by Tom McCall

photo by Lynne Brubaker

photo by Andrew Reilly

photo by Ralph Alswang

photo by Jennifer Baciocco

photo by Rodney Bailey & Associates

Gorgeous Gowns
The wedding gown is one of the most significant reflections of a bride’s style. Last year, we loved seeing our brides express their incredible styles in a wide range of beautiful wedding gowns.

Oscar de la Renta

photo by Holland Photo Arts

photo by Patricia Lyons

Carolina Herrera

photo by Lynne Brubaker

Melissa Sweet

photo by Michael Bennett Kress & Associates

Ulla Maija

photo by Andrew Reilly

Monique Lhuillier

photo by Jennifer Baciocco

Winter Weddings
Weddings are no longer just for Summer months. One of my favorite weddings from last year was in December.  On December 12th, I had the pleasure of helping Carol Lynn and Danny celebrate their marriage, family, friends and a few holiday traditions at Holy Trinity Catholic Church and Halcyon House. December 12th at 12pm, it seemed "meant to be" to use the 'Twelve Days of Christmas' song as inspiration for this wedding! Joel Wolke at Occasions designed a beautiful table that served as the perfect foundation for the amazing and inspired table designs by Dragonfly, where each table reflected a different day in the song. 

photos by Elizabeth Duncan

Web Wonder
The Worldwide Web continues to be an amazing resource for our industry. In 2009, Pineapple Productions joined the staggeringly growing masses of social networkers with the launch of our own Facebook page and blog, Pineapple Post. We have found so many sources of inspiration in the blog-o-sphere (Style Me Pretty, Elements of Style, and Snippet & Ink, to name a few) and, of course, within the shops of Etsy.



Overall, 2009 was a growing year for Pineapple Productions, a year of incredible new opportunities and amazing people. Thank you so much to all of you for your continued support. We look forward to sharing lots more inspiration and events in 2010!