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!

Ladylike Chic

By Allison Jackson

Between Michelle Obama’s interpretation of First Lady power dressing and the gorgeous costume design on the insanely watchable AMC series Mad Men, these days I can’t escape finding myself so drawn to everything retro ladylike.

So… when I sat down at the computer a few weeks ago to peruse the new collections offered by all the best wedding gown designers, I stopped when I got to Amsale’s  Calista gown. I couldn’t stop looking at it.  It’s so simple and ladylike, yet so striking.  It reminded me of something my fashion-forward mother would have worn in the 50s, but it also reminded me of the style of some of my favorite Pineapple brides.

Cate is one of those brides.  She was married a few years ago, before Michelle Obama began to be photographed so often wearing double strand pearls and sleeveless sheaths.  But like Mrs. Obama, Cate has impeccable style.  She resembles Grace Kelly, both in her appearance and in the way she carries herself.  And in her very well-mannered way, she wrote me probably one of the nicest thank you notes I have ever received.  Not only were her words so genuine and well expressed, but she also took the time to personalize the notecard with pretty sketches of her favorite wedding details.  How thoughtful and how truly ladylike.

Cate’s wedding style absolutely suited her personal style.  I fell in love with the outfit she selected for her bridesmaids – a flouncy party skirt paired with the perfect white blouse and double strand pearls.  Cate turned a retro look into something distinctive and fresh.

It’s a minor detail, but I also loved how Cate changed into a proper going away outfit.  Notice the lovely sheath dress and effortlessly wrapped Hermes scarf. 

 Another recent bride who embraced retro ladylike style as her wedding look is Lizanne.  Elizabeth had the fortunate opportunity to work with Lizanne, and since the time the pictures became available, I have not stopped appreciating this bride’s choices in wedding style.  Lizanne’s style was feminine, formal and subtly retro.  She selected a regal palette of matte gold and sophisticated pastels – perfect for the grandeur of the Cosmos Club, which served as the reception venue.  One of my favorite details from Lizanne’s wedding was the impressive tower of champagne coupes styled by Elizabeth with the help of Liz Waylan at DC Rental.  I love the choice of the sheer organza linen atop the wrought iron table.  So dreamy.

The inspiration board below features images evoking retro ladylike style, including the aforementioned Amsale gown, as well as photos from both Cate and Lizanne’s weddings.  Enjoy!

 First Row:  Lizanne’s wedding cake by Sylvia Weinstock (photo courtesy of Lynne Brubaker); response card from Ceci New York; jeweled pumps from Southern Weddings; living room designed by Amelia Handegan from Southern Accents

Second Row:  Cate’s bridesmaids (photo courtesy of Lynne Brubaker); gown by Amsale; Lizanne’s needlepoint ring pillow (photo courtesy of Lynne Brubaker)

Third Row:  Lizanne’s bridesmaid’s bouquet designed by Dragonfly (photo courtesy of Lynne Brubaker); Grace Kelly at the Academy Awards in 1956

Fourth Row:  Limoges porcelain plate by William Yeoward; Lizanne’s champagne tower (photo courtesy of Lynne Brubaker); pink satin clutch by Franchi; Hermes silk/cashmere shawl

Eating and Shopping Through England

By Elizabeth Duncan
Having lived in the English countryside for four years as a child, England holds a special place in my heart. This summer, my mother and I decided to escape the D.C. heat and go back to some of our favorite places in England, as well as to visit a few sites inspired by art, literature and film favorites.

We started our trip in Harrogate, a town we lived near in North Yorkshire. Harrogate is most well-known as a spa town, with historic baths dating to the 17th century. To me, though, the number one thing to do in Harrogate is eat at Betty’s Tea Room. I could eat every meal, every day at Betty’s, and I often do because it is one of those places that never changes and never disappoints. My “usual” order consists of Yorkshire Rarebit (toast with lots of melted cheese) with heaping spoonfuls of their AMAZING tomato chutney and a pot of Betty’s Tea Room Blend tea. I am so obsessed with their tomato chutney and tea that I regularly order boxes of them from Betty’s By Post.

Next, we went to Derbyshire to tour the beautiful, historic Chatsworth – the home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire. I had recently read Amanda Foreman’s biography about one of Chatsworth’s most famous residents, Georgiana Spencer Cavendish, who was the wife of the 5th Duke of Devonshire, a friend of Marie Antoinette, a fashion trendsetter, a political advocate and an ancestor of Diana, Princess of Wales. The house and grounds have been featured in several films, including as Mr. Darcy’s Pemberley in the 2005 film production of Pride & Prejudice. I found this herringbone and plaid riding coat at TopShop. Wouldn’t it be perfect for riding through the flowering poppy fields with my own Mr. Darcy?!

We then drove through England’s beautiful countryside on our way to Cornwall and the charming sea-side town of St. Ives. St. Ives has been a draw for artists since the early 1900s because of its endless supply of breathtaking beach scenes and its unique quality of light. I was inspired to buy this nautical striped tunic from another of my favorite British stores, Warehouse. My mother is an artist and I like to dabble, so we spent our days capturing the scenery with brushes and cameras. On our second night, we discovered Alba Restaurant on the main promenade - they have INCREDIBLE fresh, delicious seafood and stunning local artwork.

Our trip came to an end in London, where the shopping, eating and people-watching were at their usual heights. I’m super excited about this lovely fascinator that I found at Miss Selfridge and this perfect little black dress by Ted Baker to bring a little extra something to my event wardrobe. By far the highlight of our time in London was our dinner at Yauatcha, the new Michelin-starred dim sum restaurant from Alan Yau, the talented restaurateur behind Wagamama (which, incidentally, will be opening in my neighborhood in DC in 2010). The dim sum was delightful, the pastries combined unique flavors and looked like pieces of sculpture, the décor was tranquil and contemporary and, seriously, I had one of the best cocktails ever – a citrus martini featuring passion fruit juice. To top it all off, Leonardo DiCaprio was seated two tables away from us!

Back in D.C., things are full swing with a busy fall season. Thankfully, here are just a few ways we can all enjoy a touch of Britain right here in D.C. - throw a tea party for friends or enjoy the high teas offered at the Washington National Cathedral or the Hillwood Estate and Museum; some tasty eats at CommonWealth, a new gastropub in Columbia Heights; see As you Like It at the Sidney Harman Hall.

Photo credits: 1. Betty’s, 2. Betty’s By Post, 3. Flickr-DanLewry, 4. Elizabeth Duncan , 5. TopShop, 6. Elizabeth Duncan, 7. Warehouse, 8. Alba Restaurant, 9. Elizabeth Duncan, 10. Elizabeth Duncan, 11. Ted Baker, 12. Lavendermoon.co.uk, 13. Flickr-Boxbuilder, 14. Flickr-Issarocks