|
|
January 19th, 2012
Brenda and Joe are a crazy fun couple! I had the best time getting to know them over the course of the planning process. Lucky for me, one of my past clients (who got married at The Shedd Aquarium October 2010) referred them to Clementine!
Here is a sneak peak into their fantastic wedding day, which was filled with style, love and lots of laughs!
Thank you to the talented Jason Brown of J. Brown Photography for providing these amazing photos.
Brenda and Joe got married on September 10, 2011 (also known as 9.10.11). They had their ceremony and reception at Gallery 1028 which is located on Goose Island in Chicago. When I took them out to look at venues I had a feeling they would fall in love with the space because it has both modern and rustic elements . It was actually the very first space we saw and they ended up comparing every venue the rest of the day to it… so they decided it was the perfect spot!
They had chosen to take their pictures before the ceremony and boy did they have a good time gallivanting all over Chicago in their party bus, provided by Classic Chassis!
When they arrived to Gallery 1028, guests were already seated and ready for the ceremony. The mini bus pulled right up to the venue and we lined everyone up on the bus for the processional. The parents and grandparents were already lined up in the front room of the venue so it was very easy to get things started.
Brenda and Joe knew from day one they wanted a chic, modern wedding but they didn’t want it to feel cold. They wanted guests to feel welcome so we landed on yellow, green, gray and white was the main colors. Erin Foster from A Stem Above wowed us with her ideas to bring their vision to life. Brenda knew she loved a lot of rustic materials like natural grass, moss and branches and with Erin gave her exactly what she wanted!
Brenda and all the bridesmaids walked down the aisle on a fresh grass aisle runner which looked awesome on the original wood flooring of the venue.
After the ceremony, guests were invited into the front room where a custom bar and lounge vignettes waited for them, provided by PJ Acosta of Studio AG. Nicole Fitzpatrick from Calihan Catering created an amazing menu including passed hors d’oeuvres of Moroccan spiced lamb pizza, pear and brie quesadillas and spicy chicken wontons.
Erin from A Stem Above created this stunning arrangement to hold all the place cards so guests could easily find their way to their seats for dinner.
While the guests were enjoying cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, the Clementine team, A Stem Above and Calihan Catering flipped the room from ceremony to dinner. A Stem Above provided three different centerpieces and even custom made real moss table runners.
Naomi Levine from Tipsy Cake provided this adorable cake and the flavors included: carrot cake with cream cheese filling, almond cake with raspberry filling and chocolate cake with peanut butter filling.
As a surprise Brenda had these bobble heads made! They look just like them and the guests loved it!
During dinner their friends and family gave many amazing toasts to the newly wedded couple. Between the toasts they dined on cedar planked salmon with risotto cakes and flat iron steak with scallion buttermilk mashed potatoes. Needless to say, nobody left their event hungry!
Spencer from Style Matters DJs kept the dance floor packed all night. Everyone had a blast and everyone partied until the very last song. It was truly a great time.
As guests left the event they were given glass bottles filled with spices as a party favor. Brenda and Joe love to cook together and wanted to share their love of cooking with all their guests.
Brenda and Joe were truly worthy of the paparazzi on their big day! They are a wonderful, loving and fun couple and I’m thrilled I was able to be a part of their special day.
Posted in Bicycle, bouquet, bridal party, bridesmaid dress, bright, cake, Clementine, details, floral, lanterns, lounge, party favors | 1 Comment »
December 29th, 2011
Katherine and Jonathan got married at The Chicago History Museum on August 20, 2011. Their wedding day was picture perfect. Every moment and every detail was just as sweet as they are. I just loved working with them and getting to know them over the course of the year.
The fabulous Brett and Kiri of Pen/Carlson provided all these fantastic pictures!
The Chicago Air and Water show was just wrapping up while the bridal party was out taking pictures. If you look closely, you can see that half of the bridal party is looking at the jets flying right over their heads! The bridal party was a great group of people, everyone was having fun and sharing loving memories of the couple all day.
I just love the bridesmaids dresses! Not only is the color so rich and beautiful, but the shape of the dresses were classic yet trendy and flirty all at the same time.
They decided to have their ceremony inside the Chicago Room where it was nice, quiet and intimate since the Air and Water show was earlier in the day there was a lot of foot traffic outside. It was a very special and beautiful ceremony.
After the ceremony guests were invited outside to enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres on the patio. The weather was perfect so guests were very comfortable sipping their summer cocktails. Blue Plate Catering provided a wonderful variety of appetizers including baby lamb chops, goat cheese tartlets, tuna tartar and panini lollipops.
After cocktails the guests were wowed when they re-entered the museum to find this stunning place card table. Hello Darling provided all the floral and decor their wedding. Katherine was so beyond thrilled with the look of the reception, it was exactly what she always dreamed. Natalie from Hello Darling really listened to what Katherine wanted and the outcome was a little modern, a little vintage and a lot of romantic charm.
Once all the guests were seated for dinner, Dustin from Toast and Jam invited the newly weds to join their party! They kept the momentum going as Jonathan whisked Katherine directly into their first dance.
Shortly after they danced they cut into their wedding cake. Katherine’s one wish for dessert was to have a small chocolate cake from her favorite Evanston bakery, Tag’s Bakery and Pastry Shop. She also ended up surprising Jonathan with a custom groom’s cake of his favorite team’s stadium. Bleeding Heart Bakery did an outstanding job. He was really surprised and couldn’t believe Katherine was able to sneak this little detail past him since he was involved with every vendor meeting the entire planning process.
Hello Darling and Blue Plate Catering made the Chicago Room of the Chicago History Museum sparkle with such amazing color and texture. Every detail from the flowers, to the crystal candles and vintage cut glass vases to the linens and glassware all went together perfectly, the room really looked spectacular and the bold colors fit the couple’s fun personality as well.
This is one of my favorite pictures, this pretty much sums up the feel of the entire night! Love, laughter and good times. It was an amazing night.
Posted in bridal party, bridesmaid dress, bright, cake, Clementine, cocktail, color, Dancing, details, escort cards, floral, food, fun, Photography, sparkle, style, Uncategorized, unique vendors, vintage, wedding | No Comments »
December 12th, 2011
Amy and Luke are such a wonderful couple, they are beyond perfect for one another! They both really enjoyed the planning process for their big day and I’m so glad Clementine was involved every step of the way. I often teased them that they should come work for Clementine because they were so organized and on top of every detail. They are such a lovely couple and I really enjoyed getting to know them.
The amazingly talented Brett and Kiri from Pen/Carlson captured their day and provided all these wonderful photographs!
Amy and Luke got married on Labor Day Weekend in downtown Chicago. They wanted an intimate and elegant affair and that is exactly what they got. They set the tone for their wedding with these stunning custom made invitations by Kara Gordon, Owner and Designer for Magnificent Milestones.
All the details for their wedding were packed with style, texture and elegance. Extrodinary florist and stylist, Cornelia McNamara, provided these amazing bouquets. I love all the amazing flowers she chose with the mix of big and small blooms and lots of amazing texture. When Amy first saw the bouquets she was extremely pleased, they were exactly what she wanted.
The ceremony was held at Assumption Church on West Illinois Street at 3:00 in the afternoon. Amy and Luke did not see each other before the ceremony so Amy’s trolley pulled up to the Church at 3:00 on the dot. This magnificent old Church isn’t equipped with a bridal room or a waiting area and we didn’t want to risk Luke (or any of the guests) seeing her before she walked down the aisle. It was such a special ceremony.
After the ceremony, they rode around town in style as they were chauffeured in a classic Rolls Royce provided by Classic Chassis. This mode of transportation was not only elegant but it’s a wonderful way for the Bride and Groom to have some alone time immediately following the ceremony. The driver even provides champagne.
They held their reception at The Ivy Room, one of Chicago’s most outstanding venues. The Ivy Room is rich with hard wood floors, mother of pearl detailing and large windows.
When guests arrived to the reception, they knew they were in the right place, Amy and Luke had a custom Alexander and Co. poster made to remember their wedding day. The style they chose was perfect for the downtown location of both the ceremony and reception. Magnificent Milestones was able to order and help design the poster for them.
Even though it had rained off and on earlier in the day, it cleared up for a bit and guests were able to enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres outside. String Theory (a quartet through Style Matters DJ company) provided elegant classical music and Food for Thought provided all the wonderful bites.
After cocktail hour, guests were invited into the main ballroom and the room was just stunning and pouring with details. Cornelia McNamara provided all these stunning center pieces. I loved how natural yet romantic they were. The Ivy Room has very tall ceilings and these arrangements helped fill the room. I also love how they’re not bare at the table level, she provided interest both high and low on every table.
Frost Lighting provided all the lighting and fabric treatments which helped create an intimate space. BBJ Linens and Halls Rental provided all the beautiful linens, china, glassware, flatware and chairs. The look really came together nicely. The room was just breath taking.
Amy and Luke had these wooden table numbers custom engraved for the wedding. They also helped pull all the details together.
Right as the guests took their seats for dinner, Amy and Luke kicked off the night with their first dance. Xixi, of Chicago Wedding Dance, helped them feel at ease dancing in front of all their guests. They were really naturals on the dance floor and it was a really romantic way to start the night.
Guests dined on a seasonal menu created by catering expert, Linda Barder, of Food for Thought. The entree was a grilled thyme scented french chicken breast with scallion pommes puree, smoked eggplant mousseline and fresh haricot verts topped with glazed pearl onions and red wine sauce. The wedding cake was provided by Amy Beck Cake Design and guests were able to choose from red velvet, chocolate bourbon cake and almond cake, such a treat!
Amy and Luke enjoyed talking and dancing with all their guests. Style Matters DJ provided all the music for the entire night. They kept the atmosphere consistent with the overall style of the event.
As guests left The Ivy Room to head home, they were able to take home with them a special “Amy and Luke” blend of Intelligentsia Coffee. They topped off this display with another custom wooden engraved sign.
Not only was it a blast getting to know such a sweet couple, but the wedding details were just perfect and they stayed true to who they are as a couple. The guests and all the vendors had such a fantastic night.
Clementine wishes them all the best and I hope they keep in touch!
Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
November 22nd, 2011
Jiyoun Bae and Keunsuk Lee got married at the Chicago Botanic Garden on Sunday, June 5, 2011. It was such a beautiful day and we were so happy we could be a part of their special day. The grounds at the Chicago Botanic Garden seem endless and they’re the perfect backdrop for pre-wedding photographs. Not to mention, it’s an extradordinary experience for all the guests, especially those who have never been to the gardens before.
The talented Steve Koo captured all these amazing photos and we’re so thankful he shared them with us!
Jiyoun and Keunsuk had their ceremony and reception in McGinley Pavilion overlooking the water. Their ceremony was so romantic and sweet, they started with a sand ceremony. They had live ceremony music performed by musician Jeff Chan. The Bride carried an absolutely stunning bouquet created by Flowers Flowers.
The reception was a lot of fun and the pavilion looked great! The Bride really got into the DIY projects. She made the table numbers and ceremony programs among other personal touches. I just love this “Just Married” sign that they hung at the entrance to the pavilion.
Culinary Landscapes, the exclusive caterer at The Chicago Botanic Garden, provided some delicious hors d’oeuvres including tortilla cups filled with smoked chicken and topped with mango salsa and avocado cream as well as pork tenderloin with blueberry balsamic and brie. The presentations were just mouth watering as the taste! During dinner the guests dined on sweet garlic glazed fresh chicken breasts with mushroom filled brioche charlotte and roasted fingerling potatoes and fresh asparagus.
The Bride changed out of her gorgeous wedding gown and into this fun party dress for the reception. She even wore a pair of fabulous royal blue shoes! Their wedding cake, provided by Rolf’s Patisserie, matched the overall decor perfectly. I love how Jiyoun kept all the little details in the classic black and white pattern.
The Bride and Groom clearly had a blast at their wedding! All the guests had a wonderful time dancing the night away thanks to DJ Brent Rolland from Fig Media.
It truly was such a lovely event and we just love working at the Chicago Botanic Garden.
Posted in bouquet, cake, Clementine, Dancing, details, DIY, floral, food, fun, music, outdoor ceremony, Photography, short dress, style, view, wedding, wedding dress, Wedding planning | No Comments »
November 9th, 2011
Megan and Bobby are from the Chicagoland area (Naperville and Fox River Grove) but they are currently living in Philadelphia. They wanted a wedding planner to help them plan their wedding from long distance. They hired me before meeting me and when we finally met in person I met not only the bride and groom but also their parents and siblings! I spent the entire day taking them from venue to venue hoping to find the perfect spot. Not only did we find THE spot, but I feel in love with them and their families.
I had such a great time planning with this crew. Their parents were so happy and joyous for their children, and as a group we would all discuss what was best for the big day. It was really wonderful how they attended every single meeting as a group, they made a great team and I’m so happy I could be a part of it.
They were able to incorporate so many wonderful special touches to represent and honor their family members.
Megan and Bobby had their August 27th ceremony at the bride’s family church in Naperville. It was a beautiful and traditional ceremony with one very special twist; the father of the bride sang a solo during the ceremony! Another special touch, the bride tucked a red flower into her gorgeous purple calla lily bouquet to represent her grandmother who had recent passed.
After the ceremony the bridal party had a great time taking pictures in downtown Naperville. The bridesmaids all chose different dresses and they looked so great with the flowers provided by the very talented Jenna from Avant Gardenia.
They held their reception at The Patrick Haley Mansion in Joliet. The mansion is so stunning, these pictures do not do it justice. The guests were able to walk through the mansion during cocktail hour. Megan and Bobby brought about 20 picture frames filled with family photos that we placed all over the house. It was such a great way to make the mansion feel like it belonged to them.
The dinner and dancing portion of the evening was held in a stunning atrium. It was dressed with chandeliers, crystal and custom gold chargers on every dining table.
Megan and Bobby treated their guests to a five star plated dinner of apricot chicken. The menu and the service was exceptional, the guests were truly treated like royalty. During the meal the father of the bride and groom each gave special toasts. They also welcomed the maid of honor and the best man to toast the bride and groom, there wasn’t a dry eye in the room!
Not only did they serve wedding cake but they also had a huge sweets table with everything you could ever want and more.
After all the formal and traditional moments throughout the day they danced the night away (thanks to DJ Chicago) and let me tell you….it was THE party of the year! Everyone had so much fun and it was amazing to watch Megan, Bobby and their entire families celebrate!
I’m thrilled I was able to get to know such a wonderful couple and to help them plan the wedding of their dreams.
Thank you to George Street Photo and Video for providing these wonderful pictures.
Posted in bouquet, bridal party, bridesmaid dress, cake, floral, food, fun, wedding dinner | No Comments »
November 2nd, 2011
From the first moment I met Genny and Alex they knew exactly what they wanted for their special day…..an open air dinner on a sunny August day. During all the months and months of planning we, of course, made sure we had a plan B in case Chicago decided to rain on their special day. Amazingly enough, they got a perfect sunny day and everything else just fell into place.
Genny and Alex tied the knot at the stunning Old St. Pats, it was a very beautiful ceremony. They held their reception at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. They were able to utilize the entire building. They hosted cocktail hour in the main lobby and outside on the outdoor ravine. Dinner was upstairs on their outdoor terrace and dancing was in their south gallery that has floor to ceiling windows. The Nature Museum is so beautiful and all the butterflies and flowers helped make their special day all the more magical.
The reception had a great romantic and whimsical feel, Hello Darling outdid themselves with so many great custom touches.
Between Blue Plate Catering and Hello Darling the dinner tables were stunning. They incorporated really interesting vessels including custom made birch bark and pine boxes, wooden circles with hand painted numbers, mason jars and glass lanterns. I just love this Willow Twist linen provided by BBJ Linen.
The dinner portion of the evening was spectacular. They served an amazing menu of beef tenderloin, jumbo shrimp, mixed vegetables and roasted baby potatoes. They started the night with a beautiful and colorful sangria salad with goat cheese, pine nuts, mandarin oranges and fresh peaches. The menu was perfect for summer and the guests really enjoyed the meal. The service staff provided by Blue Plate was top notch, the guests were truly wined and dined.
Beyond a wonderful meal, the atmosphere was like a fairytale thanks to Frost Lighting for hanging cafe lights over all the dinner tables. The Gentlemen of Leisure provided a 5 piece combo for dinner music which helped enhance the atmosphere.
Tipsy Cake custom created this beautiful wedding cake for Genny and Alex. They were able to hand pick the flavors of the cake. The chose three delicious flavors: white cake with milk chocolate buttercream, chocolate cake with raspberry jam, cream cheese and chocolate buttercream and white cake with coconut cream. It was fantastic.
The band expanded to an impressive 15 piece dance band and the guests had a blast. Alex and Genny had their first dance under custom fabric treatment and chandeliers provided by Hello Darling and Frost Lighting.
It was such an amazing day and I was so proud of this event. Genny and Alex had a vision from the beginning and I’m so happy I was able to help them bring all their ideas to life. I wish them all the best!
The talented Kurt Gerber of Gerber and Scarpelli provided all these stunning pictures. Kurt really captured their special day.
Additional vendors that participated in this wonderful event: Magnificent Milestones custom designed their invitations, Windy City Trolley provided the transportation for the wedding day and Red Eye Photo Booth kept the fun going all night with their photo booth.
Posted in bouquet, Bridal show, cake, cake stand, Clementine, cocktail, color, Dancing, details, environment, escort cards, floral, food, fun, invitations, lanterns, music, Photography, roof deck, venue, view, wedding, wedding dinner, Wedding planning | No Comments »
October 18th, 2011
Megan and Chris planned to have a fun, laid back event and boy did they succeed! The moment I met the two of them, I knew their big day would be so much fun! They both have really fun personalities and they let loose on thier wedding day!
Michael Monar Photography captured all these amazing moments.
Megan and Chris got married on July 23rd, 2011 and I’m sure you don’t remember the weather but it was very HOT that day. What better way to cool off during the photo session than stopping at an ice cream truck! I cannot believe Megan chose a colored popsicle for her treat! Talk about laid back!!
Both the ceremony and reception were held at Gallery 1028. The venue really fit the couples overall style with the rustic yet modern vibe it presents. Megan had the girls wear any gray dress of their choice so the bridesmaids could reflect their own style. I love how Chris is the only guy wearing gray, it really helped him to stand out and the yellow socks are just so much fun!
Studio AG helped bring their style to life with this stunning ceremony decor. I love how illuminating the candles and chandeliers were in the dark event space. It was very romantic and modern.
Some of the fun details provided by Megan and Chris: Custom made slap coozies for the guest’s drinks! Guests had fun slapping them onto their drinks and wrists all night!
Their welcome table really set the tone for the event. This is the first thing guests saw when the entered the venue. The pattern on the welcome sign matched their linens perfectly. The mailbox for their gift cards matched their personality! They also had a guest book with fun papers and patterned/colored tape that guests could mix and match.
They had three different table designs throughout the dinner space, this is a picture of the head table which was a large feasting table. The runners were custom made by the bride herself! Calihan Catering provided really fun dinner stations including amazing dishes of paella, tacos, custom pasta, gazpacho and much more!
After dinner Megan changed into an adorable and sassy party dress! She looked fantastic! They had Record A Hit provide a flip book station which was a huge hit, both at the booth AND on the dance floor. The guests loved it and it was a nice change from the ever popular photo booth. Cage and Aquarium kept the dance floor packed all night thanks to DJ Tyler.
They topped off the night with Chicago style hot dogs provided by Calihan Catering. Another perfect summer treat!
I think it is safe to say that not only did Megan and Chris have the time of their lives, but so did all their guests. They really stayed true to who they are as a couple and it worked out wonderfully.
Clementine was so happy to work with such an amazing couple and we wish them the best!
Posted in bridal party, bridesmaid dress, casual wedding, Clementine, Dancing, details, DIY, floral, food, fun, guest book, short dress, tapas, treats, Uncategorized, unique vendors, venue, wedding, wedding dinner | No Comments »
October 7th, 2011
Happy Friday! The weather seriously couldn’t be more perfect today, I hope everyone is able to enjoy themselves this weekend.
Clementine has been super busy lately but we’re going to be featuring a lot of our weddings from August and September soon. Here is a little sneak peak of what is to come……
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
September 15th, 2011
We have all been to about a million bridal showers, here are some new fresh and fun ideas! Clementine was thrilled to work on such a fun project. Thanks to the talented Olivia Leigh for capturing all these great photos!
Natalie Walsh from Hello Darling created this amazing table-scape incorporating interesting textures and colors; mixing whimsy into every last detail.
Kara Gordon of Magnificent Milestones custom designed the invitations and menu cards. She kept with the whimsical and colorful theme. They are the perfect blend of modern and retro.
 
The guests were greeted by this fantastic display of goodies. The place cards were pinned to the large rainbow lollipops which were surrounded by fun treats including cake pops, mini doughnuts, mini pies and cookies. All the adorable bites were provided by Jewell Events Catering. Hello Darling custom designed all the fabric covered boxes which we then used as serving platters.
The ladies got to help themselves to a bellini bar. Each flute was filled with champagne and fresh berries, then the girls chose their preferred juice. They all had a great time mixing and matching the flavors.
Most importantly everyone had fun! There were a lot of laughs and tears and good times!
Thank you to Jane’s restaurant for providing such a lovely space and a delicious menu.
Posted in bridal party, bridal shower, bright, color, details, floral, food, fun, invitations, menu cards, style, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
August 23rd, 2011
Maggie and Fred had a very festive event this past July; which was very fitting, since they are both so full of life. Their friends and family brought a really special energy to the event, it was a really wonderful day!
They had a traditional wedding ceremony at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago and if was just beautiful.
After the ceremony the Bride and Groom drove around Chicago taking pictures with their bridal party. They ended up getting a spectacular sunny day so they really took advantage of the weather and took all their pictures outside.
They had their wedding reception at the ever popular Newberry Library, one of Clementine’s favorite venues!
Maggie and Fred chose multiple shades of pink and gray for their wedding colors. Flowers by Steen created these beautiful, natural centerpieces. Jewell Events Catering dressed all the tables as well as provided a fantastic menu and incredible service for all their guests.
Bittersweet designed this simple and elegant wedding cake. It looked AND tasted amazing.
Fred and Maggie came up with a cute and creative party favor; little bottles of Haitian rum! Fred’s family is from Haiti and this was surely a treat for all the guests as they left the event. I don’t think there was one bottle left!!
Fred and Maggie danced the night away to festive latin music and hip hop. Mark from DJ Chicago really kept the dance floor going all night. He played all their favorite songs and the guests had a blast!
Congratulations to Fred and Maggie! We hope their first year of marriage is just as fun and full of life as their wedding day was!
The talented Photography by Margo captured their special day and shared all these photos with Clementine!
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
|
