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February 3rd, 2012
I’m sure everyone remembers how unbelievable the weather was this past fall, especially since this winter has been pretty nice as well! Anne and Dan got married on October 22, 2011 and it was a super sunny and warm day, it felt like June!
They started their day taking pictures around Chicago with their bridal party. They really enjoyed being outside on such a surprising October day. These great pictures were taken by Cadence Cornelius Photography.
The Bride and Bridesmaids carried petite bouquets from Anna Held Flower Shop, they looked really nice with the bright blue dresses.
Anne and Dan got married at The Ravenswood Event Center, also known as The Ravenswood Billboard Factory which is located on Chicago’s northside in the Ravenswood neighborhood. This amazing atrium space was beautiful during their sunset vows. By the time the ceremony was over, the sun was completely set and the candles illuminated the room. It was very romantic. I just love the huge windows and the unique architecture of the space, there really isn’t another space like it.
The Bride made these adorable ceremony programs. She chose a few different patterns of paper to mix it up a bit and they looked great.
After the ceremony the guests were invited downstairs for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. Food for Thought provided a delicious assortment of passed hors d’oeuvres including: Ginger sesame beef on pappadam crisps with chili aioli, lemongrass chicken on sugarcane skewers and pear & brie quesadillas with fresh mango salsa.
For dinner the guests enjoyed a beautiful sit down dinner in this cool loft space. Guests were able to choose their menu and were offered garlic and thyme marinated beef tenderloin, citrus rubbed french chicken breast and savory vegetarian crepes. The food and the service staff were excellent and guests really enjoyed themselves.
Anne collects salt and pepper shakers and this vintage cake topper is actually a set of shakers! The groom’s sister gave the newly engaged couple the gift as a Christmas present and the Bride loved them so much she decided to use them for her cake topper. It is a really cute personal touch. The beautiful (and tasty) wedding cake was designed and created by Dinkel’s.
After their amazing three course meal, the guests were invited back upstairs to the atrium which had turned into a dance floor and bar during dinner. Guests partied the night away with the talented DJ from Okyne Media Lab.
A really fun surprise was when the servers passed around Dairy Queen Blizzards!! Talk about an awesome late night snack.
As guests were leaving the event there was a table near the exit with party favors thanking the guests for coming to celebrate their big day. Inside the boxes were white love bird salt and pepper shakers. I thought it was a sweet take away and they will surely get a lot of use.
Anne and Dan’s wedding really went off without a hitch and it was such a fun day from start to finish. Clementine really enjoyed getting to know them and we wish them all the best!
Posted in autumn, bouquet, bridal party, bridesmaid dress, bright, cake, Dairy Queen, details, DIY, escort cards, floral, food, party favors, salt and pepper shaker, Uncategorized, venue, vintage | No Comments »
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 »
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 »
August 12th, 2011
Jessica and Aaron got married on June 25th 2011 at the beautiful Rookery! From the moment I met them I knew their wedding was going to be a very special and elegant.
I knew just who to suggest for their floral and boy did they deliver! Scarlet Petal created the stunning bouquets; I was in awe when I first saw them, they were exactly what the bride wanted. I loved all the texture and the blooms were so big and fresh!
Kenny Kim Photography (assisted by Bob Davis & Collin Pierson) captured their wonderful wedding day. He was fantastic to work with and these images are just amazing. He really did a great job telling the story of their special day.
The ceremony was spectacular! The bridal party entered from the front of the building (which was behind the guests); they walked down the aisle. Jessica surprised everyone when she entered down the main stair case, directly in front of the guests. It was very beautiful, and very grand.
After the ceremony, the guests enjoyed cocktail hour on up on the balcony. Jewell Events Catering served delicious and adorable hors d’oeuvres including shrimp wrapped in peapods and lamb crepes with cherry balsamic fondue.
While the guests were mingling and sipping on cocktails, the catering staff, floral team and Clementine helped to flip the room from ceremony to dinner. Scarlet Petal created these stunning centerpieces. They added the bridal bouquets to the base of the arrangement on the bride and groom’s table.
Jessica and Aaron had the most impressive five tier cake from Take the Cake. The cake was so perfectly done that Jessica was speechless when she saw it. It was of course equally as tasty as it was pretty. They chose the classic combination of white buttermilk cake with strawberry conserve and cream cheese filling. The entire cake was decorated in buttercream.
Jessica and Aaron wowed their guests during their first dance! Xixi from Chicago Wedding Dance taught them a beautiful dance and they looked so natural and confident. They really had a good time with it, the guests got up on their feet for the special moment.
Jewell Events Catering prepared a decadent meal of beef and lemon scallops paired with sautéed spinach, whipped potatoes and asparagus spears, what a treat!
They really had a wonderful time and all their guests enjoyed toasting and dancing the night away. Clementine wishes the newlyweds all the happiness in the world! They were so wonderful to work with and we wish them all the best.
Posted in bouquet, bridal party, cake, Clementine, cocktail, floral, Photography, Uncategorized, venue | 1 Comment »
June 28th, 2011
Angela and Andrew chose the wedding date of April 30, 2011 long before the date of the Royal Wedding was announced to be on April 29, 2011. With all the hoopla of the Royal Wedding it was refreshing to participate in the wedding of Angela and Andrew, who were super low key. They were really focused on family and fun for their big day in Chicago.
Shelley from Cage and Aquarium captured all the special moments from their wedding day!
They got married at St. Clement in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood. It turned out to be a really beautiful day.
After the ceremony was over they gave each other a little toast while they drove around the city taking pictures with their closest friends. Trolleys are one of the best ways to celebrate while taking photos.
Lynn Fosbender from Pollen created these stunning bouquets. The flowers were huge and they matched the bridesmaids dresses perfectly. Pollen is an eco-friendly floral design company located in the Ravenswood neighborhood.
The reception took place at the gorgeous Newberry Library, located in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood. The Newberry Library has so many amazing features, including this beautiful staircase. Inside the ballroom they have hardwood floors, huge windows and three really ornate light fixtures.
During the cocktail hour the wait staff greeted guests with trays of Bellinis. The guests also enjoyed a nice assortment of passed hors d’oeuvres.
The reception including a lot of nice details incluing these adorable place cards. The flower on the place card not only matched the flowers on her menu cards, invitations and ceremony programs, but they also helped the servers know what the guests were eating for dinner!
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Occasions Catering outdid themselves with excellent service and a creative menu. The guests dined on their choice of beef short ribs or roasted pepper and asparagus stuffed chicken breast!
The bride and groom danced the night away to the music stylings of DJ Victor of Cage and Aquarium. It really was a fun crowd and everyone really enjoyed themselves.
Thank you to Angela and Andrew for letting Clementine be a part of their wedding day!
Posted in bouquet, bridal party, cocktail, color, details, DIY, eco-friendly, floral, food, menu cards, spring, Uncategorized | No Comments »
June 10th, 2011
When I first met Leah I just knew we would really hit it off! She is about a sweet as it gets and her personality can light up any room. When I met her amazing new husband, Bob, I knew right away that it was going to be a very special wedding. They are so perfect for each other and I was honored to be a party of their special day.
Leah and Bob tied the knot at St. Clement Church in Lincoln Park. Their family was so close and you could just feel their love for one another. I just love this picture of Leah’s dad right before the ceremony was about to begin. 
Leah was full of excitement. She was cool as a cucumber the whole morning and when we got to the Church she just beamed with pure joy. I love this photo because it captures her fun personality perfectly.
Leah looked stunning as she walked down the aisle. Her wedding day “look” was absolutely perfect for her and it only enhanced the Church and the venue that much more. 
The new husband and wife! After the ceremony was over the couple celebrated with their friends and family. They loaded up a trolley and rode around town noshing on Potbelly’s sandwiches. Everyone had a great time.
The reception took place at the gorgeous Elysian hotel in Chicago’s Gold Coast. The service, menu and style of the hotel were all top notch. The guests dined on a creative menu including oysters, beef carpaccio, pork belly, fresh halibut, beef tenderloin and risotto.
These beautiful floral arrangements were designed and creative by Renee Price of Kehoe Designs. The blooms were huge and very fragrant, the room was filled with fresh floral aroma.
Leah, Bob and all their guests had a great time dancing the night away with the music styling of DJ Drew from Fig Media!
Clementine had a wonderful time meeting all their friends and family and we hope we can cross paths again some day! We wish you all the best! Congratulations to the happy couple!
Special thanks to the talented Joseph Mark Photography (located in Dallas, TX) and Joseph Ryan Martinez of Fig Media for providing memorable photos and video to document such a wonderful day!
Posted in bouquet, cake, cocktail, details, floral, sparkle, spring, Uncategorized, wedding, wedding dinner, wedding dress | No Comments »
April 14th, 2011
I love the fresh vibe you get at The Danada House, located in Wheaton, Illinois. The grounds are so beautiful and include lots of fresh flowers, green grass and horse stables. The Danada House has so much fantastic charm, it really is the perfect setting for a summer wedding.
Robyn and Matt exuded a fresh, laid back, style and it was perfect for the venue. The bride was stunning with flowers in her hair and on her dress. Jenna Bruhn from Avant Gardenia creative an amazing bouquet that fit the bride’s style perfectly.
The groom and groomsmen looked sharp and cool on such a hot day! I am convinced this wedding happened on the hottest day of 2010.
The ceremony was held outside and was surrounded by trees, grass and sunshine.
The reception details really kept with the overall theme of the wedding. It was just beautiful and the vibrant green matched the green of the trees in the back ground nicely.
These centerpieces were perfect for the look and feel of the wedding. The reception dining room had floor to ceiling windows and there arrangements helped bring the outdoors inside.
It was just such a lovely day and I’m so glad I got to work with Robyn and Matt.
The amazing photos are courtesy of the talented Jessica Strickland Photography.
Posted in accessories, bouquet, bridal party, bridesmaid dress, cake, color, details, floral, go green, Jewelry, lanterns, outdoor ceremony, style, venue, view, wedding, wedding dress | No Comments »
April 5th, 2011
If you’re looking for a unique way to preserve your wedding memories you should consider a work of art! Local artist, Loreen Hospodar, is creating one-of-a-kind artwork that you can treasure for years to come. Loreen’s company, Reenie Rose, will take your bouquet and transform it into a painting.
Her attention to detail is impeccable; she is so extremely talented. Here are some great paintings she has created:
 
 
I think a Reenie Rose painting would be such a unique gift idea. You might want to get a group of friends together and all chip in for a gift that they’ll keep forever!
If you’d like to meet Loreen please swing by the Spring Bridal Bash at The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum on Thursday, April 7th from 5:00 – 9:00 pm. Loreen will be there painting live so you can see her techniques in person.
You can also tune-in to 190 Northon Sunday, April 10th at 10:35 pm (ABC Channel 7) Reenie Rose will be featured and you can “meet” the artist and learn more about her amazing talent.
Posted in bouquet, details, floral | No Comments »
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