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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 »
July 28th, 2011
If you’re not sold on the idea of having all your bridesmaids wear different dresses you might want to consider another way to “mix it up” a bit. One of my client’s had all the ladies wear the same dress but she had them accessorize with the broach of their choice.
I think this nice little detail is a great way to have each dress, each bridesmaid, a little different. Yet at first glace (and in the wedding pictures), they all look the same.
These photos are courtesy of Laurie Peacock Photography.
Posted in accessories, bridal party, bridesmaid dress, Clementine, details, Jewelry, sparkle | No Comments »
July 13th, 2011
Andy and Judy tied the knot over Memorial Day Weekend at the Groom’s parent’s home in St. Charles, Illinois. The back yard was a beautiful backdrop for the special event. Even though it rained almost all day, the event went off without a hitch!
Clementine was fortunate to work with such an amazing family. We met Andy and Judy last year at Andy’s brother’s wedding which we coordinated at the Danada House. We were so happy to get to work with such a wonderful family again.
The couple wanted a low key, casual affair that focused on good food, good music and good fun! They put a lot of effort into creating such a lovely event. The bride made all the adorable centerpieces which also served as the table numbers.
These fantastic place cards matched the invitations; they shared the same pattern and color. They were sitting on little bamboo holders. I just love how the event style is both backyard BBQ yet it also reflects the bride’s Vietnamese heritage. The two style came together nicely.
They handed out mason jar mugs and individual servings of tea for the party favors which were a big hit! Many of the guests were drinking beverages from their mason jars all night. Once coffee and dessert was served, many guests asked for hot water so they could enjoy their tea.
After feasting on a delicious and hearty meal of BBQ roasted pulled pork, au gratin potatoes, fresh spinach salad and orzo pasta salad, they all enjoyed an amazing dessert spread including wedding cake, mini cookies, french macaroons and mini fruit tarts.
They danced the night away and everyone had so much fun. The rain even stopped and it was a clear and beautiful night.
All these amazing photos are thanks to the talented Julia Rendleman, Louisiana-based newspaper photojournalist available for travel and destination weddings. She has done over 100 weddings in the Chicagoland area.
Posted in bridal party, bridesmaid dress, bright, cake, casual wedding, Clementine, color, Dancing, details, DIY, escort cards, food, fun, lanterns, outdoor ceremony, party favors, Rain, Umbrella, wedding, wedding dinner, wedding dress, Wedding planning | 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 1st, 2011
I was beyond thrilled to work with Leyla and Charlie for their May 21st wedding at The Rookery in Chicago. They have such fun, creative personalities which really added a lot of personal touches to their fantastic wedding. The wonderful and talented Laurie Peacock Photography captured all the special moments and details.
They became husband and wife at Assumption Church in Chicago. They couldn’t have asked for a nicer morning, especially since May was such a rainy month in Chicago this year.
The reception was filled with little details that are special to the bride and groom. New Orleans was the un-offical “theme” of the event and the bold colors really looked fantastic in The Rookery. It was a nice contrast having the bold style of New Orleans alongside a Burnham built building that has intricate gold stenciling by non other than Frank Lloyd Wright!
These gorgeous centerpieces were created by Blumgarten and they captured the brides vision perfectly. They gave away chocolates in the shape of the fleur-di-lis which is a French symbol associated with New Orleans.
The dinner menu was even NOLA inspired with beef tenderloin and BBQ shrimp with creole ssauce served over creamy stone ground grits. The talented chefs at Jewell Events Catering did a great job, the entree was fantastic and a big hit among the guests.
Take the Cake designed the beautiful and elegant wedding cake. The design reflected the style of the bride’s wedding gown and it was  just stunning. Guests exclaimed it was the best wedding cake they’d ever tasted!
Please view this awesome video filmed by Kinema Group Films - they edited it during the reception and surprised everyone with a quick show and the bride, groom and guests had many tears.
http://vimeo.com/24093511
Posted in accessories, bridal party, bridesmaid dress, bright, cake, cake stand, color, details, floral, fun, history, menu cards, party favors, spring, treats, Uncategorized, venue, view, wedding dress | 1 Comment »
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 »
February 28th, 2011
By now you should know that I love winter weddings! I was really excited when I met Katy and Billy and they told me they were getting married at Holy Name Cathedral and their reception was going to take place at The Chicago Cultural Center on December 4, 2010.
Katy and Billy have such big, fun, sweet personalities and everyone involved on their special day went out of their way to show them just how special they are.
Katy looked absolutely gorgeous walking down the aisle at Holy Name. Her glamorous gown was perfect for the grand cathedral.
Katie Powell from Fleur Du Jour made beautiful and elegant bouquets and they matched the eggplant purple bridesmaids dresses perfectly.
By the time the ceremony was over it had started to snow. They were such good sports about it; they really embraced the weather and all it had to offer.
They drove around town in a trolley provided by The Chicago Trolley and Double Decker Co. The entire bridal party had a blast staying warm inside the trolley and toasting the happy couple.
How romantic is this picture? I just love it, it’s like a winter wonderland. I still can’t believe Katy didn’t wear any winter boots, she really was determined to keep her wedding day look.
At the Chicago Cultural Center they had a slight holiday theme for their reception. It wasn’t over the top but they did have some really great features. My favorite was the Christmas tree that was placed in the entrance of the reception hall that was decorated with family pictures. Guests who brought gifts to the party placed them under the tree. It was really cute. At the end of the night we passed out Christmas ornaments as party favors, which were a big hit!
G.A.R Memorial Hall has never looked so elegant and warm. It was perfect for December. Everything was rich in tone with warm golds and purples; which was a nice change from traditional green and red holiday decor. Food for Thought provided an amazing three course seated dinner.
Dena from Toast and Jam rocked the dance floor all night. The crowd was so much fun and at the end of the night they were seriously yelling “one more song!” It was as if there had been a live band!
It was such a pleasure working with Katy and Billy and Clementine wishes them all the happiness in the world!
These amazing photos are courtesy of Andrew Collings Photography, Inc.
Posted in bouquet, bridal party, bridesmaid dress, color, details, floral, holiday, music, party favors, sparkle, transportation, wedding, wedding dinner, wedding dress, Wedding planning, winter | 2 Comments »
August 17th, 2010
If you’re looking for something beautiful and custom made to wear on your wedding day you must consider Erin Gallagher Jewelry. Their ideas and designs are perfect for the bride, bridesmaids and mother’s of the bride. “Erin Gallagher Jewelry is a custom jewelry boutique. Our customers are able to design their own piece of jewelry; from the style, type of stone, or chain length. Every aspect of the process is the customer’s design.”
 
 
“Most Erin Gallagher brides come to us because they want classy bride and bridesmaid jewelry. They’re looking for something that is elegant, tasteful, and the phrase all bridesmaids dread, something they’ll wear again.”
These necklaces are perfect for bridesmaids and they come in a wide variety of colors. I know I would certainly wear a necklace like this again and again.
“At our gem bar, in-store or online, is full of semi-precious stones and pearls found from around the world. Brides can choose what matches the dress and fits the style of their wedding and personality. All jewelry is made by women in our Chicago boutique.”
I strongly suggest checking out Erin Gallagher either on-line or in person for all your jewelry needs. They also have fantastic bracelets, brooches and rings. They even have something for the groom!
Posted in accessories, bridal party, bridesmaid dress, bright, color, Jewelry, sparkle, Tuesday Tips, wedding | No Comments »
June 16th, 2010
If you are looking for a fashionable wedding dress consider The Limited. They have recently announced that they are now carrying a wedding line including wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses, jewelry and hair accessories. The best part: They are REALLY affordable. I love how the dresses are trendy yet classic.
These two stylish wedding dresses are under $300.00.
 
These adorable bridesmaid dresses are something your bridesmaids can actually afford AND wear again. They come in multiple colors are are priced well under $100.00. That is something for your bridesmaids to smile about! Now they can afford shoes and accessories too.
 
Stay stylish and save some money for other wedding attire details like hair accessories, shoes and jewelry.
Tags: wedding dress
Posted in bridal party, bridesmaid dress, budget, Clementine, color, style, Tuesday Tips, wedding | No Comments »
May 13th, 2010
Congratulations Amanda and Craig!
This stylish couple live in thriving Los Angeles. They are both extremely into music, food and lots of laughs! They really took their personal style and ran with it at their October 31, 2009 wedding. Every aspect of the wedding screamed the two of them. I’ve never seen such a fun, laid back and yet glamorous wedding. Amanda and Craig really found a way to be themselves and still make the guests feel extremely welcome and comfortable.
Their destination was Temecula, California. A much smaller version of Napa Valley. The downtown area was just adorable and all the vineyards were stunning. Amanda and Craig got married in front of mountains, vineyards and all their loved ones. The ceremony was really special, as you can see, everyone is laughing and having fun!
The bridal party had an amazing time all day! The bride chose BCBG dresses for the bridesmaids which really added some LA style to the event. Amanda’s fun and playful personality is reflected in her floral choice, these bouquets are bright and fun, just like the bride.
The groomsmen wore chocolate brown pin stripe suits which was perfect for an October wedding. The adorable ring bearer couldn’t have looked more LA with his fantastic little suit, orange bow tie and sneakers. He certainly almost stole the show!
The color and decor for the wedding had a lot of pop. The linens were chocolate brown pintuck and the floral/decor was bright, vibrant orange and fuchsia with little accents of gold. Look at all these great details:
The whole evening was really well thought out. The couple didn’t want a formal event so they chose to lighten up the atmosphere with stations of delicious food in place of a traditional sit down plated meal. They served mini cup cakes in place of a traditional wedding cake.
The guests and the happy couple danced all night long to all their favorite songs. Their first dance was “Pictures of You” by The Cure. The bride changed out of her fantastic heels and into hot pink Converse sneakers. All the personal touches really made their wedding unique.
 
As the night was coming to and end, the bride and groom made sure to take a time out and really enjoy each other. Even though this party was full of fun, laughter and personality, they also save a little room for romance!
Staying true to their bold personalities, the couple left the party with a bang! They ran through all the guests holding lit sparklers and ran into their get away car. It gave all the guests one last chance to yell “Congratulations”
I’m always advising my clients to be themselves and to really add a lot of personal touches! Craig and Amanda did just that and look how well it turned out. They’ll be able to look back on their wedding years from now and remember not only how special their ceremony was but also how much fun they had!
Posted in autumn, bouquet, bridal party, bridesmaid dress, bright, cupcakes, destination wedding, details, fun, outdoor ceremony, style, wedding | No Comments »
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