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July 19th, 2010
Hotel Sax was the home of this fantastic wedding ceremony. I love the placement of the flowers and the really bright colors. The room is decorated in neautral colors so the pop of color really stood out nicely. The flowers created an excellent focal point in the room. This wedding was in April, a season bursting with life. It was the perfect month to really showcase vibrant colors as guests were so ready for spring after all the bleak months prior.
The best part of the decor was the ceremony arrangements were then reused as the centerpieces for the dinner tables. Reusing arrangements is a great way to really jazz up a ceremony site for very little extra money. Not only is this cost effective but it’s “green” too. At the end of the day the client had less waste after the event.
I strongly suggest using arrangements more than once if possible. I have a lot of clients that reuse their alter arrangements for the place card table or gift table. It’s a great way to extend the budget, plus it would be a shame to have such gorgeous floral/decor only to be used for 30 min!
Daniel Gin Photography took these fantastic pictures. Stay tuned to the Clementine website, this wedding will be featured soon on our gallery page.
The floral was designed by Tony Polega with Bukiety Floral in Chicago.
Posted in bright, budget, Clementine, eco-friendly, floral, go green, spring, wedding | 1 Comment »
June 22nd, 2010
If you haven’t heard of Paperless Post you must check out their website. It’s a perfect way to send invitations and save the dates in an affordable, modern and eco-friendly way.
You can create & design any type of invitation you want. It is perfect for wedding showers, bachelorette parties, save the dates and even wedding invitations. Paperless Post is much more polished and professional than sending an informal Evite.
Paperless Post makes sending invitations very easy too. Once you design your mailing you create an account and buy “stamps” and “coins” for a very low price…..approximately $20.00 for 250.
The best part is that you can track each invitation to see who has opened their and guests can directly RSVP to send a note to the host.
I strongly recommend trying them out for any upcoming party you might be hosting!
Posted in budget, Clementine, DIY, eco-friendly, invitations, save the date, Tuesday Tips | 1 Comment »
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 »
April 23rd, 2010
I truly believe that everyone loves lanterns! There are so many fantastic ways you can use them at your wedding or social party. They are an extremely cost effective way to add a lot of punch to your decor.
The picture below is a wedding that was held at A New Leaf in Chicago. These lanterns are highlighting the couples fantastic global food stations. The lanterns are also a great way to feature the urban architecture of the building.
This fabulous east coast wedding was held in a stunning tent that was surrounded by water. The couple chose navy as their main color with accents of white and green which helped enhance the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape. The lanterns really added a lot of dimension and style to their white tent. The lanterns helped to draw the eye upward to more color which heped to create a warm environment.
This chic LA couple chose to feature a cluster of chocolate brown lanterns right over the dance floor. The look created a lot of drama in the center of the room. Their decor was bold and vibrant with splashes of fuchsia and orange (not shown). They had chocolate brown linens and these lanterns added to the richness of their overall look and feel.
Talk about romantic, these lanterns have been hung in the trees with lights for a garden style reception. Some lanterns can be lit from within or you can light them from afar with pinspotting. Lanterns do not need to be lit, they are stylish either way. They can be used indoors or outdoors.
The great thing about lanterns is that they are really versatile. They can add texture and color to any style event. They are very cost effective and they can be re-used for another party down the road.
Posted in budget, Clementine, color, details, environment, lanterns, style, tent, wedding | No Comments »
April 20th, 2010
Trying to find your perfect venue can prove to be very difficult. The venue will set the tone for your entire event. It will help determine the style dress you will wear, the kind of menu you will serve and the colors that you can use for decor and wedding party attire. Here are some tips to help make the venue search a bit easier.
1) Make a list of priorities. What is the most important feature?
Do you want indoor/outdoor access like this amazing courtyard at The Ivy Room at Tree Studios.
Would you prefer to host your reception in a hotel for maximum guest comfort and convenience? This fantastic, modern ballroom can be found in the Trump International Hotel and Tower.
Do you want a special menu? Do you crave something unique? Zed451 has high quality food that is served in a very modern style.
Do you want unique architecture like the historic Rookery?
2) Be realistic: You might not be able to find a venue that has everything on your “wish list”
3) Research to be sure you can afford to host your wedding at your preferred venue. A lot of my clients book venues that they simply cannot afford because they didn’t realize there might be additional costs associated with the space. Make sure you know exactly what is included.
4) Follow your heart. If you find a venue that makes your heart sing you need to go for it! Choose a place that is uniquely yours and makes you feel special and creative. Even if it isn’t exactly what you parents had in mind or maybe it is really different than everything your friends have done in the past.
5) Book your venue first! Make sure you lock in your venue before you choose your dress, inviations, party favors, wedding party colors etc… the venue is going to set the tone for the entire event!
Posted in budget, Clementine, environment, style, Tuesday Tips, venue, wedding, Wedding planning | No Comments »
March 19th, 2010
Congratulations to Tara and Jason!
The couple opted to have a glamorous winter white wedding in downtown Chicago. They chose the stunning Allerton Hotel for both their ceremony and reception. The location was absolutely perfect for their winter theme. The venue has beautiful windows with fantastic views of the city.
Since they got married in January, the sun set before their evening ceremony began. The ambiance was extremely romantic with illuminating candles, lanterns and the city skyline twinkling in the background.
Tara decided to do all the decor herself…which many would say is a lot for a bride to handle. Since she chose a winter theme she decided to skip the flowers and focus on crystals, branches, sparkling leaves and lots of candle light. Not only did this save her money but it allowed her to prepare many of the items in advance. She also didn’t need to worry about wilting flowers.
Tara and Jason had a wish bowl for all their guests to leave them happy thoughts, wishes and advice for their new marriage. They also featured votive candle place cards. All the guests took their lit candle into the ballroom and added more candle light to the dinner tables.
They couldn’t have asked for a more romantic night – even the street fit their theme! Tara carried a bouquet made of crystals that enhanced her gorgeous gown and really set the tone for the entire evening.
You don’t have to spend a fortune on flowers and decor in order to have an amazingly romantic wedding! Tara and Jason put all their personal touches into their wedding and I know they felt their special day was perfect.
Posted in bouquet, budget, Clementine, DIY, sparkle, style, wedding, winter, wish bowl | No Comments »
February 9th, 2010
Every couple I’ve ever worked with is on a budget. Whether your budget is $20,000 or $100,000 this tip will help you stay on track. It is so important to stay flexible and be willing and open to ideas. It’s very difficult to keep the price down when you get your heart set on one specific item.
Here are some ideas:
Certainly start thinking about your style and a general color palette for floral and decor but stay flexible and try not to fall in love with one specific flower. Staying flexible can help you save money because your florist can suggest flowers that are not as expensive but still have the same “look” or they can suggest flowers that are local and/or in season.
I always suggest thinking about the types of food you wish to serve so you can get an accurate proposal. However, stay flexible and ask your caterer questions. Often times you can switch up ingredients and cuts of meat to help your cost stay within reason. Your caterer will be able to guide you as to which foods are in season and which are not. You can still have three courses or three stations on a tight budget, getting creative with the menu can help save money.
Choosing the perfect wedding cake can be difficult because there are so many styles. Choosing a cake that is made of butter cream instead of fondant is typically more cost effective (not to mention they taste better too). Choose a simple style and dress it up with fresh flowers or real ribbon and the price will be more affordable. Cakes get really expensive when there is a lot of detailed craftsmanship involved like sugared flowers, chocolate garnishes and decorative designs.
The “stay flexible” rule works extremely well with wedding dresses. Instead of calling the wedding dress boutiques asking if they have the exact dress you found in your favorite magazine, tear out the picture and ask the professionals if they have anything that looks like it for less. Choose one or two features you love about the dress and be flexible with the rest. Chances are you’ll be able to find something equally as stunning for a fraction of the price. This works really well at samples sales and trunk shows.
The idea is that you can still have it all – just give and take. You have to be willing to be flexible in order to make it work. You’ll be surprised how much money you can save by having an open mind.
Posted in budget, Clementine, color, details, food, Tuesday Tips, wedding, Wedding planning | No Comments »
December 29th, 2009
The holiday season is also high engagement season….if you’ve just gotten engaged and you haven’t finalized your bridal party yet you might want to consider having a smaller group stand up.
It is a wonderful feeling to have a large bridal party (like the picture below) but it can also really add up financially too. A lot of brides don’t realize the additional cost for having so many bridesmaids. Each bridesmaid will need a bouquet which will range anywhere from $50.00 to $150.00 each. Plus you’ll of course want to give each bridesmaid a nice gift to thank them for standing up on your special day. It is up to the bride how much you would like to spend on bridal party gifts but typically they are about $50 – $150 each. As you can see this is already starting to add up.
It can be difficult to choose your attendants; especially if you have a large family. However, it is a lot more cost-effective to have a smaller bridal party (as in the picture below). It can also be extremely special having an intimate group of just your family or your very best friends. There is no right or wrong way to go about your bridal party – you’ll know exactly who must be in the party! I would suggest really thinking about who to invite. There are many other ways to honor special people in your life. You can ask some to perform a reading during the ceremony or give a special toast.
Don’t forget about all the groomsmen and ushers. They will all need a boutonniere ($15.00 – $30.00) and bridal party gifts as well.
Also, the more members of the bridal party you have the larger the mode of transportation needed. It is a lot more cost-effective to have one limo instead of two limos or a trolley.
Having a smaller group can really help you stay on budget. If you really can’t get away with a small party – just be sure to include all the above costs within your budget so you aren’t thrown off with some additional expenses in the end.
           
Posted in bridal party, budget, Clementine, Tuesday Tips, wedding | No Comments »
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