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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 »
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 »
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 1st, 2011
Jessica and Mick are from Florida and yet they decided to host their wedding in Chicago! Their wedding ended up becoming a destination wedding and many of their family and friends had never been to Chicago before.
Jessica grew up in Chicago and moved to Florida when still relatively young, she was thrilled that she was able to visit Chicago every summer after they moved because she just loved everything about the city. Once she graduted high school she took Mick to visit Chicago and show him all the wonderful reasons she loved it here. He ended up loving it too and the two of them say Chicago is their favorite city! As a native Chicagoan I often take for granted all the wonderful attractions our city has to offer.
The newly weds spent their afternoon taking pictures all over town at some of the best Chicago hot spots including Navy Pier and Millennium Park. The guests really enjoyed their mini vacation.
They chose The W Lakeshore for their reception venue which overlooks Navy Pier. The 360 view had guests glued to the windows during cocktail hour and of course later in the evening for the fireworks display.
Kehoe Designs did an outstanding job with the floral and decor. The bride picked out vintage inspired farris wheels for the table arrangements which Kehoe Designs decorated with large, fresh blooms. They created a custom fabric treatment on the circular ceiling in hot pink, the couples signature color.
Since they had a destination wedding they chose a bit of a travel theme for some of the details. They had guests write messages on Chicago vintage post cards and they gave guests custom luggage tags as a party favor.
What a fun wedding! All the guests had a blast enjoying Chicago and Jessica and Mick were able to tie the knot in their favorite city! Clementine wishes them all the best and we’re so happy we were able to be a part of their big day!
Photos courtesy of Bella Pictures.
Posted in Clementine, color, destination wedding, details, floral, party favors, view | 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 »
May 20th, 2011
I had the pleasure of meeting the fabulous owners of Glo last week at an event hosted by Beauty on Call. Glo was founded by Jaclyn Gamboa and Kristi Gabrione in 2009.
While planning their own weddings they tirelessly tried to find the perfect solution for the perfect wedding day glow and ended up creating a custom airbrush tanning company. This service is perfect for brides and bridesmaids because they’ll come directly to your home which makes it super easy and time efficient for busy brides.
According to Jaclyn and Kristi “Airbrush tanning is the only safe way to receive a beautiful, golden brown tan in just one session. Glo’s solutions are organic and do not contain alcohol or any artificial fragrances. The active ingredient, DHA, is an FDA approved sugar cane derivative that provides a safe alternative to UV tanning.”
“Glo is dedicated to customizing a specific needs of our clients. After a skin consultation, technicians will vary the shade, depth, and color of your tan according to your skin type and preference. Glo’s innovative system uses two separate airbrushes. Unlike spray booths, their airbrush experts contour your body by hand, ensuring an even flawless tan. Their will never be an orange streaky mess and your hands and feet will look naturally tan.”
“Whether you would like a single in-home appointment or a tan party for your entire bridal party, Glo can customize the perfect tan for brides within 30 minutes per session.”
Clearly Glo isn’t only for brides and bridal parties, it is perfect for anyone who is looking for a healthy way to have a sun-kissed look in any season.
Posted in color, fitness, healthy, sparkle, style, Uncategorized | No Comments »
May 9th, 2011
I’m just dying over this wedding! I was cruising through Martha Stewart Weddings today and found this adorable, sweet, day-long wedding celebration. I just had to share……
The guests were asked to attend the event “dressed to impress” but in comfortable clothes. They were also asked to bring sun glasses and sunscreen.
The bride and groom rented bikes for all the guests and they had a celebratory bike parade through town. Everyone was able to decorate their own bike with streamers and balloons. The destination was a huge wedding picnic with food, drinks and mini golf!
In the evening they hosted a reception for 200 with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres!
I thought this was just a lovely occassion! I’d love to attend something like this….wouldn’t you!?
Posted in Bicycle, bright, color, food, fun, parade, picnic, short dress, vintage, wedding | No Comments »
April 22nd, 2011
You’ve already purchased your wedding dress, shoes, accessories and you’ve chosen your hair style for the big day, but have you thought about your makeup yet? Makeup artist, Nika Vaughan, has a really fresh approach to makeup; she wants you to look like YOU! A lot of my clients are concerned about their makeup looking too heavy or too glamorous, they really just want to look fresh and polished. If this is the look you’re going for, Nika Vaughan is the perfect makeup artist for you!
Don’t be fooled though, Nika also does a lot of fashion makeup too, so she can certainly handle fantastic, dramatic looks as well!
Nika has been sweet enough to give us all a few little makeup times that we can put to use this spring!
“I think this is a great time of year to add a little something new to your tried and true makeup routine. If the same face you wear to work is always the same face you wear for a big night on the town, then it might be time to skip a new pair of shoes and do some spring cleaning in your makeup bag.”
Tip Number One:
“You don’t have to have a Gaga makeover to try something new, but if your already comfortable with a rich brown eyeliner for day, for night try a true black like Bobbie Brown ‘Black Gel Ink Liner’ or Make Up For Ever’Aqua Eye Black Pencil’ Keep the line the same thickness as you would wear for day, and if you line your bottom lid, do it softly so that the liner on your upper lid is still a little bolder. Your eyes will look bigger, lashes fuller, and best yet, you’ll look more wide awake no matter when your day actually started.”
Tip Number Two:
“Try cream eyeshadow for super easy to apply color. If you’re short on time, apply a cream eyeshadow like “Shiseido’ Hydro-Power’ in Spring Plum with just your ring finger, and you’ve got a great sheer, shimmery wash of color that lasts all day. For a more nude look, try a matte version like Bobbi Brown ‘Long Wear Cream Eyeshadows’ in Malted or Cement. Most cream shadows are very smudge and water resistant, so don’t be afraid to wear them into summer. You can even layer a powder eyeshadow over them for a quick makeup change from day to night.”
Tip Number Three:
“If you’re torn about investing in a new fun lip color, but you’re afraid it will just end up living at the bottom of your makeup bag, try a bold color in a sheer gloss or lipstick instead. Look for something in a great color, that will hydrate without being too sticky. It should be packed with color so that a little goes a long way. If you have a less-is-more makeup routine, you might love just a sheer wash of fun gloss like ‘Scandal’ or ‘Babe’ from NARS. But if you’re no stranger to Sephora, you can always add a matte lipstick or (my favorite) Make Up For Ever ‘Aqua Lip Liner Pencils’ underneath your gloss for a more dramatic look.:”
You can reach out to Nika…..
773-220-9959
nika@nikavaughan.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/nikavaughan
Twitter: http://twitter.com/NikaVaughan
Tags: makeup, natural style
Posted in bright, color, style, Uncategorized, wedding | No Comments »
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