|
|
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!
O
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 »
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 6th, 2011
Clementine hosted a really fun party to kick off the wedding season in style! All the guests are our industry friends and partners that we’re so fortunate to work with on a regular basis. I really wanted to just have a good time – I do love planning parties after all. It was a great success and I think everyone had a wonderful time.
All the participating vendors really out did themselves. Thank you again Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, Jewell Events Catering, A Stem Above, J. Brown Photography, Cage and Aquarium, Take the Cake, 4 Flashes Photobooths, Event Creative, Halls Rental and Windy City Linens.
We of course featured the official Clementine colors, which was so fun for spring! We wanted a casual, welcoming environment so we included all cocktail tables, high boys and two different lounge vignettes.
A Stem Above provided fresh, colorful flowers for all the cocktail tables, high boys and lounge sets.
Halls Rental provided all the tables, chairs and lounge peices and Event Creative added the pillow accents.
Take the Cake provided adorable mini cupcakes; a huge hit with the guests! Jewell Events Catering provided some amazing hors d’oeuvres; nobody went home hungry that’s for sure!
DJ Victor was spinning fun, up-beat, music all night long!
The party was supposed to end at 9:00 but this fun crowd stayed until 10:00! We practicaly had to kick them out! Melissa and I are right there in the middle having a blast with such a great group of people!
We can’t wait to have another kick off party next year!
For more photos please visit our facebook page!
Posted in accessories, bright, cake, Clementine, cocktail, color, cupcakes, details, floral, food, fun, lounge, music, party favors, sparkle, spring, style | 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 »
|
