Go Green | Clementine Chicago

Fresh, Summer Wedding

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 »

Smart Decor

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 »

Eco-Friendly Restaurant: Perfect for your Next Party

February 18th, 2010

I have been to Province in the West Loop a few times and I’m really impressed.

Province is an eco-friendly & sustainable restaurant with a farm-to-table cuisine, that supports the Chicago Green City Market and many local Midwest Farms, we are an American Café with the culinary influence of Spain & South America.

The decor is very modern, chic and elegant. I love all the clean lines and the bright pop of energetic pink.

It is absolutely perfect for a rehearsal dinner or a social/corporate party. They have a beautiful private room that will seat 40 guests comfortably. If you are thinking of having a casual cocktail & hors d’oeuvres party the room can hold up to 50 guests. The entire restaurant is beautiful and if your party is big enough, you can buy out the entire restaurant; which is becoming more and more popular for actual wedding receptions.

Look at all these delicious menu items; everything is so fresh and so well thought out.

I strongly recommend Province for your private event. I think it has so much to offer; fresh & creative menus, excellent service, modern and sophisticated atmosphere. It is a unique setting; give your guests a real treat with this fantastic restaurant.

Posted in Clementine, eco-friendly, environment, food, go green, healthy, rehearsal dinner, wedding dinner | No Comments »

This Week's Tuesday Tip: Go Green

January 5th, 2010

These days, couples are opting to not give party favors at their weddings, and for good reason. Many options available are expensive and tend to use wasteful resources such as excessive packaging materials. Even convenient online orders eventually cause pollutants from the required transportation and delivery.

Purchase mini individual terracotta pots from your local floral vendor. They can be filled with fresh herbs or flowers which your guests will love for months. They can be packaged in a brown box without tissue paper and plastic wrap. The florist can deliver them directly to your wedding allowing only one short trip. After they have unloaded the gifts they can take the brown boxes back to their shop and re-use them.

Another great idea is a little bamboo arrangement. Bamboo grows amazingly well inside homes – especially in bathrooms that do not get a lot of light. It is a great way for your guests to bring life into their homes for years to come. These little gifts can also be purchased at your local floral shop or China Town and require minimal packaging and shipping costs.

A lot of couples are also opting to give money to a charity in lieu of a gift all together. It’s a great way to support a cause that is important to you. Let all your guests know you have donated money on their behalf; everyone will be happy they were a part of your generosity.