|
|
April 27th, 2012
Goldbarg and Drew truly had the most beautiful day for their wedding at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. The sun shining off the pond was the perfect backdrop for their wedding ceremony, which took place outside in the Ravine. Immediately following the ceremony, guests were greeted with a Rhubarb – Prosecco specialty cocktail and nibbled on tasty hors d’oeuvres prepared by Blue Plate Catering. Guests were treated to a delicious Persian inspired menu (to reflect the bride’s background) while dining alfresco on the terrace. The terrace looked stunning with dining tables adorned in ivory and raspberry shades and simple, yet elegant floral arrangements designed by Eva’s Flowers.
The cake cutting was no ordinary cake cutting ceremony! It is a tradition in Golbarg’s family to do the Persian Cake Dance. The purpose of the cake dance is for the couple to retrieve the cake knife by offering money to the dancers who posess the cake knife. The bride and groom continue to offer money to try and get the cake knife. A little back and forth, and a few dance moves later, Goldbarg and Drew retrieved the cake knife and cut into their beautifully designed cake by Take the Cake.
The rest of the evening was spent dancing to the beats of DJ Sultan from PMI Productions. After a few hours of dancing, the guests refueled with late night snacks including mini hot dogs, sliders and gyros. The evening was truly magical and J. Brown Photography did an amazing job capturing all of the special moments throughout the event.
 
 
 
 
Ceremony & Reception Venue: Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Caterer: Blue Plate Catering
Wedding Cake: Take the Cake
Florist: Eva’s Flowers
Photographer: Allison Williams from J. Brown Photography
Videographer: Edward Fox
DJ: PMI Productions
Posted in cake, Clementine, cocktail, color, Dancing, details, floral, food, fun, music, outdoor ceremony, Photography, Uncategorized, venue, wedding, wedding dinner, Wedding planning | No Comments »
March 13th, 2012
Eleana and David got married on October 14, 2011 at The Columbus Park Refectory in Chicago. Their wedding date wasn’t just a random October day, it held special meaning to the bride and her family. Her parents got married on October 15th, her grandparents got married on October 16th and her great-grandparents got married on October 17th. Since it was such a special date the entire wedding was really focused on love, family and tradition, it was all very romantic.
Their wedding day was a windy, chilly, Chicago day and yet everything went off without a hitch. Every detail and every moment was memorable and special. They held their ceremony outside in the pavilion attached to the main refectory building which had a great view of trees and nature. They had a live quartet provided by Quartet Parapluie which really helped set the tone for the ceremony. Right before the ceremony started we sprinkled rose petals down the aisle, we were worried they were going to be blown away but they held out long enough for Eleana to make it down the aisle to her handsome groom who was dressed in his Marine Corps uniform.
After the ceremony, the guests came inside for a beautiful sit down dinner provided by Phil Stefani Catering. The guests were treated to an amazing menu of chicken ricotta and braised short ribs. After dinner the guests were spoiled with endless sweet treats of brownie sundaes, mini molten lava cakes and chocolate ravioli all provided by Phil Stefani Catering. Their stunning and elegant wedding cake was designed and provided by Sarah’s Pastries and Candies.
Asrai Garden enhanced the space with rich, bold, autumn colored flowers that were so fresh. Since family and tradition was such an important aspect to the Bride and Groom on their big day, they had family wedding pictures as part of their center pieces with flowers flanked on either side. It was a very sweet, special touch.
Eleana and David spent the rest of the night dancing and celebrating together and with their friends and family. It was a very joyous occasion filled with love and romance. Clementine was honored to have gotten to know such a wonderful couple and family!
Special thanks to Erica Rose Photography for providing us with such lovely photographs.
Additional vendors that helped make their day special:
DJ Sasha Savic
Turning Point Video Production
5 Star Valet
Posted in autumn, bouquet, bright, cake, Clementine, color, Dancing, details, DIY, floral, food, history, music, outdoor ceremony, Photography, treats, unique vendors, venue, view, wedding, wedding dinner | No Comments »
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 22nd, 2011
Jiyoun Bae and Keunsuk Lee got married at the Chicago Botanic Garden on Sunday, June 5, 2011. It was such a beautiful day and we were so happy we could be a part of their special day. The grounds at the Chicago Botanic Garden seem endless and they’re the perfect backdrop for pre-wedding photographs. Not to mention, it’s an extradordinary experience for all the guests, especially those who have never been to the gardens before.
The talented Steve Koo captured all these amazing photos and we’re so thankful he shared them with us!
Jiyoun and Keunsuk had their ceremony and reception in McGinley Pavilion overlooking the water. Their ceremony was so romantic and sweet, they started with a sand ceremony. They had live ceremony music performed by musician Jeff Chan. The Bride carried an absolutely stunning bouquet created by Flowers Flowers.
The reception was a lot of fun and the pavilion looked great! The Bride really got into the DIY projects. She made the table numbers and ceremony programs among other personal touches. I just love this “Just Married” sign that they hung at the entrance to the pavilion.
Culinary Landscapes, the exclusive caterer at The Chicago Botanic Garden, provided some delicious hors d’oeuvres including tortilla cups filled with smoked chicken and topped with mango salsa and avocado cream as well as pork tenderloin with blueberry balsamic and brie. The presentations were just mouth watering as the taste! During dinner the guests dined on sweet garlic glazed fresh chicken breasts with mushroom filled brioche charlotte and roasted fingerling potatoes and fresh asparagus.
The Bride changed out of her gorgeous wedding gown and into this fun party dress for the reception. She even wore a pair of fabulous royal blue shoes! Their wedding cake, provided by Rolf’s Patisserie, matched the overall decor perfectly. I love how Jiyoun kept all the little details in the classic black and white pattern.
The Bride and Groom clearly had a blast at their wedding! All the guests had a wonderful time dancing the night away thanks to DJ Brent Rolland from Fig Media.
It truly was such a lovely event and we just love working at the Chicago Botanic Garden.
Posted in bouquet, cake, Clementine, Dancing, details, DIY, floral, food, fun, music, outdoor ceremony, Photography, short dress, style, view, wedding, wedding dress, Wedding planning | 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 »
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 »
March 5th, 2011
I’m always on the lookout for new vendors to meet and work with. All my client’s styles, personalities and needs vary so drastically and it’s my job to be sure I’m introducing them to the vendors that best meet their needs.
I just met Joel Witmer with Studio 272 and he has an amazing background in documentary film. He has taken all his knowledge and experience creating documentaries and focused it on wedding videography. Joel’s passion for documentary film allows him ”to tell the story of a couple’s love through imagery that resonates with them and speaks to the emotional connection they share.”
To get to know Joel and Studio 272 a bit better, here are his own words at discribing what he loves about filming weddings and how his style sets him apart from other videographers.
“At no other time is one’s love so celebrated, and rare is the occasion when we are surrounded by friends and family alike, coming together to honor publicly the most intimate of emotions. It’s that dichotomy that makes weddings so amazing to film. You have the ceremony, the toasts, the dancing — all these very grand moments we typically associate with weddings — interspersed with much quieter, more personal moments, when a stolen glance or knowing smile between newly-minted husband and wife can speak volumes about their love. I love mining those smaller moments because that’s often where the good stuff is. For the couple, those moments are often the most fleeting — weddings can be pretty darn hectic — so being able to preserve them on film is really an honor.”
Please check out a sample of Joel’s fantastic work. http://player.vimeo.com/video/15308436?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=bcc5c6
Posted in Photography | No Comments »
|
