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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 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 »
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 »
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 »
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 22nd, 2011
Wearing a garter on your wedding day is an old tradition that a lot of my brides have skipped in recent years. A new trend is wearing a garter that is vintage inspired and not bulky or tacky as some of the “something blue” varieties can be. 
Previously is a Chicago based company that re-creates authentic garters from the 1920′s. Original garters from that time were made with high quality fabrics and weren’t as disposable as they are today. Real garters from the 20′s have lost their stretch so Previously went on a mission to create garters with high quality fabric and craftsmanship.
Elide Endreson, Owner of Previously and designer explains her garters in more detail: “The 100% silk taffeta ribbon and cotton fabric lining are sewn directly to the elastic which provides a sleeker silhouette and better fit. The grey silk taffeta is very lightweight, pleats beautifully and has a softer, more subtle luster than silk satin. Just like the originals, the light blue cotton lining provides traction so the garters will stay in place. All ribbon flowers and embellishments are handmade by me. Pictured here are coral pink silk satin roses on top of hand pleated mint green silk satin embellishments.”
Elide points out that “garters were often sold in boxed sets in the 1920′s, and this was my inspiration for this series. The boxed set includes two coordinating bobby pins with handmade embellishments in silk satin. Your garters and matching bobby pins come in a box that they can be stored in as shown in the pictures.”
According to Elide flappers wore the garters just above the knee, not high up on the thigh.
What a great little treat for under your wedding dress. Something classy and elegant that you can cherish forever. This trend is popular among the celebrities too, I read in US Weekly that Mandy Moore wore a vintage inspired garter on her wedding day!
Posted in accessories, Clementine, details, style, Tuesday Tips, vintage, wedding dress | No Comments »
August 9th, 2010
Caroline and Edward really celebrated their wedding in style. Every detail was perfectly matched, charming and casual/chic. The whole event was extremely romantic and well thought out.
The picturesque beach setting is from non other than The 63rd Street Beach House. This post might get me in trouble because I once blogged about how difficult this venue can be if your not prepared for the Chicago weather; however Carrie and Ed’s day was beyond perfect.
All pictures are courtesy of the very talented Laurie Peacock!
They held their ceremony under the main pavilion of the beach house which over looks Lake Michigan. The view is so beautiful that the couple didn’t need to add a lot of ceremony decor. The bride’s dress was a perfect choice for their outdoor, beach wedding.
The architecture of the beach house is really intricate and is a great back drop for weddings. Their simple and elegant “alter” arrangements are the perfect size and style for the space.
After the ceremony, the guests had cocktails and hors d’oeuvres on the south wing of the beach house. Since the weather was so nice and breezy the guests enjoyed the open air of the event space.
While they were cocktailing the staff broke down the ceremony and created this beautiful floor plan for their seated dinner. You can’t tell from this picture but the dance floor was located lake side at the top of the pavilion.
Some of the details I was mentioning earlier: Look at these fantastic menu cards, place cards and table numbers!
All in all it was a perfect day and Clementine wishes the happy couple all the best as their 1 year anniversary is approaching.
Posted in Clementine, details, environment, escort cards, outdoor ceremony, style, venue, view, wedding, wedding dinner, wedding dress | No Comments »
July 27th, 2010
Casual weddings have gotten more and more popular in the last few years! If you are considering an informal affair you might want to consider a short wedding dress!
How adorable is this couple? I’m just loving the short dress paired with colored shoes. She looks fantastic!
Additional ideas for a casual wedding to follow soon…..
Posted in casual wedding, Clementine, short dress, style, Tuesday Tips, Uncategorized, wedding dress | No Comments »
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