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June 10th, 2011
When I first met Leah I just knew we would really hit it off! She is about a sweet as it gets and her personality can light up any room. When I met her amazing new husband, Bob, I knew right away that it was going to be a very special wedding. They are so perfect for each other and I was honored to be a party of their special day.
Leah and Bob tied the knot at St. Clement Church in Lincoln Park. Their family was so close and you could just feel their love for one another. I just love this picture of Leah’s dad right before the ceremony was about to begin. 
Leah was full of excitement. She was cool as a cucumber the whole morning and when we got to the Church she just beamed with pure joy. I love this photo because it captures her fun personality perfectly.
Leah looked stunning as she walked down the aisle. Her wedding day “look” was absolutely perfect for her and it only enhanced the Church and the venue that much more. 
The new husband and wife! After the ceremony was over the couple celebrated with their friends and family. They loaded up a trolley and rode around town noshing on Potbelly’s sandwiches. Everyone had a great time.
The reception took place at the gorgeous Elysian hotel in Chicago’s Gold Coast. The service, menu and style of the hotel were all top notch. The guests dined on a creative menu including oysters, beef carpaccio, pork belly, fresh halibut, beef tenderloin and risotto.
These beautiful floral arrangements were designed and creative by Renee Price of Kehoe Designs. The blooms were huge and very fragrant, the room was filled with fresh floral aroma.
Leah, Bob and all their guests had a great time dancing the night away with the music styling of DJ Drew from Fig Media!
Clementine had a wonderful time meeting all their friends and family and we hope we can cross paths again some day! We wish you all the best! Congratulations to the happy couple!
Special thanks to the talented Joseph Mark Photography (located in Dallas, TX) and Joseph Ryan Martinez of Fig Media for providing memorable photos and video to document such a wonderful day!
Posted in bouquet, cake, cocktail, details, floral, sparkle, spring, Uncategorized, wedding, wedding dinner, wedding dress | 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 »
March 18th, 2011
As wedding season approaches you might want to consider taking some dancing lessons. Xixi Cheng, owner of Chicago Wedding Dance, is here to help you. Not only is Xixi passionate about teaching engaged couples how to dance she is also a professional, award winning ballroom dancer.
These beautiful couples are previous clients of Chicago Wedding Dance. Look how amazing they look during their first dance!
Your first dance as husband and wife is a very special moment. It’s one of the first times, after tying the knot, that you have some alone time with your new spouse! The wedding day is extremely busy and fast paced, by the time you arrive to the reception you’ve been busy all afternoon visiting with friends and family as they congratulate you. The first dance is a wonderful moment to slow down and really enjoy each other. Even though the entire wedding reception is watching you, it really is a personal moment as well.
There are a number or reasons you might want to consider taking some dance lessons. You might not have any experience dancing together and would like to at least feel comfortable during the dance, you might want to surprise your guests with a fantastic routine or you might just want to have an activity to share together during the exciting time of being engaged.
Whatever your reasons, Xixi will help you gain confidence and have a great time. In her own words: “I want to help people become expressive and show their love for each other through the movements of their first dance. The way two people hold each other, the way they move in unison, and the way they connect through their bodies are all intricacies in dancing that I love and want to teach to others.” “As the owner of Chicago Wedding Dance, I ensure that your experience with the first dance is beyond your expectation. I go the extra mile every time because I care that you are happy, confident and feel radiant on your special day. That is my guarantee!”
Posted in Dancing, fun, wedding | 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 »
December 14th, 2010
I just met with my super fun clients, Megan and Chris, last week for their tasting at Calihan Catering. In between courses they showed me this fantastic “save the date” card they created. I am seriously in love with it. I think it is such a fun, unique way to capture their relationship and their personalities. I even quizzed them on pretty much all the topics to ensure they really did all the calculations….and they did! Very impressive I must say
Have fun with your “Save the Date” and incorporate some of the things that make you a unique couple. Brainstorm ideas that you think are special within your relationship, your guests will have a blast getting to know you even better!
Posted in invitations, save the date, wedding | 1 Comment »
August 24th, 2010
The fantastic Flower Firm has an amazing signature Lucite table that can be used in many different ways. I’ve seen it used as a buffet table, a bar or a place card table. This fabulous table is different for every event. The Flower Firm will fill the inside of the table with different decor elements that match your theme and style. It is such an impressive piece and it creates a distinct focal point in any room.
My client’s chose to use it for their place card table. It was the first thing guests saw when walking into the reception area at The Four Seasons. Later in the evening we used the same table to display the party favors, little bags of Garrett’s popcorn. The table looked beautiful all night long.
Posted in details, escort cards, floral, sparkle, wedding | No 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 »
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 »
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