Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Flower Petal Aisle Runners
I love twists on traditional wedding decor. For inspiration, here are some creative floral alternatives to the traditional aisle runner.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Mia & Jason: Love & Vino
I loved working with Mia and Jason, who not only seemed to treasure wedding details as much as I do but also reminded me how special a smaller wedding can be. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, and their closest friends and family surrounded them with love. Peter Coombs Photography captured their intimate, wine-themed wedding beautifully. Check out the photos!
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| Howes Chapel in Evanston was a charming venue for the ceremony. |
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| Lighting of the Unity Candle |
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| I thought this was a fantastic photo by Peter Coombs, reflecting how we so commonly rely on our gadgets to capture life's special moments. |
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| The escort cards were placed in corks to go along with the wine theme of the wedding reception. Each table was named after a type of wine. |
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| Instead of a guestbook, we did a wishing tree. I snapped this photo of the empty branches before they were filled with the well-wishes and advice from the happy couple's guests. A framed poem explained the wishing tree procedure to guests. |
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| Soon the branches were filled with dangling tags and heartfelt words. |
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| Another photo by me of the tablescape in the Beringer Wine Room at Wildfire. Instead of table numbers, each table was named after a type of wine, and the table signs were displayed in decorative frames. |
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| I took this quick snapshot of the place setting. At each setting, there was a menu and a custom CD for each guest. |
Congratulations to Mia & Jason!
Vendors:
Reception Venue - Wildfire
Photographer - Peter Coombs Photography
Florist - Whoopsie Daisies
Cake - Sarah's Pastries
Ceremony Music - Moeller Music
Wedding Coordinator - Camille Victoria Weddings LLC
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Quick Tip: Mapping Out the Route for Wedding Guests
If you're providing driving directions for your wedding guests with your invitations or in your hospitality bags, be sure to actually drive the route before having the directions printed. Chances are you got the directions off of Google or Mapquest, which may not be up-to-date with construction and detours. So, check to make sure not only that the directions are accurate but also that they are easy to understand and follow.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Beating the Heat: ideas for keeping cool at an outdoor summer wedding
With outside weddings, brides can get so concerned with warding off rain that they may forget about the other weather culprit -- the heat. Here are a few ideas that you can use to make your guests more comfortable at a hot summer wedding.
- Print your programs on paper fans.
- Provide an outside table or bar with lemonade, ice tea, water, or even fun daiquiris or pina coladas prior to the ceremony start.
- Have a few baskets stationed around the ceremony area with sunscreen, bugspray, and sunglasses for guests to use.
- Have ushers escort people to their seats using parasols to block the sun. Ushers can then even give the parasols to the guests to use while they wait for the ceremony start. (Just be sure they direct guests to close the parasols once the ceremony begins so everyone can see.)
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Wedding Planning Tea Party
I am so excited to be co-hosting this Wedding Planning Tea Party. At the event, I'll be sharing some "secrets" of wedding planning -- things you won't find on the online checklists and resources. There will also be time for Q&A, so if you have questions about your own wedding planning or just want to pick a wedding planner's brain, this is a great opportunity.
Here are the details:
Wedding Planning Tea Party
Saturday, July 23, 2011
11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Fleur de Lis
715 N. Franklin Street
Chicago, IL 60654
The event is FREE but seating is limited, so reservations are required. Currently the event is booked but more spots may open up. Reserve a spot on the waiting list to be notified about current availabilty and future tea parties.
For more info or to reserve your spot, go to:
http://weddingplanningteaparty.eventbrite.com
Here are the details:
Wedding Planning Tea Party
Saturday, July 23, 2011
11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Fleur de Lis
715 N. Franklin Street
Chicago, IL 60654
The event is FREE but seating is limited, so reservations are required. Currently the event is booked but more spots may open up. Reserve a spot on the waiting list to be notified about current availabilty and future tea parties.
For more info or to reserve your spot, go to:
http://weddingplanningteaparty.eventbrite.com
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Quick Tip: Whether to Wear the Engagement Ring during the Wedding
First, to answer this you need to know how you're supposed to wear the engagement ring and the wedding ring together after the ceremony. Tradition dictates that you wear the wedding ring first so that it is closest to the heart, and the engagement ring goes on top.
So, you can see that if you wore your engagement ring during the wedding ceremony, it would block the wedding ring's proper position.
There are a couple of options of what to do.
You may want to forego wearing the engagement ring during the ceremony, and give it to a trusted bridesmaid or family member for safekeeping until the reception when you can return the bling to your finger. With this option, the focus truly centers on the commitment symbolized by the wedding rings. In fact, in Jewish tradition, the bride and groom are not supposed to wear any jewelry during the wedding ceremony to show that their mutual commitment to each other is based on who they are as people, not on their material possessions.
But if you just can't bear to part with your diamond, many brides simply place the engagement ring on their right hand for the ceremony. They put the rings in their proper order on their left hand after the ceremony.
Either way is perfectly acceptable, so do what is comfortable for you.
So, you can see that if you wore your engagement ring during the wedding ceremony, it would block the wedding ring's proper position.
There are a couple of options of what to do.
You may want to forego wearing the engagement ring during the ceremony, and give it to a trusted bridesmaid or family member for safekeeping until the reception when you can return the bling to your finger. With this option, the focus truly centers on the commitment symbolized by the wedding rings. In fact, in Jewish tradition, the bride and groom are not supposed to wear any jewelry during the wedding ceremony to show that their mutual commitment to each other is based on who they are as people, not on their material possessions.
But if you just can't bear to part with your diamond, many brides simply place the engagement ring on their right hand for the ceremony. They put the rings in their proper order on their left hand after the ceremony.
Either way is perfectly acceptable, so do what is comfortable for you.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Make it Personal: Top Ten Ways to Personalize your Wedding
Every bride wants her wedding day to be special. But brides today are finding ways to make the Big Day one-of-a-kind. From theme weddings to signature cocktails, gone are the days of the cookie-cutter wedding. So, here are my top ten ideas on how to personalize your wedding day.
1) Ceremony Vows - When putting your personal touch on the wedding, start with the ceremony. If there's anything your guests have experienced time and time again, it's the traditional wedding vows. So, write your own! Hearing the crack in the groom's voice as he recalls when he first met the bride is the type of moment that makes a ceremony memorable.
2) Incorporate your Culture - African-American couples jump the broom. Jewish grooms stomp on a glass. These types of customs not only showcase the importance of your roots, but they also make the ceremony stand out for guests who may not have experienced these traditions before.
3) Signature Cocktail - According to The Knot's 2010 Real Wedding Survey, 15 percent of surveyed couples have a signature cocktail to personalize their wedding reception. Your signature cocktail can simply be your favorite drink or you can create a new drink especially for the occasion. Design a concoction that will match your wedding color scheme or theme, and name it something catchy that reflects your personality.
4) Fabulous Food - Give your guests a unique culinary experience that showcases local flavors. Getting married in the Northeast? Start with Clam Chowder and end on Whoopie Pies. Are you a Chicago bride? Set up a Chicago-style hot dog stand as a late-night snack. The food you pick reveals more about who you are as a couple.
5) That's Entertainment - Couples are starting to go beyond hiring a DJ or wedding band and showcasing customized entertainment during the reception. According to The Knot, 15 percent of surveyed couples had special entertainment at their wedding receptions. If the groom played trumpet as a kid, you could have a marching band parade through the reception. Maybe the Bride is a huge Gleek (i.e. fan of the TV show Glee). Arrange for the local high school's show choir to perform. Acrobats, jugglers, and dancers are all possible showstopping acts that could give that unexpected wow-factor to your wedding reception.
6) Monograms & Logos - Twenty-seven percent of surveyed couples have used a personal logo or monogram in the wedding. This detail is most effective when utilized throughout several different aspects of the wedding. Start by putting the logo or monogram on the save-the-dates and/or invitations. Feature it again in your ceremony programs and perhaps as your cake topper. You could even have a custom gobo made so that the monogram will shine as a light on your dance floor or behind the head table. Finally, tie it all together with the monogram or logo on your wedding favors and thank-you notes.
7) Themes - Another way to stand out is to design the entire wedding around a theme. (See How to Plan a Theme Wedding, October 2010) Whether its "Hollywood Glamour" or "Around the World in Eighty Days," theme weddings have a unique flair while incorporating a couple's interests.
8) Location, Location, Location - Real Estate and Weddings are all about location. You can easily put your personal stamp on your wedding by choosing an atypical venue. Think beyond hotel ballrooms and banquet halls. Couples today get married in historic mansions, museums, lofts, gardens, and even restored barns. (See Unique Wedding Venues in Chicago, Windy City Wedding Guide, September 2010)
9) Cake - There are many ways to be creative with cakes. Some couples choose cakes that are pure works of art, with ornate sugar decorations. Other couples opt for simple cupcake towers. But most recently, couples are really thinking outside the (cake) box, and going for elaborate dessert displays. If you're really looking to be different, you could incorporate cakes into your centerpieces, with each table getting its own cake. Or, try a spectacular French-style croquembouche.
10) Make it Interactive - Yes, there's the traditional bouquet and garter toss, but you can get all your guests involved by providing some interactive activities. Instead of a guestbook, consider a wishing tree where guests can write down well-wishes for the happy couple and hang them on decorative branches (See Getting Creative with Wedding Guestbooks, August 2010). Create a video advice column by having your videographer film your guests responding to fun questions like, "What are the keys to a happy marriage?" or "What is the best anniversary gift a husband can give to his wife?" Guests always enjoy photobooths. And for the folks that shy away from the dance floor, place trivia and mini-board games at each table.
Let your personality shine through the details. It's those personal touches that make a wedding stand out, so don't be afraid to get creative.
For more wedding advice, news, deals, and events, sign up to get Wedding Wise, your e-letter for all things wedding!
We want to hear from you! What are you doing to personalize your wedding?
1) Ceremony Vows - When putting your personal touch on the wedding, start with the ceremony. If there's anything your guests have experienced time and time again, it's the traditional wedding vows. So, write your own! Hearing the crack in the groom's voice as he recalls when he first met the bride is the type of moment that makes a ceremony memorable.
2) Incorporate your Culture - African-American couples jump the broom. Jewish grooms stomp on a glass. These types of customs not only showcase the importance of your roots, but they also make the ceremony stand out for guests who may not have experienced these traditions before.
3) Signature Cocktail - According to The Knot's 2010 Real Wedding Survey, 15 percent of surveyed couples have a signature cocktail to personalize their wedding reception. Your signature cocktail can simply be your favorite drink or you can create a new drink especially for the occasion. Design a concoction that will match your wedding color scheme or theme, and name it something catchy that reflects your personality.
4) Fabulous Food - Give your guests a unique culinary experience that showcases local flavors. Getting married in the Northeast? Start with Clam Chowder and end on Whoopie Pies. Are you a Chicago bride? Set up a Chicago-style hot dog stand as a late-night snack. The food you pick reveals more about who you are as a couple.
5) That's Entertainment - Couples are starting to go beyond hiring a DJ or wedding band and showcasing customized entertainment during the reception. According to The Knot, 15 percent of surveyed couples had special entertainment at their wedding receptions. If the groom played trumpet as a kid, you could have a marching band parade through the reception. Maybe the Bride is a huge Gleek (i.e. fan of the TV show Glee). Arrange for the local high school's show choir to perform. Acrobats, jugglers, and dancers are all possible showstopping acts that could give that unexpected wow-factor to your wedding reception.
6) Monograms & Logos - Twenty-seven percent of surveyed couples have used a personal logo or monogram in the wedding. This detail is most effective when utilized throughout several different aspects of the wedding. Start by putting the logo or monogram on the save-the-dates and/or invitations. Feature it again in your ceremony programs and perhaps as your cake topper. You could even have a custom gobo made so that the monogram will shine as a light on your dance floor or behind the head table. Finally, tie it all together with the monogram or logo on your wedding favors and thank-you notes.
7) Themes - Another way to stand out is to design the entire wedding around a theme. (See How to Plan a Theme Wedding, October 2010) Whether its "Hollywood Glamour" or "Around the World in Eighty Days," theme weddings have a unique flair while incorporating a couple's interests.
8) Location, Location, Location - Real Estate and Weddings are all about location. You can easily put your personal stamp on your wedding by choosing an atypical venue. Think beyond hotel ballrooms and banquet halls. Couples today get married in historic mansions, museums, lofts, gardens, and even restored barns. (See Unique Wedding Venues in Chicago, Windy City Wedding Guide, September 2010)
9) Cake - There are many ways to be creative with cakes. Some couples choose cakes that are pure works of art, with ornate sugar decorations. Other couples opt for simple cupcake towers. But most recently, couples are really thinking outside the (cake) box, and going for elaborate dessert displays. If you're really looking to be different, you could incorporate cakes into your centerpieces, with each table getting its own cake. Or, try a spectacular French-style croquembouche.
10) Make it Interactive - Yes, there's the traditional bouquet and garter toss, but you can get all your guests involved by providing some interactive activities. Instead of a guestbook, consider a wishing tree where guests can write down well-wishes for the happy couple and hang them on decorative branches (See Getting Creative with Wedding Guestbooks, August 2010). Create a video advice column by having your videographer film your guests responding to fun questions like, "What are the keys to a happy marriage?" or "What is the best anniversary gift a husband can give to his wife?" Guests always enjoy photobooths. And for the folks that shy away from the dance floor, place trivia and mini-board games at each table.
Let your personality shine through the details. It's those personal touches that make a wedding stand out, so don't be afraid to get creative.
For more wedding advice, news, deals, and events, sign up to get Wedding Wise, your e-letter for all things wedding!
We want to hear from you! What are you doing to personalize your wedding?
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