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Hitched: Blanca & Sean’s Westin Chicago Wedding, Pt 3

January 11th, 2012

So Blanca & Sean took their pictures and the ceremony went off without a hitch… and now it was time to celebrate!

I created this simple framed seating chart to be displayed during their cocktail hour. (If you noticed, the table numbers are written in Spanish as a slight nod to Blanca’s hispanic heritage)

The tall arrangements from the ceremony were repurposed as centerpieces!

I love how the vibrant centerpieces *pop* against the champagne colored linens and pink napkin accents.

We created napkin “bellyband” menus… a little something different from the typical menu tucked into a pocket-fold napkin!

A shot of their lovely sweetheart table, which also shows the row of windows overlooking the Chicago River that line the east side of the ballroom!

You can actually see the beautiful detailing in the chandeliers in this photo below! They look like feathers…

Sean absolutely loves chocolate chip cookies, so of course those had to be their wedding favors!

Blanca and Sean, you were such a pleasure to work with!! I wish you guys all the best!

Venue: Westin River North
Wedding Planner: Sweetchic Events
Photographer: Dayna Schroeder Photography
Florals: Vale of Enna
Stationery: Sweetchic Events
Officiant: Ron Crowley
String Duo: Parkwest Strings
Hair & Makeup: Beauty on Call
Wedding Cake & Cookie Favors: Oak Mill Bakery
Mini Bus: Windy City Limos

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TIP: How to Choose Your Bridal Party

January 9th, 2012

{Originally posted on January 19, 2011}

Weddings can be chock full of drama… and sometimes, one of the hardest decisions is who will be in your bridal party? Here are some of the questions I hear most often from my brides and grooms:

Do we have to have a bridal party at all?
Absolutely not! Consider it a favor to yourselves if you opt not to have a bridal party at all. Sometimes the decision can be so difficult with so many people pulling you from different sides that it just makes sense to keep things simple. All you need is each other.

**NEW TIP**: Does it have to be reciprocal?
If your old friend Jane from college asked you to be a bridesmaid in her wedding 5 years ago, but you have since drifted apart, then NO need to ask her to stand for you in return! Life goes on, people move on…

Do we have to have the same number on attendants on each side?
Nope, this shouldn’t be a decision based on numbers. It should be based on the most important people in your lives… the ones you couldn’t imagine not having by your side on your wedding day. If you have more groomsmen, then your bridesmaids are lucky enough to be flanked by two dapper guys, and vice versa!

But my best friend is a guy/girl…
No big deal, they deserve to be by your side anyways! No need to stick to old traditions in this case.

What if I have two best friends?
I find this more common for women, so I’ll address it as such. If they are both equally important in different ways, then it’s perfectly fine (even the right thing to do!) to have two Maids of Honor. Or maybe one of them is married and can have the title of Matron of Honor. Better to have them share the duties than to have one of them slightly soured by not being picked for the role of “best supporting actress.”

But let me emphasize one thing… don’t pick/ask your attendants too early! I’ve heard so often the tale of the newly engaged bride-to-be who immediately asked her seven BFFs, only to regret it six months later when things went awry with one or two of them. Take some time to really consider it and think about who are most important to you and will be there for you in the long term (…and not that new coworker of yours who you’ve just recently been hanging out with more!).

For even more tips, check out Hollie’s tips on the wedding party!

Steve Koo Photography via Bertha & Nick’s Galleria Marchetti wedding

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Hitched: Blanca & Sean’s Westin Chicago Wedding, Pt 2

January 6th, 2012

After their photo session at Union Station, it was time for the ceremony! Photos by Dayna Schroeder Photography.

Grace from Vale of Enna did a spectacular job creating the aisle and faux alter. I typically don’t see gladiolas used that often in wedding florals, but I’m really loving how they looked! And FYI, they are also a very economical flower.

Vases of submerged gladiolas in shades of fuchsia, purple and orange, topped with a floating candles lined the long aisle. At the alter, lush arrangements of tall gladiolas, willow branches and hanging candles atop clear acrylic pillars flanked the Unity Candle table.

A close up of the low and tall arrangements.

The simple tea-length wedding programs I created for the ceremony.

Blanca looked radiant on the arms of her father and her brother.

TIP: A 5-foot wide cloth aisle runner makes a huge difference in creating an elegant look, especially when the ceremony is in a brightly carpeted area.

A nice shot of the Astor Ballroom with it’s beautiful, unique chandeliers in the Westin River North. You can’t see it from this photo, but along the right hand side there is a wide bank of windows overlooking the Chicago River!

The new Mr. & Mrs.!

To be continued…

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Hitched: Blanca & Sean’s Westin Chicago Wedding

January 4th, 2012

Blanca first called me last Memorial Day in a slight panic… her upcoming wedding was Labor day weekend, a mere three months away, and all she had was a venue! Thankfully, we hit it off right away and got straight to work. Blanca and Sean are both busy doctors, so it was a bit tricky navigating their intense call schedules… but in the end, it all came together beautifully. They were so sweet to work with and so happy with how everything turned out!

All the beautiful photos are by Dayna Schroeder Photography.

Blanca was the epitome of grace and elegance.

Just as they were about to head to Lincoln Park for some bridal party photos, it started to rain and so they re-routed to Union Station. A good thing because the resulting pictures are beautiful!

Probably my favorite Union Station photo, ever!

Grace from Vale of Enna created Blanca’s lush bouquet in shades of purple, magenta, peach and pink, and featured dahlias, calla lilies, ranunculous and stock.

Blanca and her bridesmaids were all gorgeous and definitely turned some heads that day…

To be continued…

Venue: Westin River North
Wedding Planner: Sweetchic Events
Photographer: Dayna Schroeder Photography
Florals: Vale of Enna
Stationery: Sweetchic Events
Hair & Makeup: Beauty on Call
Wedding Cake & Cookie Favors: Oak Mill Bakery
Mini Bus: Windy City Limos

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What Comes First: The Venue or the Date?

January 2nd, 2012

Happy New Year!! I bet there are a number of newly engaged couples out there… so congratulations! So I thought I’d revisit this post, originally posted on June 9, 2010:

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Ahhh, the classic conundrum (chicken or the egg?). Do you select your wedding date first and then your venue? Or do you pick the venue and then the date based on the venue’s availability? Here are some tips on how to go about this tricky process:

When the DATE comes first - If you are absolutely set on a certain wedding date, whether because you love the way it sounds (7/7/07 or 10/10/10 for example), or because it has special meaning to you and your fiancé (anniversary of first date/your parents’ wedding date or whatnot), then YAY, that is half the battle. You can call around to all the various venues and check their availability on your chosen date.

If you don’t have a specific date in mind, more so a general season or preferred month, then the VENUE comes first. Then take the following considerations:

1. What is your budget? Typically you should allocate about 50% of your total budget to reception costs, which include the venue rental fee, food & beverage, rentals (equipment and linens), staffing and gratuity, to name a few. If you prefer a blank-slate type venue which includes nothing but the space, then you should definitely keep in mind that you have to rent every. single. little. item for your wedding (down to the salt shakers and serving spoons), and this could potentially increase costs.

2. How many guests? Ask both sets of parents to provide their guest list, while you and your fiancé also compile your guest list to come up with a tentative number. If you want to be fair, you can allocate a certain number to both families. Don’t bother looking at venues that can’t accommodate your numbers, otherwise you may fall in love with something that just won’t work (similar to not trying on dresses that are way out of your budget!)

3. What is your style? Do you lean towards vintage and romantic styles? Then maybe that ultra-modern loft space may not be your best bet. Or on the flip side, if your style is sleek and clean, then maybe the Ritz Carlton is not a good fit! See my old post about choosing your wedding day look and vision.

Research and visit the various venues that have availability around your preferred time of year. When you find THE reception site, then decide which of their available dates will work best for you.

What did YOU pick first… the venue or the date?

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