Andreea and Benjamin's Romantic Summer Wedding at Chevy Chase Country Club
On a perfect breezy June day, Andreea and Benjamin tied the knot in Northbrook and celebrated with lots of friends and family at the beautiful Chevy Chase Country Club.
Andreea and Benjamin's Romantic Summer Wedding at Chevy Chase Country Club
Their is a love story my husband and I would get monthly updates on over dinner, and as we saw Benjamin's heart and life fill with love, we knew we'd love Andreea even before we met her. On a perfect breezy June day, Andreea and Benjamin tied the knot in Northbrook and celebrated with lots of friends and family at the beautiful Chevy Chase Country Club.
It's not often that I find myself straddling the line between wedding designer and guest (and for good reason), but this time around I am glad I got to experience this beautiful day fully by adding decor and celebrating with two amazing friends. It also helps when the bride has beautiful taste, tying together romantic elements and a classic design.
Photo Credit: Codrean Photography
Things I wish I knew ... Advice from Real Brides
Valuable lessons and tips as you are planning your wedding
Things I wish I knew ... Advice from Real Brides
With my own 10th year anniversary around the corner, I got a bit nostalgic looking back at all the things I loved about the day and all the things I would do differently. My situation is different because what I know now is gleaned from many, many weddings, so instead of just sharing my thoughts and lessons learned, I reached out to a few brides (friends and past clients) to get a few nuggets of wisdom from them. Though there was some overlap between all of their answers, their experience covers a lot of ground and provides a lot of good insights.
These first two are of course favorites of mine because I preach them ALL THE TIME:
"I wish I could have budgeted for a planner or at least a coordinator to help me manage all the little details at the end of the process and during the wedding day, there were things that went wrong and I wish we didn't have to deal with them ourselves" J.T The truth is, no matter how precise you are with your planning, your job on your wedding day is be the bride or groom, not the person with the clipboard that makes sure the timeline is sent out to all the vendors and everyone delivers their services as promised, that is my job. Also from J.T "This might sound simple and basic but set up a timeline that's realistic right away and stick to it or else the planning is messy and stressful"
When it comes to your wedding day, there will be no shortage of opinions, and hearing from a lot of people, many of them important to you, can get overwhelming, so take A.S's advice: "Listen to your heart and not to everyone's opinion. It is your day, make it personal and be creative" If you take everyone else's opinion into account, what you end up with is their wedding, not your own.
And similar to the above, people's feelings are important of course but they should not cloud your decision-making: "It's ok to say no to people's offers of assistance. Much easier to say no, set boundaries, state needs, and evaluate a vendor's performance than it is your mom or BFF. If stated kindly, people will understand (and often quietly appreciate being let off the hook!)" A.L
When it comes to vendors:"It's ok to maintain high expectations in relation to vendors performance, just don't be a jerk when asking for what you want and don't hold grudges after you get exactly that. The fastest route to a happy day is letting go of the blips and recognizing everyone is human." A.L. and equally important: "If you have even a hint of reservation about your day of coordinator, run far and fast. They're there to make life easier; if they're not for ANY reason (trust your gut on this), the process becomes exponentially harder and you'll likely wind up feeling taken advantage of." I tell brides all the time, they're better off not having a service than paying for one and then having to work around it, so I fully agree with A.L., if you have reservations, stay away. The vendors you choose are your team and the services they are providing are supposed to elevate your experience not make it difficult. In addition to your gut, you should trust referrals and ask for samples of anything that's available to help you make your decisions.
And once all the decisions are made, and the checks are written, the anxiety is creeping in and the big day is upon you, plan something relaxing: "I wish I did some self-care, something relaxing with my bridesmaids like a 2 day spa right before the wedding" --J.T I think this is a great idea be it with your bridesmaids, your mom or your fiancee, but remember no harsh treatments right before the wedding, and no wedding related work! My husband and I took the Thursday before our wedding and got pampered together, and if you know him you know that is NOT his thing, but it was nice to drive away from the buzz and be in a bubble of our own for a day. In addition to getting rubbed down and slathered up, it gave us a chance to pause and take things in, which is a luxury you have to make time for or else the whole experience zooms by.
Photo Credit: Heather Decamp Photography
The Case for Color
You don't have to sacrifice elegance, romance or sophistication in order to add color to your event, more than ever, event vendors are incorporating rich patterns and colors into everything from floral, attire, cake, linens, and pretty much every element you can think of. Go beyond the blush box that is often Pinterest and elevate your event with bold vibrant yet elegant vibes that will make your big day stand out.
The Case for Color
The last few years have taken a softer tone in terms of color, and I loved the romantic ethereal feel that came with it, but as a planner and and as a designer I'm so excited to see brides and event planners merge these softer tones with bolder, splashier palettes. You don't have to sacrifice elegance, romance or sophistication in order to add color to your event, more than ever, event vendors are incorporating rich patterns and colors into everything from floral, attire, cake, linens, and pretty much every element you can think of. Go beyond the blush box that is often Pinterest and elevate your event with bold vibrant yet elegant vibes that will make your big day stand out. And here's a little secret, your vendors will be excited to stretch their creative muscles, create something truly special for you, and might event thank you for going against the grain.
Here are a few ideas on how to make a splash ... of color that is ... on your big day.
1. Your Dress is probably the most photographed element of your wedding, along with your bouquet, and bridal designers are leading the color movement. If you are not brave enough to rock a fully colored gown (I know I wouldn't be), how gorgeous is this sophisticated floral gown paired together with equally breathtaking blooms? Full disclosure, Kiana Underwood, who is behind this styled shoot, is my floral hero and a color wizard! Though the watercolors are subtle, the statement is anything but, and the look oozes romance and elegance.
Design:
tulipina.com/ Kinana Underwood
| Photography: /
2. Don't forget the groom. He's likely to be in almost as many pictures as you will be in, and though no one should try to compete with your look on your wedding day, nothing is more dapper than a groom who feels comfortable stepping a little bit out of his comfort zone. Navy is a great solid, elegant color that is sure to complement a floral print, or soft hues of gray, pink, and of course a classic ivory gown. Remember, the goal is not to pull off an avant-garde look, but rather to bring out your personality into each element of your wedding, so make sure he's comfortable rocking that suit!
3. What is sweeter than a show-stopping cake!? Instead of going into your cake design appointment with an arsenal of designs, give your baker/designer an opportunity to shine by asking them to wow you with a design featuring your bold color choices. Have them incorporate texture, floral, jewel tones or shapes, and the result will probably go way beyond your imagination.
4. The details tie a wedding, or any great event, together. And they are also a great opportunity to breathe color and personality into your event. Start setting the tone for a great party the minute your guests open their invitations.
5. Decor is everything! The idea of creating a theme for your wedding is overwhelming and can come off as forced or dated. Instead, use color as a thread, and strive to create a mood, or feeling by incorporating things you love into a party that reflects your style. Florals, linens, glassware, tableware, candles and other decor pieces, are not just elements that you check off the list when planning your wedding, but rather puzzle pieces that come together beautifully. Whether modern or vintage, bright or moody, or a mix of the two, these elements create the ultimate backdrop for whatever ambiance you are trying to set for your guests.
6. Your Squad. Long gone are the days of burn-worthy bridesmaids dresses, and boring bouquets. Your girls (and guys) are probably in your wedding party because they are the people in your life you have the most fun with. So show it in the way you style their dresses, suits and flowers, you'll smile back every time you look at your wedding pictures.
Weather you love bold colors, soft tones or lush greens, there's always room to feature these throughout your event and treat your guests to elements of your personality, because after all they came to celebrate YOU.
Pretty in Pink
It’s a myth that pink is a color that’s only appropriate for Spring months. Elegant dark pink hues, and soft blushes can be used to set a romantic or modern mood in any season. In fact here is a throwback to an event we did for a holiday party where we paired different shades of
Pretty in Pink
It's a myth that pink is a color that's only appropriate for Spring months. Elegant dark pink hues, and soft blushes can be used to set a romantic or modern mood in any season. In fact here is a throwback to an event we did for a holiday party where we paired different shades of pink with deep wine shades and greens to set a whimsical and organic scene without being too literal.
Love Is in the Air
“If I had a flower for every time I thought of you…I could walk through my garden forever.” ― Alfred Tennyson This week we share some beautiful blooms we worked on for Valentine’s day. It’s no wonder flowers are the most common gift one gives to show affection, sympathy, and love. A bouquet of flowers
Love Is in the Air
“If I had a flower for every time I thought of you...I could walk through my garden forever.”― Alfred Tennyson
This week we share some beautiful blooms we worked on for Valentine's day. It's no wonder flowers are the most common gift one gives to show affection, sympathy, and love. A bouquet of flowers is like a snapshot of God's endless creativity, not many man-made things can compete with that!
Kristen & Jeff's Winter Wonderland Wedding
What better way to close out the year than with a beautiful wedding at Pazzo’s 311? Kristen and Jeff lit up this beautiful atrium space with their constant smiles and the vibrant energy of their bridal party. We hoped to further brighten the space with tons of candles, flowers and gold branches for the reception.
Kristen & Jeff's Winter Wonderland Wedding
What better way to close out the year than with a beautiful wedding at Pazzo's? Kristen and Jeff lit up this beautiful atrium space with their constant smiles and the vibrant energy of their bridal party. We hoped to further brighten the space with tons of candles, flowers and gold branches for the reception. The bride wanted a warm atmosphere that would make guests forget the bitter-cold Chicago day. We used pink blooms, submerged orchids and tons of candles to achieve this goal; and the beautiful backdrop at Pazzo's only enhanced the elegant atmosphere. Some of the images used in the gallery are my own and the rest are the wonderful work of Matt Mason. Kristen and Jeff thanks for allowing us to be part of your special day!
Christa and Dave's Fun Family Affair at Carnivale Chicago
We had the pleasure of doing the decor for Christa and Dave’s big day this past September. The weather was gloomy but that didn’t put a damper on this fun intimate event. The bride is one of the most chill people you’ll ever meet and wanted a ceremony and reception to match her laid
Christa and Dave's Fun Family Affair at Carnivale Chicago
We had the pleasure of creating the decor for Christa and Dave's big day this past September. The weather was gloomy but that didn't put a damper on this fun intimate event. The bride is one of the most chill people you'll ever meet and wanted a ceremony and reception to match her laid back disposition ... we achieved this with lots of warm glow candles, beautiful rich purple tones and subdued white centerpieces that would not clash with the vibrant atmosphere of the reception venue. The happy ( and gorgeous) couple got to enjoy their big day with an intimate group, in an intimate setting with a big city as their backdrop! Photo credit goes to Jamie Vester Photography and Design
Coral and Pink Bliss Wedding at Winnetka Community House
What do you do on a cold November day to stay warm? You remember the beautiful days of summer. Happy dreaming with this post that’s WAY overdue. I can’t think of a better color scheme to capture a perfect summer wedding than coral, pink and peach. The background was a Winnetka garden, a gathering of
Coral and Pink Bliss Wedding at Winnetka Community House
What do you do on a cold November day to stay warm? You remember the beautiful days of summer. Happy dreaming with this post that's WAY overdue. I can't think of a better color scheme to capture a perfect summer wedding than coral, pink and peach. The background was a Winnetka garden, a gathering of friends and family, a stunning bride and dapper groom, flowers galore, all weaving together into a perfect event. Among other personal touches, the bride wanted to honor her grandmother with her favorite flowers, peonies, and we were happy to oblige. We caught the perfect seasonal window for coral peonies, mixed with rich pink peopnies, vendela roses, spray roses in all shades, deep pink ranunculus, baby succulents, dhalias and coral berries. Words can't really capture the beauty of these colors, but the great photos captured by http://www.njeribishota.com/ can ... We enjoyed putting together these blooms, and can't stop swooning over these gorgeous pics!
