Sofia did an amazing job of capturing a sense of sophisticated charm, fit for most any girls’ loveliest daydream. Check it out!
I’m obsessed.
Sofia did an amazing job of capturing a sense of sophisticated charm, fit for most any girls’ loveliest daydream. Check it out!
I’m obsessed.
I find inspiration in so much…I initially started to gather images and ideas that were inspiring to me as a way to relax and re-energize myself. Then, after noticing I had quite the portfolio of collected images, I started creating inspiration boards for a few clients here and there, in an effort to help relay my vision for them. They are a helpful way to make sure we’re heading in the right direction together and that I truly am capturing the essence of what the bride is looking for.
You won’t necessarily find any of the showcased items in the finished projects – these boards simply help tell the story, visually.
Inspiration boards certainly do not need to be put together for a bride or a client. I have found that designing inspiration boards are a therapeutic way to escape and lose myself in something that I quite simply…find lovely. Give one a shot (and if you’re inspired – send it to me and tell me why!)
You may have received a heart-shaped choker, a paperweight in the shape of an over-sized dazzling diamond ring or perhaps you even got a pink flask with the brides’ wedding date stamped front and center…All you know is that the gifts you’ve received as a dedicated bridesmaid have hardly been worthy of all of your adoring attention and unwavering support. After all, you did personally assist by fishing the wilted spinach from her teeth before her close-up, you did hold her dress high above her head as she not-so-discretely ‘powdered her nose’, and you even humored her when she insisted that pepto-pink, floor-length organza bridesmaid dresses would truly complete her vision…
Alternatively, these custom Lucite bar trays are a totally chic addition to a worthy friends bar-cart, kitchen island or coffee table! Add a few matching/contrasting coasters and she will be having the happiest happy hour ever! **Note: These gifts can be great for the guys too – choose more masculine colors and patterns!
I’m obsessed.
I often encourage my clients to provide me with anything they find meaningful that I can then incorporate into their wedding design…I’ll create a bouquet wrapped in the fabric taken from her mothers wedding gown, or encourage the seamstress to secure a locket with a picture of a loved one to the inside of her voluminous gown. Simple ways to make the biggest day of her life even more special – if it is only just bride herself that is aware of ‘that extra special touch’.
It meant so much to me that my 91 year old grandmother was able to share our wedding day with us. I wanted to somehow honour her and her exciting presence – but wasn’t quite sure how. I ended up finding a charming and perfectly chic way one dreary April afternoon while my mother and I visited her.
My grandmother got married in 1939 and wore a simple, tailored suit that she embellished with glamorous Eisenhower Ice buttons. When I found those very buttons in her tattered jewelry box that early spring day, I knew instantly that adding them to secure my vintage brocade ribbons was the perfect sentimental touch I had hoped for.
(Thanks to the fab Gerber and Scarpelli team for capturing the special touch so beautifully. And thank you to my Botanicals staff for putting together my dreamy bouquet!)
My great friend (and proud mama of a new baby boy – (see previous entry!)), Lisa Gia Bascomb of Parties Etc., and I worked together on a late summer wedding. Their wedding is now featured in the current issue of Brides Chicago.
Lisa’s clients, Rebecca and Gary, were simple and laid back and wanted their wedding to reflect themselves, while also lending an urban chic feeling to the setting – all with no fuss. We selected a color palette of crisp, summery apple green and white.
Their Chicago wedding took place at the Museum of Contemporary Art, on the very day of the legendary Chicago Air and Water Show. (Setting up the outdoor ceremony was thrilling as the F-22 Raptors soared overhead!) Here are the images from the exciting feature.
The ceremony took place outdoors, under a gauzy chuppah, composed of layers of white chiffon, cinched mid-way by custom green floral cuffs.
Two alternating centerpiece designs were placed on guest tables around the Museum. One half of the tables featured glass collection style centerpieces. These centerpieces were composed of varied glass geometric vases, positioned symmetrically in the middle of the table. Each vase hosted a mono-floral collection of green or white flowers including open-cut calla lilies, cymbidium orchid blossoms and green button pomps. The remaining guest tables featured a tall, sleek glass vase will an architectural burst of sculptural white calla lilies. The base of these centerpieces hosted a trio of vases, swirled with submerged flax foliage and topped with a floating disk candle, for a romantic glow around the room.
We worked with the outstanding husband-wife dream team Pen Carlson Photography – who shot the absolutely stunningly artful images. Brett and Kiri are one of my latest obsessions. They truly ooze talent (I am constantly inspired by their work). On top of that, they are incredibly lovely to work with. Here are a few more showstoppers taken by the dynamic duo:
I delivered the bridal party flowers to an apartment high in the Hancock Building – check out this brilliant view of the air and water show that the bridal party took in as they were getting fussed and mussed over by hair and make-up.
A shot of the groom – I love the editorial style!
The bride carried a sleek bouquet of open-cut white calla lilies, cut short and collected in double-faced silk ribbon. I absolutely adore this photograph!
The bride and groom arrived on the remarkable summer day. A day brides dream of.
A stolen kiss. The groom wore a coordinating miniature calla lily boutonniere – the perfect selection to compliment the bridal bouquet, but also a great choice as they are a wonderfully hardy blossom that holds up fantastically out of water.
Thanks to Parties Etc. http://www.partiesetcetera.com/, Pen Carlson http://www.pencarlson.com/ and my wonderful Botanicals Staff http://www.botanicalschicago.com/ for all their hard work to make Gary and Rebecca’s wedding day an affair to remember!
Congratulations to Lisa Gia Bascomb on welcoming her new baby boy into the world!! Lisa’s son was born into a household of 3 ladies (two of them are wee-ones!) – Papa Bascomb must be thrilled about his new little pal!!
Best wishes and lots of love to you and your family, Lisa!
(Lisa, of Parties Etc. http://www.partiesetcetera.com/ is not only a dear friend – but is one of the cities top wedding planners. I absolutely adore working with her! PS: She also lent her gentle guidance and pure expertise to my crazy weathered wedding day!)
One of my oldest, most special friends is getting married this summer. As her matron of honour, I’ve got plenty to say and plenty to be inspired about! I am so excited that Caroline and her family have enlisted my help with some of the details…
Caroline and Gene live in dreamy San Francisco and are planning their Chicago wedding mostly from afar. Both the ceremony and reception will take place at the iconic University Club…Where Caroline’s family has been members for years.
After a few phone calls and a handful of emails – I was able to nail the happy couple down over the holidays to really talk design. I presented them with a quick inspiration board – put together based upon the unique (and fabulous) color palette and the essence that Caroline conveyed to me.
Caroline is hoping for a color palette of 75% varied greens (ranging from bold citron tones to earthy mossy hues), accented with touches of vibrant melon and periwinkle. The bride is a landscape architect and adores varied textures and interesting, unexpected (almost quirky!) elements – from funky foliages to bountiful blooms. The groom is an architect, himself – and so the couple certainly has an eye for color, proportion and design!
Here is the board I put together – also deciding to add crisp, graphic white as a mod backdrop for the collection of colors….
Caroline and Gene are so perfectly suited for one another…I am yet again inspired by the power of love – and how it so captures pairings that are truly meant to be. I am thrilled to be a part of her planning process and am excited for whats to come…Stay tuned!
The bride is the owner of one of the trendiest boutiques in the city, She Boutique, and had absolutely no free time – but did feel loads of pressure to fulfill a vision of an uber striking wedding – not to mention the hundreds of expectant guests, all awaiting a smashing display of the brides style. With a bit of simple direction (inspiration from the movie De-Lovely, a white, black and silver color palette and a love for all things sparkly…) I created a current, chic design with a nod to timeless style and charm…worthy of the fashionista herself.
Thanks to Cloud 9 Weddings, and The Drake Hotel – and my amazing Botanicals staff who took care of every last detail of the set-up while I happened to be walking down the aisle myself!