I recently created this pretty-little-ditty for a LOVELY summer 2012 bride. And while we ultimately found ourselves swept off our feet by another color story [a lady never reveals such secrets], I had to share this poor cast-off beauty as some summer inspiration. Hang in there, Chicago…
Hope you have a great weekend – mine will be spent in meeeeeeeeetings [invitations, florals, tastings – oh my!]
It’s always nice to have a little summer inspiration during the dreary winter months, and this client wedding should just about do the trick!
A wonderful couple of mine was married this past July. They wanted a wedding that felt seasonal, comfortable, slightly preppy, with a touch of rustic and a hint of whimsy. Their crisp color palette was simply navy, green and white.
Here was the inspiration board I created at the start of our planning together:
And here’s how it all came together…
The bride carried a fluffy and full bouquet exclusively of white lisianthus. We worked an heirloom necklace into the ribbon wrap for a personal touch. The groom wore a coordinating boutonniere, backed by a rich camellia leaf.
The bridesmaids wore simple chiffon navy dresses and carried monochromatic bouquets of ‘green trick’ carnations (!) punctuated with hypericum berries. All of the mens’ ties were the perfect green and navy stripe. Loved them, so!
The ceremony took place at St. Clements, nestled on a charming residential street in Lincoln Park.
The happy couple revisit the location of their first meeting over coffee. Her married monogram was stitched into her dainty clutch for use later at the reception.
[Clockwise from top left:]
The cocktail hour took place on the beautiful plaza of the Chicago History Museum, where the stripe theme continued with darling custom cushion covers.
Refreshing mojitos were circulated during the early evening cocktail hour.
Verdant fern foliage was collected in petite silver julep cups.
We brought umbrellas to provide a bit of shade from the summer sun (for both guests and the performers we hired from a busy Chicago corner).
Instead of a traditional guest book, I often will have custom postcards created by our stationer. The postcards have simple prompts, encouraging guests to write a note to the bride and groom. At the end of the evening, I collect the postcards and give them to a family member who will [at random] mail them off to the newlyweds throughout their first year of marriage. It is a very special way to keep the excitement of the day with you long after the celebration ends.
Before guests were invited inside for dinner, they found their seating assignments pinned on boards covered in fresh foliage. We then move the boards inside to display the scribed postcards.
The Chicago Room featured a combination of rectangular, square and round dinner tables and alternated rich navy with crisp ivory table linens. The elevated centerpieces were simple, manicured bundles of salal foliage, adding a rich pop of color against the neutral backdrop.
The round tables featured a lower collection of white blooms contained in varied vessels. A trio of shaded lamps provided extra illumination at the table.
Each place-setting was pre-set with a rattan charger, a mason jar water glass and mercury glass votive cups (masking the faux votives required by the venue). Arrangements of white roses, hydrangea, garden stock and lilies were presented in cut crystal, mossed pots and worn silver.
Jesse made a handsome custom bar of rich wood [to match the chairs] and green and white striped fabric [to match the straws, of course!]. Opposite the bar, across the dance floor was a comfy lounge finished with custom pillows.
Toward the end of the evening, the couple was able to sneak away from all of the excitement…finally sharing a quiet moment together on the beautiful steps of the History Museum.
A special thanks for the amazing roster of vendors:
Here is a simple [cheater of a] dessert that can be prepared ahead of time using a combination of store-bought items with just the slightest gourmet touch…Assemble now, even for use on Sunday!
Salted Caramel Cheesecake Bites
For the Cheesecake:
1 Box Jello No-Bake Cheesecake Mix, prepared according to package (you’ll need a little granulated sugar, melted butter, cold milk and a hour or two of refrigeration for the preparation)…
For the Caramel:
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1/3 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2+ teaspoon fleur de sel or sea salt
And here’s what to do!
Instead of using a 9″ pie plate, I used mini muffin tins (with baking cups) to get bite-sized ditties – great for entertaining a larger crowd.
In order to prepare the homemade caramel – add the sugar, water and corn syrup to a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat – watching closely and stirring a couple of times.
Once it begins to boil, it will start to turn brown. Once it seems to be a solid medium brown, immediately remove from heat and add cream and butter. Stir well.
Add the salt until fully incorporated.
Place the caramel (may seem thin) in a bowl covered with plastic wrap into the fridge for a few hours or over night.
Once the cheesecake bites are set and the caramel is completely cooled, carefully unwrap the bites and top with a small spoonful (I used two teaspoons) of the salted caramel.
The Golden Globes may have been an elegant snoozefest, but from the bits I saw of the Screen Actors Guild Awards, I thought there was more drama and risk taken this time around.
Here are my winners in order of fabulousness:
[Some of which looked spectacular on screen, and less so in these photos…]
My favorite for the night was my current crush [obsession?], Zoe Saldana who donned a dress fresh off the runway – from last weeks Paris Couture shows. She selected a Givenchy Haute Couture dress [from the interesting and slightly creepily styled collection] that was simply stunning on her tall, lean figure. Love love loved!
Alright – call me crazy – but I think Rose Did Right in Elie Saab. Is this the answer to The Oscars? Certainly not! But this was a fun awards show and I think the perfect place to take a chance. While I’m rarely a fan of the blunt bang, and completely prefer her with the loose soft waves of Bridesmaids, I think she is well styled from head-to-toe. She is darling!!
A bold bit of colour?! Emily Blunt looked spectacular in her jade Oscar De La Renta Resort 2012 gown [even better on TV]. We all know my obsession with all things green, so perhaps this dress would be less exciting if it weren’t such an electric and welcomed pop of color on the red carpet.
PS: Cutie John Krasinski wore Prada.
Glee star Jayma Mays looked dazzlingly sophisticated in Reem Acra.
And do I dare touch on the must mentioned unmentionables?…
Oh darling girl. It breaks my heart to criticize, I normally praise your every move: so true to yourself, so brilliantly composed, intelligently soft spoken and sweetly modest…And I know many have put you on a best-dressed list for this Valentino ensamb…but I can’t help but weep over the 1990s matching platform sandals that I’m certain I wore to a keg party at the ATO house, complete with a backless shirt, choker and black pants.
Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week featured fashion giants like Armani Privé, Chanel, Christian Dior, Valentino and Versace, to highlight a few. However, it was the Ellie Saab Spring/Summer 2012 collection that completely took my breath away. The Lebanese designer showcased a collection of enchantingly girlie, elegantly whimsical and luxuriously lovely dresses in springy, feminine pastels.
A totally charming and elegantly whimsical Bliss wedding was featured on Style Me Pretty last week. Renny truly adored these clients and did a wonderful job pulling the darling details together!
So in love…
The weather for their garden ceremony and tent reception could not be beat!
Freshly muddled mojitos…delish!
The tent canopy featured hundreds of café lights and strung tissue-paper poms. The tablesettings were composed of crystal chargers, heirloom-inspired china and mismatched silver. The florals were lush and gardeny composed of dahlias, garden roses and fragrant fresh herbs.
This summery stunner is the perfect pick-me-up for Chicago’s long winter months!
Renny and I (and our clients) can’t get enough of the cutie little details that, of course, couple with the larger, more impressive and notable elements of a wedding. A current favorite would have to be the Under Entree Cards…
Have darling, petite cards printed by your stationer to cue guests into a new or interesting piece of information: Perhaps there is a beautiful sweets table yet to be unveiled and you hope guests save room after their duet entree, or a bit about the history of the setting that you have selected to host your celebration, or a ditty about how you and your man actually(gulp) met.
Have the coaster-sized cards mixed well and distributed by hand to waiters as they are leaving the kitchen with guests’ entrees. Request that the waitstaff place them discretely under the entree platters so that when the plates are removed, guests are delighted by a charming little note.