The always coveted Chicago Social Brides is available for all! Check out our cutie new ad!
If you’re not able to get out to pick up the issue, feel free to peruse the pages of the eco-savvy digital edition available on their website.
My partner in crime {inspiration and style} Renny Pedersen – founder of Bliss Weddings and Events – also has loads to be thankful for this year, as she recently welcomed her second child, a sweet baby girl called Ella Renny into the world.
Sincerest congratulations to your gorgeous family, Renny!
{photo credit} image taken from the always charming felixdoolittle.com
One of my favorite holidays is upon us. Although the tradition has shifted a bit for me over the past few years as we now kiss chilly Chicago goodbye to visit my husbands grandparents in FL, I still appreciate {and very much miss} the harvesty, familial essence this day exudes.
Today, more than most, we reflect on what’s important. On what we love, what we cherish. I have so much to be thankful for this year: as always THE most important is my family, the love and friendship we share is mind blowing. I’m also grateful for my other lovely friendships that continue to grow and strengthen as the weeks and years go by. I adore {and miss!} our gorgeous pooch, Illiebelle. I’m still giddy with excitement about the shift in my planning and design career with Bliss and am already obsessed with my new clients! I’m grateful for my stylish neighbors in the blogging community, who continue to inspire me and keep us all fresh and focused. Gosh, I’m thankful for so many things; I could write an entry each day for a year and not even scratch the surface…
And so, while I sit poolside under a canopy of rustling palms, I share a few images that represent a more traditional Thanksgiving scene:
Love the raw, worn table with the glitzy golden turkeys.
The simplicity of a crisp white tablecloth provides a fresh backdrop for simple monofloral collections of varied autumnally hued roses.
A simple vase of pheasant feathers can create an unexpectedly seasonal setting.
I am thrilled beyond words to announce that I will be moving on from Botanicals to join forces with one of the cities most respected wedding and event planners – Renny Peterson of Bliss Weddings and Events.
This move will allow me to have so much more involvement in my clients’ visions…I have found that design, details and drama goes well beyond bouquets and centerpieces. With my horticulture background, previous wedding planning experience and event design expertise – I have goosebumps thinking of the fantastic future parties yet to plan.
I have so cherished my years at Botanicals and will miss the entire Botans team on a daily basis. I am sure my clients and I will see plenty of them in the future!
I am inspired and delighted about this natural-next-step for me and couldn’t be more honoured to have joined the acclaimed Renny and the Bliss Weddings and Events team.
Let the dreaming begin…
Kara Hillier Superfine
Senior Wedding & Event Design Consultant
kara@blissweddingsandevents.com
http://www.blissweddingsandevents.com/
{photo credit} image taken from funny face
The highly sought-after and always charming Renny Pedersen of Bliss Weddings and Events came to me months ago to help out with her lovely client’s wedding design.
Cristina’s wedding was recently held at The Chicago Cultural Center, one of my absolute favorite venues in Chicago.
Cristina was inspired by natural design, slightly organic in it’s elements and style. She loved the idea of sharing an evening inspired by the sumptuous beauty of Napa Valley with family and friends.
I was immediately inspired by her vision and was thrilled to help pull the visual details of her wedding ceremony and reception together.
The reception took place in Preston Bradley Hall, with the massive east windows overlooking the incredible view of Millennium Park.
Simple champagne colored linens provided a sophisticated neutral backdrop for two centerpiece designs.
Guests were seated at rectangular tables, as opposed to the more expected round tables, allowing for the art of conversation.
The remarkable mosaic detailing is breathtaking. The simple addition of up-lights highlighted the detailed craftsmanship.
The elevated centerpieces were woven with silvery blue fresh olive branch, laden with the seasonal, ripe fruits. The base of the custom-made trees hosted a landscape of knobby roots and grapevine along with fern foliage, dahlias and roses.
Rustic mason jar votive candles dangled from branches adding a gorgeous glow around the room.
Renny hired Frost Lighting to pin-spot each centerpiece, letting the gorgeous designs really stand out when guests entered the room.
The lower centerpieces were designed in custom richly stained wooden rectangular boxes. David Gould (Botanicals head designer and my personal hero!) was the hands-on master that took all of the gorgeous elements that I proposed and created a rolling landscape composed of wood stumps, fresh grapes, hydrangea, dahlias, roses, purple fountain grass and gorgeous gorgeous folaiges including fern plants, woolly lambs ear and dusty miller to name a few. Rich burgundy pillar candles were nestled into the design and flickered just below eye-level.
The wedding was stunning, the couple looked like they were floating on air and Bliss Weddings and Events pulled off another seamless and dreamy affair – thanks for including us!