I’ve just returned from a wonderfully relaxing trip to Tennessee to help celebrate my mother’s 60th birthday with family. A few days were spent at the lake with a combination of lazy sunning, rigorous tubing {compliments of my overzealous uncle at the wheel} and quite a few successful spins around the lake on skis/a ski! {proving athleticism is still possible…in your 30s}. We lounged, grilled, cocktailed and laughed…a lot.
Now it is back to reality, regaining focus in preparation of a delightful client wedding this weekend.
I will be postponing my {favorite!!!} Fourth of July traditions this year in order to share the day with a wonderful friend {and client} on her wedding day. It is going to be SO beautiful! Can’t wait!
The newest issue of CS Brides {the Chicago Brides’ go-to for all things dreamy in the local wedding world} is out! I was thrilled to have a favorite client wedding featured on their glossy pages.
The incredibly romantic wedding of gorgeous young couple Emma and Tom was too much fun to plan! The couple came to me in the very earliest stage of planning…post engagement. They had been to very few weddings, weren’t quite sure about colors and stylings and wanted a partner to help shape their New Years Eve wedding vision into something romantic, formal, wintry, festive and current…
{haha}
I had such a wonderful time working with the blissfully happy couple {and the brides’ incredibly fabulous mother} that I wanted to share a bit more about their day.
I started playing with a few color combinations to get conversations going. With only mere deliberation, we landed on a palette of creams, greys, dusty blush and golds. Here was the inspiration board I created to use as a planning tool throughout the process.
After quite the hunt, the couple fell in love with an intimate private club, The Racquet Club of Chicago, and thought it was the perfect location for their winter wedding. The club has such a charming, residential feel – absolutely perfect for the intimate guest count of 100.
Beautiful boxes bound in grey velvet ribbons awaited guests that traveled from near {the brides’ dearest friends and family were from Indiana} and afar {quite the trip for the grooms’ friends and family who traveled from England}. The boxes contained indulgent treats hand-picked by the couple including a bottle of Veuve Clicquot, Garretts Popcorn, Luna Bars, nuts, mints and much much much more…
The bride wore a dramatic full gown by Vera Wang and her ladies wore Jenny Yoo in a gorgeous slate grey {my favorite alternative to black}. The brides’ bouquet was inspired by the bouquet her mother carried years ago and was composed of individual white phalaenopsis orchid blossoms. Her bridesmaids had petite bouquets of cream garden roses, dusty pink lisianthus, velvety grey dusty miller and subtle hints of winter green.
The groom, wanting to dress as a proper Englishman, wore tails.
We arranged for the couple to have their first meeting in the charming and intimate library of the private club where the wedding ceremony and reception took place.
The ceremony was held in the card room at the Club. My dear friend and fabulous designer, Jesse Deckard of Event Creative, took care of all floral, lighting and decor. Here, Jesse’s staff custom built a shelving unit to perfectly slip into the window frame, allowing us to display copious amounts of candles to provide the romantic evening ceremony backdrop.
The couple floated on air, as they recessed as husband and wife.
Both the cocktail hour and dancing took place in the living room, walls of windows overlooking the gorgeous Gold Coast residential street.
The dining room featured two exaggerated, long tables, each set for 50. The heavy beams above were cascading with suspended candles, twinkling above guests as they dined.
The tables were dressed in grey damask linens and topped with countless candles and floral arrangements in containers ranging from cut crystal and vintage silver to white peeling birch bark. Florals included a creme collection of hydrangea, garden roses and orchids, subtly accented with dusty pink pepper berry and lisianthus, bleached peacock feathers and snow-tipped pine cones.
Unique flocked succulents adorned the tabletop, with worn votive cups flickering in the backdrop.
Because there were only two tables from which to assign guests their seats, we had each menu card hand calligraphied with each guests’ name. Guests were encouraged to wander the room, taking in the insanely gorgeous setting, as they found their seats.
Charming signs reminded the couple of their location.
The main bar was set in the library after the couples’ first meeting. Jesse custom designed this bar to look as if it was a piece of furniture – perfectly fit for the charming setting.
A gorgeous and indulgent spread awaited guests after dinner, set in front of the fabulous trophy case. Cupcakes were from Sweet Mandy Bs, petite fours, home made marshmallows, macarons and a croquembouche were done by Vanille Patisserie… and that only supplemented the heaps of candies I also arranged for!
Following a loving toast from the groom, waiters passed out flutes of champagne and individual packs of golden confetti. As the clock struck twelve, everyone celebrated to a rowdy version of old lang syne {a decidedly English tradition}.
This young couple is simply mad about one another. Their will be no secrete to their success – they’ll always have each other {and the memories of their fantastic affair on New Years Eve!}
Today is my husband’s 30th! I surprised him a few weeks ago with an early day of celebration. After a round of golf with some of his best buddies {to get him out of the house??}, he came home to our condo with a little note describing why we weren’t having a romantic dinner pour deux, as planned.
Instead, I had planned for a low key party at our home, but because I had to keep the plans from him, I had to purchase and set everything up during his round! There wasn’t a flower in the place, but plenty of pretty candies and treats for our Cake and Cocktails evening…Here are just a few pics from the offerings:
Delish cupcakes were dressed with little flags.
Confetti Cookies from Sweet Mandy B’s {may have been for ME!}
Sugar-dusted donut holes.
A tower of Oreos was paired with chilled milk for dunking.
Cutie Whoopie Pies were yet another chocolate tribute to the birthday boy.
Rock candy in the perfect shades…
Jelly candies {again, for color and for Kara!}.
Suckers were secured in milk glass vases filled with sugar for a pretty presentation.
White chocolate covered graham bits were a hit!
Sweet Mandy B’s also did the rich and velvety chocolate cake.
Gorgeous seasonal berries were accompanied by fresh whipped cream.
Manly mason jars were dressed up with stripey straws and flags I made by hand.
Instead of a full bar, I offered a blueberry vodka lemonade…
Old man beers…
And cigars…
Happy Birthday, Joel! Can’t wait to share the next 30+ with you by my side!
The Fairytale begins with a bride, as most stories do. In this vision though, blue cotton candy grows on trees, pink tutus adorn pirouetting ballerinas, and white candles fervently flicker as she dreams about her wedding…
Here are a few more images from the dreamy project that showcases our avant-garde yet whimsical interpretation of a woman’s evolution into a bride.
With a mere blink of an eye, elfin ballerinas appear to gracefully tend to our bride as she begins to dress for her wedding.
The exaggerated fullness of the gown requires the additional aid of a golden ladder.
A frenzy of fluffing.
The entourage is on the move…
With a few more top-like twirls, we approach the ceremony.
Followed by a cloud of feathers, she makes her way down the illusory aisle.
An abundant bouquet of subtly sweet lavender sweet pea sends her thoughts spinning…
And suddenly our bride finds herself in her dream-spun reception. A bouquet of cotton candy in hand.
Where to begin?
Perhaps at a table set for two, dressed in confections and crystal and fanciful flowers under the shaded protection of a tree – canopy dense with teal tufts of cotton candy.
Only then, in another flurry of feathers…has she found: Her Prince.
May you all find your prince…and live happily {and oh so indulgently} ever after.
It was on the Hinsdale Garden Walk years ago when I really fell head over heels for this charming and slightly whimsical home in my neighborhood. It’s so rare that you see such a use of accessories outside of a home. Love the darling bold choice!
Today I awoke with an insatiable craving for cake and sweets. As a child, I despised your typical breakfast foods and would often beg to skip breakfast. My pediatrician told my mom that anything could be acceptable, as long as it was paired with a chilled glass of milk. It was then that my lifelong obsession with frosting was born. My mother used to keep a frosted sheet cake in the basement fridge, from which I would start my day with a slice and a glass of milk.
While I don’t have hidden confections to indulge in this morning, I thought I’d help satisfy my sugar craving by sharing a few of these gorgeous photos from the dessert table Renny and I designed for the shoot…
A petite four and a glass of champagne adorning the vanity. Nothing like dessert paired with one’s dressing drink!
I absolutely adore this pale yellow meringue cake, presented on my vintage silver platter. Home made marshmallow puffs, sprinkle donuts and a topiary of pastel pillow mints continue to make my mouth water.
This darling gold-dusted cake is protected from showers of cotton candy by a sweet glass cloche covering.
Petite fours, cream puffs, sweetpeas and strawberry shortcake…love.
If a refreshing first course of melting sorbet awaits, I can only imagine what the rest of the meal will reveal!
{photo credits} all photos shot by studio this is. sorbet by black dog gelato. cakes and confections by alliance bakery. All styling by Bliss
Studio This Is and Bliss Weddings have worked together on a multitude of client weddings over the recent years – and each time we are continually inspired by the level of sheer talent and crazy creativity we see in one another {not to mention, we always have a b.l.a.s.t!}. So, when not too long ago, we were approached by said favorite photographer, Jeremy, to partner up without the common goal of a clients’ vision – instead on a collaboration that we all dreamed and directed ourselves – we were as giddy as Cinderella, upon introductions to her dreamy wish-granting Fairy God Mother. After a few brainstorming sessions, after a bit of visual and verbal banter we knew the direction we sought…an avant-garde interpretation of a bridal fairytale.
I initially want to start by giving you a sneak peak into this day-long photoshoot…Here, in some behind the scenes photos you can see our Dream Team composed of Jeremy Bustos and the Studio This Is gang, Jesse Deckard of Event Creative and Renny and I {hard?!} at work.
