For Ladies who Lounge

Clients are often looking for something special for their girls [and something to look fantastic in photos!].  Thankfully, we’ve made it through the matching rhinestone velour sweatsuit stage and have embarked on prettier, more sophisticated ways of dressing our bridesmaids in loungewear.  
I was turned onto Plum Pretty Sugar by the lovely Katie Kozlowski and think their incredibly feminine  patterns are just darling! 
[images via]

Three…Two…One! Real Wedding: Emma & Tom

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!}
{event credits}  all coordination and event styling by bliss weddings and events.  photo and video by studio this is.  floral, decor, lighting and custom props by event creative.  music and entertainment by bill pollack orchestra.  all printables from invitations to signage by cheree berry.  rentals by tablescapes.  linens by bbj.

Call Me Crazy…Pale Bridesmaid Dresses are Chic!

I know, I know…It’s all about the bride!  However, I think it is absolutely unexpected and ultra-modern to dress your pals in barely-hued bridesmaid dresses.

I absolutely love that the maids wore a truer white, and the bride selected a gown that was a whisper warmer in color.  
Varying the look and style of each dress allows your girls to feel more comfortable and confident…who knows, perhaps they’ll actually wear their dress again!  {unheard of!}
Pale nude tones are still fashionably – and flattering!
Set yourself apart by requesting that your ladies wear short dresses.
Tiring of the typical sage green bridesmaid dress?  Be bold by dressing your girls in the softest, palest tones!
{image credits} 1&2 from martha stewart.  3 unknown source.  4 from giaconali photography

Well…Dressed! Bridal Shower

I’m inspired to write for a couple of reasons.

First, I was honoured to be included in a friends bridal shower over the weekend.  After someone asked me what I thought was appropriate to wear to a daytime shower, I looked around the room at the gorgeous girls…

You always want to respect the guest of honour.  You also want to let the hostess know you appreciate the trouble she’s gone to.  It’s nearly always safer to be a bit overdressed than under-dressed {in my unofficial opinion!!}.  But, lovelies, please use common sense – a cocktail dress is not fitting for a daytime event and yet jeans are typically not welcome in a country club.

Secondly, after an absolute out-of-the-blue surprise gift from Renny, I was forced to take a spin around my favorite boutique on Oak Street:  Kate Spade.  There were plenty of pieces that would be perfect for a shower, so I’ve put together the following simple solutions for the next time you’re on the receiving end of a wedding-cake-shaped invitation:

Let’s start with the outfit on the left:
-The gorgeous sleeveless Kate Spade top beautifully frames your face – this blouse can certainly be the cornerstone of your ensamb
-Paired with skinny J.Crew ankle pants, the shirt can be comfortably left un-tucked {perfect for the pastries you’ll want to undoubtedly indulge in!}
-Gorgeous Prada heels add height and contemporary drama to this otherwise classic outfit
-Over-sized David Yurman knot earrings will look perfect with your Lily Vanderwoodsen-esq pulled-back hairstyle
-The covet-worthy terra cotta colored Brian Atwood clutch can be used year round {or so you tell your man when he sees the bill}
Now let’s talk about my dreamy collection on the right:
-Surprise, surprise – we’ve got a bold orangey red Kate Spade dress as the start to it all off…{will I ever tire of this color?!}
-With the simple, chic cut of the dress, understated shoes end up being the perfect pairing.  These JCrew flats fit the bill {and would also look fabulous with it’s neighbors’ black pants!}
-Simple studs by Slane and Slane add a bit of a Parisan punch to the look
-I adore the skinny yellow Kate Spade clutch – just big enough to fit your iPhone and lipgloss
-Grey is proving to be the perfect neutral this season.  I am obsessed with this grey enamel Hermes bangle – an understated {yet ostentatious} finish to the look
Simply and stylishly…Well Dressed!

Savvy Style with Stella & Dot!

Cute accessories will always catch my attention.  Interesting, fresh ideas and inspired drive seem to always also catch my attention.

When I initially stumbled across Stella & Dot, I fell in love with a handful of their reasonably priced pieces.  I have found their jewelry to be the perfect pick-me-up for an old stand-by stuffed in the back of your closet or the perfect gift for a girlfriend, your mom or even your bridesmaids.

After reading a bit more about the company, I also fell in love with the concept.  Stella & Dot was founded by Jessica Herrin – who also co-founded weddingchannel.com {at age 24!}.  Stella & Dot took the old tupperware party concept and applied it to modern day – with local stylists hosting trunk-shows and managing ecommerce sites positioned around the country – modern women have found a way to balance life and career.  Along with the help of chief creative designer, Blythe Harris, – who previously gained experience designing for names like {practical favorite} Banana Republic and {less practical favorite} Cartier – Stella & Dot has rapidly become a celeb favorite and have gained accolades in nearly all popular magazines.

Here are a few of my current favs:
I love love the Boca necklace with the totally adorable bee brooch detail.  This longer style would look great with a dress, a white tee and jeans, or even over a tunic on the beach.
The Sayulita was featured in In Style recently and would be a great for the girl with boho-meets-glam style.
I love the initial charm necklaces…for bridesmaids or new mommies {great with their new wee-ones’ initials featured!}
The Grace bracelet is versatile and an updated version of a classic.  I even love this paired with a few gold bangles and your chunky men’s watch – all loaded on one arm!
And surprise, surprise…the Starfish studs are just too cute to pass up.  I particularity love these with an ultra-casual outfit.
Happy Shopping!  {ps:  mother’s day is May 9th!}
{image credits}  tupperware party from mindbubble.com.  all other images taken from the stella&dot website

Press Feature…Who ME?!!

I was honoured to be selected by The Knot magazine as one of their Style Stalker Features in their current Spring/Summer 2010 issue.

They reached out to me months ago, hoping for loads of information about my personal wedding style – and after 5 pages of written beauty and design goodness that I passed along, The Knot narrowed it down to a few simple questions and {some paraphrased} answers.  I thought I’d elaborate just a bit.. {but please forgive me for any overlapped details from previous entries!}

When I started to think about, dream about and envision our wedding day, I imagined how everything would look in photographs…after all, once the day flies by that is all we are seemingly left with!  Because the setting of Hinsdale Golf Club was so dreamy on its own, I took cue from the grounds.  I was very much inspired by Gatsby-inspired looks, also driven by my color palette of white and bold yellow with Frenchy black accents.
While I adore fashion and design of all kinds, my personal style is rarely trendy.  I do always strive for a ‘unique’ look, but do tend to be attracted to timeless, sophisticated styles over anything too avant-garde.
I went for a look that was ‘Country Club Chic’, ‘Garden Gatsby’…current, but again timeless and sophisticated.  I wanted people to say, “that is so Kara”.  I still hear that to this day.
 
The tent was set in the middle of the golf course, guests arrived via open-air trolley {once the thunderous rains stopped!} 
Inside the tent, graphic black and white linens provided the backdrop for Frenchy footed urns and ornate stands topped with lush, textural and gardeny floral arrangements of peonies, roses, orchids, arabicum and fresh lemons.  I was also obsessed with our ultra-classic black and white checked dance-floor!
 
I loved these little guys…the satellite arrangements were nestled at the foot of the elevated centerpieces.  I am also known for being quite the foliage snob…see the charming richly hued camellia and gardenia foliage accented by the velvety soft grey dusty miller?  Love.
While cocktails were initially to be held in the lawn, the awful weather encouraged everyone to stay inside.  Here were the barely-used cocktail tables, finished with cutie black and white striped custom seat cushions.

Because our ceremony was to take place outdoors in the garden, I never wanted anything too formal for my dress.  Our wedding was not black tie – crystal detailing, ornate embroidery, formal trains etc. did not feel appropriate for our setting.  I certainly wanted something unique, but didn’t want to fall prey to too many trends.  Local designer, Alice Padrul, designed the absolute perfect dress for me.
 
I loved how the light, loose chiffon pieces gently danced in the breeze…
 
 The ring I ‘borrowed’ to wear on my right hand came from our jeweler, Joel Singer.  I already felt amazingly like a celebrity, borrowing gorgeous jewels for the evening…but when my husband let me know I didn’t have to give it back, I was beside myself!
Even in my everyday life, I am a HUGE lover of vintage earrings – large, classic and slightly obnoxious.  I found these gorgeous earrings at Weddings 826 in Lincoln Park and knew they were perfect.  They reminded me of the Chanel Camellia pair I’ve drooled over for years!  
I didn’t ever envision myself wearing a veil…again, it seemed too formal for our garden-party wedding.  A single, off-set gardenia was nestled into my perfectly coiffed hair by Sophia, our Beauty on Call stylist.

I knew I wanted the girls in bold yellow party dresses…{poor girls, what troopers – but don’t they all look fantastic?!}…Good old J.Crew had the perfect color in charming styles I thought would look great against the verdant green backdrop of the golf course.  
I chose rich magenta peonies for the girls unexpected bouquets, simply because my mother and I adore the bold hue {look at her stunning dress – it matches the girls’ bouquets perfectly!}.  Because I have done plenty of client weddings incorporating the beautiful color, we shied away from using it as a key player.  That said, however, we did need a bit of a ‘pink-fix’ and thought it would add a lovely contrast to the girls dresses.

The bridal party looked smashing – boys in black tuxes with black and white stripped ties and yellow spray rose boutonnieres, next to the beautiful girls in sunny yellow…A friendly {while a bit rambunctious and unorthodox} game of croquet was the perfect way to relax in the lawn between dances.
Thanks again to The Knot for the feature…we wedding insiders covet the glossy pages for trends, stories and features!
{image and detail credits} magazine images from the knot.  all photography by gerber and scarpelli.  tent and lighting provided by partytime productions.  all linen from bbj linen.  chairs, tables, chargers, goblets etc. from tablescapes ltd., all flowers produced by botanicals, dress by alice padrul, earrings from weddings 826, hair & make-up by beauty on call.  bridal party dresses from jcrew

Real Wedding…Ours!

Thanks so much to the wonderful editors of Brides Chicago for selecting my very own wedding to feature on the glossy pages of their publication!  The Spring/Summer issue is on stands now.  Here are just a few of the details highlighted by the Brides Chicago feature…

Our wedding took place on the grounds of the charming and beautiful country club where my family has been members for years, Hinsdale Golf Club.  The ceremony was initially intended to be set in the gorgeous manicured gardens, however, in an unsurprisingly Chicago turn of events…weather forced us inside for the ceremony and cocktail hour.  A second chuppah was created out of the fabric backdrop behind the band in a mere 20 minutes as guests were arriving.

My girls wore adorable party dresses from JCrew and carried bold magenta peonies {number one favs of my mother and I!}, accented with charming dusty miller and camellia.  Our custom letterpress invitations were produced by the lovely Jenna from Clementine ink + paper.

My mother in law and I surprised my husband {and our guests} with a serenade by the Cubs Dixieland Band for the duration of the cocktail hour.

Dinner and dancing took place in an elegant {and massive!} white tent set in the middle of the golf course – guests arrived via chauffeured golf cart and open air trolley.

Petite cabaret tables were positioned on the lawn outside of the tent where we had croquet and cigars available for guests, once the weather cooperated.  These cocktail tables were dressed in yellow linens and surrounded by white chiavari chairs with custom black and white striped cushions.

Back in 2006 {just after we got engaged} I chose a color palette that I had yet to execute for a client…Frenchy black and white accented by sunny yellow {ok ok, so since then the color combo has been a bit overdone…} The tables were set with graphic black and white linens from BBJ and topped with centerpieces set atop ornate lacquered stands and garden urns.  Flowers included cattleya orchid blossoms, casablanca lilies, open roses, fragrant peonies and barely-in-season viburnum.  We had beautiful yellow silk ribbons detailing each guest napkin that perfectly framed our menu cards.

Partytime Productions provided the tent and gorgeous lighting – pin spots highlighting each centerpiece as well as textured projections shone on the canopy above.  The tent ceiling also featured suspended votive candles that twinkled above guests as they danced and a black chandelier noted our family head table.

The sweltering day and unexpected weather did not disappoint.  The day was about love.  About life.  About family and friends.  It was absolutely overwhelming to look around the tent knowing that every person in attendance was there to celebrate and support Joel and I.

Forget dreams of a McMansion, luxe cars and expensive jewelry – can I throw a fabulous wedding-themed fete each year?  Please…?

{credits}  images taken by gerber and scarpelli.  tent and lighting by partytime productions.  linens provided by bbj.  tables, chairs, chargers, goblets etc. provided by tablescapes.  all floral and decor executed by my former home…botanicals.  my gown by the amazing alice padrul. 

Real Wedding: Caroline & Gene

Some may recognize this board…I created it earlier this winter for my oldest and dearest friend, Caroline.

After over a year of long distance planning from San Francisco, Caroline and Gene became husband and wife this past weekend.

While the newlyweds are off on their honeymoon get-away…I’d love to share a few images of their stunning decor.

Caroline and Gene both appreciate design – Caroline is a landscape architect and her husband, Gene, is an architect. Caroline adores texture, depth and movement and appreciates interesting foliages accented with fluffy and bold blooms. We went with a color palette of 75% varied green tones, highlights of saturated melon hues and cool periwinkle tones.

The wedding ceremony and reception took place at the iconic University Club, a charming haven for relaxation, sophistication and socialization. Caroline’s family has been members for years – so the intimate Michigan Room became the setting for the love-filled nuptials and celebration.

The bride carried a gorgeous, textural clutch-style bouquet designed with white and dusty grey hues. Elements included peonies {in varied stages of development}, lisianthus {with their cutie undeveloped buds}, sweet pea {in honour of a nickname her mama used to call her}, fragrant lilac, grey brunia berries, velvety lambs ear and dusty miller foliages. The bridesmaids carried striking coral/melon peonies accented with unexpected grey dusty miller and plum colored cotinus foliages. {see image below}

Because the ceremony and reception took place in the same room, the catering staff and my Botanicals staff had to ‘turn’ the room. We wanted a different feeling for the ceremony and reception, so we decided to keep the ceremony simple and romantic. We closed the heavy drapes along the east and south walls and created an aisle framed by a pathway of flickering candlelight. A pair of rich wooden columns hosted graphic white lacquered vases topped with verdant fern plants to simply flank the couple. Finally, we always ribbon off the last row of chairs to encourage guests to be seated down the sides. The ribbon is untied before the processional for added drama. {see images below}

Guests exited the Michigan Room after the special and unique ceremony and made their way past the place card table to the Presidents Bar for wine and cocktails.

The place card table hosted a collection of varied vases and apothecary jars – each hosting different elements…some showcasing bold arrangements, other elements contained within the walls of the jars like terrariums. Richly colored plums and grapes were used for a beautiful visual and textural contrast against the varied green and melon tones. Finally, we provided four shallow white lacquered boxes hosting a tailored bed of fresh mosses upon which guests’ seating assignments were displayed. {see images below}

When guests’ re-entered the Michigan Room, we unveiled a stunning urban backdrop of Millennium Park by opening the Clubs’ existing curtains. Guest tables were dressed in crisp white pintuck linens, pre-set with the Clubs’ crested charger plates {a wonderful benefit of a private club!} and accented with crisp apple green bengaline napkins.

We created two centerpiece designs: A single white urn hosting a full, lush and crazy textural collection of varied foliages including meandering jasmine vine, feathery maidenhair fern fronds, oregon ferns, broadleaf geranium foliage, grey dusty miller and plum colored cotinus {I’m a total foliage snob and was obsessed with the selections!} Gently punctuating the rich foliage base were coral/melon peonies, fluffy viburnum, melon godetia {super cost effective bloom!}, green spider mums, lotus pods, succulents, seed pods and periwinkle scabiosa. Rich plums and tumbling grapes finished the sizable arrangements.

The alternating guest tables featured a collection of pieces placed in the middle of the tables. A mid-sized white urn hosted a petite version of the other centerpieces. Extending the design further, our cutie miniature white urns hosted varied floral/foliage pairings.

It was important to Caroline and Gene that they got to share their dinner with the bridal party – but also wanted to make sure there was room for dates/spouses. We lined 3, 8′ long rectangular tables end to end to create a grand setting. Guests were seated all around to add to the intimate feeling.

A long shallow and narrow box {measuring 12′ long!} was positioned in the center. Varied glass cylinder vases were either used to display the bridal party flowers or were swirled internally with artful fern fronds and topped with floating candles. The exaggerated box housed a little landscaped world of foliages and flowers used throughout the event.

Caroline and Gene shared their special day with just over 100 guests. The day was tailored to fit the the two of them – from start to finish. A day filled with love and emotion, style and beauty. A day to inspire them for the rest of their lives.

{Special thanks to: my wonderful Botanicals team – who pulled everything together while I was busy0 getting my hair and make-up done, to Lisa Zimbler Events for her day-of assistance, to the University Club for providing the wonderful setting for the day.}

{photo credits: all images shot by erica barraca}

Stand By Me…

What’s a bride to do when her favorite ladies live out of town when she’s all ready to ask them to be a part of her wedding party? I love the idea of taking the girls to a champagne brunch, or treating them to a spa day that provides the serene scene in which you ask them to stand up for you – but that isn’t always possible.
Four of my six bridesmaids lived out of town – from San Fransisco to Sydney. I knew I had to ask them individually – but didn’t want to do it via email or over the phone.
I wanted something creative and meaningful and found myself remembering the few times I assisted with the photo-styling of Oprah’s Favorite Things shows…Taking cue from the Queen of Talk, I decided to put together a collection of Kara’s Favorite Things and sent them to my girls. Here were the simple steps I took to create these bountiful bridesmaids boxes…
1. In an over sized glossy white box (with a separate lid that simply ‘pops’ off), I lined the inside with beautiful paper and bold tissue paper to provide a safe and snug fit for the treats.
2. I decided upon the elements that would constitute my favorite things…I wanted to keep things low in costs and hinted with humor. With little tags, I labeled each of my Favorite Things:
–A CD with my favorite songs (do people still have CD players?) with tunes by Frank Sinatra, Austrud Gilberto, Rolling Stones and yes…Dave Matthews
–A pashmina (I’m always chilly!)
–Sunless tanning spray (who doesn’t look better bronzed?!)
–A tub of frosting (now THAT’S not on the wedding diet…)
–A gaudy cocktail ring (I adore a classic ensemble with glitzy accessories!)
–Faux pearl earrings ‘for the gym’ (I’ll go down with the burning house before I leave with no earrings on!)
–The movie To Catch a Thief with Grace Kelly (my style crush!)
–A tiny bloom to represent my passion for the beauties
3. I finished it off with a wrapped box housing a letter written to each of my dearest – explaining how a silly collection of my favorite things wouldn’t be complete without each them etc. etc.
Who knew it could be so easy…