While we ended with favorite industry friends at The Ivy room, the evening began in one of my favorite settings in the city, The Waldorf [I still refer to it as the Elysian] for a fashion show hosted by CS Brides and Belle Vie. Perfectly nestled in between my two favorite wedding goddesses, we watched the show from our snappy front row seats.
And between sips of Dom and nibbles of house made macarons, we witnessed gorgeous gowns by the likes of J. Mendel, Valentino, Lanvin and Elizabeth Fillmore float down the runway.
Here are a few of the fancy frocks:
While I’m still jealous of all of you covering Fashion Week in NYC, this certainly helped take the sting out a bit.
A special thanks to Jesse of Event Creative for hosting us and for the fab design!
Many of you know of my serious obsession with The Elysian. The glamorous boutique hotel has truly nailed every detail.
The hotel’s decor has a classic, refined sophistication while still feeling utterly current and on trend.
The ballroom, albeit frustratingly quaint {read: too small for most of my clients’ weddings}, is elegantly appointed with graphite grey walls, antiqued mirrors and bright white molding.
When it comes to service for overnight guests {countless clients have decided to make The Elysian their wedding weekend home} the attention to detail continues to surpass most any other high end hotel.
The restaurant, Ria, was named best new restaurant, shortly after its opening {and is perfect for an unforgettable post-wedding brunch}. Balsan is a chic place to grab a quick brunch, light supper or late night bites – whether seated at the white marble-topped raw bar or tucked away in an intimate booth.
The staff – from the head valet to the catering managers – is not only pleasant and helpful but genuinely available to assist in relaxed and subtle manner. It seriously feels as though they take pleasure in our every request!
I thought I was intimately familiar with all that the hotel had to offer…that is until the spa and health club director invited me to experience the Elysian Spa. With my schedule packed with appointments, weddings, and paperwork, I can barely find the time to grocery shop, let alone carve out time for indulgent spa time…
But, when the opportunity was presented…I cleared my schedule…immediately.
I like to think that I’ve had exposure to many lovely spas and treatments over the years and would be able to provide constructive feedback, as requested. However, I’m quite certain that my experience at the Elysian Spa could not be beat.
The Spa lobby is glitzy, in a bright and peaceful way. The lounges are fully stocked with items that go well beyond necessity.
The soaking tub is perfect for relaxing before or after your services. The sauna or steam room really do encourage the art of decompressing.
And the services…My massage was quite simply put, The Best I’ve Had.
The Spa staff was approachable, expertly knowledgeable, kind and welcoming.
A visit to the Elysian Spa is perfect for pre-wedding beauty services {treat your girls to mani’s and pedi’s after a light lunch buffet arranged on the private pool deck}, a treat to yourself after a hard week {a major project is finally complete, hooray!}, or a relaxing respite for your over-shopped tootsies {Oak Street is just around the corner…troubs!}.
Just make sure to schedule enough time to take full advantage of all that the serene spa setting has to offer {including darling gifts and beauty products to take home with you!}…then make your way downstairs for a cocktail or the profiteroles!
Melissa and the Elysian Gang – thank you from the bottom of my {wonderfully pampered} heart.
The breathtaking Elysian has been hosting events for less than a mere year, after it’s much anticipated opening last winter. For the countless times I’ve been there – whether for meetings, site visits or a delish dinner – it took until this past weekend to actually host a client event there. The stunning and rich details of the classically current hotel are enough to inspire alone. Marry those qualities with the amazing service staff {from the valet attendants to the waiters} and mouthwatering cuisine and I must say…Chicago has one superior venue – absolutely perfect for anyone’s stylish special event.
Acknowledging and honouring the setting is often my first step when designing a wedding. The Elysians’ varied grey hues, crisp white molding and marble, black chairs and chargers and dazzling crystal detailing proved to be the perfect backdrop for Diana’s chosen color collection. Classic and crisp black and white was highlighted with a varied range of pink tones – ranging from dusty pink champagne to boldly saturated fuchsia. I partnered with my wonderful friend and designer extraordinaire, David Gould of Lush Flowers {he is now also heading up Event Creative’s floral department}. He went above and beyond – as always – focusing on quality, detail and design like no other…
Here are a few images from Diana and Reas’ celebration {ps: they are absolutely head-over-heels-in-love, I’ll have you know!}
Diana carried a gorgeous bouquet composed of insanely fragrant garden roses, ranunculus, anemones and scabiosa. The groom wore a dapper white anemone boutonniere. {David made a second boutonniere, as anemones are quite delicate and may need a swap out mid-day!}
Prior to the ceremony, the couple hosted a brief champagne welcome reception – always a fabulous way to start a celebration! A charming tower was constructed from old fashioned coupes set atop the hotel’s luxe white marbled credenza.
Simple black and white programs awaited guests at their seats. The content highlighted the traditions of their special Jewish ceremony.
The unique {and plentiful} ballroom chandeliers feature a gorgeous, argyle-like pattern that was my inspiration for the aisle treatment…
A glamorous chuppah was custom design and created for Diana and Reas’ wedding. The luxe tufted, upholstered canopy was created in an unexpected oval shape – perfectly sized for the petite ballroom. White fabric panels, edged in black tumbled to the ground, cinched mid-way by fluffy rose tie-backs.
The short aisle was also bordered by flickering candles, perfect for their evening, autumn ceremony.
Guests found simple seating assignments arranged on a table set in the foyer following the ceremony.
When guests re-entered the transformed ballroom to find their seats, they were presented not only with their choice of wine, but with offerings of shots of vodka and cognac – an absolute must for the brides’ Russian Jewish guests. A certain way to ensure a great {if not rowdy!} celebration!
Three varied centerpiece designs were placed on alternating tables around the room. The charming black and white toile linen was a fresh alternative to the {dare I say…overdone?!} damask patterns that were also available. Here, the low centerpiece featured a black lacquered compote hosting a lush, full and tailored collection of varied pink roses and garden roses – subtly accented with dark cotinus foliage.
Black menus were scribed in rich pink calligraphy, allowing guests to start dreaming of the meal, yet to come, as soon as they were seated. A pair of petite rosebuds accented the dark menu, tucked neatly in the corner of each folded napkin.
Table numbers featured Russian characters, another charming detail tailored to the brides’ family and friends.
Ornate black risers hosted sphere-like arrangements, also massed with an abundant collection of roses, garden roses and cotinus.
The bride and grooms’ chairs were highlighted with petite signs secured with thin silk ribbons.
Her gorgeous cake {made by the talented hotel staff!} featured a tufted/quilted texture, similar to their chuppah.
The third centerpiece design was a tall candelabra, hosting graceful, long, thin taper candles and petite vases of coordinating blooms below. I am absolutely mad about the elegant, residential look of their ceilings!
The wedding was simple, beautiful, elegant and sophisticated. And while I’m certain the bride and groom were mesmerized by the beauty of their intimate affair – they really and truly seemed to only have eyes for each other…
All the best to Diana and Reas! Xx.
{image credits} happy couple by dan verson. remaining photos taken by me – stay tuned for more of the professional ones!
