Jazziest of Fourths

I hope you enjoyed your holiday weekend!  Mine was absolutely perfect – packed with family, friends, fireworks and so so SO much fun!
I’m excited to share some photos from our Bliss 4th of July Celebration!  All of the photos [shot by the adorable Katie from Studio This Is] are featured  here, where you can also read a bit more about our inspiration…but I wanted to share a few of my personal favorites:
As I described in the feature on Strictly Weddings, we wanted our 4th of July celebration to ooze with glamour and have an ultra fancypants feel.  Sequins [along with our stripes]!!  So we decided to host the evening on the rooftop of Katie’s home – under the stars, with jazz in the background, the skyline in the foreground and plenty of fun – all loosely inspired by the allure of the Golden Twenties.
Our single dining table was dressed in a dazzling rose gold sequin linen, layered with place-settings of gold, personalized placards featured each guests’ silhouette in gold foil and a rich navy box was  mounded with dozens of the most beautiful Red Charm peonies I could have ever daydreamt of. 
Martini’s and bubbly, for the most indecisive guest!
 Cheers!
The most richly-hued [and deliciously-tart] cherries, ever!
A sparkler bar to illuminate the night after the golden sun melted past the horizon.
Katie and I can never. shut. up.
We Bliss Belles and Beau always love a fun party game!  Here we tried to match the preferred cocktail to each appropriate person.
Dinnertime!
And the evening continued waay past all of our bedtimes…but we simply couldn’t have it any other way!

Press Feature! CS Brides Photo Shoot

Perhaps you’ve scoured the pages of the newest issue of CS Brides and noticed the humbling presence of Bliss!  If not – you must check it out!  If you’re unable to get your hands on a hard copy, check out the digital edition here!
One of my favorite projects of this year was a photoshoot that the editors of CS asked us to be a part of. The challenge was to put together a celebratory scene using the colors blood orange and tangerine.  The interpretations among the three planners were pretty fun to see!
While I’m still waiting for heaps more photos from the shoot, I wanted to share the few I have.  Check out the feature here on page 170!
  The late spring day was spectacular!  When approached to be involved, we immediately claimed my favorite little locale – Ava Terrace at Public.
The beautiful vintage china, flatware and glassware was from a favorite new vendor, Small Masterpiece, who flew in from LA for our shoot.
The embroidery was done by preppy monograming haven, Monograms on Webster.
The pretty printables were provided by Laura of Elizabeth Grace.
The stunning florals, table, chairs and so so much more were provided by design darling, Jesse Deckard of Event Creative.
The fun bar cart and drinks decanters were on loan from local favorite The Painted Lady.
Hoping to be able to share even more incredible images in the near future, because this simply won’t cut it!

Photo Shoot: Pullman Barn Autumn Engagement Party

I’m thrilled to finally share the gorgeous pictures of the photo shoot Renny and I designed this fall.  It was featured on Style Me Pretty‘s national site yesterday, but here are some of the pretty pic’s for your viewing pleasure, all shot by Stevi and Matt of Averyhouse.
With the idea of producing a fanciful collection of parties that follow the progression of wedding-related celebrations a couple encounters throughout their engagement, Renny and I decided to take readers on a year-long journey with a dreamy faux couple, we’re calling Charlotte and William, joining them from fete to fete.

And so, we start with the engagement party thrown by our couple’s best friend.  And here’s our story…
 After getting engaged at the end of summer, the couple’s friends decided to plan the engagement party for late fall and hosted it at a charming new venue on the property of the Chicago Botanic Garden:  Pullman Barn.
 Set-up just outside of the barn was a darling (and delicious) muddling bar, featuring all sorts of goodies  for a one of a kind concoction, upon guests arrival. 
Muddle while you cuddle

 Inside the intimate barn, guests found their seats with the aid of individually labeled gift baskets, doubling as place cards.

 The gift baskets were themed “For a Lazy Sunday Morning” and included items intended to be much appreciated after a late night of celebration.  Each was packed with a thermos ready for hot cider (just add water), fresh scones and apple-honey butter, super strong coffee, a seriously cozy blanket and crisp,  fresh apples.
 The rustic picnic tables were dressed with comfy cushions and a beautiful tablescape of silver, gold and amber vessels hosting bold pops of coral, peach and navy.

 A garland of golden foliage hung overhead, while candles danced below.
Heirloom flatware and lace-cut dinner plates were used for the family-style feast.
 A new obsession of mine…custom placemats were paired with napkin rings printed with the parties’ date, all designed by Cheree Berry Paper.
  Fluffy peonies, open roses, seasonal ilex berries, concord grapes and autumn foliage were artfully arranged by floral goddess, Cornelia McNamara.
After dinner, guests were encouraged to relax and enjoy the setting.  Whimsical games included golden apple croquet…
Customized mad-libs about the couple later read around the fire.
Talk about indulgent!
And what outdoor party is complete without s’mores!
The beautiful spread included sweet items like cider-spiced donuts, gourmet grahams, home made marshmallows and salted caramels, fresh herbs and savory items like cheeses paired with delicious crackers and fresh honeycomb.  Guests paired their treats with cider or cordials.
The firepit was enhanced with cushions, pillows and throws for a cozy, lazy evening.

The coral, camel/gold and navy palette was seasonally appropriate, while proving to be unexpected and fresh.

For all photos, click here.

We’ll be glad to share more of Charlotte and William’s parties throughout the year!

(dreamy vendor credits:)  concept, color, prop and set design by bliss.  all photography by averyhouse.  floral styling by cornelia mcnamara.  printables by cheree berry.  setting and tables compliments of the chicago botanic garden.  Rentals provided by tablescapes.

Style Me Pretty National Feature!

Bliss LOVES Style Me Pretty!  {Alright, let’s be real…who doesn’t!?}
The deliciously decadent photoshoot Renny and I did this spring with Studio This Is and Event Creative is featured here on Style Me Pretty’s national site!  Here are just a few of the photos from the feature.  
{For previous entries about the shoot and it’s conception and production – click here and here and here and here!}

{I may have been the phantom stylist that took care of that ‘perfect bite’}
{image credits} all photos shot by studio this is and taken from style me pretty

The Fairytale…

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.

{shoot credits} all photographs and creative direction by studio this is.  styling and coordination by bliss weddings and events.  floral, event, prop, lighting design by event creative.  venue the grainger ballroom at the symphony center.  wardrobe by belle vie bridal couture.  make-up by rachel reiman.  hair by ashley condron.

Too Cute Engagement Shoot!

An absolute favorite couple of mine, Emma and Tom, just recently had their engagement shoot with their dreamy photographer Jeremy of Studio This Is.  The pictures were too cute for words and I needed to share a few from the fun, whimsical afternoon…
After a relaxing afternoon in the sun, Emma and Tom decided to move inside for a little paint project…

We are planning their wedding for this New Year’s Eve {as you can see!}.  The wedding is going to be an absolute stunner from start to finish as their wintry black-tie affair will be laden with special details to reflect their spot-on style and fantastic taste, the grooms’ classic English heritage and the bride’s love of all things charming and fashionable.  The wedding will be held at a private club in the Gold Coast with decor designed to make guests drool, cuisine paired with cocktails dreamed up by family friend and the head chef of The Club – all with the true focus on family, friends and the undeniable love shared between Emma and Tom.

We’ll be certain to share the end result early next year, but until then…you’ll just have to wait!

{image credits}  all images property of studio this is  

With Style and Grace…

One of my absolute favorite wedding publications, Grace Ormonde Wedding Style, approached me to do another photo shoot for their gorgeous, glossy pages. Alongside my partner in crime, Jesse, we created a dreamy setting in the wine cellar of the Park Hyatt’s NOMI.

We wanted to create a scene that was lavish and opulent, yet rustic and warm. We wanted it to feel like a fancypants dinner party, set atop a clients’ kitchen island…an intimate group of best friends sipping their favorite vintage and indulging in fare fit for royalty.
Jesse and I created a chandelier from naturally shed antlers that dangled overhead. We used rawhides as the velvety accent linens, enhancing the naturally gorgeous marble tabletop. We selected an eclectic collection of vessels to host bundles of golden yellow and amber toned flowers and elements such as mokara and cymbidium orchids, yellow miniature calla lilies, sandy-backed magnolia foliage and pincushion proteas. Glistening gold-rimmed stemware and worn wooden charger plates created an interesting juxtaposition of textures and styles – all further enhanced by varied forms of flickering candlelight.

Thanks for the opportunity, Grace, as the only Chicago-featured design firm – I’m honoured to be a part of such style!