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. 

Hitched in Chicago!


The current issue of CS Brides came out earlier this month. We industry folk adore the magazine for all of it’s features – from bridal fashions to haute cuisine to remarkable design, the stylish editors of this glossy mag know more than most about what is fresh and new in Chicago Weddings.

Our wedding announcement was featured in this season’s issue, just in time to celebrate our one year anniversary! Can we do it all again?!

Le Sigh.

{photo credit: gerber and scarpelli photography}

Press Feature – Lauren & Casey

One of my client weddings was featured in the winter issue of Flower Magazine. Working with the oh-so-fabulous and oh-so-fun Marina Birch of Birch Design Studio, we took the client’s dreamy inspiration of the Viceroy Hotel in Santa Monica {showcasing a crisp black, white and bold green color palette repeated throughout the Wearstler designed hotel} and created a design that complimented the Georgian blank slate of the lovely Chicago History Museum.

Because wheels-up wasn’t an option for me – I was unable to ‘research’ the hotel style in person {it’s since been added to my never-ending life to-do list}, I put together just a few images of the luxe Viceroy lair, that I then took into consideration when creating the chic brides floral and decor designs. {see images below}

Marina had a custom pattern and motif created for the couple. One that graced elements from the wedding invitations, custom linens to the menu cards. We used the mostly white linens and graphic black chairs with {then} custom citron green seat cushions to provide the backdrop for a collection of black lacquered vases hosting copious amounts monochromatic green flowers and ferns (a favorite of the bride). {see images below}

The ceremony took place under a custom cabana-inspired canopy, detailed with graphic black trim and a petite chandelier. My talented Botanicals designers also created a chic floral monogram for the bride and grooms’ chairs that denoted the seats of honour. {see images above}
I had a blast taking the Viceroy’s fuse of ‘classic sophistication and contemporary chic’ style and translating it into an equally fabulous wedding design for one of the most lovely couples to date!

{wedding and posting credits} event design: kara at botanicals – a branch of hm design, wedding consultant: marina of birch design studio, event photography: garbo photography, inspiration: the viceroy santa monica, feature: flower magazine

Wedding Trends I – Color Palette

The lovely Hope from Wedtro recently interviewed me about current wedding trends.

In respect to color right now, I’m obsessed with a simple, muted color palette. Warm nudes and neutrals are hot on the runway this season and are hot in wedding design. (Check out this beauty by Donna Karan (pictured), and the collections of Philip Lim 3.1, Catherine Holstien, Rodarte and Calvin Klein this recent fashion week in Bryant Park!)

Stay tuned for more wedding trends…

Press Feature – Rebecca & Gary

My great friend (and proud mama of a new baby boy – (see previous entry!)), Lisa Gia Bascomb of Parties Etc., and I worked together on a late summer wedding. Their wedding is now featured in the current issue of Brides Chicago.

Lisa’s clients, Rebecca and Gary, were simple and laid back and wanted their wedding to reflect themselves, while also lending an urban chic feeling to the setting – all with no fuss. We selected a color palette of crisp, summery apple green and white.

Their Chicago wedding took place at the Museum of Contemporary Art, on the very day of the legendary Chicago Air and Water Show. (Setting up the outdoor ceremony was thrilling as the F-22 Raptors soared overhead!) Here are the images from the exciting feature.

The ceremony took place outdoors, under a gauzy chuppah, composed of layers of white chiffon, cinched mid-way by custom green floral cuffs.

Two alternating centerpiece designs were placed on guest tables around the Museum. One half of the tables featured glass collection style centerpieces. These centerpieces were composed of varied glass geometric vases, positioned symmetrically in the middle of the table. Each vase hosted a mono-floral collection of green or white flowers including open-cut calla lilies, cymbidium orchid blossoms and green button pomps. The remaining guest tables featured a tall, sleek glass vase will an architectural burst of sculptural white calla lilies. The base of these centerpieces hosted a trio of vases, swirled with submerged flax foliage and topped with a floating disk candle, for a romantic glow around the room.

We worked with the outstanding husband-wife dream team Pen Carlson Photography – who shot the absolutely stunningly artful images. Brett and Kiri are one of my latest obsessions. They truly ooze talent (I am constantly inspired by their work). On top of that, they are incredibly lovely to work with. Here are a few more showstoppers taken by the dynamic duo:

I delivered the bridal party flowers to an apartment high in the Hancock Building – check out this brilliant view of the air and water show that the bridal party took in as they were getting fussed and mussed over by hair and make-up.

A shot of the groom – I love the editorial style!

The bride carried a sleek bouquet of open-cut white calla lilies, cut short and collected in double-faced silk ribbon. I absolutely adore this photograph!

The bride and groom arrived on the remarkable summer day. A day brides dream of.

A stolen kiss. The groom wore a coordinating miniature calla lily boutonniere – the perfect selection to compliment the bridal bouquet, but also a great choice as they are a wonderfully hardy blossom that holds up fantastically out of water.

Thanks to Parties Etc. http://www.partiesetcetera.com/, Pen Carlson http://www.pencarlson.com/ and my wonderful Botanicals Staff http://www.botanicalschicago.com/ for all their hard work to make Gary and Rebecca’s wedding day an affair to remember!

Press

The current issue of one of Chicago’s hottest wedding magazines, Chicago Social Brides is on stands now.

I was pleased to find that one of my past client weddings was featured. As I have already talked about this wedding in an older post “Client Inspiration – Movie & Era” where I showcased her Inspiration Board; I will spare some (but not all!) details. Here was the full page spread…

The bride is the owner of one of the trendiest boutiques in the city, She Boutique, and had absolutely no free time – but did feel loads of pressure to fulfill a vision of an uber striking wedding – not to mention the hundreds of expectant guests, all awaiting a smashing display of the brides style. With a bit of simple direction (inspiration from the movie De-Lovely, a white, black and silver color palette and a love for all things sparkly…) I created a current, chic design with a nod to timeless style and charm…worthy of the fashionista herself.

Thanks to Cloud 9 Weddings, and The Drake Hotel – and my amazing Botanicals staff who took care of every last detail of the set-up while I happened to be walking down the aisle myself!

Home for the Holidays

The wonderful Stacey Roney, co-founder of Glossed and Found (the hot new online magazine and newsletter, reporting the most current trends in the fashion, beauty and lifestyle industries) invited Jesse and I to be featured on their website as their lifestyle experts.

Stacey wanted to feature home holiday decor ideas that were easy to create and cost effective. Here are a few of my pointers to help make your home feel like a winter wonderland in no time:

-Fresh fresh fresh!! The use of fresh winter greens inside or outside will add a festive and welcoming aroma for you, your family and any guests. Whether it is a fresh pine garland or more modest wreaths from your local florist or boyscout or even loose clippings from your backyard thrown into an existing vase…the addition of fresh spruce, pine, juniper or cedar will lend a scent no candle can mimic!

-Cloved oranges. Another quick easy way to add a holiday fragrance to your kitchen or home is to take fresh oranges and stud spiced cloves directly into their waxy skin. Showcase the charming creations in a simple bowl on your kitchen island for a cost-effective color burst.

-Current Classics. Don’t waste your money on purchasing new holiday decorations from year to year…Choose pieces that are classic – but that still fit and speak to your personal style. Whether you select a glamorous Winter White theme or a Lodgey Rustic theme – finding key pieces to carry you from year to year is a sure way to allow for a little more $$ for a fancypants new holiday dress!

-Gorgeous Ribbons. As you may or may not know – I am a major ribbon snob…and adding some beautiful double-faced silk or extra-wide patterned ribbons to your home is an easy way to dress up the basics. Tie bundles of birch bark logs with ribbons and place them next to your fireplace. Tie lengths of ribbons around copious amounts of pine-tips on your christmas tree. Loop ribbon tails through your dinning room chairs (no bows!) to gracefully add color to the setting. PS: Tartan plaid may have been hot on the runways this season – but it’s even hotter for home decor!

Check out Glossed and Founds website (http://www.glossedandfound.com/) for the video footage of Jesse and I and the Botanicals Team simply enhancing ones home for the holidays…

Special thanks to Rachel and Stacey of Beauty on Call/Glossed and Found and the wonderful Fig Media crew for shooting the artful footage.

Ho ho ho.