As I am currently crusin’ from island to island in the Caribbean, I had to pop into the internet cafe to wish you all a smashing New Years – I so hope 2010 is your absolute most beautiful and inspiring year yet!
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…?
Off to one of my all-time favorite clients’ festive wedding…
Meg and Josh are getting married at the incredibly charming St. James Lutheran Church, with the reception at the iconic Drake Hotel on this snowy, romantic, wintry day. I wish them the very best life has to offer!
Here are a just a couple of snowy images to inspire…
{photo credits} happy couple taken in front of the drake hotel by the talented kristin kasperek of iklikphoto. winter wonderland with red umbrella from caleum. pine trees getty images. cutie red bow from kleine diva in paris. twinkly lights from harpy. snowy scene from jung n freud.
While my husband has a problem finding proper sunglasses because his “lashes are too long” and therefore rub up against the lens, I certainly Do Not.
We’ve all seen the enticing commercial with a dancing Brooke Shields claiming that Latisse will help with your less-than-adequate lashes.
No need for a doc’s direction any longer! My mother-in-law recently asked if her lashes looked longer…and without a second glance I could not believe my eyes. It looked like she had one of my Beauty On Call girls over earlier to help her with a fabulous pair of falsies! Only she did not…
Within a day I had a petite little tube of NeuLash, all to myself, courtesy of my generous MIL! NeuLash is an ‘innovative lash enhancement serum’ that promotes fullness and growth – found at one of my favorite stores {and without a perscription}…Neiman Marcus. I’ve been using it for a few weeks – the simple liquid-liner-esq application is a breeze. My fingers are crossed that I will have beautiful bat-worthy lashes half as fabulous as my mother-in-laws soon enough!
So ladies, whether you are prepping for your big day or simply sick of the endless hunt for the ‘perfect mascara’ – pop over to Saks or Neimans for your own batch!
My partner in crime {inspiration and style} Renny Pedersen – founder of Bliss Weddings and Events – also has loads to be thankful for this year, as she recently welcomed her second child, a sweet baby girl called Ella Renny into the world.
Sincerest congratulations to your gorgeous family, Renny!
One of my favorite holidays is upon us. Although the tradition has shifted a bit for me over the past few years as we now kiss chilly Chicago goodbye to visit my husbands grandparents in FL, I still appreciate {and very much miss} the harvesty, familial essence this day exudes.
Today, more than most, we reflect on what’s important. On what we love, what we cherish. I have so much to be thankful for this year: as always THE most important is my family, the love and friendship we share is mind blowing. I’m also grateful for my other lovely friendships that continue to grow and strengthen as the weeks and years go by. I adore {and miss!} our gorgeous pooch, Illiebelle. I’m still giddy with excitement about the shift in my planning and design career with Bliss and am already obsessed with my new clients! I’m grateful for my stylish neighbors in the blogging community, who continue to inspire me and keep us all fresh and focused. Gosh, I’m thankful for so many things; I could write an entry each day for a year and not even scratch the surface…
And so, while I sit poolside under a canopy of rustling palms, I share a few images that represent a more traditional Thanksgiving scene:
No floral design skills needed! A simple basket with an abundant mound of fresh pears, winter greens and glamorous gold-painted magnolia leaves.
There are countless tablescapes that can be arranged without the use of flowers. I adore the varied varieties of richly hued grapes used in different containers spaced down the table.
Love the raw, worn table with the glitzy golden turkeys.
The simplicity of a crisp white tablecloth provides a fresh backdrop for simple monofloral collections of varied autumnally hued roses.
A simple vase of pheasant feathers can create an unexpectedly seasonal setting.
I so hope you have a day filled with love and appreciation. Happy Thanksgiving Day!! Xx
{photo credits} pheasant feather centerpiece from {sniff sniff} domino magazine, fall trees from digital picture zone, remaining tablescapes courtesy of martha stewart
Although the dreamy week has come to and end, and most of us are working our ways back to reality, the happy newlyweds are realizing that the lifetime of fun has truly just begun.
The bride and groom hired respected California photographer Jay Reilly to shoot the wedding. Jay was a true pleasure to work with and I found that many of his artful images were so stunning, I had to share.
{image credits} all images by fabulous photog jay reilly
Our best friends Eric and Annie are getting married later this week, here in sunny Mexico. {You may remember my posts after A+E got engaged as they tried to decide between an urban autumn wedding or a dreamy tropical destination event.}
Needless to say sun, fun and margaritas won out. We, as guests, much appreciate this decision – as the weather and sunset are more than remarkable!
A toast to our besties: We are so excited to celebrate the absolute perfect match that you two are. Salud and safe travels!
{photo credit} happy couple courtesy of martha stewart