I very much apologize for being absent these days – but I am keeping quite busy balancing a few favorite, final client weddings at Botanicals, photoshoots, meetings, and research with Bliss and…our new puppy!
We adopted illie a few weeks ago and while both Joel and I have always been “dog people” – it is such a different feeling knowing that she is purely ours.
She is a lover, a snuggler and has the absolute most adorable personality.
I am thrilled beyond words to announce that I will be moving on from Botanicals to join forces with one of the cities most respected wedding and event planners – Renny Peterson of Bliss Weddings and Events.
This move will allow me to have so much more involvement in my clients’ visions…I have found that design, details and drama goes well beyond bouquets and centerpieces. With my horticulture background, previous wedding planning experience and event design expertise – I have goosebumps thinking of the fantastic future parties yet to plan.
I have so cherished my years at Botanicals and will miss the entire Botans team on a daily basis. I am sure my clients and I will see plenty of them in the future!
I am inspired and delighted about this natural-next-step for me and couldn’t be more honoured to have joined the acclaimed Renny and the Bliss Weddings and Events team.
A favorite friend, Alex, works with the renowned photo stylist, Noemi Bonazzi. I simply adore the eerie decadence and raw luxury that this photo exudes.
Cristina’s wedding was recently held at The Chicago Cultural Center, one of my absolute favorite venues in Chicago.
Cristina was inspired by natural design, slightly organic in it’s elements and style. She loved the idea of sharing an evening inspired by the sumptuous beauty of Napa Valley with family and friends.
I was immediately inspired by her vision and was thrilled to help pull the visual details of her wedding ceremony and reception together.
The reception took place in Preston Bradley Hall, with the massive east windows overlooking the incredible view of Millennium Park.
Simple champagne colored linens provided a sophisticated neutral backdrop for two centerpiece designs.
Guests were seated at rectangular tables, as opposed to the more expected round tables, allowing for the art of conversation.
The remarkable mosaic detailing is breathtaking. The simple addition of up-lights highlighted the detailed craftsmanship.
The elevated centerpieces were woven with silvery blue fresh olive branch, laden with the seasonal, ripe fruits. The base of the custom-made trees hosted a landscape of knobby roots and grapevine along with fern foliage, dahlias and roses.
Rustic mason jar votive candles dangled from branches adding a gorgeous glow around the room.
Renny hired Frost Lighting to pin-spot each centerpiece, letting the gorgeous designs really stand out when guests entered the room.
The lower centerpieces were designed in custom richly stained wooden rectangular boxes. David Gould (Botanicals head designer and my personal hero!) was the hands-on master that took all of the gorgeous elements that I proposed and created a rolling landscape composed of wood stumps, fresh grapes, hydrangea, dahlias, roses, purple fountain grass and gorgeous gorgeous folaiges including fern plants, woolly lambs ear and dusty miller to name a few. Rich burgundy pillar candles were nestled into the design and flickered just below eye-level.
The wedding was stunning, the couple looked like they were floating on air and Bliss Weddings and Events pulled off another seamless and dreamy affair – thanks for including us!
{photo credits} event images taken by erica barraca
Before the summer air fades – I felt the need to honour one of my favorite beachy brands…Lilly Pulitzer!
Lilly was a fun-loving socialite living the Palm Beach life in the glamorous 1950’s. To pass her time, she initially created a juice stand, taking citrus from her husbands’ citrus groves to sell freshly squeezed juices to passers by. To her frustration, she found that the popular refreshments often led to less-fashionable juice stains.
She set out to create a chic uniform using brightly colored patterned fabrics, to mask any stains – only leading up to an impending fashion frenzy. Her dresses quickly began to outsell her juice. An old school friend, Jackie Kennedy, was photographed wearing one of her designs and the brand took off.
Lilly Pulitzer is more than a simple shift dress…it epitomizes the affluent preppy lifestyle – one I often pretend to live (much to my husbands grumblings)…
I adore some of these classic Lilly prints, along with some unexpected new designs…
A few fun dresses, tops and pants from the current line…
Loving the Lilly accessories…from bags, to shoes, to sunglasses to jewelry – simply too much fun fun fun for us girly girls…
The Lilly lifestyle may inspire you to walk your dog in style, take your husband on a cutie picnic, fashionably file your bills, keep your croquet game times separate from your tennis lessons in your scheduler and even ooze Lilly essence with perfumes or scented candles….
And for the ultimate Lilly lover – don’t miss the limited edition Jeeps, Steinway’s, boardgames, sorority T’s (how could I have passed up the darling DG Tee back in the day?!), and the over-the-top attire for men…
I am so overly tardy on a proper post – I just seem to get busier by the minuet at work, leading to longer hours and allowing much less time for inspiration and writing when away from the studio.
Although I had to peel myself away from my desk last night – I did make time to sneak in a bit of a catch-up with friends for happy hour.
We made our way to The Violet Hour and both drink and decor was enough to demand that I carve out some time to gush.
Although this hushed pre-prohibition inspired lounge opened in summer of 2007, it was just last night that I finally made my way through the unmarked, graffitied wooden doors.
Upon entry, you are thrown into a world of calming design, of muffled conversations and of a modest luxe that allowed me immediately relax. The ornate framed sign requesting all patrons turn off their cellphones made me giddy with ease.
Designed by architect Thomas Schlesser, the decor of The Violet Hour is about so much more than the beautiful furniture and fabrics seen throughout. The space was designed to inspire conversation – more of a salon – with the use of floor to ceiling velvet curtains acting as partitions to add intimacy and privacy for guests.
Even the open rooms are laden with precisely positioned ultra-high wing backed chairs to allow one’s group to feel segregated and secretive.
The lights are so dim that candles are necessary to truly get a sense of the copious pages that are their drinks menu.
As I typically find myself sticking to wine or bubbly over cocktails – I did find myself drawn to one of their creations – the Juliet and Romeo – selected the “third best cocktail in the states” by GQ Magazine.
Not only was I drawn to the charming cocktail coupe/saucer it was served in, the selection of ingredients were not to be passed up: gin, mint and cucumber infused rose water. It was truly one of the most delicious and refreshing cocktails I’ve had.
There has been a steady buzz about the Violet Hour from day one, garnering prestigious claims from Esquire Magazine, calling it “One of the best bars in America” and CondeNast who noted that it is “One of the best bars in the world“. Along with buzz, however friends, comes a wait. This chic scene does not take reservations and works on a first come first serve basis. Both a wonderful pro and a frustrating con; they only let a small number of guests in at a time – to ensure the art of conversation and cocktail is always center stage.
Although there is certainly an aristocratic flair to both the design and essence of The Violet Hour, I found that the staff was quite welcoming and our server, Krista W. was an absolute pleasure.
Whether sneaking away with your amore or celebrating with your besties, the gorgeously glamorous speakeasy The Violet Hour effortlessly impresses.
An absolute favorite client of mine recently had her gorgeous wedding reception at the Peninsula Chicago.
Her late June wedding was a beautiful day that brides daydream about their entire lives.
The charming ceremony was held earlier in the afternoon at St. Clements, situated on a tree-lined street in the heart of Lincoln Park.
Upon arrival at The Peninsula, guests descended the grand staircase and passed through floor to ceiling curtains we added to create a more private, intimate setting for the cocktail hour. The curtains add much drama to the setting, while also framing the beautiful place card display perfectly. Cocktails were held in the foyer outside of the ballroom and on the stunning terrace overlooking the hustling and bustling Gold Coast summer activities.
The cream lamour curtains were held open and cinched with hand-tied bundles of summery flowers including hydrangea, roses and spray roses.
The seating assignments were arranged in a tidy spoke fashion, visually anchored by a collection of beautiful glass vases and compotes hosting varied gatherings of event flowers in muted hues. Varied forms of candlelight looked lovely as the sun began to set later in the evening.
Flowers and elements included open roses, hydrangea, peonies, viburnum, succulents and fresh mosses.
The curtains were closed just before guests were invited to dinner in the Grand Ballroom, to add to the romantic, candlelit feeling. As the sun set later in the evening, the curtains were re-opened revealing stunning city views and night lights.
We did a collection of elevated centerpieces and lower tabletop centerpieces. The lush and tailored garden arrangements were elegant, sophisticated and romantic – fit for Carolyn Rhome herself.
Coordinating flowers were accented by unique foliages including graceful maidenhair fern fronds, velvety broadleaf geranium foliage and muted dusty miller.
The elevated centerpieces will designed atop elegant glass vases – well above guests sightlines. To detail the tabletop, a collection of three vintage glass budvases hosted varied floral gatherings, while a trio of warm amber hurricanes added a twinkle around the room.
The low centerpieces were designed in footed glass compote bowls and hosted equally beautiful gardney arrangements.
The bridesmaids carried adorable bouquets designed with a fluffy base of green hydrangea. Butter yellow, antique pink and warm apricot roses were nestled into the hydrangea for a tailored, rounded bouquet.
Each setting was detailed with a glass beaded charger plate, topped with a folded napkin enhanced with a silk ribbon and a menu card scribed in the perfect shade of matching sage green.
I wish Kate and Mike (and their Hollywood-worthy-good-looks!) a lifetime of happiness! Perhaps they’ll renew their vows next year with an equally smashing celebration!
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?!
A recent client of mine had her beautiful wedding ceremony and reception at the Chicago History Museum. The ceremony took place outside on the 90+ degree day, squeezed in between spurts of cooling drizzle and rumbles of thunder.
The simple and elegant ceremony was positioned on the terrace of CHM, a custom wrought iron arch created the frame for the bride and groom, laden with apricot and sage green colored flowers and foliages to visually pop against the verdant green backdrop.
A custom runner was pre-laid and secured, while the aisle was noted by simple graphic pomanders composed of green button pomps, suspended by chocolate double-faced silk ribbon loops.
The couples pooches were the stars of the ceremony, standing in as ring-pups. I made adorable floral pillows that were secured on foliage garlands and tied around the pooches’ necks.
The reception took place inside, safe from any weather issues. A world of sage green, apricot and chocolate greeted guests. Copious amounts of polished wood containers and artful manzanita branches were detailed with sage green hydrangea, cutie chocolate brown cosmos and a few varieties of open apricot colored roses and spray roses.
The bride and groom were gorgeous and seemed as if they were floating on air as their careful planning paid off in the form of their dream affair.
{photo credits: bride and groom recessing + pooch picture by elegant videos by kris; remaining photos compliments of erica barraca}