Three…Two…One! Real Wedding: Emma & Tom

The newest issue of CS Brides {the Chicago Brides’ go-to for all things dreamy in the local wedding world} is out!  I was thrilled to have a favorite client wedding featured on their glossy pages.
The incredibly romantic wedding of gorgeous young couple Emma and Tom was too much fun to plan!  The couple came to me in the very earliest stage of planning…post engagement.  They had been to very few weddings, weren’t quite sure about colors and stylings and wanted a partner to help shape their New Years Eve wedding vision into something romantic, formal, wintry, festive and current…

{haha}
I had such a wonderful time working with the blissfully happy couple {and the brides’ incredibly fabulous mother} that I wanted to share a bit more about their day.    
I started playing with a few color combinations to get conversations going.  With only mere deliberation, we landed on a palette of creams, greys, dusty blush and golds.  Here was the inspiration board I created to use as a planning tool throughout the process.
After quite the hunt, the couple fell in love with an intimate private club, The Racquet Club of Chicago, and thought it was the perfect location for their winter wedding.  The club has such a charming, residential feel – absolutely perfect for the intimate guest count of 100.
Beautiful boxes bound in grey velvet ribbons awaited guests that traveled from near {the brides’ dearest friends and family were from Indiana} and afar {quite the trip for the grooms’ friends and family who traveled from England}.  The boxes contained indulgent treats hand-picked by the couple including a bottle of Veuve Clicquot, Garretts Popcorn, Luna Bars, nuts, mints and much much much more…
 The bride wore a dramatic full gown by Vera Wang and her ladies wore Jenny Yoo in a gorgeous slate grey {my favorite alternative to black}.  The brides’ bouquet was inspired by the bouquet her mother carried years ago and was composed of individual white phalaenopsis orchid blossoms.  Her bridesmaids had petite bouquets of cream garden roses, dusty pink lisianthus, velvety grey dusty miller and subtle hints of winter green.  
The groom, wanting to dress as a proper Englishman, wore tails.
We arranged for the couple to have their first meeting in the charming and intimate library of the private club where the wedding ceremony and reception took place.
The ceremony was held in the card room at the Club.  My dear friend and fabulous designer, Jesse Deckard of Event Creative, took care of all floral, lighting and decor.  Here, Jesse’s staff custom built a shelving unit to perfectly slip into the window frame, allowing us to display copious amounts of candles to provide the romantic evening ceremony backdrop.
The couple floated on air, as they recessed as husband and wife.
Both the cocktail hour and dancing took place in the living room, walls of windows overlooking the gorgeous Gold Coast residential street.
The dining room featured two exaggerated, long tables, each set for 50.  The heavy beams above were cascading with suspended candles, twinkling above guests as they dined.  

The tables were dressed in grey damask linens and topped with countless candles and floral arrangements in containers ranging from cut crystal and vintage silver to white peeling birch bark.  Florals included a creme collection of hydrangea, garden roses and orchids, subtly accented with dusty pink pepper berry and lisianthus, bleached peacock feathers and snow-tipped pine cones.
 Unique flocked succulents adorned the tabletop, with worn votive cups flickering in the backdrop.
Because there were only two tables from which to assign guests their seats, we had each menu card hand calligraphied with each guests’ name.  Guests were encouraged to wander the room, taking in the insanely gorgeous setting, as they found their seats.  

Charming signs reminded the couple of their location.
The main bar was set in the library after the couples’ first meeting.  Jesse custom designed this bar to look as if it was a piece of furniture – perfectly fit for the charming setting.
A gorgeous and indulgent spread awaited guests after dinner, set in front of the fabulous trophy case.  Cupcakes were from Sweet Mandy Bs, petite fours, home made marshmallows, macarons and a croquembouche were done by Vanille Patisserie… and that only supplemented the heaps of candies I also arranged for!
Following a loving toast from the groom, waiters passed out flutes of champagne and individual packs of golden confetti.  As the clock struck twelve, everyone celebrated to a rowdy version of old lang syne {a decidedly English tradition}.
This young couple is simply mad about one another.  Their will be no secrete to their success – they’ll always have each other {and the memories of their fantastic affair on New Years Eve!}
{event credits}  all coordination and event styling by bliss weddings and events.  photo and video by studio this is.  floral, decor, lighting and custom props by event creative.  music and entertainment by bill pollack orchestra.  all printables from invitations to signage by cheree berry.  rentals by tablescapes.  linens by bbj.