Wedding flowers by Scarlet Petal Florist Chicago, IL

Wedding at The James Hotel

We had a wonderful time this past weekend at the James Hotel.  Our adorable couple (soon to be featured when I receive the professional photos) looked fabulous! The groom and father of the groom duo came dressed in tuxes along with their black converse shoes as a personal touch. The bride looked stunning in her mermaid dress with a gorgeous veil that gracefully draped onto the floor.

The catering manager pulled out all the stops to make their day one for the books. For those who are unaware,  The James Hotel provides pinspotting for free!!!  Each one of our centerpieces were glowing and the room looked fantastic. On a side note, guests of the hotel are extended late check outs til’ 2pm. It’s so nice for guests to be able to sleep in after partying all night!

Here are a few snapshots that I grabbed on the way out. More professional shots to follow…

 

blue hydrangea centerpieces

 

carnation globes in blue dye water

 

wedding cake by cake girls and the bridal bouquet

Last Chance Harvey

I’m such a sap. I went to see Last Chance Harvey tonight with my husband which reaffirmed why I love weddings! I love how weddings create an open platform for family members, friends, and the like to celebrate a joyous occasion regardless of their histories. I love how people look past their vulnerabilities and speak from the heart during their speeches. I love the romance, décor, and festivities that it creates.

The movie went well beyond the obvious of focusing on the bride and groom’s relationship. It conveyed how some families cope with their entrenched histories and the complexities it brings to such a day.

Dustin Hoffman perfectly executes a man past his prime who has run into a bad string of luck. A divorcee who hasn’t seen his ex-wife or daughter in years is invited to attend her wedding in London. While I won’t spoil the movie for you, I will say that regardless of your own family dynamics, you will certainly enjoy the sensitive story shared by theirs.

The flowers designed for the reception scene were beautiful! They used a lush assortment of roses in various shades of ivories and blushes. Hanging amaranthus draped from below to add a romantic and aged flare. Here’s a snapshot of the head table for you to enjoy!

 

Photo: Overture Films

Inaugural Fashion and Flowers

Welcome President Barack Obama! I couldn’t tear myself away from the television on Tuesday. Aside from the inspiring speech which boosted my morale, I enjoyed the fashion and wildly impressive entertainment line-up they had on stage.

Let’s start with Michelle Obama’s attire. A very tasteful and modest lemongrass dress was chosen because it reminded her of sunshine. I think it takes a strong woman to wear lemon yellow in the dead of winter! And check out her creamy, embellished chiffon dress by designer Jason Wu. She looked fabulous!

 

Photo: The Boston Globe

Furthermore, her adorable girls added a splash of color in their custom made J. Crew petticoats. I’m so happy to finally see some individuality coming out of the White House (even if it is in colored clothing).

Photo: NY Daily News

I imagined the commemorative flowers would be some exotic showcase flown in from around the globe. Much to my surprise, they consisted of hydrangea, roses, and delphinium! The arrangements themselves were beautiful, but they really are common, every day flowers. For all of you that are so opposed to roses, remember, our president was honored with them!

Here’s a snapshot of them and a link to the Fox Report interviewing JLB Floral in Alexandria.  According to the description, "The floral arrangements, designed by JLB Floral of Alexandria, Virginia, will feature Red Charlotte roses, Rouge Basier roses, Hot Lady roses, a floribunda rose called Hot Majolica, hydrangea in shades of blues and purples, and light blue delphinium in a footed brass compote.”  I’m inspired! 

Fox News Report

Anna Post Appearance at Williams Sonoma Photos

Today at Williams Sonoma in Oak Brook, I met Anna Post, the author of “Do I have to wear white?” The great, great granddaughter of Emily Post, she presented herself with such poise and grace. It was almost as if I was meeting the original Ms. Post herself.

Ms. Emily Post

 

She was there promoting her book about wedding etiquette and we were asked to accent her sign-in table with our floral décor as well as the event space (very pretty I might add)!

 Ms. Anna Post and Admirer

Ms. Anna Post and Me!

 

The book is a bible of questions and answers that every bride will encounter during their wedding planning phase.

For example, here is a popular one noted on page 23:

Question

My fiancé and I have spent a lot of time dreaming about our wedding day. Now that we’re engaged, we don’t know where to begin planning!

 

Answer

You don’t have to pick the napkin color today, but you do need to make some fundamental decisions. First, establish a budget and a guest list. Then, choose the date – which also means checking on the availability of both the ceremony and reception locations as well as the officiant. Next, determine the overall style of your wedding. At this point, you may also want to consider hiring a wedding consultant.

I definitely recommend this book if you are new to wedding planning (as most are)! Why mess with tradition when it’s at your fingertips? 

 

Bridal Chic at the James Hotel

I’m looking forward to my first wedding of the year at the swanky James Hotel in Chicago.  For those who haven’t been or are looking for an alternative to traditional flare, the James offers a sleek and modern 7,000 square foot special event space that can accommodate up to 220 guests. 

Photo Courtesy of James Hotel

Photo Courtesy of James Hotel

Photo Courtesy of James Hotel

We recommend a monochromatic palette in shades of ivory, robin’s egg blue, or chocolate to really enhance the modern simplicity of the room. Pinspotting your table top is also encouraged to add depth and scale to the space.

The bride of our upcoming wedding has selected a flight of cylinder vases in varying heights, each topped with blue hydrangea. We are dying the water blue, adding extra dimension to the piece. I will post pictures as soon as they become available.

If you’re having a hard time visualizing the suggestions above, invite your friends to stop by Dettagli Weddings and CS Brides' Bridal Chic event at the James Hotel on Monday, January 26^th.  It’s open to all who are in need of inspiration, whether it is gowns, catering, or even lighting, or just a fun night out with friends. Also, introduce yourself to Katie, owner of Dettagli Weddings, if you’re looking for advice on wedding planning. She’s a delight to work with.

Enjoy!

Scenery Scope: Memoirs of a Geisha

For those of you who don’t know, I’m a huge movie buff! Before I had my son, my entertainment was drawn from movies at least once a week. Now, it’s a different story...

Never the less, last night I found myself hypnotized while watching a film called Memoirs of a Geisha. It’s a beautifully complex story about a young girl who was sold by her impoverished father to a Geisha house during World War II. After first being exposed to the film’s stunning imagery back in 2005, I often go back to it for artistic inspiration. I will continue feeding you more romantic imagery through Scenery Scope, so subscribe to this feed if interested in staying abreast.

Here are a few scenes captured on still camera for you to enjoy. With cherry blossom season right around the corner, here is a glimpse of what’s to come…

 

Image Courtesy of allmoviephotos.com

 Image Courtesy of allmoviephotos.com and David James

A Green Nail Spa

Finally, a "green" nail spa on wheels! As I was tasting away at a networking party at the Stan Mansion on Wednesday, I smelled something that resembled a nail salon. My nose lead me straight to Head 2 Toe's table, a go-green nail spa that was giving away free manicures onsite!  

Ladies were all perched around their table chatting while they were being pampered. What's even better, Jenny Perillo, the founder of the spa hand makes all the cosmetic materials from scratch – and from natural and organic products. They even use an all vegan nail polish that is healthy for the environment!

They specialize in weddings and have up to 18 trained professionals to accommodate any sized party. Check them out and stay green!

Bridal Networking Babes

I’m so inspired today! Last night I met for dinner at a cute little restaurant called Treat with a group of women entrepreneurs who are involved in the wedding industry. We have bonded together to share best practices, chat about what’s happening in the industry, and basically see if what we are doing can be done better!

The group is called BNB (a.k.a. Bridal Networking Babes) and consists of vendors commonly hired during the wedding planning process. I really believe we have found the best of the best in Chicago. We all have diverse backgrounds which makes our conversations rich and plentiful.

I wanted to introduce you to the members of the group and fill you in on any news related information as it transpires. More updates to come, so stay tuned.

Bloom Ceremonies   Owner: Pia

If you’re not having a religious ceremony, then you are probably trying to find the right Officiate for your wedding day. Pia is that special person that will take the time to make a tailor-made, authentic, personalized and meaningful ceremony.

 

 

Chicago Avenue Salon    Owner: Cheryl Coulman

Cheryl passionately opened up this hip salon a few years back on her own with one single hired hand answering phones. Today, it has become a booming salon in the heart of Bucktown, known for their consistent support of the Locks of Love organization. They offer a champagne lunch for bridal parties who want to take advantage of the salon. A fun girl’s day out!!

 

 

 

 

    

 

Effortless Events   Owner: Cindy Shanholtz    Consultant: Laura Patterson

This dynamic duo has a history in event planning and fine catering. As professional wedding planners in Chicagoland, they are members of the International Special Events Society (ISES), the Association of Bridal Consultants (ABC), and the local Chamber of Commerce. They will definitely put your mind at ease with their wealth of knowledge!

 

Handmade by Pink   Owners: Holly Mazza and Kelly Messacar

If you are looking for gorgeous invitations look no further!! These girls hand-make their own invitations with the finest paper and presses I’ve ever seen. Kelly is soon to deliver her first baby so congratulate her when you call!! 

 

 

 

Imaginative Studios    Owners: Gina DeConti

Gina is one of the most gifted photographers I’ve met to date. A true photojournalist, she is internationally recognized for her work and has won countless awards. Speaking of babies, she just delivered her first! Congratulations, Gina!!

 

 

 

The Left Bank    Owner: Susan Jablonski

If you feel like venturing off to Paris, but your pocketbook won’t let you, go to The Left Bank right here in Chicago. For over 13 years, Susan has found the most beautiful, French inspired jewelry, accessories and shoes to tempt any bride.  Even if you’re not getting married, it’s a stunning gift shop to visit.

 

 

                      Photo courtesy of Brides Head

 

 

                            Photo courtesy of Brides Head

 

Monogramme Events & Catering   Owner: Melissa Graham

Melissa prides herself on procuring fresh produce and ingredients from local Midwestern growers. In fact, all of her products used are organic and custom made from scratch. Delicious!!!

 

SeeANZ   Owner: Olivia Burns

SeeAnz is a travel agency specializing in vacations to Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, and Fiji. Olivia is straight from “the bush” herself, offering a real ‘indigenous’ perspective on traveling to down under. SeeANZ is a must for those that are looking to travel far for their honeymoon.

 

TipsyCake   Owner and BNB Founder: Naomi Levine

Naomi, originally from Sydney, Australia, has a team of trained artists that dream up the most gorgeous edible creations. A trendy little bakery located in Humbolt Park, don’t let her humble exterior fool you. Go in one day, try her yummy creations, and see for yourself.

 

 

 

  

 

Anna Post Appearance at Williams-Sonoma

When I was planning my own wedding many moons ago, I remember how fun it was registering for wedding gifts. I was like a kid in a candy store with my scanner. I think one of my longest lists came out to 15 pages! I wonder what my guests thought...

If you're in the midst of registering or haven't even begun to scratch the surface, join us for an exclusive event celebrating Anna Post's latest book, Do I Have to Wear White? at Williams-Sonoma on Sunday, January 18th at 10am. Light hors d'oeuvres, cake samples and a special appearance by Anna Post will be there sharing wedding etiquette advice and signing copies of her book.

Link to Event

Illuminate with Hanging Votives, Floating Candles, and Pillars

The calls came flooding in when our hanging votive arrangement was featured in The Knot’s “Real Weddings”.  It was truly a beautiful combination of delicate dendrobium orchids amongst bits of candlelight scattered throughout curly willow branches.

Since then, we have continued to illuminate our arrangements as well as entire rooms with our hanging votives. Recently, the gorgeous cathedral ceilings at Chicago’s Café Brauer were glowing with our individually, hand strung votives. Over 125 votives were suspended across the entire ballroom.

 

Hurricane pillar candles added warmth to the tabletops below along with our shot glass votives.

Our gorgeous stemmed candle holders added elegance to this table setting, expanding the focal of the centerpiece. 

Candlelight is a beautiful accent to any room and there are many options which can be incorporated to reflect your own personal style.