Real Wedding: Amaka and Hugh

On an sunny, gorgeous Saturday in September 2013, Amaka and Hugh were married in front of their family and friends on the beautiful campus of Loyola University Chicago.  The wedding color palette was tangerine, apple red and purple and balanced nicely off Lake Michigan and the amazing Chicago skyline.  Take a look at some of the wonderful photos of this wedding:

Gorgeous bride in her Enzoani wedding gown

Beautiful bride and her bridesmaids...two of which are her sisters

The groom's first glimpse of his soon-to-be Mrs. in the lobby of the Dana Hotel

Lake Michigan was the backdrop to this beautiful ceremony
on the Loyola University Chicago campus.
Bouquets by Juliet Tan Floral Design

Professional photography captured by
Rush Event Photography & Video Productions

Bouquets by Juliet Tan Floral Design

Custom designed escort cards by CT Designs, Inc.

The 95-person reception took place at Palm Court at Loyola University Chicago.
The reception decor was provided by Tablescapes Chicago, BBJ Linens and Rosemary's Garden

The Mr. & Mrs. First Dance to the sounds of DJ John Young

And they lived happily ever after...

You can also find this Real Wedding in the latest edition of
Wedding Guide Chicago

Until next time...WEDologize!

Escort Card Table Prettiness!

Today's blog is sharing some of the gorgeous escort card tables we have designed for our clients over the last couple of years using amazing card stock, digital calligraphy or hand calligraphy.  The cards have been placed on lush linens with a punch of florals and candles.  Take a look:

Please understand, escort cards are the cards that guest pick up BEFORE they take their seat at your reception.  The escort card will show their first name, last name, table number and entree selection.  A place card is a card that already is at the guest's place setting.  It will show the guest's first name, last name and entree selection.

Until next time...WEDologize!

(photo credits - www.rushphotovideo.com; www.vsphoto.com; www.kellybramanphotography.com; www.imphoto.net)

CSW Real Wedding: Niki and Dion

The DE Team is so excited to share the Real Wedding of Nikkol Palmer and Dion Turley featured under the Vendor Spotlight in Chicago Style Weddings.  I was delighted when the lovely Niki hired Dejanae Events to plan her and Dion's September wedding.  But what was most exciting was their color palette of Tiffany blue, apple red and white.  Take look at how it all came together at Flossmoor Country Club:

Below are some addtional photos of thise gorgeous wedding color scheme:

Until next time...WEDologize!

(photo credits - Rush Event Photography and Video Productions)

I Made It To Your Wedding! Thanks for the Map!

 

I truly believe it's always a nice addition to provide your guests with directions to the ceremony and from the ceremony to the reception. This information can be placed on your wedding website along with hotel accommodation information. Or should you make welcome bags or baskets for out-of-town guests, consider adding a map along with things to do in the city over the weekend. The map can also be an enclosure with your invitation ensemble or given to guests as they are departing the wedding ceremony.

When creating this type of information, you have to decide do you want an actual map showing a compass, highways and landmarks, or do you want to only use text on the map. I'm actually very fond of using both. I think a drawn map looks so lovely mixed in with the wedding invitation attachments. Then I love the idea of the guests receiving a map after the ceremony by a hostess or usher.

Until next time...WEDologize!

(photo credits: CT Designs; Paper Charm Designs)

...I Found It, You Pin It...Friday!

Today's PIN IT PIC is actually none other than MY design!  I'm excited to share one of the photographs taken of my design featured in Chicago Style Weddings magazine called, "Refreshingly Simple".  What makes this photo such  a WOW FACTOR look is not the vibrant colors of aqua and lemon yellow.  Not even the modern approach the the stationery on the uniquely positioned napkin.  But the small details of adding a rock candy sucker and a ranaculus to the plate!  It's those tiny DETAILS that guests enjoy and really get excited about! Enjoy!

Until next time...PIN IT and WEDologize!

(Photography by Yaneck Wasiek, Wasio Photography, wasiophotography.com; menu card by www.CT-Designs.com; linens, flatware, etc. by www.ClassicPartyRentals.com)

10 Years In The Biz!!!

Sorry, but I took a brief hiatus to continue planning and then hosting the Dejanae Events 10th year in the business celebration. I've posted pictures on Facebook, but I decided as a tribute and a way of saying thanks, that I wanted to share with you the fabulous vendors that assisted me with the celebration.

On Friday, April 23rd, over 80 family, friends and colleagues came out to celebrate at Ven Sherrod's Photography studio from 6-9pm. Check out Ven's website at http://www.vsphoto.com/ to learn of his loft studio space for your rental needs. But also view his portfolio to see one of Chicago's premier photographers awesome work. The photos provided in this blog (well most of them :) were taken by him and are much appreciated. Thanks Ven!

During the week of the celebration, I launched the newly redesigned website and logo (well actually that was debuted in February) for the world the see. I have to give thanks to Christy Toney of CT Designs for all her hard and generous work for bringing the Dejanae Events look to life. Check her out at http://www.ct-designs.com/ as this custom invitation designer and calligraphist stands out above the rest.

In addition to his fabulous toast to me, LeVern Danley, owner of LAD4 Creations, made a wonderful video clip of several of the weddings we have worked together on over the years. LeVern is such a professional in the business and can be found at http://www.lad4creations.com/. Check him out for media services because his service is impeccable!

Now I received so many compliments on the food and bar menu and I owe thanks to 4 Generations Catering for creating such a swank menu and providing awesome service!! Tiffany Fulton's talents should be announced to the world! Check her company out at http://www.cooking4generations.com/. Oh and can I tell you, she set up a wonderful display of Buffalo Chicken Meatballs, Vegetable Skewers, Whole Grilled Chicken Wings and Fruit and Cheese Kabobs! And Terisita, the bartender-extraordinaire, finished off with the "Deja-Tini"...a martini of vodka, pomegranate and blue raspberry fruit juice infusions and a green grape for color. Want a professional and lovely-spirited bartender, reach out to her at katiemae2@comcast.com. One of the largest rental companies, if not the largest, Classic Party Rental provided the cabaret tables, hiboys and walnut wood folding chairs. Their detailed site can be found at http://www.classicpartyrental.com/. The tables were draped by a lovely designer that I just recently met - Enchanting Events Created by Angie. With her use of purple and sage green, she brought the business colors to life and totally rocked the space! E-mail Angie at amoten2@yahoo.com for a list of all her services.

The live entertainment was provided by The Chris Greene Duo and although I literally just meet him the evening before the event (don't ask :), he was so professional and my guests LOVED his music. What a wonderful musician! Check him out at http://www.chrisgreenejazz.com/. And I can never forget the DJ, that although he could not attend due to a previous engagement, made some CD's of my favorite songs to pipe through the surround after the musicians departed. DJ Bo rocks and you can find him on Facebook/DJBo.

Last, but never least, I have to give a big shout out and many, many thanks to Bob, the owner of Rosemary's Garden, for the 10+ dramatic centerpieces he created for my cocktail party. Using hydrangea, calla lilies, roses, irises, dendrobium and cymbidium orchids...just to name a few... literally brought me to tears. High, low and submerged floral arrangements simply completed the elegant look I was hoping for. Check out Rosemary's Garden at http://www.rosemarysgardenbridal.com/ and tell him Desiree' sent you.

Once again thanks to the talented vendors who assisted in making this milestone such a success! I could not have done it without you and I'm so very thankful for each of you!!!

Until next time...WEDologize!

Say It Nicely...

When preparing your invitation ensemble and the wording to excite your guests about the upcoming nuptials, there are some things you should pay close attention to:

If there are parental contributions, be respectful and discuss the invitation verbiage with your parents. The norm use to be that the bride's parents were the hosts of the wedding and reception and therefore, their names appeared on the invitation. Not always the case anymore. The groom's parents my be contributors or the bride and groom might be funding the nuptials themselves.

Listing your registry information or stating to your guests that you only want monetary gifts (wishing well) within your invitation ensemble is poor etiquette. That type of information can be expressed verbally through parents, bridal party members, or list it on your wedding website.

Mail your invitations at minimum 8 weeks before your wedding date with the respond date listed 2-3 weeks before the wedding date. This will allow enough time to get those infamous seating arrangements together.

Spell out all dates, times and places on the wedding invitations. Example - Saturday, May twenty-ninth, Two thousand and ten, Four-thrity in the afternoon, Swissotel Chicago.

If you are not inviting children to the wedding reception, it is appropriate to say "Adult Reception" or address the invitation to the parents only - "Mr. & Mrs. Doug Johnson" instead of "Johnson Family".

It's a thoughtful gesture to allow single individuals to bring a guest by stating "Miss Brenda Douglas and Guest", but if you can't afford the additional plate, don't sweat it...invite just Brenda.

Until next time...WEDologize!

Photo credit - http://www.ct-designs.com/

Who's Invited?

I simply love wedding invitations...and cake (but that's for another blog). These stationary lovelies are the announcement of your wedding day celebration and actually give the guests some information on the style wedding you are having. The style paper you select will denote the formality of the wedding. Rich elegant stationary with lavish embellishments surely reads a formal affair verses a light-weight cardstock could announce a more informal affair.

In creating your invitation suite, there are three main components to include:

1. The actual wedding invitation stating when, where and time of the wedding ceremony.


2. The reception card stating where and what time the wedding reception will take place. This card can be eliminated if the ceremony and reception are in the same location.


3. The reply set asks the guests to list there name and the number of those attending the reception and is mailed back to the Bride, Mother of the Bride or wedding coordinator. Meal selection or dietary needs may also be noted on the reply card.

In addition to the invitation suite, you also might include an accommodation card, direction card or a list of activities going on wedding-weekend.

Check out a few of the wonderful invitations created by Christy Toney, Owner of CT-Designs, Inc. (http://www.ct-designs.com/). She is true to creating the complete invitation suite!

On Thursday, we'll address the invitation text and etiquette.

Until next time...WEDologize!