Upcoming April Events

Happy Monday! I know the planning process can be a little daunting, so today's blog will showcase some of the upcoming bridal events for the month of April. Hopefully you'll be able to squeeze one or two into your busy scheduled.


April 2nd - April 3rd
Bride's Aganist Breast Cancer Gown Sale
10am - 6pm
Wyndam Chicago
http://www.bridesaganistbreastcancer.org/
**General sale is FREE


Bridal Expo Chicago
http://www.bridalshowexpo.com/
12pm - 4pm
Limited FREE tickets 847.428.3320 x221 or $10 after promo/$15 at door
April 11th - DoubleTree Hotel, Oak Brook
April 18th - Stonegate Banquets & Conference Center, Hoffman Estates
April 25th - Georgio's Banquets, Orland Park


Complete Wedding Expo Bridal Show
http://www.completeweddingexpo.com/
12pm - 3pm
April 11th - Renaissance O'Hare
April 18th - Crown Plaza Hotel, Glen Ellyn

Remember what I told you in a previous blog, when attending bridal shows...make it easy on yourself. Make labels that you can stick on the vendor info sheets that include: your name, grooms name, wedding date, mailing address, e-mail address and phone number. It'll save your hand!


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/

Tip Top Shapin' It Up!

Monday's blog is for the ladies that want to get in shape before their big day...or just want to start leading a more healthier lifestyle. Learn about the "Bloom & Tone CRAVEparty!!!

CRAVE Chicago will host the “Bloom & Tone CRAVEparty,” a fresh beauty and wellness event hosted by CRAVE Chicago and sponsored by Beauty on Call, Glossed & Found, lululemon athletica and Vitamin Water. This vibrant day of rejuvenation will take place on March 28th (1-6PM) at Architectural Artifacts (4325 N. Ravenswood, in Chicago). A CRAVEparty is an exclusive, glam-gal gathering for fun, entertainment, networking, personal pampering, relaxinʼ and feelin’ good.

The Bloom & Tone CRAVEparty will offer Chicagolandʼs ladies one destination for a fun, beauty and wellness filled afternoon. Upon registering, guests will choose four 30-minute fitness classes to try, from eight options, on March 28th. Options will include a 30-minute session with The Dailey Method or Harmony Mind Body Fitness, for example. Each fitness class will be spaced by 30-minute free-time sessions that will inspire party-goers to indulge in mini-spa services, shop in lululemon athletica’s pop-up store, relax in the CRAVE Cooldown Lounge, engage & learn from a nutritionist, pep-up their wardrobe with a style coach, try delicious & healthy snacks from Starfruit and others…and more!

Tickets are available for $25 at http://thecravecompany.com/chicago/events/bloom-tone-craveparty/ and will not be sold at the door. All guests will receive a complimentary goody bag brimming with goodies and sponsored by lululemon athletica.

Until next time...WEDologize!

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!

You Light Up My Night!

You have probably heard this before..."Lighting, one of the most forgotten design elements of the reception, can transform your space from ordinary to extraordinary". Well I just want to reiterate that point by saying...it's sooooooo TRUE!!!

Uplighting can enhance the atmosphere of any given space. It involves placing lighting fixtures on the ground and focusing them upward and is one of the easiest ways to dress up an event space. It can add color to a neutral surface and can be used to make the room appear taller by accenting any existing vertical lines, and creating new ones. Another function of uplighting is to highlight architectural features of the room such as columns and alcoves.

Personalize your room by having a customized gobo shine. Gobos can range from monograms to personalized design elements that you have personally created. The image can shine on the dance floor or on a backdrop for a more dramatic effect.

Pinspoting is focusing a spotlight directly on your individual table centerpieces or even better, shine a light on the wedding cake or dessert buffet.

Should you not be able to afford a specialty lighting company for your special day, below are a few ways to enhance your space:

• Tons and tons of candles in vases, hurricanes, votive or pillar holders
• Submergeable LED lights that can be placed in water-filled vases
• Clear icicle lights around potted plants, trees or columns, but please use in moderation...you don't want your transformation to be tacky

Until next time...WEDologize!

(photo credits - google.com)

Wish Upon A Wedding

Brides and Grooms, today's blog will focus on a wonderful not-for-profit organization called "Wish Upon a Wedding". When reading the information, think about giving a donation to this wonderful organization on behalf of your guests instead of giving out wedding favors. It would be a GREAT gesture and you would know you blessed another couple...like yourselves...to have a memorable wedding day.

Was founded in San Francisco, CA, in January of 2010, by a group of wedding and business entrepreneurs.

Is America’s FIRST nonprofit wedding wish granting organization, producing weddings and civil union ceremonies at destinations across the United States for individuals facing terminal illness, regardless of sexual orientation.

Boasts twenty chapters nationwide, headed by some of the industry’s most renowned leaders.
Presidents:
Sasha Souza, National
Kevin Covey, LA/Orange County
Stella Inserra, New York
Ivy Robinson, The Carolinas
Eliana Baucicault, Atlanta
Mary Alice Sublett, Tennessee
Heather Hamilton Sims, Houston
Shelby Tuck Horton, DC
Elisa Delgardio, Orlando
Ali Phillips, Chicago
Daniela Fageʹt, Seattle
Other chapters opening soon: Colorado, Arizona, Portland, Miami, St. Louis, Ohio and Nevada.

To qualify for Wishes, applicants must be unmarried legal citizens of the United States, over the age of 18, who have been diagnosed with less than three years to live.

Simply apply online to request one of three wedding types:

URGENT (Up to 10 guests, in hospital or at bedside);

BOUTIQUE (up to 25 guests, in home town of applicant);

ROMANTIC (Up to 50 guests, at any WUW destination)

Wish Granters needed in all locations. Please apply online today to start helping us make Wedding Wishes come true.

Until next time...WEDologize!