Real Midwest Weddings

Real Ohio Wedding: Erika & Tony (Part 3)

Real Midwest Weddings -- March 8th, 2010 -- 8:25 pm

Erika & Tony’s wedding reception with a cake that makes my heart skip a beat…the intricacy of the decoration looks like fine porcelain—pure artistry!

“The Schindler Banquet Center was about a five minute walk across campus from the chapel and is where we held our reception immediately following the ceremony. We absolutely loved this elegant room with its tall open arches and ballroom feel. Anna Davis was our event coordinator, and she was absolutely amazing—I would recommend her over and over again!”

“The reception table centerpieces were alternating floral arrangements and small guest-sized cakes. The guest cakes were done by Cakes by Jerri Deeter. The three flavors we chose were dark chocolate, white almond, and spice, with the flavors alternating from table to table. Each cake was topped with real miniature pears brushed in edible gold paint. Jerri also did our wedding cake, and it was perfectly romantic with its delicate lattice pattern and leaf motif which varied in design on each tier and was separated by strings of piped dots. I especially loved the way the combination of satin and lace ribbons tied around the pedestal of the stand mimicked the cake’s intricate detailing.” Isn’t the pear detail so lovely? And the guest cakes, and the wedding cake piping…it’s all so beautiful!

“Another merry moment for us was when we lifted our toasting glasses after cutting the cake, and Tony realized that we were about to drink… milk! He loves milk, and a few months earlier he was lamenting the thought of champagne—he was convinced milk would be a far greater accompaniment with cake. After a few sneaky arrangements made with the wedding coordinator, he got his wish! The toasting glasses were a matching pair of tall antique gold teacups instead of clear glasses, so it wasn’t obvious that they held milk until just before we took a sip. The look on his face was priceless!”

“We asked some of my close friends who weren’t in the bridal party to be a part of the day by serving cake at the reception, and the fabric flower ornaments they wore were made by two very dear friends, Sara Deaton and Kristen Brubaker. The corsages were sewn from various fabrics which were all swatches from the dresses worn by the bridesmaids, little girls, and cake servers. The most special handcrafted fabric corsages were those worn by the mothers of the bride and groom, as they were sewn from the same fabric used for my wedding gown.”

Erika had the most poetic advice: “The details are fun, and for a perfectionist like me, important. However, the moment you sense the details are taking over your planning and are beginning to consume your life—step back, breathe deeply, and remember that planning details wouldn’t be a reality if it wasn’t for the fact that the man you love has asked you to spend a lifetime with him. When the anticipated day comes, the excitement of pledging your vows will overshadow all else.”

“Start as early as possible with your plans, and be sure to enlist the help of friends and family in adding the unique and creative touches—you will be surprised by the hidden talents that many of them have in different areas, and they truly will be delighted to be included in your special day. Above all, as everyone told me over and over again—enjoy it, and have fun! Once in a lifetime moments are beautiful, and flee so quickly into the world of sweet nostalgia.”

Complete sweetness, yes! We’re so grateful, Erika & Tony, to have had the chance to share your wedding—thank you! Warmest wishes for your life together—may every day be as beautiful as this one!

comments 1 posted -- write a comment

Real Ohio Wedding: Erika & Tony (Part 2)

Real Midwest Weddings -- March 8th, 2010 -- 11:20 am

More from Erika & Tony’s Ohio wedding…oh, the ceremony, beautiful!

“Our ceremony was held at the Collier Chapel. Built in 1873, the chapel still boasts of the original candle-operated chandeliers (electrified in 1928) and stained-glass windows. We were so excited to vow our hearts to each other in this beautiful little church house!”

“Our ceremony included a thirty minute worship service and a prayer before we pledged our vows, and many of the musical pieces performed by the pianist as well as those sung by the a capella vocalist group were praise songs and old hymns. Later on, toward the end of the reception, just before we dashed out to our get-away car, we had a short, informal devotion time with all the guests gathered around us and giving us a parting blessing on our brand new life together. It was a beautiful day of celebrating our marriage covenant; one that still brings tears to my eyes just recalling it!”

“I cannot say enough of Branton Hoblit Photography. As an old friend, we had a wonderful time hanging out and being completely ourselves, but more importantly as a photographer, he did a phenomenal job working as our eyes to capture not only our own emotion and feeling, but also those of our treasured families and friends. The soul and expression of our photos illustrates a depth that serves as a visual storybook to read for the rest of our lives.”

“I always loved the idea of walking down an aisle covered by flower petals, and wasn’t willing to depend on little flower girls to scatter enough flowers in their few nervous moments down the aisle. Instead, we dubbed the little girls ‘bell ringers,’ and they carried vintage gold bells shaped as pears. It was adorable to see them softly ringing their bells as they held hands with each other, and the aisle swathed in hydrangea petals was perfect!”

We asked Erika about her favorite parts of the day: “Tony and I have talked about this—by far the most meaningful moment for both of us was the moment I walked up the aisle and into his arms. The ambiance of the chapel was poignant, and the tall candle stands created romance and tenderness, but the actual beauty of that small sliver in time when my dad kissed my check and I turned to embrace my groom captures our memories more so than any other aspect of that day.”

The reception is next…more sweet moments to come!

comments 2 posted -- write a comment

Real Ohio Wedding: Erika & Tony (Part 1)

Real Midwest Weddings -- March 8th, 2010 -- 7:00 am

How do we describe Erika & Tony’s beautiful handcrafted heirloom wedding? Delicate, sophisticated, classic, timeless. Every detail is thoughtfully placed—to perfection! Erika’s bouquet alone, amazing! We’re completely charmed and moved. Thank you to Erika and Tony for sharing your story and Branton Hoblit Photography for the lovely images!

“Our wedding was October 3, 2009. It was an evening wedding, which made for a relaxing day—we had all morning to get ready and look forward to the ceremony and party. Photographs started around one o’clock in the afternoon, and from there, all the excitement just culminated into one glorious event!”

“Our color palette was slate blue and marigold with cream and ivory accents. I had always loved the mind pictures I got from reading the classics of Jane Austen’s day with the ladies in their Old English fashionable dresses and the gentlemen in their dapper tweed vests. I tried to mimic this mental picture I had of that era and summed it up by theming our wedding as vintage, but the final outcome of all the little details definitely had a lot of my own personality in the mix—resulting in more of a simple elegance, with a few antique vintage elements thrown in here and there.”"

“Our flowers were beautifully arranged by Wendy Lavy with Consider the Lilies. After I described my vision of a loose, airy, whimsical bouquet, she created the perfect blend of ivory and cream toned flowers with accents of goldenrod resulting in a simple arrangement which complemented the rich texture of the fabric of my wedding dress. One of my favorite things about my bouquet was the long gold, ivory, and slate blue ribbons that fluttered and danced as I carried it. Wendy also did a gorgeous job on both the reception table centerpieces comprised of football mums and cattails among other wildflower pieces, as well as the touches she added to the already charming chapel.”

“My wedding gown was sewn by an aunt of the groom, who did an incredible job creating a dress from practically thin air. I’m still amazed at her ability—I loved it. I showed her pictures of dresses and jumped from one photo to another, asking for this sleeve, this neckline, that skirt style, and that bodice design. She literally merged it all together and gave me the dress of my dreams—feminine in an antique and simple way. The other wedding attire worn by the ladies, including the bridesmaids, little girls, and mothers of the bride and groom, were also handmade, sewn by either themselves or a family member.”

Perfectly lovely! More from Erika & Tony’s wedding in just a bit…!

comments 5 posted -- write a comment

Real Indiana Wedding: Corrie & Adam (Part 2)

Real Midwest Weddings -- March 5th, 2010 -- 5:00 pm

More from Corrie & Adam’s sweet, sweet Indianapolis wedding…!

Corrie’s advice for planning: “Be open to the ideas that your vendors give you, but don’t sacrifice what you want. We had to go to four bakeries before we found someone who would decorate the cake how we had envisioned and make it taste great! On the other hand, we gave a lot of freedom to the florist and the results are even better than the magazine pictures I had. Just go with your gut. You know yourself and your style, take the time to find someone who will work with you to bring your ideas to life. You won’t regret it!” Corrie’s flowers were designed by Our Backyard Flower Shop and the couple’s cake (see below) by A Slice of Heaven Cakery.

“The number one best thing about getting married in Indiana and our motivation for doing the planning out of state—we currently live in Nashville, TN—was being surrounded by family. Adam and I are both originally from Indianapolis, so it was nice to have so much of our family and friends be able to be there with us. The second best thing: affordability. We got great deals on these gorgeous venues and some of the details of the wedding. If we were to throw the same wedding somewhere else, say New York City, it would’ve been way out of our budget. We got to have an incredible wedding without going into debt.” Corrie’s wedding jewelry was a Christmas gift from Adam—love those pearl earrings and bracelet! Adam found the pieces at Reis Nichols in Greenwood.

Two of Corrie’s favorite keepsakes from the day: “I wasn’t going to wear a veil, but I wanted to use some of the lace from my mom’s in some way. I had our seamstress press the lace onto a clutch I bought. I loved it and I still carry it all the time! Also, Adam’s brother and his wife put together the guest book for us. They got a camera with sticky film and had everyone take photos of themselves to put in a scrapbook. I love flipping through now, reading the messages and seeing the goofy pictures.”

“The original color palette was all white. As we began the planning though we let ivory, ‘bridal pink’ and other shades like eggshell creep in. The effect was a very clean vintage look. When I walked into the reception I instantly felt that warmth and romance we were going for—soft candlelight, strings of white lights on the columns, gorgeous vintage glass pieces around the room, the smell of a field of flowers—it was simply stunning.”

“I know people say this all the time, but it is so hard to choose just one favorite moment! I would say that the dances were truly beautiful. When Adam and I had our first dance it was so peaceful to simply lay my head on his shoulder for a moment and breathe. I felt absolutely fulfilled. He told me afterward that our nieces and nephews were dancing and running in circles around us, but I didn’t even notice! The dance with my step dad was especially memorable too. It had been such a busy day that we hadn’t really gotten a chance to talk, so the time we had dancing together was really special. Dancing with my mom was so much fun! I don’t think I’ve ever seen her smile that much in one day—she looked so radiant! Finally, all our friends were having a blast on the dance floor, which made me so beyond happy! I couldn’t believe so many people were there just for Adam and me.”

How cute is Corrie here in her winter coat and dress? Love it! Congrats to you two! What a beautiful beginning!

comments write a comment »

Real Indiana Wedding: Corrie & Adam (Part 1)

Real Midwest Weddings -- March 5th, 2010 -- 3:50 pm

Indianapolis really is a beautiful city—the riverway, historic architecture, unbelievable culture via the museums, mansions and restaurants…so many reasons to love it! We were so thrilled when Corrie & Adam agreed to share their wedding with us—the day is just filled with all these incredibly thoughtful details that just speak love and home. Pair such sweet intention with photographs by Lemongrass Photography and the day is nothing short of stunning.

“Adam and I got married on January 2nd of this year. Although it was absolutely freezing outside, the sun was out and it was a perfect clear day. Because we were having a winter wedding, we really wanted our guests to feel the kind of warmth you get from sitting in front of a fireplace, and the ceremony and reception sites were perfect for getting the mood across. The ceremony was held at Sacred Heart, which has a spiritual kind of warmth thanks to a neat connection to Adam’s family—his grandfather worked as a master carpenter in one of the workshops that made the pews and other ornamentation around the sanctuary. Also, a mutual friend of ours married us, which gave the ceremony the intimacy that really takes the wedding from a simple ceremony to a spiritual union. The reception was at The Rathskeller, Indianapolis’ oldest restaurant—and you couldn’t ask for a better place to get cozy on a winter’s day. Their food is hearty and delicious and the whole atmosphere warms you up right away.”

About the schedule, Corrie told us, “It was a really long day, with a wake up at 5 am, but I felt totally energized all day! I was so amped about spending so much time with all the people I loved I didn’t even think about rest! I wanted to be awake for as much of this day as I could.”

“Adam and I both have a very classic style, a little traditional even. I’m a romantic person, and as my brother says, Adam is a surreptitious romantic too. So we were looking for that timeless, beautiful look, but we didn’t want the wedding theme or style to completely overwhelm any one aspect of the day. We wanted everyone to feel relaxed—to feel that we were taking care of them. We were definitely planning with our guests needs in mind.”

“We thought and talked about our ceremony essentially every day for a year. We read the readings over and over, discussed the songs and talked about each aspect of the Mass extensively. One thing that stands out in my mind was how we entered the church. I didn’t have anyone give me away, instead we followed the Catholic Church’s suggestion to walk into the wedding ceremony together, to symbolize that we’ve come into the marriage together as a couple. We did that and it was one of the most memorable moments of the whole weekend. People are still commenting on how beautiful the Mass was. I knew it was special to us but it’s great to hear that others were moved too.”

This last image gets me every time—what a moment! More from Corrie & Adam’s beautiful winter wedding in just a bit…!

comments write a comment »

Real Chicago Wedding: Jaimie & Jason (Part 2)

Real Midwest Weddings -- March 2nd, 2010 -- 9:34 am

More from Jaimie & Jason’s gorgeous Chicago wedding…!

“It was extremely meaningful to me that my uncle performed our ceremony. He and my aunt have always been pivotal role models in my life. I’ve always cherished the romance of their relationship and it seemed so fitting to the both of us that my Uncle Paul give us away. Many were moved and shared with us afterward that his sermon reminded them of how to best keep the love alive in their relationships.”

“My sister’s gift to us was her handmade wedding programs. In addition to incorporating navy and emerald, she picked up champagne (which was the color of the sash I wore) and the script/font we used on all paper products (invitations, menu boards, etc.). She handmade nearly 100 invitations. I personally am not an artistic/crafty person. The only thing ‘crafty’ I contributed was wrapping our guest favors. After picking out the wrapping paper, Renee and I spent countless hours wrapping over 100 gift boxes and tying ribbons.”

“As guests entered The Apartment, the third level at A New Leaf, they were greeted with a cocktail reception featuring our specialty cocktails Romance (champagne, rose water, raspberry dusted glasses), Lemon Kiss (ginger lemonade with or without vodka) and Hearts on Fire (pomegranate martinis with lemon twists). We and our guests had the most fun on the dance floor. It was packed all night long. The best part was seeing all the smiling faces of our family and friends as they belted out tunes from Stevie Wonder to Madonna.” Doesn’t this party just look like a blast?

Jaimie’s advice for couples planning: “I would recommend that you meet and interview each of the vendors under consideration as a couple to ensure that they are an ideal fit. We couldn’t have been happier with our selections, but we spent the time upfront, meeting with each vendor at least two times, to make sure we had a personal connection with each of them and that they understood their part in helping to replicate our vision for the day. It is important to share with your vendors the the flow of the day, the ‘feeling’ you’re trying to create for your guests and especially allow them to see you as a couple interact. This helps them get an idea of your energy together and be in a position to relate that to your guests via their craftsmanship. One of the biggest compliments we received was that our wedding was ‘very much a reflection of the both of us.’”

“Another piece of advice I have is to set a budget upfront and prioritizing what was most important to us helped when making final decisions. If there is an element (or two) of the day, be it your attire, menu, entertainment, floral, decor, photographer etc., that is extremely important to you, go for it! During our planning process we heard many horror stories of those that had regrets because they didn’t get the band they wanted or the chair covers that matched the linen, etc…those are memories you don’t want to have. Thankfully, Jason and I took our yearlong engagement to save for the day of our dreams. We look back to our wedding day and can’t think of anything we would have done differently. It was everything we had wished it to be…and that was due to planning and not skimping on the things that were most important to us.”

Love this practical planning advice! Truly, some of the best ideas we’ve heard. Jaimie & Jason, we love your style! Here’s to a lifetime full of this kind of joy!

comments write a comment »

Real Chicago Wedding: Jaimie & Jason (Part 1)

Real Midwest Weddings -- March 1st, 2010 -- 8:04 pm

We’re so excited to share today’s wedding with you—familiar faces! Jaimie & Jason shared their unbelievably chic engagement shots with us in September—just a couple weeks, actually, before their big day. It just doesn’t get any sweeter than this! With fabulous photographs from Edyta Szyszlo, you won’t believe the lush and lovely beauty of this event. Congrats, Jaimie & Jason!

“We were married on a Sunday, and the day’s schedule was relaxed and manageable. We started with photos at 3pm and concluded the evening festivities by 11 p.m. All of our vendors were exceptional. Each contributed to making our day spectacular: Edyta Szyszlo, Keli Fayard from Vanille, Renee from Kehoe Designs, Stef from KushubSe, and Kate & Rachel from Toast & Jam.”

“Jason and I decided early on that we didn’t want a formal affair, didn’t really ‘fit/match’ the chemistry of our relationship. The mood we wanted to create was playful, colorful, cheerful and classy. Navy seemed to fit that bill with emerald being our secondary color of choice. We used accents of orange, canary and fuchsia with hints of purple to add a bit of color/pop.”

“The most beautiful moment for me was when I arrived at A New Leaf and saw Jason for the first time that day. It was really magical. Our first sighting was in the garden and we both couldn’t help smiling from ear-to-ear. I think I was most surprised by how taken Jason was when he first saw me. He almost fainted! Thank goodness his best man was on hand to grab him some water. We also loved our alone time in the ribbon room on the lower level of A New Leaf prior to the ceremony. We were able to spend some quality time sharing our thoughts and feelings about the day and our future ahead.”

“I custom designed my veil with the help of Kleinfields NY. I had a vision of what it would look like, but of course could not find it anywhere…it didn’t exist! I wanted my veil to be classy but not too formal. I wanted sort of a twist on the traditional…it had to fit my dress, the mood of the venue and yet not be “over the top.” Kleinfields did an excellent job of making my vision a reality.”

“In addition to my veil, one of my favorite wedding keepsakes was my bouquet. I worked with Brianna from A New Leaf to again create a classic yet unique design. I wanted various hues of white/ivory to create depth, but also hints of green to tie-in with the bridesmaids dresses and surrounding floral.”

More from Jaimie & Jason’s day coming up…the ceremony and then it’s time to get your dance on! Just wait!

comments 2 posted -- write a comment

Real Chicago Wedding: Venu & Sendhil (Part 2)

Real Midwest Weddings -- February 10th, 2010 -- 3:00 pm

More from Venu & Sendhil’s gorgeous Chicago wedding…if you missed part one, it’s a must-see—just a feast for the eyes and the heart!

The couple’s Hindu wedding ceremony was followed by a cocktail reception and seated dinner at Northerly Island at the Old Meigs Field Airport. The event took place at a semi-permanent tent that over looks Lake Michigan and the Chicago Skyline. Those clouds—what a perfect Chicago day it turned out to be!

Alexandra Jusino from Exquisite Events described the florals, “We kept the arrangements rather simple for this wedding for two reasons. With 50 tables to decorate, one reason was budget. For the other, we wanted to give the florist a chance to recycle or reuse any part of the centerpieces that was leftover…even down to the melting candles and being able to save the wax! In the end, we used a combination of three different arrangements: tall inverted ming bowl arrangements of roses, curly willow and orchids, low arrangements of floating candle fusions with submerged orchids and a second low but lush design of roses, plum stock and blue delphiniums.”

The couple also mentioned how the team at Dream Occasions not only gave them a stunning, unique mandap, the wedding platform from the ceremony, but also turned the Meigs Field terminal building from a period piece to a really beautiful entry point in record time.

About paper goods, Venu & Sendhil said, “We designed our save-the-date cards with the help of photos from our friend Sarah Sohn Ko and Wedding Paper Divas. Venu designed the placecards and hand-stamped each one with a unique pattern. Besides our wedding program, which contained many personal elements as well as a detailed description of the steps of the Hindu wedding ceremony, we created poetry and prose cards for each place, using quotes we found meaningful from a variety of authors (Bertrand Russell, Mahatma Gandhi, e. e. cummings, Albert Schweitzer, and others).”

Take the Cake created a beautiful wedding cake that evoked the motifs of our invitations that the couple said was “so delicious we regret that neither of us got a second piece!”

We asked Venu & Sendhil about the best thing about getting married in Chicago: “Though Venu went away to Boston for college and law school and Sendhil worked in New York for ten years, we were both born here and raised in the area. It was really nice to be able to get married in our new old home, with all of our families and friends there. We also found that Northerly Island was a wonderful, unique venue that gave us elements of both the outdoors and the city—especially with the views of the skyline and the lake. We were overjoyed that the weather cooperated (in a big way), and of course, the fireworks made the day even more special. It was great to have the various events of our wedding in places that were close to us, and meaningful to us and our families.”

When it came to advice, the two told us, “We were both really involved in the planning. Sometimes this took longer (and sometimes was more complicated) than if one of us had just decided everything, but in the end, we both felt like we created an event together that had a lot of meaning—not only to us as a couple, but to our guests as well. (Wedding planning is no picnic, but it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to share a celebration with those whom you love and who love you.)”

“Also, what makes things special is what is meaningful to you, not the expense you put in. No one will know what you didn’t pick, so don’t feel like you have to bust your budget on every front. That said, especially if you’re doing something a little creative, a planner is worth every penny and more.”

“Early on, we talked about the feeling we wanted our guests to leave with on the day of our wedding. Some common themes emerged as important to both of us—joy and celebration, good feelings for one’s fellow people, a feeling of community, and the full meaning of ‘love’—not just for each other, but for our families and friends as well. We really wanted to share with our guests some of the values we hold dear, and ensure that they left happy. We tried to respect tradition while also making the event personal, and to incorporate the beauty of our surroundings while also creating a beautiful space of our own.”

Looking at the photographs, doesn’t the day just exude that kind of expansive love? Venu & Sendhil, we wish you all the very, very best. Thank you for sharing your day with C&B—you’ve left all of us happy to see your beautiful wedding too!

comments write a comment »

Real Chicago Wedding: Venu & Sendhil (Part 1)

Real Midwest Weddings -- February 9th, 2010 -- 6:00 pm

Today’s wedding—oh, we love it! The day is so rich and beautiful, the couple so sweet and charming, it’s hard to know where to even begin! Venu & Sendhil were married on a summer day in Chicago in the company of more than 480 guests. Their wedding began with a Hindu ceremony, blending the traditions of both families, and ended with one incredible get-up-and-dance celebration. To say we can’t wait to share this wedding with you, what an understatement!

Love this witty detail: “After getting ready and some photos, the event officially began at 2:00 pm with Sendhil arriving at the venue on a Segway. (The traditional groom’s procession, the baraat, has the groom on a horse or elephant, but given Sendhil’s concern for animal welfare, Venu’s horse allergies, and our general nerdiness, this seemed like a much better option. It is the future of transportation, after all.)”

When we asked the couple about their style, they gave us the sweetest candid answer, “The truth is, we’re not people who often consider our style. Our most consistent style is probably cute and nerdy, with aspirations to being elegant and sophisticated. (We’re perfectly happy with the former, and occasionally achieve the latter.) That said, we did want this once-in-a-lifetime event to include certain elements—lots of natural light, elements of both the outdoors and the city, and the beautiful jewel tones found abundantly in our culture. Most of all, we wanted our wedding to look and feel unique, rather than just being another event in a rectangular box in a hotel that could be located anywhere.”

“We have to thank our wedding planner, Alexandra Jusino of Exquisite Events, first and foremost. She not only brought order to a very intimidating list of tasks, she saved us a ton of money, gave us access to a series of wonderful vendors, helped manage some tricky conversations, and in general, kept us happy and sane throughout the months of planning.”

“From the beginning, Venu had a vision about using a palette that included purples, blues, and greens. From there, she and Alex worked together to develop a look and feel that we hope we exuded exuberance, celebration, joy, and community. Venu wanted the outfits of our participants (our “wedding committee”) to coordinate, but not match, so she had a variety of outfits (both lehengas and saris) custom-made for herself, as well as the ladies of the wedding committee, in a variety of colors from a common palette. The gentlemen wore similar kurtas with individual stoles to continue the pattern of coordinated, but individual.”

“We really enjoyed being married by Sri Nagendra Rao, a Hindu (Saivite) priest at the Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) Temple, in Aurora, Illinois. Sendhil has been attending this temple since it was consecrated in 1986 and his family has gotten to know Nagendra Swami very well. He was warm, open, and flexible and really signed on to our desire to make the day meaningful for all in attendance.”

Event planner Alexandra Jusino filled in more details, “Venu traveled to India to purchase her wedding ceremony sari and lengha worn at the reception. Her ceremony sari easily weighed around 15 pounds. Notice her engagement ring…she wanted to avoid diamonds as her main stone as a way to make a statement against conflict diamonds.”

About the ceremony, the couple said, “We wanted to make our wedding, including the steps of the Hindu ritual that often seem opaque, meaningful to our guests. Dave Vasudevan of DigiSlate helped turn our thoughts and text into beautiful wedding programs, placecards, and poetry and prose cards. He was amazingly fast, got us great rates at the printers, and very friendly and easy to work with. (The programs were something we wanted to get just right—and which required repeated discussion with our parents. Dave really removed a lot of stress by being so responsive.)”

We asked Sendhil & Venu about favorite moments from the day and they couldn’t help but mention sitting before one another on the mandap near the end of the ceremony, “blowing rice at each other!”

“One of our favorite vendors was Lizz Sisson, our photographer from Orange 2 Photography. She was an absolute delight to work with. She could always put a smile on our faces, whether in meetings, during our engagement session, or on the day of the sangeet or the wedding. And (as you can see) her work is absolutely amazing. Sendhil just changed jobs and his new boss sent our wedding slideshow to all of his new colleagues, and it’s gotten him all kinds of compliments.”

So much beauty, so much fun! The big party is next…stay tuned for more love in living color tomorrow!

comments 1 posted -- write a comment

Real Chicago Wedding: Mary & Dan (Part 2)

Real Midwest Weddings -- February 1st, 2010 -- 9:45 pm

More from Mary & Dan’s sweet indie Chicago wedding…!

“We’re a couple with a love of the vintage, the quirky, the literary, the indie. One of the ways this bubbled up was with the vintage Underwood typewriter that served as a guest book, but we also used it to type up some of our favorite passages on love and marriage from literature that we placed on tables around the venue. We hoped that these snippets of writing would add another layer of meaning to the ambiance. We also included other vintage touches, such as using a mid-century mailbox as a repository for cards, a vintage brooch in my hair piece, and vintage stamps on our invitations.”

Is this not the sweetest father-daughter photograph you’ve ever seen? That hug, oh-so sweet!

“I seriously considered baking my own wedding cake, but Dan, wisely, wanted me to keep my sanity, so we compromised. I baked one of my favorite cookies, chocolate chip cookies with fleur de sel, and packaged them up in glassine bags with hand-lettered seals made out of vintage paper for our guests to take home as favors. I actually found it very soothing to spend the day before my wedding in the kitchen, pulling batch after batch of warm cookies out of the oven.”

“We wanted our guests to be able to mingle and relax and we wanted it to be the kind of party that we wanted to attend–which meant elegant but not stuffy with good food, good wine, good music, and good company. We didn’t have a traditional seated dinner, it was a cocktail style reception where no one was stuck at a table all night and there was a bounty of food passed and at buffet tables so people could sample all sorts of things and no one left hungry.”

“Siddhanta from Roscoe Blooms listened to our wacky ideas about tea tin centerpieces in the garden and wheat grass and river stone centerpieces inside and really gave everything a rustic elegance that we loved. Charles Kim played acoustic guitar for our ceremony and I’d recommend him to anyone looking for a talented musician with a knowledge of indie rock (he did a great job with our requests for music from the Decemberists and the Magnetic Fields). We used music from the concert where we met in the ceremony and as our first dance, and we put a lot of care into choosing readings that were meaningful to us and that reflected who we are as a couple.”

“I’m a serious baker, and I wasn’t going to compromise on dessert; Pasticceria Natalina, our favorite bakery in Andersonville made our delicious cake (a seriously drool-worthy torta di ricotta e pere—I’m getting hungry just thinking about it). And I’d be seriously remiss to leave out our amazing photographer Olivia Leigh whose aesthetic meshed so perfectly with ours and who did such an amazing job even in our small venue with limited space and light (book her now, folks!).”

We asked Mary what wedding heirlooms she and Dan still enjoyed in their home: “We have our typewriter on display in our apartment. We have the little file box filled with the cards on which our guests typed special messages sitting on our shelf. A few of our guests took the table cards with their favorite literary passages on them, and it makes me smile to think that friends have taken a little piece of our wedding into their homes. And we’ll have our photo album to go with our engagement album soon. And of course we have our wedding rings and sometimes we still sit and stare at each others’ hands in amazement that we actually did this thing. Our wedding feels like it happened years ago, in a good way, as though it has always been a part of our lives.”

“My favorite moment of the day was just after the ceremony when Dan and I snuck down into the wine cellar and had a few minutes to ourselves to dance to Johnny Cash and let the enormity of everything sink in. I’ll never forget the special moments of the ceremony and reception where our family members took part—both of our parents walked each of us down the aisle, my sisters and Dan’s mother did readings, my brother sang, and my father played trumpet for the recessional, and Dan’s father and brother and my father all gave toasts. And then there was a moment a few hours into the reception, where I looked around and saw my family, my best friend from high school, friends from college and from more recent parts of my life, some of whom had traveled halfway across the country to get there, all gathered together in the same room to share this momentous occasion with us, and I was humbled and amazed that this group of people had gone to all this trouble for me.”

Thank you, Mary & Dan, for sharing your beautiful day with us! Every part is poetry. We wish you all the very best!

comments 3 posted -- write a comment

Real Chicago Wedding: Mary & Dan (Part 1)

Real Midwest Weddings -- February 1st, 2010 -- 7:45 pm

A pop of color for Monday! When we saw Mary & Dan’s wedding, we fell in love with all the thoughtful, sophisticated details and comfortable party atmosphere—a brilliant balance. Olivia Leigh Photographie captured the day and the shots are so fresh. The bright clarity with the meaningful literary details—love that Chicago chic!

“Dan and I got married on September 26, 2009. We met at a Decemberists concert on April Fools Day in 2004, and we got married five and a half years to the day after we met. We liked the idea of a fall wedding with crisp air and vibrant color.”

About the day’s schedule, Mary told us, “Our ceremony was at 5:30, which meant we had a leisurely morning together before we split up to spend the day with our respective families. I went to get my hair done around 2:00 by the fabulous Jennifer at Sine Qua Non in Lakeview. Then I headed to Volo to get ready in their private wine cellar with my mom and sisters around 3:30. After that Dan and I wandered around Roscoe Village to take some portraits with Olivia, and then it was on with the ceremony on the terrace and the reception immediately followed. I think we managed to find a good balance of alone time and together time—with each other and with our families and guests. The day went by quickly, but not so quickly that I can’t remember it or felt like I missed it. ”

“My dress was from Dame Couture, a custom dress shop in Evanston. Holly was so down-to-earth and friendly, and I never doubted for a minute that the last minute alterations would be done right and on time. I can’t recommend the shop highly enough.” Such a gorgeous dress—the flower accents are so sweet!

“My little sister made my fabulous feather fascinator. Roscoe Blooms did our flowers. I want to recommend Steve Quick Jeweler which was the first jeweler that was receptive when I said I didn’t want anything with diamonds. Etsy and eBay were great resources for things like hand-lettered labels for favors and vintage stamps for our invitations.”

“I was never a girl who dreamed about her wedding day or had any idea what it would look like. When people asked me what my colors were even a few weeks before the wedding, I didn’t have an answer, though I suppose the autumnal reds and oranges that I naturally gravitate towards became our general color palette in the end. More than any particular aesthetic, we wanted our wedding to be intimate, a time when we could be surrounded by our closest friends and family and make this huge and wonderful commitment to each other without worrying about some checklist of things that we had to have.”

Mary’s advice: “Don’t stress out too much about your wedding! It’s easy to get caught up in the details and the planning and worry about getting everything just so, but weddings have a way of working themselves out in end. Make sure to include your fiance in the planning. So often we think weddings are all about the bride, but of course it’s really about the couple. My life got so much easier when Dan and I divided up the work of planning and making the arrangements. Don’t feel like you need to have something just because a lot of other people do it. It isn’t a competition, it’s a party. Remember that this day is for you and your fiance, so enjoy it! And please, go on a honeymoon! Even if it’s just for a few days. It’s so important to get away from everything and just revel in being newlyweds.”

“We’ve both lived in Chicago for more than ten years. It’s where we’ve made our lives together, and there’s something special about getting married in a place that feels like home to both of us. He’s from Vermont and I’m from Michigan, and we wanted to give our far flung family and friends, some of whom had never been here before, an excuse to come visit this world class city. It was great to have the city’s resources available for planning and shopping—I didn’t feel like I needed to visit some faraway metropolis for anything because everything we needed we could find here.”

More from Mary & Dan’s delightful day coming up…one charming wine bar reception!

comments write a comment »

Real Illinois Wedding: Jen & Jeff (Part 2)

Real Midwest Weddings -- January 20th, 2010 -- 8:15 pm

Part two of Jen & Jeff’s love-love-lovely wedding…cutest tent we’ve seen!

Best thing about getting married in Illinois? “The fall! We had great weather as is typical for autum in this area of Illinois. Leaves were falling off the trees but it was still fairly green. The air was crisp and dry and the sky was clear.”

“Everything was homemade by us and our family. My mom and I made dozens of feet of fabric flower garlands that we hung in the tent. We made our own paper goods including invitations. We hand-painted signs and built a chalkboard. I made an ‘S’ wreath for decoration in our ‘Seidler Speakeasy.’ Even some of our food was made by family (grandma’s potatoes!). That morning was chaotic but fun with family and friends all around us helping.”

We asked Jen about keepsakes and heirlooms that she and Jeff have held on to and she told us, “I love seeing our signs and flower garlands hanging around the house now. I like being a newlywed and being reminded of how great our day was. Our vintage cake toppers are sitting on a shelf where we can see them. I hope they’ll turn out to be an heirloom and get used again by someone we love. I collected a bunch of decorative glass jars from the thrift store for candy. They’re a bonus left over from our reception and function as great storage.”

We adore Jen’s advice: “Don’t be afraid of taking some risks. It’ll be the thing that sets your wedding apart.” Yes, yes, yes! And guess what! Jen’s opened her own event design & craft studio, Eventcetera, creating those charming garlands and boutonnieres custom. Definitely check it out—completely delightful!

Congratulations, Jen & Jeff! Your day has us all moved and inspired—thank you for sharing the love with us! Here’s to your beautiful life together!

comments 7 posted -- write a comment

Real Illinois Wedding: Jen & Jeff (Part 1)

Real Midwest Weddings -- January 20th, 2010 -- 3:00 pm

When it comes to Midwest weddings, the day we have for you today holds a special place in our hearts. Jen & Jeff have one of the sweetest love stories we know. When we asked Jen about how the two met, her response was poetry. “It will be nine years this spring that Jeff and I have been best friends. It was almost by accident that we met and we fell as hard as a couple of high school teenagers could. Which, needless to say is very, very hard. We have an unspoken language. We always moved toward each other, even as we grew.” Isn’t that what it’s all about? So much heart! Plus, wait until you see—the two planned this unbelievably charming, unbelievably meaningful day in little to no time! Completely romantic, completely!

Jen & Jeff were married at home in Illinois. “Almost the first thing we did after setting the date was to book our photographers. I came across Jagger Photography through a wedding blog and I loved them instantly. Heather and Grayson seemed to put a lot of love into their work and into capturing couples on their wedding day.”

“We wanted the evening to be relaxed and intimate. We invited our guests to dress in 1920s flapper-era clothing and most of them did. It set the tone for playfulness and comraderie. We didn’t stick to a color palette and instead incorporated lots of color. I knew I wanted my bridesmaids to wear different dresses. Only in hindsight did we realize the wedding party took on a blue and gold theme by accident and I love the way it looked with our flowers. Our bouquets were a combination of prairie flowers we had gathered on the side of a country road and some grocery store flowers my dad ran out and got.”

“There was no tidy schedule to the day. We had planned the whole wedding in six weeks so, on the day, we were non-stop-go, completely swamped. A couple dozen of our favorite people were frantically tying up loose ends with us. Despite the rush, we had an amazing time.” Can you believe it? You would never guess from the pictures! So much peace and joy in every shot! Also, Jen made these adorable fabric boutonnieres for Jeff and the groomsmen—love that thoughtful detail!

“Jeff and I have classic taste and take our time choosing elements with character that are timeless in any combination. We love hunting thrift stores and antique shops for things that aren’t only vintage but well made and long lasting. All of that definitely influenced the style of our wedding down to the small details.”

“I wish I could go back and relive the ceremony. Being outdoors was amazing. The sun was beginning to set and the park was quiet. It was a sigh of relief because in that moment none of the chaotic planning and arrangements mattered. I enjoyed when Jeff and I were alone after the ceremony with just our photographers. They did their thing and we got to just stand together and feel pretty and take it all in.”

More from Jen & Jeff’s happily handmade wedding…the party is up next and it’s picture perfect!

comments 2 posted -- write a comment

Real Illinois Wedding: Elizabeth & Tim (Part 2)

Real Midwest Weddings -- January 14th, 2010 -- 9:00 pm

More from Elizabeth & Tim’s gorgeous Illinois wedding with photographs from Erica Loeks Photography…!

“After the ceremony, the whole wedding party packed into our heated trolley and headed downtown for ‘around the city’ photos. We hit traffic on our way into Chicago and it was an unexpected blast. People honking their horns, cheering—it was great! We made a few stops to take photos. Running around downtown Chicago on the busiest shopping day of the year, we could definitely feel the energy of the city all around us! Then we were on to the reception at the Newberry Library. The Newberry provides a lounge upstairs for the wedding party and we took full advantage—a little wine and a friend of my sister’s started playing out of the blue, and we started singing and dancing together!”

“We entered the reception by way of a grand staircase that funneled perfectly into the lobby where cocktails were ongoing, and it was a great moment. Both of us, looking down on our guests, it gave us the perfect opportunity to feel special. We had cocktails and then into the hall, where our florist did the most amazing job on flowers.”

“The Newberry Library was a wonderful site for our wedding reception. Great location in the city. Good parking. And the building is amazing. Perfect example of Chicago architecture and we wanted to make people come into the city. We live in the city and that’s where we wanted to celebrate. There is an energy about Chicago and we really made an effort to have our pictures and the reception downtown to capture it.”

“The two women at the Library, both named Karen, they had a great approach to their rules and policies. Many reception venues in the city have an approved vendor list that you must use but the Newberry allows you to choose. That freedom to go with who we wanted for the reception was key, and we saved money by having our wedding there on a Friday. Also, Occasions Chicago Catering provided our catering and they did an amazing job. From the tasting, to walking through our day with the head of the staff, to the food, to bar service, Occasions did a great job. We received a lot of compliments on the food.”

“Our first dance together—the room was full but it was like we were totally alone just floating together. The room was magical and the speeches, cake, the rest of the dances just flew by and before we knew it, our day was over. We gambled on the wedding date being so late in the year but we were blessed with a beautiful sunny day and the day went off without a hitch!”

“I was not your typical bride in that I tried not to care about all the little details. I knew I wanted a memorable reception location, good food and lots of dancing to take place. Once I figured those big details out, I let the rest fall into place. I would advise all brides to truly remember what this day is about and the memories they will remember 20 years from now…that helped me to focus on the things most important to me and not stress about the smaller decisions. Most importantly, you will enjoy your wedding day regardless of whether or not everything falls into place as you had hoped.”

Congratulations again, Elizabeth & Tim! We wish you all the best—enjoy every minute! We’re over here cheering you on, too!

comments 3 posted -- write a comment

Real Illinois Wedding: Elizabeth & Tim (Part 1)

Real Midwest Weddings -- January 14th, 2010 -- 4:45 pm

A wedding that is just the definition of Chicago elegance, that’s what we have for you today! Best of Midwest Weddings Guide member Erica Loeks Photography captured Elizabeth & Timothy’s absolutely charming day, catching all the details from start to finish. Orchids. Lace. Chicago on a winter’s night. Classic beauty, grace and joy fill the whole day—wait until you see how sweet these two are! Just wait!

“We were married on November 28, 2008, which was the day after Thanksgiving. Since it was so late in the year, we only had a limited amount of daylight to get everything in so we had a very organized/regimented schedule. All the girls got ready at my parents’ house where I had my hair and make-up done along with the rest of my bridal party, which allowed us to be comfortable and truly enjoy one another’s company throughout the morning. The guy’s did their thing at Tim’s brother’s house, and, Erica, our photographer was able to take shots at both houses so we got some really good, behind the scenes photos.”

“My dress was from Caroline DeVillo based out of Chicago. I loved my dress and the attention I received from Caroline throughout my wedding dress process. Caroline, along with her assistant Kaitlynd, made me feel like I was trying on dresses at my girlfriend’s house. Caroline helped me to design the perfect dress for me.” Aren’t the silhouette, the lace, the train incredible? Caroline’s couture gowns are out of this world.

“My good friend, Larissa Schroeder (773-732-1193), designed all our flower bouquets and reception arrangements. Larissa is an amazing and talented florist, and from the moment I got engaged I knew I wanted her in charge of my flowers. Larissa worked with my husband and I to find the perfect balance of what we each wanted for our centerpieces. Thanks to Larissa, I still have people talking about how beautiful the flowers and centerpieces were at our reception.” The orchids with coordinating lace detail, gorgeous!

“Because our wedding was in late fall, the colors began to initially shape our day. I went with chocolate brown bridesmaid’s dresses and from there accent yellows, off-whites and tasteful oranges followed. Obviously our colors were inspired by fall but a great contrast nonetheless. Along with the colors came our goal of simplicity and after that everything just fell into place.”

“Erica Loeks and I were roommates when I lived in Minnesota and she started her photography business not long after I moved back to Chicago. I had full confidence in her ability to capture all the important moments of my wedding day, and ensure that my pictures did not look like your typical wedding album pictures. I was blown away by her professionalism and ability to work with all members of my wedding party. I am thrilled with how my pictures turned out and with the wedding album she put together for me. I would highly recommend Erica to any bride-to-be!”

More from Elizabeth & Timothy’s beautiful day coming up soon…!

comments write a comment »

Real Minnesota Wedding: Erika & Rian (Part 3)

Real Midwest Weddings -- January 6th, 2010 -- 5:30 pm

More from Erika & Rian’s fabulous wintry fête…!

“Together, we have pretty eclectic taste. Rian is an outdoorsman and his taste is pretty classic. We tried to combine elements that were woodsy but still urban, which is more my style. We wanted the mood to be warm and friendly and I guess a little different. Thinking about warmth, I was concerned that it would be a challenge given the size of the wedding (300 people) and the season (in the dead of a Minnesota winter) but we found a way! The Graves Hotel has bamboo paneling throughout so we ran with it for a theme. I really love that Amy and Amy of Mi Mi Design suggested mixing the tables between differing shapes and sizes. It made the tone of the dinner more casual like we wanted. They also suggested a baron’s table for our giant wedding party. The ballroom felt family-style with our friends and brothers and sisters in a big mass like that. We used different browns, and wood prints to warm up the Graves’ blue walls. After that we just tried to keep any of the colors kind of misty or icy in contrast.”

“Mi Mi Design—those two are pros at what they do! They are both so design-savvy. It’s just fun to be in the same room with them because they are so creative! When the ‘Big Day’ finally came, they took all the stress out of everything. Every other vendor we worked with had nothing but glowing things to say about the ladies at Mi Mi.”

Erika & Rian thanked their guests with a choice of divine favors: pashmina wraps for the ladies and scarves for the guys. Each was wrap and tagged to match the rest of the fine stationery used throughout the day.

“Our cake was one of my favorite parts of the wedding. Robin at Gateaux did such an amazing job. It looks kind of sculptural, like art!” How sweet is the subtle way the cake matches the paper goods—the lovely wood grain and two birds tweeting across the layers!

Warmest wishes, Erika & Rian! What a beautiful day—here’s to many lovely winter anniversaries to come!

comments 1 posted -- write a comment

Real Minnesota Wedding: Erika & Rian (Part 2)

Real Midwest Weddings -- January 6th, 2010 -- 4:30 pm

More from Erika & Rian’s sweet & snowy Minneapolis wedding…!

The best thing about getting married in Minnesota? Erika said joyfully, “Winter! No one does it better than Minnesota! Rian and I both grew up here. You learn to embrace it. It ended up being really warm, almost 45 degrees that day. We figured even if it was awfully snowy and cold, there is something truly romantic about wanting to rush inside and get warm.”

How gorgeous do these ladies look? Absolutely adore the coats and stoles! Very brave flower girls too—how sweet!

“My father and I have always had a special bond. He used to teach me Rat Pack songs instead of nursery rhymes when my mom would go out of town for work. I always loved it and would dance around while he played the piano. Before we were about to go down the aisle, my Dad started humming Frank Sinatra’s ‘Love and Marriage.’ Suddenly we are both singing waiting to go into the church. It will always be a special memory for me because it was just ’something Dad would do.’ Plus, I didn’t realize it at the time, but it probably helped each of us to calm one another down.” Awwww, Dad!

For the ceremony, beautiful programs to match Erika & Rian’s invitation suite. “Walking down the aisle you experience so many emotions so quickly. I was just trying to focus on Rian. He looked so sincere at the end of the aisle. All I could feel was extremely thankful that he was my best friend!”

Isn’t there something extra special about an outdoor wedding party photo in winter? Brrrr! Love! More from Erika & Rian’s wedding in just a bit…the lovely reception party is last—did someone say cake?

comments write a comment »

Real Minnesota Wedding: Erika & Rian (Part 1)

Real Midwest Weddings -- January 6th, 2010 -- 3:00 pm

When we saw this Minneapolis-in-winter wedding by Adrienne Page Photography, we fell absolutely, entirely, completely, unbelievably in love. About the day, she told us, “The details were amazing—from letterpress wood veneer invites to pashminas and cashmere scarves for favors. The modern rustic theme played out throughout the whole day.” In return, Erika, the bride, had such wonderful things to say about Adrienne as the couple’s photographer, too: “When I saw Adrienne Page’s work I thought she had such a unique and beautiful eye. Working with her was very comfortable and she made it fun. And we couldn’t be more thrilled with the way the album turned out.” This wedding has such an incredible balance of lightness and richness in the whole design—wait until you see for yourself! Part one starts now!

Erika told us, “My mom gave me her blue topaz ring to wear for the day. It was a gift from my dad to my mom on a trip together. My mom and I are very close and it was nice to take her with me on the day.” Can you see that little hint of blue below? Love it!

“Planning a February wedding, we wanted to avoid driving (on the chance that we might have a wedding blizzard!). We also wanted our many out of town guests to feel comfortable and a part of the weekend. We ended up deciding a hotel was the best option to accomplish those goals, and chose the Graves 601. Our whole experience with the Graves was lovely. They are so attentive that the day felt pretty effortless for everyone.”

“I would describe the day’s schedule as seamless, thanks to Amy and Amy at Mi Mi Design, the staff at the Graves 601, and our photographer Adrienne Page. The most frantic part of the day was getting everyone ready just because there were so many of us! Once everyone was at the church, the schedule kept things moving smoothly. Amy told us where we needed to be and when. It was nice to go with the flow for a while, especially on such a emotional and fast-paced day.”

The ceremony is next and one beautiful wedding party in the snow! Stay tuned!

comments 6 posted -- write a comment

C&B Favorites of 2009: Modern & Organic

Real Midwest Weddings -- December 30th, 2009 -- 9:00 pm

What an amazing year it’s been! For the second-to-last day of the year, some of our fave oh-so unique wedding details…love these fresh ideas!

Super sweet wedding website: Meghan & Patrick’s Minnesota schoolhouse wedding (on C&B September 3)

Favorite funky favors and one awesome getaway!: Rebecca & Dave’s Chicago neighborhood wedding (on C&B December 17)

Out-of-this-world artful touches (chandelier-lit tree!): Kate & Nathan’s Iowa vineyard wedding (on C&B October 21)

Counting down to a happy, happy New Year…see you tomorrow!

comments write a comment »

C&B Favorites of 2009: Classic & Elegant

Real Midwest Weddings -- December 29th, 2009 -- 5:00 pm

More of our 2009 C&B real Midwest wedding favorites! Today, timeless style…it doesn’t get any better than this!

Outrageous outdoor ceremony space: Esther & Jae’s Illinois wedding (on C&B November 13)

Simply luminous bridal party, wow!: Lia & Barth’s Illinois wedding (on C&B November 24)

Unbelievably chic handmade gown: Alex & Cassidy’s Chicago wedding (on C&B October 12)

comments write a comment »