Heirloom Wedding | C&B Daily

Fashion Wise: Shannon Carney

Fashion Wise -- August 27th, 2010 -- 7:00 am

Soft but luminous, modern but natural—Chicago jewelry designer and Indiana native Shannon Carney creates necklaces that are turning heads. With features in Vogue and Elle after only three years (!) on the market, she’s quickly becoming the local designer to know. We’re just in love with the little asymmetries and how the colors just glow—perfect for the beach or uptown museum wedding. Find yours at Neapolitan, online from Shannon’s studio, or inquire about custom work for that perfect twist on the new artisan bridal tradition.

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One Fine Giveaway: A Gift from Williams-Sonoma

One Fine Giveaway -- August 26th, 2010 -- 7:00 am

What do we love here at C&B? All things classic, timeless, inspired and smart. When it comes to home goods, we just love Williams-Sonoma. Seriously love them. For my own home, it’s my go-to shop for beautiful kitchen, dining and linen necessities. We don’t have to tell you: Williams-Sonoma is simply the perfect place to start building your wedding gift wishlist. KitchenAid, Wüsthof, Emile Henry, and so much more—you just know all the essentials will be there to choose from (and lust after!) for your new nest!

A few of our favorite Williams-Sonoma registry essentials (clockwise, from left to right):

…a first cookbook for the bride and groom—definitely a must for both new and seasoned cooks!

…you can never have too many linens to color your get-togethers—we adore these French farmer’s market patterns!

…your own personalized box & embosser for keeping all those heirloom family recipes organized…

…champagne flutes–for this first celebration and so many more to come!

…a French cast iron Dutch Oven from Le Creuset—the fresh new colors, the delish slow-cooked meals, the fact it will last forever…

…a set of formal Haviland china—a classic wedding registry must and a joy to have for a little modern luxury…

…Herbs de Provence—you’ll always need fine seasoning for those fancy dishes!

…a KitchenAid mixer in one of these adorable new shades—really, need we say more?

All these wonderful kitchen must-haves! The best part of all this: we’re giving away a $150 Williams-Sonoma gift card to one lucky reader! How does the giveaway work?

- Visit Williams-Sonoma to create your registry.
- Leave us a comment here to let us know you created your registry and tell us which items you’re loving.
- Already have a reg? Not to worry! You’re eligible, too. Just add a new product to your registry and let us know which one in your comment.
- Double your chances! For an extra entry, add a public link to your registry in your comment.
- Readers have until midnight CST on Wednesday, September 8th to enter this giveaway.
- The winner will be randomly picked and announced Thursday, September 9th.

More creative Williams-Sonoma registry ideas coming up this week! Sure wish I could enter. I don’t know about you, but, after all this registry talk, I’m craving some time to indulge in some of these great goods…oh, the joy of cooking! Happy wishlist-making for your happily ever after!

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Real Minnesota Wedding: Jennifer & Adam (Part 2)

Real Midwest Weddings -- August 18th, 2010 -- 9:37 pm

Pure sunshine! More from Jennifer & Adam’s delightful Minneapolis wedding…simply in love with the hand-painted photobooth! (In case you missed it, find Part 1 here!)

“We wanted a vintage feel, so we used a yellow and gray color palette. We took a lot of inspiration from old postcards from the early 1900s. Our theme was celebration and laughter. We didn’t want anything too formal because it just didn’t feel like us. No tuxedos, no formal wedding party, rather, a ‘wedding gang!’ We also surprised our guests by greeting them when they arrived. We didn’t want to be hidden away while our friends were starting the party so we joined them!”

“For dessert, we offered vanilla cupcakes with butter-cream icing from CUPCAKE in Minneapolis. They were SO delicious! Our wooden Bride and Groom cake toppers
were designed by goosegrease on Etsy.”

“We created the table number cards from vintage Minnesota post cards. We hand cut number stamps and I stamped the back of the post cards. We had to show our out of town guests a good time so Adam designed a map of Minneapolis with all of our favorite haunts, which we included in our welcome bags for our hotel guests. I also wanted to add a personal touch to the wedding so I painted a 5′ x 7′ mural to use as a photo backdrop.”

“We recently moved to Minneapolis from Brooklyn, NY so we really wanted to show off our new city to all of our east coast friends. It was important for us to show them what a great city this is, to help them understand why we made the move. Minneapolis really came through! We now have friends asking us to ship packages of Minnesota snacks (like Nut Goodie Bars and granola from French Meadow Bakery) to them in New York! A few have already made plans to come back to visit (in the summer only!).”

“We knew the night was going well when a friend of my dad’s started a conga line in the middle of dinner—not really the kind of dancing we had in mind but it really got the party going! Adam and I didn’t want to do a ‘first dance’ so we asked the DJ to invite everyone to join us on the dance floor. I expected a few close friends and family to accept the invitation but almost everyone joined in—the dance floor couldn’t hold everyone so people were dancing all over the dinning room. It was a beautiful sight!”

When we asked Jennifer about advice, she told us, “There are so many great ideas to be found in magazines and blogs, that it’s easy to see yourself having many different kinds of weddings! But the best advice we can give is don’t do anything because ‘that’s just what you have to do.’ Relax, have fun planning, and don’t listen to anyone but yourselves! It’s your day and it’s probably the biggest party you’ll ever throw so just have fun!”

Just brilliant! Everything about wedding planning should be a blast, right? Congratulations, Jennifer & Adam—here’s to all the happiness ahead! Many thanks, too, to Kate McGough of Perspective Studio for sharing her lovely photographs with us!

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Real Minnesota Wedding: Jennifer & Adam (Part 1)

Real Midwest Weddings -- August 17th, 2010 -- 8:43 pm

Minneapolis is an amazing place to get married—the artisan possibilities are simply endless! Today’s real wedding is truly a Clover & Bee favorite. Combining this classic downtown venue with all of wedding designer Allison Geiger’s perfect vintage details made for a simply picture-perfect party. Wait until you see these shots from Kate McGough of Perspective Studio—it was love at first sight! All the lush yellow and pink florals, bright blue summer skies, every elegant handmade detail…pure delight!

“Adam and I were married on a hot summer day—July 3, 2010 in Minneapolis, MN. Both the ceremony and reception were held at the Gale Mansion, a beautiful South Minneapolis mansion built in 1912. We loved that the space was full of history, elegant, right in the heart of the city and even close to our house.”

“We tried to keep the day’s schedule simple. We really wanted to just relax and enjoy the day—something everyone told us would be difficult to do! We showed up at the Gale Mansion for a quick run-through at noon. We got dressed at the Gale for pictures at 2 p.m. and we were ready to greet our guests as they arrived at 4 p.m. The ceremony took about 15 minutes and the crowd was begging for ‘one more song!’ at 11 p.m. when we wrapped up the evening.”

“Luke Geiger of Right on Canvas designed our invitations and RSVP cards. We wanted the look of the invitation to be inspired by vintage Minneapolis post cards, and Luke nailed it!”

“Adam’s suit was from JCrew. His yellow checkered tie was purchased from designer J. Barton Strawn on Etsy. My wedding dress was purchased from Saja—an amazing boutique in NYC. They were so helpful and Yoo Lee’s designs were just want I wanted—simple and elegant. Local hair stylist, Lacey D’Apice, is amazing, and did an incredible job styling my hair! She created a natural and elegant style that worked beautifully with my dress, and most importantly I ‘looked and felt like myself’ on my wedding day.”

“We love the spirit and sound of bluegrass music so we hired The High 48s, a bluegrass band from Minneapolis, to play during our ceremony and cocktail hour. They really set the tone for the whole day: laid-back fun. And the crowd loved them! They even learned a few special requests for us.”

“Our photographer Kate McGough of Perspective Studio was great! She was exactly what we wanted in a photographer—personable and professional. She was able
to grab great shots of all the important moments, yet at the same time, we hardly knew she was there!”

“There were so many wonderful moments that it’s hard to pick just a few to mention! One of the most memorable moments was when Adam and I walked down the aisle together. The High 48s learned an instrumental version of Bob Dylan’s ‘Buckets of Rain’ for us and played it as our wedding gang and Adam and I entered. As we turned the corner and made our way down the pathway, our guests started cheering and clapping—our hopes of laughter and celebration realized!”

“We couldn’t have done it without Allison Geiger of Alilu Studios in Willmar, MN. We are very fortunate to have a wedding designer/florist/planner in the family—especially one we would have wanted to hire anyway! Allison guided us through the whole process; she made sure we were doing what we needed to do when we needed to do it. Allison had us come to her studio and we LOVED everything she had to show us. She really made the whole event feel like us. Allison used vintage bottles as flower vases, vintage juice glasses for votive candles, and old canning jars filled with yellow candies and sparklers. It was the 4th of July weekend after all so we went with sparklers as our ‘favor.’”

More from Jennifer & Adam’s unbelievably sweet wedding coming up tomorrow…the party is pure joy! Doesn’t all this sunny yellow make you just melt? So in love with all this style!

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Real Minneapolis Wedding: Sneak Peek!

Real Midwest Weddings -- August 16th, 2010 -- 9:36 pm

One gorgeous DIY wedding at Minneapolis’ Gale Mansion with flowers, flowers, flowers everywhere—there is just so much to be inspired by! Can’t wait to share tomorrow—one of our favorite fêtes of all time!

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A Vision for the Event: Emmy-Ray

A Vision for the Event -- August 6th, 2010 -- 7:00 am

Here at Clover & Bee, we spend our days scoping out all things wedding in our favorite part of the country: the middle! What makes our job and the Midwest so wonderful? All the hidden gem artisans. Truly. There are so many wonderful people waiting to make your day a complete dream and we strive to make it easier to find them via our Best of Midwest Weddings Guide. (I mean, if we’re actively looking and networking and seeking and we find some of the best vendors are still hard to come by! I know from experience—my own wedding—just how hard it is to find these lovelies on your own on a busy bride-to-be schedule, whoa!)

With our C&B birthday coming up (almost a year old, yes!), we continue to comb the region for the best of the best and we’re always amazed by the new and incredible talent we continue to find. Today’s favorite: Emily of Emmy-Ray. Both a custom jewelry and floral designer, Emily has a wonderful aesthetic. Original color combinations, unexpected and perfect vintage finds (whether milk glass or gemstones), and a complete joy in local beauty. All of our favorite weddings are made of this: inspired artistry. Ladies, this is the woman to talk to about heirloom weddings in Kansas City—seriously, book her while you can!

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Real Chicago Wedding: Jessica & Robert (Part 2)

Real Midwest Weddings -- July 30th, 2010 -- 9:28 am

More from Jessica & Robert’s Chicago wedding at the spectacular historic Murphy Auditorium Resort…wait til you see these brilliant DIY details! (In case you missed it, find Part 1 here!)

“Rob and I have both lived in Chicago for several years, and the best part about getting married in this beautiful city was being able to share what we love about our new hometown with our family and friends. We love to walk everywhere in the city, so we purposely planned for all of the weekend’s events to be within close proximity to each other. We provided our guests with homemade pocket schedules of the day’s events and a hand-drawn downtown map of Chicago that featured some of favorite places to see in the city. Chicago has so much history and wonderful architecture, and both of our venues provided the perfect backdrop for our dream wedding in our favorite city.”

“I had so much fun adding our own personal touches throughout the wedding, from all of the paper products to the lavender bundles on top of each menu, to the homemade jam that my mother lovingly made for us. Our wedding really felt like us. Some of my favorite details included the table letters (yes, not numbers!) which were vintage French alphabet flash cards—fitting, since I am a kindergarten teacher. For our chair swag I decoupaged our initials using sheet music from my grandfather, and I added some fabric flowers to dress them up. Instead of using escort cards, we decided to use votives that I wrapped in paper with each guest’s name on a label. All of these DIY projects turned out to be so much fun and added a really personal touch to our wedding.”

“Our cake was created by Amy Beck Cake Design. Amy was enthusiastic about putting our personal monogram on the cake and even using one of our birdcages as a cake topper! With alternating layers of carrot cake and almond cake, it was just as delicious as it was pretty.”

“We loved our DJ, Max from Style Matters. He was able to read the dance floor and please all of our guests, as well as incorporating many of our favorite songs into the mix. One of our favorite musical moments from the night was Max’s willingness and artistic ability to blend ‘Bookends’ by Simon & Garfunkel with our first dance song, ‘First Day of My Life’ by Bright Eyes. It was a special moment that made our first dance even more personal!”

“Our videographer was Louis from I Do Films—a boutique studio that specializes in creating modern wedding films with a distinct vintage flair. We are anxious to see the results because these folks are so incredibly talented!”

“We were so lucky to work with Jennifer Vahle from Food For Thought, who helped us put together a menu that wowed our guests. Jennifer worked with me for months on the practical aspects of putting the wedding together. Many of our guests told us that our spinach stuffed chicken and filet duo were the best wedding food they had ever tasted! We especially enjoyed the cheesecake lollipops that were passed around as a late-night treat.”

“Although many brides describe their wedding days as a blur, I remember many little details from the wedding as only a DIY bride can! On the day of our wedding I was able to step back and appreciate how all of our months of planning came together—thanks to our supportive families and friends, and our incredible vendors. As a teacher, I was able to devote the previous summer to scouring the internet and wedding magazine to find vendors who fit our style, ideas and budget, and, most importantly, who we connected with. In such a big city, it was a time consuming process, but we ended up being able to work with some of the most artistic, enthusiastic people we have ever met.”

Oh, yes! I love this thought from Jessica: handcrafting aspects of your wedding and working with local artisan vendors makes your day all the more memorable. This is the design philosophy we just adore here at C&B. Warmest congratulations, Jessica & Robert, on your beautiful, beautiful day! We wish you all the very best. Thanks, too, to Lizz Sisson of Orange 2 Photography—wonderful work as always!

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Real Chicago Wedding: Jessica & Robert (Part 1)

Real Midwest Weddings -- July 28th, 2010 -- 11:19 am

Today’s wedding is just stunning—I’m so delighted to finally get to share! We’ve been having some technical difficulties behind the scenes here and I’ve been on the edge of my seat, ready to show you this amazing wedding! Once you see for yourself, you’ll know why we jumped at the chance to feature Jessica & Robert’s gorgeous downtown Chicago wedding: the venues, the dress, the flowers, the bowties and all the amazing heirloom and handcrafted details—there’s beauty in every moment of the day! Jessica’s planning is impeccable—so thoughtful and with such a light and lovely touch! Many thanks, as always, to Lizz Sisson of Orange 2 Photography for sharing with us!

“Robert and I were married on June 26, 2010, in the heart of downtown Chicago. We knew that the city would be the perfect backdrop for the romantic wedding we envisioned. Incidentally, Chicago is a nice halfway point for our families, who are from Michigan (to our east) and Missouri (to our west).”

“After months of searching, I found my dream dress at Weddings 826—a great boutique that sells “off-the-rack” wedding gowns. I knew that I wanted my dress to have a vintage feel, and I immediately loved the bow details on the front and back. The dress was strapless initially, but the talented seamstresses at Weddings 826 created the perfect halter for me. I had a hard time choosing my veil, but I felt instantly at ease at The Left Bank—a Parisian-inspired wedding accessories boutique—where I was able to design my custom birdcage veil.”

“The bridesmaids wore two different colors of J.Crew’s Juliette dress—deep rose and light shell. These beautiful blush tones reflected our color palette and looked perfect for our summer wedding. The girls also carried adorable clutches in two different fabrics that I ordered from Gracey Bags on etsy.com.”

“Our flowers were done by Mark Weber at Kloeckner Preferred Flowers, who was able to turn my strong ideas into an amazing reality! Mark embraced my ideas and color palette and was really able to bring our “French country” vibe alive in the flowers.”

“The girls and I had our hair and make-up done at Charles Ifergan Salon on Oak Street. The salon went out of their way to make us comfortable and even set up a room where we could have breakfast and relax! It was such a great way to spend time with the girls before the ceremony, and on such a warm day, we all appreciated their wonderful airbrushed make-up!”

“Our invitations were made by Sarah Parrott of Parrott Design Studio. She designed and letter-pressed a unique invitation suite for us that matched our aesthetics to a tee. We carried this lovebird/birdcage theme throughout our wedding!”

“Our ceremony took place at The Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago, which is located on the city’s main entertainment artery, Michigan Avenue. Our reception was just blocks away at the breathtaking Murphy Auditorium. My husband and I have always admired the architecture of these two incredible buildings, and it was exciting to see the reactions on the faces of our family and friends as they marveled at these beautiful venues.”

“Rob purchased his Tommy Hilfiger tuxedo at Macy’s and finished his look with a custom estate shirt from Ralph Lauren and a matching mini-gingham bowtie and pocket square from Carrot and Gibbs. The groomsmen wore Joseph Abboud tuxes with traditional black solid bow ties provided by Formally Modern Tuxedo. For a twist (and added distinction) the groomsmen wore bright orange argyle socks from Brooks Brothers, a color which complemented the dresses of the bridesmaids.”

“We also carried/wore many special mementos on our wedding day. It was very important to me to “carry” both of my grandmothers with me so I wore a ring from my maternal grandmother and a bracelet from my paternal grandmother. My pearl drop earrings were a birthday gift from Rob from Tiffany’s. On the day of the wedding I gave Rob cufflinks made from coins from 1944 and an embroidered handkerchief with our initials and wedding date. I highly recommend utilizing all of the wonderful sellers on etsy.com for your special wedding mementos! From my garter, to our ceramic ring dish, and many other items, etsy was a wonderful resource for our wedding purchases.”

“There were so many special and touching moments throughout the day. Rob and I both agree that one moment that we will never forget occurred at the end of the ceremony when our pastor had us turn around to face our friends and family, and our bagpiper, George Sims, started his procession down the aisle. He then led us out of the church as husband and wife. It was such a dramatic, beautiful and emotion filled moment that we will never forget! If your church or venue offers a bagpiper option, we highly recommend it!”

“After months of searching for the ‘right’ photographer, we were lucky to meet Lizz Sisson from Orange 2 Photography. We felt instantly at ease with Lizz, and we had a blast shooting in some unique and memorable locations, including our engagement shoot in a field in Chinatown and literally in Lake Michigan on our wedding day! We have been amazed at the way that she manages to capture the tiniest details in the most artful ways. We will cherish her photographs of our special day for the rest of our lives!”

“The most important piece of advice I have for future brides is to take time to decide what your sense of style is and stick to it! It’s so easy to get bogged down by reading blogs and seeing all of the wonderful ideas that other brides have had but remember that your wedding should represent you and your fiancé. When we started planning, Rob and I both wanted a wedding that had a vintage vibe with touches of French accents thrown in. I really didn’t have one or two ‘colors’—instead I chose many different blush tones, as well as plenty of ivory and gold. Even though our wedding took place in the heart of Chicago, we wanted our wedding to have a cozy, yet elegant feel. Luckily, our venues both matched our ideas perfectly, and all of the vendors we worked with made sure that this aesthetic shone through.”

Such a beautiful aesthetic! The reception party is coming up and you won’t want to miss all that’s in store—the cake, the to-die-for venue, the perfect end to an unbelievable wedding day. Definitely one of our favorite weddings all time!

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Real Chicago Wedding: Sneak Peek!

Real Midwest Weddings -- July 26th, 2010 -- 10:25 am

The shore of Lake Michigan in the summertime—what’s not to love! We’ve got one wonderful heirloom wedding coming up—stay tuned for all the details!

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Wedding Weekend: Enjoying July in Chicago

Wedding Weekend -- July 21st, 2010 -- 8:27 pm

This weekend is one of Chicago’s biggest bridal events of the season: the running of the brides! After Filene’s, we have a couple suggestions for what to do around town.

Follow up your first dash for the dress with a little something mellower! Head on over to the whiteXchange for breakfast, 30-70% off their already deeply marked down gowns and lots of other perks. Christos, Vera Wang, Amsale, Reem Acra, Carolina Herrera, Monique Lhuillier…need we say more?

Once you’ve got your dream dress set and savings in hand, don’t forget your guy! With the new season of Mad Men about start, fine suits are on our minds. We’ve been hearing amazing things about the custom tailoring at Balani Custom—so worth making an appointment and stopping in.

With flavors like banana curry and Mexican hot chocolate, why not celebrate your finds with some decadent gelato delights at Black Dog? Chat up the staff about their adorable gelato cart—just the thing for a summer wedding day!

And, come Monday, make your plan to get healthy & happy before the big day: get your dance on! Joffrey offers some wonderful ballet course options. Brava!

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A Vision for the Event: Midwest Eco Chic Wedding

A Vision for the Event -- July 15th, 2010 -- 12:00 pm

So excited about today’s feature! We’ve yet to talk much on Clover & Bee about the far north region—which made waiting to share this shoot with you nearly impossible! To say we were thrilled is an understatement. Laura of Fargo’s Frozen Music Studios put together this fabulous eco-minded affair with a handful of super-talented local wedding vendors. For farm weddings, the North Dakota/Minnesota border is one of the most lush and gorgeous areas we know. The wildflowers alone! And the rustic venue is just to-die-for—but we’ll let Laura tell you all the details!

Beautiful bridal hair flowers from Bethany Lorelle, one of our Minnesota faves.

This winter, I had the idea to put together a photo shoot to illustrate to local eco-conscious brides that they have the option to have a gorgeous green (and also budget friendly) wedding. I got the chance to tour the brand new venue, Rustic Oaks Inn & Barn in Moorhead, MN, on the outskirts of town, and knew that it was a perfect location for the shoot. Rustic Oaks features a two-level heated barn, a completely renovated farmhouse-turned-inn, and an expansive riverfront property strewn with shade trees, native grasses and wildflowers perfect for photographs. In a word, it’s gorgeous.

The lovely fondant cake is from Fantasies in Frosting. The florals are—I just love this—straight from the wildflower fields at Rustic Oaks.

Alicia Weigel of Bliss Events in Fargo and I styled the shoot and our local vendors offer a whole host of earth-friendly options. Vintage weddings are just starting to become popular in our area, and they lend themselves perfectly to a green theme and the feel of this sweet farm venue.

Wedding bands and raw diamond rings from North Dakota’s Bead Unique.

Menu and invites from Ty & Lindsay Hagerott of Song 3:4.

Catering—yum!—by Eric & Sara Watson at Mosaic Catering.

Really, it’s not difficult to have an elegant and green wedding. It just takes a little thinking ‘outside the box’ and a passion for the environment in which we live. Here are some of the green ideas we incorporated into this shoot:

* Found objects/antiques for decor
* Reusable plates and glasses and real silverware for place settings
* Beverages in recyclable containers (glass bottles/cans) instead of plastic cups (and recycling bins available)
* Heirloom pearls were restrung to create modern pieces at a local jeweler
* Wedding band made from recycled gold at local jeweler
* Bridal gowns found at local consignment shop
* Accessories handmade from local artisans
* Hair and makeup from local eco-conscious salon and using Aveda products
* Bridal bouquet and vases filled with native wildflowers and grasses from the grounds of the venue
* Soy candles
* Locally grown/organic foods served
* Invitations and menus printed with soy-based ink on paper with recycled content
* Ceremony/reception all at one location…cuts down on travel
* Beautiful venue that needs little decoration
* Enjoying the outdoors…cuts down on the need for artificial lighting

Hair and makeup by Stacey Matejcek & Sara Smith of Wildflower Salon. Gown from Formal Consignment.

You can find more green wedding tips on my blog, and, if you’re interested, I include information about how to have an earth-friendly wedding in my welcome packet to couples thinking about using Frozen Music Studios for your photography. Of course, you can always drop me a line—I love talking about all things wedding and green!

Special thanks to the models for the shoot, Melissa Leslie & Jared Shields!

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Fashion Wise: Janay A. Handmade

Fashion Wise -- July 8th, 2010 -- 4:35 pm

Heirloom dresses made modern—yes, please! Kansas City’s Janay A. Handmade works wonders redesigning vintage wedding gowns (check out this gorgeous dress—love that peach tulle!), crafting ring pillows and styling birdcage veils. The unique details are just divine. Catch her work at one of the upcoming events with the Wedding Hive, KC’s own independent wedding collective. Perfect for the artisan-inspired fête!

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Sweet Find: Spruce Flowers & Home

Sweet Finds -- July 1st, 2010 -- 8:14 pm

Lovely alert: new floral shop in Minneapolis! Spruce offers beautiful arrangements and fresh home goods (including these gorgeous couture pillows above from local fashion designer Joynoelle). The best part: they’re offering floral design classes. A perfect outing for you and the girls or for some serious DIY wedding inspiration.

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Real Indiana Wedding: Amanda & Roger (Part 2)

Real Midwest Weddings -- June 29th, 2010 -- 10:15 pm

More from Amanda & Roger’s Indiana wedding at the stunning French Lick Resort…! (In case you missed it, find Part 1 here!)

“We chose black bridesmaid dresses and tuxedos for their simplicity and pure elegance. Our color palette was very soft and full of cream, and medium to light pinks. The overall look that we wanted to capture on our wedding day can be described as ’shabby chic,’ soft and pretty. Our hope was that our sense of style would create a very inviting and comfortable atmosphere for our family and friends.”

“As a couple, our favorite memory from the day was when Roger took my hand during dinner and said, ‘How can we make this moment last forever?’ On our wedding day you could truly feel the Lord’s presence and the abundance of love, compassion and energy from all of our family and friends.”

“The best thing about getting married in Indiana is the true beauty of the state, especially the area we chose to be married. We found that nothing compared to the shear beauty of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church combined with a reception at French Lick Resort. We feel they may be among the state’s best kept secrets due to the distance from major cities, airports and interstates.” Too true!

Amanda’s advice for all you ladies planning out there: “Where do I start? The two most important pieces of advice that we give all of our family and friends planning a wedding are: One, once you make a decision stick with it. Go with your gut feeling and don’t look back. Two, be sure to take time on your wedding day to slow down, breathe and take it all in. It is overwhelming to see how many people are there just for the two of you, but it is absolutely the best feeling in the entire world.”

Oh, that last piece of advice is so sweet, just priceless, love it! Really, what greater joy is there than being surrounded by everyone you love? Congrats, Amanda & Roger! We wish you all the very best for your new life together! Many thanks to Cathy & David Photographers, too, for sharing the gorgeous shots with us!

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Real Indiana Wedding: Amanda & Roger (Part 1)

Real Midwest Weddings -- June 28th, 2010 -- 4:19 pm

Pretty in pink! Amanda & Roger’s wedding is the kind we just love—a light touch and beautiful space make for incredible sophistication. We feel so lucky to have the chance to share the pictures from Cathy & David Photographers with you!

“We were married on Saturday, May 22. It was a beautiful, warm and sunny spring day. The day began with a leisurely cup of coffee and many smiles and hugs from some of my best girlfriends. The comfortable and relaxed atmosphere continued through out the day.”

“Our ceremony took place at the beautiful St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Jasper, Indiana (built in 1837) and the reception at French Lick Resort in French Lick, Indiana. Our family, friends and vendors put their heart and soul into every detail making each one very special. Our flowers were breathtaking. Marcia Lindauer of Jasper, Indiana really put her heart into every arrangement. The results were stunning. The rosary on my bouquet was my great-grandmother’s, my namesake. It stood for all of our family and friends who are no longer with us but were still present on the most important day in our lives.”

“We chose our photographers, Cathy and David, of Bloomington, Indiana because we were drawn to their style of candid photography and their talent to capture the true love and emotion of your wedding day. Our style as a couple is simple yet comfortable and elegant. We limited the number of flower arrangements and decorations because we really wanted the true beauty of our church and reception venue to shine. Cathy & David captured every detail.”

“My dress was from the Crystal Bride in Geneva, Illinois. You know you love your dress when every morning you wake up wishing you could put it on again. All of the girls had their hair and makeup done by Stacey Mayo of Indianapolis, Indiana. Stacey and her team worked their magic and really made everyone feel like a princess. Their work is flawless.”

One of Amanda’s favorite moments from the day: “Our bridal party was making their entrance into the church as I was standing outside waiting for my dad. The sun was shining bright and very warm on my face. I had anticipated this moment for most of my life. Seeing my dad walk through the large church doors filled me with so many wonderful emotions I could hardly breathe. In his face I saw so much love and pride. It was the beginning to the most beautiful afternoon of our lives.”

Stay tuned for more from Amanda & Roger’s Indiana wedding coming up soon…just gorgeous!

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Fashion Wise: Caroline DeVillo Couture Bridal

Fashion Wise -- June 24th, 2010 -- 9:40 pm

Chicago is such an incredible city of style. If you’re gown shopping, visiting the studio of Caroline DeVillo Couture Bridal is simply a must. With a classic Hollywood feel, her designs for brides, bridesmaids and flower girls remain timeless.

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Handmade Love: Pretty, Pretty Packaging

Handmade Love -- June 23rd, 2010 -- 10:24 pm

A quick craft fix! This month, the ladies at McMaster & Storm have some wonderful tips for us on the finer points of dressing up favors. How gorgeous are these lacy paper boxes? It’s all about quality materials. Some simple touches and there you have it: beautiful gifts!

* Pretty favor boxes
* Ribbon of your choosing
* Corsage pins (Save-on-Crafts has many colors for sale)
* Stamp pad & stamp of choice—we chose birds in pink ink for a possible theme
* Martha Stewart pointed circle paper punch
* Ribbon hole punch

Favor boxes available through McMaster & Storm special order—these and many other designs available.

We love these ribbon hole punches—so handy for so many projects! We found ours at Target. For this favor box, punch a hole for the ribbon in the center of lid.

Carefully draw a pretty ribbon through the holes and tie in a flat knot. (For a detailed demonstration of tying a flat knot, click here.)

Punch out a pointed circle 1” punch and stamp your choice of image on it.

Attach the paper medallion with a corsage pin onto the center of knot.

And, just like that, you’re ready to tuck special goodies inside! Filled with candies or cupcakes, these favor boxes make a lovely addition to any wedding design.

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At Home Style: SuzAnn Kletzien

At Home Style -- June 21st, 2010 -- 10:18 pm

One wedding design rule we adore: draw inspiration from right where you live—home. The things you surround yourself with daily—those colors, patterns and styles—can be translated into some of the most fitting wedding plans. And vice versa—turn your wedding into a interior style to celebrate. Recently we caught up with SuzAnn Kletzien, Chicago interior designer and newlywed, about just this. Vintage Chicago style has never looked so fresh.

We understand you moved into your new home just before your big day—wow!

Yes… we’re really good at adding more stress and drama to any situation! We had just gotten home from my family vacation in Wyoming early August. I had to dive right into an interior design concept for a new client. Between textile samples and luggage—stuff was everywhere. The walls of our ‘cozy cave’—it was a one bedroom garden unit—began to close in. I think one of us just said the words “we need a bigger place” and the decision was made without any more thought. We started looking right away and after a bit of searching, found a place for double the size and, even better, right across the street. It was everything we needed: two bedrooms, two large closets in the master, lots of storage, a parking space, and high ceilings. The place even had a front bay window looking out onto Wrightwood Avenue (great pedestrian traffic!). This space would serve perfectly for a home office. The catch: move in by the end of August. No problem… except for one ‘small’ juncture: we were getting married August 22nd! But we knew we couldn’t pass this place up—it was a no-brainer.

What was the mood you hoped your new nest would have?

Comfortable, warm, inviting—plus, we both appreciate a lot of visual interest. We both love vintage pieces with a mix of textures and color. We also love furniture with dual function. My office work table, for instance, folds into a high bar or console table—perfect for throwing parties or making room for a Christmas tree. The coffee table folds out for a wider surface area and storage inside for DVDs and such. The vintage suitcases stacked up work as an end table but also provide storage for seasonal items. We like a nice ‘lived in’ look. Old suitcases, lamps, case goods and accessories combine to create an overall eclectic inspiration. I love bold colors and high contrast. Chartreuse was a definitive color addition when I found the tufted chair at a resale shop. It happens to work perfectly with the ‘soot’ paint color above the fireplace, the distressed leather, and the other rich colors in the space.

All the photo, art, and mirror arrangements…I love the drama these smaller details provide, as well as the history and memories. In the entry way, I’ve combined the photo strips from our wedding photo booth into two different frames. One of the frames is an antique I picked up in Ohio, dating from the late 1800’s. Some of the art is our own: oil on canvas (my own), photography and drawings (Will). The photos in the living room are old and new favorites like a soccer photo taken after Will scored a winning goal and my family photo from 1982. The mirrors have been collected for years. I love the visual interest the grouping provides. Plus, I absolutely love stripes! In our last place, I painted black and white stripes on the wall and ceiling in our closet. I wanted to carry this element to this home, and so, I decided on a gray and white thicker stripe in the closet area of our bedroom. Not an easy task while having to use a ladder!

Favorite home design shops in Chicago?

I can’t divulge my designer secrets, but I am a huge fan of the well known Jayson, Brimfield, Scout, and others. They are all resources that incorporate fabulous salvaged pieces re-imagined for the modern world. I am also a huge fan of Montauk Sofa. I firmly believe The Julian Sofa or Chair (a generous 50” wide ‘love chair’) would be a supreme addition to any space. The style is deep, extremely comfortable, and beautiful! Choose a cozy chenille for the upholstery and add a cotton or linen slipcover for the spring and summer. There are also several antique and resale shops I frequent, but, of course, I must retain my private sources!

Best thing about designing a wedding and a home in Illinois?

The best thing would be sheer beauty and inspiration Chicago naturally provides! We chose The Green Dolphin Street as our venue for a few different reasons, but the fact that the Chicago River was in the backyard with a dock may have sealed the decision. We decided immediately that, after the ceremony, we wanted to take a cocktail cruise down the waterway with the entire bridal party. There is nothing more that could capture the essence of Chicago and its architecture than taking a boat ride. Ours was essentially a destination wedding for most guests so we decided to capitalize on the location and the theme: classic Chicago. Green Dolphin Street has a classic ambience with its red velvet curtains and dark wood paneling…it is the essence of Cigar Room/Old School Blues Club Chicago. The dinner tables weren’t numbered, but labeled Chicago landmarks such as Michigan Avenue, Water Tower and Lake Michigan. The centerpieces alternated with several collected vintage glass and silver candlesticks. For Chicago fashion, the bridesmaids wore black satin tea length dresses, lace boleros, lace wrist gloves, and black patent mary jane peep-toes. I wore a strapless, silk ruched dress fitted through the hips with an a-line satin skirt and lace overlay. I also wore lace wrist gloves, a necklace which was a family heirloom from the 1920s, as well as a birdcage veil. Designing a home in Chicago is equally fun! Besides being famous for its architecture, there are countless resources in Chicago with some of the most cutting edge modern designs as well as amazing traditional vintage finds. The beauty of the Lake combined with the quaint streets lined with classic townhomes creates continued inspiration. Needless to say, I was very happy with how things turned out—with our wedding and our new home!

Thanks to Jake and Jen Moreland of Two Birds Photography, Best of Midwest Weddings member, for the wonderful shots! Are you a home design-inspired newlywed? We would love to hear your story!

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Real Wisconsin Wedding: Erin & Steve (Part 2)

Real Midwest Weddings -- June 19th, 2010 -- 3:21 pm

More from Erin & Steve’s beautiful Wisconsin barn wedding…! (In case you missed it, find Part 1 here!)

“The Enchanted Barn was the perfect venue for a wedding. I couldn’t recommend it more. Every little detail was pulled together…from horses roaming in the background to the hanging candles being lit all night long. The owner, Lorin, and the staff worked hard the whole day to change the upper level from ceremony to dinner reception to dance, all while guests mingled, had cocktails, appetizers, and cake.”

“Jan’s Custom Cakes out of Turtle Lake was recommended through the Enchanted Barn. We went in for a taste testing and Jan made some of the most amazing cake we had ever tried. She made a simple and beautiful cake that was exactly what we imagined. With all of the varieties of flavors (we chose chocolate with Bavarian crème, pink champagne with raspberry filling, and Bailey’s Irish Cream with chocolate filling), it was hard to leave one out they were so good! We only had about 10 pieces of cake left over…it was a hit!”

“I fretted the most and longest about what our favors would be…it would keep me up at night! I racked my brain thinking of favors I had received from weddings I had attended and searched and searched Google for hours looking for unique ideas. I wanted something for my guests to remember the day, something they would want to keep, something that was personal to them, and (of course!) something I made myself. My emphasis in school was ceramics and I really started to think I wanted to make something out of clay but couldn’t figure out exactly what. One night, probably at about 3:30 AM as I lie awake thinking about everything that still needed to be done, the idea of personalized magnets hit me and that was it! I used vintage pendants to press into clay to make impressions and patterns and also used initial stamps so everyone would get a magnet with their last initial on it. It was one of the projects that took the most time, but one of the things I was most proud of.”

“We decided to have a wishing tree instead of a traditional wedding book for guests to sign. This way, they could send us a personal note to remember from the day and hang it on the tree! It was really fun to read all of the notes on the plane to our honeymoon! Some notes were sweet, some funny, and some so genuine and sincere. Plus, the tree was a fun decoration in the barn!!”

“Our DJ, Ben from Blooms and Tunes, exceeded every expectation I ever had of a DJ. Since he was also a referral from the barn, he had worked there many times and knew what the flow of a wedding there consisted of. If we would have picked anyone else, a lot of little details and consistency of the wedding would have been left out. He helped lead and direct guests to and from the buffet, made sure missed candles were lit, made sure parents and the head table were served, and made small announcements about personal things like wedding favors and our wishing tree. He was wonderful to work with and a genuinely nice person to be around. Anyone who would choose the barn for their wedding would be missing out if they didn’t hire Ben as their DJ.”

When we asked Erin the best thing about getting married in Wisconsin, she said, “The barn was literally in the middle of nowhere surrounded by cornfields and cows! Where else could you do this!? Also, I feel like the barn gave our day a feeling of nostalgia and comfort. Most people have some sort of memory or connection…we are the state known for our cows and cheese!”

Erin’s advice for all the brides-to-be, “Be true to your style and don’t be afraid to look around to find what you want at the price you want. I spent a lot of extra time and stress trying to find that combination with every vendor or detail decided on. It may have created a lot of stress before the wedding, but on the actual wedding day, I had complete confidence and trust in everyone involved and it made my day so relaxing and stress free. It was a great feeling to have. Everyone else around me was more nervous than I was! As much as I wanted other people’s opinions, I really always knew exactly what I wanted and what was true to my style and vision for the day. Though its nice to involve friends and family, make sure your decisions are truly yours.”

So thrilled for you, Erin & Steve! Here’s to all the happiness and joy ahead of you! To find out more about Dani Stephenson Photography, drop by her blog and say hello. Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

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Real Wisconsin Wedding: Erin & Steve (Part 1)

Real Midwest Weddings -- June 18th, 2010 -- 2:44 pm

Yellow, white and grey—beautiful! Is there a more perfect color palette for a spring farm wedding? A couple weeks ago Dani Stephenson dropped us a note telling us about this lovely Wisconsin wedding she had just shot. When we heard the story from Erin we learned just how special—she’s such a gorgeous bride, inside and out. This day is just so sweet and meaningful—read on for the picture perfect details!

“We got married on May 15th, 2010. We were originally thinking a winter wedding, but after finding The Enchanted Barn in Hillside, WI, we grabbed one of the last open dates available! With it being such a warm spring, the barn was beautiful and in bloom and I couldn’t imagine having the wedding any other season.

“The days schedule was low key! I woke up and we had the hairdressers come to our hotel, so we spend the morning eating, drinking coffee, talking, and relaxing…all while getting pretty! Once we got to the barn, it was still pretty laid back. I felt I did a lot of sitting around and waiting, enjoying company of everyone around me. The barn set everything up for us the whole night so all we had to do was show up and the day moved on around us! Having everything in the same venue created a nice flow and atmosphere. It was also nice to have everything back to back so guests were never sitting around for long periods of time. The day went by so fast, but it was never hectic!”

“When I first arrived at the barn with my bridesmaids, it was overwhelming (in a very, very good way). The weather was sunny and warm, horses were roaming in the field behind the barn, lights lit up the downstairs and upstairs of the barn, music was being played by the DJ through the walls opened up on the side of the barn, and the flowers and cake were set up…it was the first moment I got to see everything come together and it was a moment of pure happiness. I had so much trust in everyone on my wedding day that I felt completely stress free and had no worries.”

“Our photographer, Dani Stephenson, was amazing. I had followed her blog for a long time and knew I’d want her for my wedding someday. Since we had such a short time for planning, we almost missed out on her, but after a little persuasion with the Enchanted Barn website, we luckily snagged her and it was the decision we could have ever made!”

“Planning for the day, the first decision we made was the color palette, because I felt like I couldn’t make any decisions without that nailed down. I knew I wanted something a little different then black tuxes and Steve came up with the brilliant idea of grey and I loved it! From there it was trying to decide what color would compliment grey…yellow or pink? With our short timeline, only certain dresses could be ordered in time and certain colors and yellow, or canary, was the final decision. Though at first I wasn’t sure I could imagine having all yellow bridesmaids, the dresses were subtle, elegant, and flattering on all of my beautiful bridesmaids.”

“Allure Premiere Event Florists through Lakeview Floral in Menomonie, WI arranged our incredible flowers. After two personal meetings with the owner, Lacy, I walked out feeling I knew exactly what I was going to have on my wedding day and at a reasonable price. The day of the wedding the flowers were more beautiful than I could have imagined and fit the feel of the day perfectly. It was amazing to see all of the separate decisions we made come together to form the day we had envisioned.”

“We both knew we wanted something different then a traditional church wedding in a reception hall, so our search for something different started. My parents were married in their front yard and had the reception in their barn, and I loved the airy, low-key and laid-back feel the pictures gave off. I had heard of a barn in the area that was renovated only for weddings, we found it, snagged one of the last dates available, and never looked back. It was something different, unique, elegant, rustic, and somehow modern…perfect.”

“I really wanted to create a wedding dress from my mother’s. With time running out and a huge list on the do it myself planner, I decided to look around at dresses. I ended up finding the perfect dress, but still wanted to find a way to incorporate the fabric from my mom’s dress in the wedding somehow. I ended up wrapping my flowers in a strip of lace from her dress and we also accented the throwing garter with the same lace. My parents’ wedding was more of an inspiration in my planning than I really realized at first, but ours was really just a modern recreation of theirs!”

I just love this twist on tradition! There are so many possibilities—not just wearing a dress across the generations but places, heirlooms, all the meaningful, poetic details. More soon from Erin & Steve’s day!

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