Chicago Bride

Zip Zip

2008-04-22T13:58:00.002-05:00

Being a seasoned Chicagoan, I, like most, people realized that after 3 months in the city, my car had been parked on the very same street corner for quite some time. It was a hard decision, but I sold my car almost 3 and a half years ago. Up until just recently, I have been quite content without a car, but now that wedding errands are starting to pick up, I began to feel the need for my own set of wheels. So, I compromised and signed up for Zip Cars, and it is amazing. Not only am I helping the planet by sharing cars with thousands of other Chicago residents, I am able to reserve a car basically at the drop of a dime for all of the running around I will be doing over the course of the next several months. The cars are clean, drive well, and parked all over the city. The process is unbelievably easy, 100 times easier than renting a car and you can make a reservation for as little as an hour. The rates are pretty reasonable, considering the car comes with a gas card… that’s right, you do not have to pay for gas. Just make your low annual payment and the car rents for under $10 an hour. Totally perfect for Chicago Brides like me that has important errands to run only a few times a month.

RSVP Organization

2008-04-10T14:58:00.004-05:00

OK, after months of creating the perfect RSVP card, I am now stuck with the one dilemma that every bride worries about, what if my guest does not fill it out properly? I have seen before where there is a small handwritten number on the back of the RSVP, but after spending the time to carefully craft and design my RSVP's I didn't want to have anything handwritten appearing on them. So, I used my sleuthing detective skills and came up with a solution. I just bought an invisible pen! The numbers will not show up on the cards, but upon their return, I will simply use my new tool to detect the number in place. This way even if my guest forgets to put their name, I can revert back to my records and determine who it came from. Brilliant I tell ya!

Art Fair Jewelry

2008-04-07T14:09:00.006-05:00

Spring is here, and I am on a mission this summer to find my bridesmaids some one of a kind pieces at one of Chicago's many wonderful art fairs. I want to pick out something that reflects each individual girls, and stear clear of the ever-so-ordinary bridal store rhinstones. Some of the my bridesmaids love sporting colorful pieces, and some of the girls are a bit more conservative, so I am mixing am matching simple and dynamic jewelry.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Wells Street Art Festival June 14-15, Wells St & North Ave

Taste of Randolph June 20-22, Randolph Street

Custers Last Stand June 21-22, Evanston

Fountain Square Art Festival June 28-29, Evanston

Gold Coast Art Fair August 8-10, LaSalle Street

Birds of a Feather, Eat Cake Together

2008-02-11T21:50:00.000-06:00

I have not decided if we will want to go this route for our cake topper yet, but I came across the most incredible little alternative to your standard, not so inspiring, porcelain cake topper. These little birds are hand made by Ann Wood, a Brooklyn artist that has some of the most incredible little creatures you have ever seen. I will definitely keep her in mind, and wanted to share my amazing find with all you Chicago Brides.

Pieces of our Day

2008-02-10T13:19:00.000-06:00

I have been searching for a unique way to create a guest book. I decided to make a mosaic table using tiles signed by our guests. I am using white unfinished tiles that are 1.5" square. To fill in, I will use colorful mosaic tiles that can be purchased at any craft store. I will also start shopping for a table I like, and will have a recessed level routered on the table top, leaving about an inch border. Our guests will signed each tile individually with a permanent black sharpie marker, and the will be stored safely on our wedding night. I will later finish each one with a sealant so they will not smear. I can then start arranging the tiles on my table top, and finish with a light amount of grout. I will also allow room in the center for one larger tile with our names, and wedding date. This will make for a great conversation piece, and will be perfect for displaying our wedding photos in our new home.

Filed with Love

2008-02-04T20:45:00.000-06:00

In addition to my flash drive, I have also seen an accumulation of physical paperwork that is very important in regards to wedding planning. Being the overly organized gal that I am, I do have a file cabinet at home, but I found that my one ambiguous Wedding file was soon filling up and organization across categories was lacking. I found a solution that works absolutely perfect. I purchased a file tote, and have sub folders for all of our vendors, and documents. Since the file tote has 7 compartments, I generalized into the most used categories: Church, Reception Site, Photographer, DJ, Flowers, Transportation and Attire. This way each of the main vendors has their separate folder, making it very simple to keep organized for the ongoing meetings and correspondence. This is also a way to keep handy all of our swatches and color palettes for each visit with a different vendor. I also found some room to fit in a wedding receipts envelope and a to-do list. If I have something that I do not need to reference as much, I throw it into that existing Wedding file of my home file cabinet. The file tote is great for a bride that seems to be running in all different directions.

Shue Hue

2008-01-10T12:33:00.000-06:00

If you are a stylish bride, try pairing your gown with a beautiful pair of colorful shoes. This is the perfect way to incorporate a bit of fun into your all-too-white attire. If you chose not to go with an extreme hue, try a metallc heel that will still give a bit of contrast to your ensamble. This is a great wow factor, and you can have so much fun with it.

Swatch Watch

2008-01-10T12:17:00.000-06:00

It may be a good idea to get a swatch of your bridesmaids dresses. Most boutiques will give them to you for free. If they do not offer swatches, go to you local paint store, and pick up every shade of paint swatch that you feel is similar to your dress colors and take these back to the boutique to compare. Once you have narrowed it down, you can shop for the same fabric type at your local fabric store. This will help in deciding on flowers jewelry, shoes, groomsmen attire and other accessories for you wedding day.

Think Outside the Tux

2007-11-28T15:23:00.000-06:00

You have finally found that perfect shade of chiffon or satin that will adorn your bridesmaids on the day of your wedding. Now it is time to turn your attention to the men.

You want the groomsmen to coordinate with your bridesmaids, not match them stitch for stitch. A sea of all the same color may end up looking a bit too much like your 90’s prom reunion. Instead, use colors that compliment your bridesmaid dresses. Mix and match a neutral vest with a more colorful ties and handkerchiefs, these may coordinate with the bridesmaid sash if you have chosen to do such. Choose a patterned tie that incorporates a hint of your colors, this is a sure way to have your men looking sleek. Lastly, you can always coordinate the flowers in the boutonnières to give the guys that extra pop of color with out going overboard on the rest of their attire.

Paper Source

2007-11-13T11:00:00.000-06:00

I love this place! I am a graphic designer that has an obsession with stationary. I have chosen to take on the task of designing and assembling everything made out of paper at our wedding. My checklist thus far consists of the following items:

Save the Dates
Invitation Card
Invitation Band Wrap
Insert Cards: Location * Map * Reception * RSVP
Vellum tags for hotel bags and bridal party gift bags
Bears Schedule Post Card for Hotel Bags (with directions to the church on back)
10-page wedding program
Table Numbers
Place Cards
Menu Cards
Favor Packaging
Letterhead for vendor correspondence
Thank You Cards

I am going to be busy! At my favorite Paper Source, located in River North, they already know me by name, and I am still in the trial and error phase. I have yet to place my BIG order.

Paper Source has an entire room filled with card stock of pretty much any color you can think of. They have books of examples for inspiration, and a friendly staff willing to help guide you in the right direction. You can venture upstairs to find all sorts of amazing little accents, and supplies. They do offer workshops, I have yet to partake. Even if you are not doing your invitations yourself, the store has everything you need for those extra items like gift tags, lables and place cards.

One of the coolest things I bought was our return address embosser. Since we already live together (it is 2007, this should not be shocking), we chose to leave our names off our return address, and simply just have our address. This way, after we are married, we can still use the plate (they are $25 each) until we move. We will then incorporate the “Mr. and Mrs.”

If you are going traditional with your invites, you can have your parents address embossed onto a plate as well.

They have Chicago locations in Lincoln Park, River North, Evanston, Highland Park, and Oak Park.

Digital Shopping Cart

2007-11-13T10:53:00.000-06:00

I have been doing this a lot lately. Every time I plan a wedding shopping excursion, I make sure to take along my digital camera. While I am browsing, I take pictures of things I like, rather than purchasing them on the spot. Be sure to turn off your flash as not to draw attention to yourself, some stores may not approve of your flashy behavior. When I get home, I review what I took, and it helps me make better decisions about what I will be purchasing for décor. I am able to compare items, and pick out exactly the ones I want. I save my photos on my flash drive, in a folder called “shopping,” and label each subfolder with the name of the store I visited. Once you narrow your options down you can return to the stores to purchase them more confidently.

I like to visit places like Crate and Barrel and Pottery Barn to take photos of their table settings, and table décor. I then head over to my local craft store to see if they have similar items that fit my budget.

Another great idea, is to start an inspiration board. Print the photos of items you absolutely love, and pin them up on a bulletin board to see how well everything goes together. You can also pin up photos you’ve pulled from magazines of flowers you like, or your bridesmaid dresses, ribbon, swatches, invitations, etc.

The Honeymoon

2007-11-07T11:12:00.000-06:00

As the weather turns colder here in Chicago, I cannot help but start to think about that one aspect of your wedding that makes these months of planning all worth it. The Honeymoon. Many couples explore many different options when planning their romantic getaway. Our decision is base around a few simple guidelines. If you are planning a fall honeymoon, as we are, you may want to keep a few of these in mind.

We just want to relax, after 21 months of planning, all we want to do is sit on a beach, and soak up the sun. Tropical it is.
We are already planning to take a substantial amount of time off to prepare the week before the wedding, leaving us with about a week for our honeymoon. We want to make the most of it without spending hours on a plane. South of the border we go.
Hurricane season: July through November. The majority of hurricanes hit the central to northern Caribbean islands. With the seemingly increasing amount of hurricane activity in the fall, we have cut out this area all together, and focus on western Mexico and the Baja Peninsula. Better to play it safe, you have enough to worry about already.

Direct flights. We all know the hassle that connecting flights can be. After your wedding, you may want to consider splurging for direct flights or picking a destination that has an international airport. This will cut down your travel time substantially, giving you less of a headache, and more time to enjoy your honeymoon.

All inclusive is the way to go if you just want to relax. Find a resort that offers all of your meals and beverages. You can plan a few extras fun activities once you have your vacation booked, but this will take the stress off of planning every single aspect of your trip.

Start looking for airfare, and accommodations now, but don’t commit to anything right away. Once you have chosen a destination and resort, monitor the rates over the next few months. You will ideally want to have something booked at least 4 months in advance.

Splurge, It is your honeymoon! Upgrade your suite, get massages, facials, pedicures. After all the stress of planning, this is your time to relax with your new husband.

Make sure that your passports will be valid at the time of your honeymoon if you are choosing to go international.

Addressing the Issue

2007-11-01T09:52:00.000-05:00

I have started taking on the task of compiling addresses for all of my guests. If you have ever had to do this, you know it is no easy task. I began my search by asking others first. But if you have simply exhausted all methods for detecting one’s address, it will not necessarily break any rules of etiquette to ask that person yourself. I chose to start this task now, right before the Holidays, in hopes that people will just figure I am updating my address book for sending out Christmas cards. I don’t know for certain if my method will prove as coy as I have hoped, but in any case, the addresses are rolling in.

Once you do compile your addresses, it is a very smart idea to cross check them with Mapquest, or Google Maps to make sure that exact address really does exist somewhere on this planet. Be sure to address your invitations exactly how they appear once you have looked them up. For example, most people may be accustomed to leaving off the street prefix and suffix, which may cause postal confusion down the line. Lastly, be sure to incorporate a person’s apartment or unit number after their street address, if they live in a multiple unit building.

A typical USPS approved address should look like this:

555 S. State St., Unit 2
Chicago, IL 60605

As for the actual names of your guests, this is entirely up to you. I really depends on how formal or informal your wedding will be. Here are a few simple guidelines:

Married couple:

Mr. and Mrs. John Smith

Married couple with children under 18:

Mr. and Mrs. John Smith, and Family

Single guest:

Mr. John Smith and Guest

If you choose to invite children of guests, and those children are under 18, they can simply be included on their parent’s invitation. If the children are older than 18, they should receive their own invitation.

It is appropriate to include a guest with all single invitee’s. Including a second name on an invitation is usually considered more informal, but that significant other may feel insignificant if they are labeled as just a “guest.” This is up to you.

If you are inviting single’s that are not in a serious relationship, it is still expected to account for a guest in attendance with them.

If numbers are an issue, as most formal dinner receptions are, make sure your RSVP cards allows your guest to denote exactly how many they will have in attendance.

Bridesmaid Blog

2007-10-30T09:13:00.000-05:00

We all know that wedding websites are the new craze in planning a wedding. They provide your guests all the information they need for the big day. But what about all of your other wedding events? You may not want to post information about your showers and Bachelorette parties on your actual wedding website. I have created a blog for my bridesmaids and closest friends only. This blog will have all the information that they will need to my showers and parties. You may also want to give your Maid of Honor access to your blog so she can post key information as well. Keep in mind; you do not want to bog your friends down with tons of information, so keep it simple. Post only about events that they will be attending, or things they will need for the big day. If a post is specific to your bridesmiads only, simply put Attn: Bridesmaids at the top of the post. Don't post every random thought you have about your wedding, this will overwhelm your friends. You will want to emphasis that this is their personal website, and does not replace your actual wedding website. You can have your Maid of Honor list this blog on all of your party and shower invites.

Props to Flowers

2007-10-12T16:49:00.000-05:00

We all love flowers, so here's an idea to spruce up your engagement photos. Buy some loose flowers from your local flower shop and make a simple bouquet to bring with you on your engagement photo shoot. If you have in mind what kind of flowers you will have at your wedding, you can choose flowers to match, or just choose what ever your little heart desires. If you know your wedding colors, you can also wrap this bouquet with ribbon of the same color theme and pin with pearl pins, or tie in a loose bow. My bet, you will look and feel more vibrant holding a beautiful bouquet, and it can make for some interesting shots. This will also look great if you choose to display a few of your engagement photos at your wedding, and it gives you an excuse to buy more flowers!

DIY Floral Arrangements

2007-09-25T15:47:00.000-05:00

Here is an idea for the creative Bride. Buy your flowers wholesale, and arrange them yourself! Keep in mind this will have to be done the day before your wedding, so this should only be considered if you are willing to give up a few hours on the morning of the day before your wedding, and if you have creative friends and family that will help you. Here is what you will need to do:

Find a florist, or wholesaler that you can place an order of exactly they type of flowers you will want. If you are taking on this task, you may want to keep your selection to about 2-3 types of flowers. You will want to place your order no later than 3 months before the big day, and your order should arrive no earlier than 1 and a half to 2 days before your wedding.

Arrange several practice arrangements, and show those you have chosen to help how each one should look. This will also help you determine if the flowers you have chosen will hold up for the appropriate time. You will want them to maintain brilliance for at least 3 days.

Determine how many arrangements you will be making and what you will be using for vases. You can usually find reasonably prices vases at Hobby Lobby, JoAnn Fabric, or even a grocery store that has a pretty extensive floral department. If you are ordering your vases, be sure to allot enough time for your shipment to arrive.

You can also consider finding a party supply company that will rent vases. Caution though, this may get a little bit nerve-racking come a week before the wedding. It might be better just buying the vases and then selling them later. This way too, you can possibly allow your guests to take these arrangements with them at the end of the night, without fear of losing a rented vase.

Talk with your reception venue and see if they have a room that you and your "floral posse" can set up shop the day before the wedding. It is mandatory that this room be kept at a cool temperature. Ideally, it would be a room adjacent to the ballroom, or the kitchen for easy transport of your arrangements to the tables.

You will need buckets filled with cold water to hold your un-arranged flowers, and a watering can with a thin, narrow spout to fill up vases that have been adorned.

Ask your venue if they will set out your arrangements the day of your wedding, or appoint a Day of Coordinator to make sure that all arrangements are properly placed on your tables. The last thing you want to do is direct set up on your big day.

Note: This does not pertain to your bouquets and boutonnières, these will have to be considered as well. You may want to leave this task to a professional florist, and have them match the rest of your flowers.

Urban Engagement

2007-09-25T15:12:00.000-05:00

Being the city-dwellers that we are, we have opted to have our engagement photos taking in the heart of the concrete. Over the last several weeks, I have been scouting the pavement looking for the perfect urban photo shoot locations. I have found that the simplest things that we see everyday, can be transformed into an amazing portrait of our life in the city.

Here are a few suggested locations for your Chicago Engagement Photo Shoot:

Lurie Garden in Millennium Park: I know, I know, it's Millennium Park. But is a retreat set behind the Pritzker Pavilion that will give you lush greens, modern landscaping, and still get that amazing skyline.

CTA Stops: Pick one, there are hundreds of train stations. Choose one that is unique to you. These are great for that "I don't care if I miss my train, because I am in love" shot!

The Loop: Just walk around, there are thousands of buildings with amazing lobbies, landscaping, and planter boxes. Choose to shoot on a Saturday or Sunday, when the streets of the CBD are not pack with feisty office workers. They can be nasty!

Lightology: This is a light fixture store located in River North, they have an amazing Rooftop Terrace Showroom that is accessible to anyone. I do suggest you call ahead and give the staff a heads up, but they are perfectly fine with this notion. This location makes for unbelievable skyline shots and still gives you an intimate setting.

Doorways and Stairs: This city is filled with intricate doorways and staircases that make for very unique photo opts. Walk around a few weeks before your schedules shoot and snap a few pictures you like. Even the simplest brick wall covered in ivy can make for the best urban backdrop.

Your Favorite Restaurant: Call your favorite restaurant and ask them if you can set up a mini-photos shoot in their lobby, at a table, or on their patio. Schedule your shoot when the restaurant is least likely to be crowded, and they may even open their doors early for you and your sweetie.

I have found that trying to pick a location for our engagement photos, is a lot harder than I imagined. There are entirely too many options. In the end, pick a place that you and your fiancé feel the most like yourselves. This will guarantee that your feelings for one another will be expressed as naturally as possible in your engagement photos.

The Dress

2007-09-25T14:14:00.001-05:00

I went shopping a few weeks ago for my dress, and I ended up finding one that is simply amazing. I immediately was able to envision every detail of the day, with my dress now being the centerpiece for my inspiration.

Here are a few tips for dress shopping:

Make appointments! Pretty much all bridal shops do not take walk-in's. And if do allow you to browse around, they may not give you as much attention as you deserve.

Don't bring more than 1 or 2 close friends or family members. The differences in opinion will drive you mad. Bring someone you trust, like your mom. OK, even if you don't trust your mom's opinion, she will love to be there.

Have a game plan, print out a few dresses that you like, and explain to your consultant what it is about each dress that you like. Never tell them you "love" something, because that will give your consultant a one-track mind. Rather mention that thing you "love" in moderation, she will get the hint.

On the day of shopping, wear a strapless bra and sensible undergarments, you will be in and out of gowns like commuters on the CTA.

Try on as many dresses as your consultant can carry into your dressing room. Even if you fall in love with the very fist dress, you will need to try on a variety to determine the one that is right for you.

Shop several bridal boutiques. Different selection and opinions from staff will help give you an honest perspective of what looks gorgeous on you.

Keep your day in mind. If it is a summer wedding, you may not want a 40 lb ball gown. If you are having a fall or winter wedding, try layering your dress with intricate lace. This can be done tastefully.

Be honest with yourself and your consultant. If the dress is not you, then don't settle.

Don't buy a veil just because your consultant popped it on your head. Make this another fun excursion so you can find exactly what you have in mind.

If you bring a camera, ask first if your party can take pictures. If you can, this is great, you can analyze the different dresses later and avoid making an on-the-spot decision. You can also browse the Bridesmaid section, taking photos of dresses you may want to consider.

Happy Shopping!

Let's Dance

2007-08-29T12:18:00.000-05:00

Another very important aspect to consider when planning your wedding, is your music. Weather you decide to book a band or have a DJ, you should keep in mind that this will be the entertainment for the entire evening. From your cocktail hour to dancing your heart out later in the evening, your choice of music will influence the mood of you and your guests for the entire night.

We decided to go with a DJ, for the simple fact that we wanted the freedom of choosing our own play list. I am giving my fiancé full reign over the music. This keeps him busy. He is keeping in mind that there will be many different types of people at our wedding, and narrowing in on one style of music is not an option. We are staying away from the cheesy wedding songs as well. A good play list is not hard to construct, just make sure you are in agreeance with your DJ that he will stick to the plan. Again, keep it simple.

We have yet to pin point our first dance song, but my fiancé has suggested that we take dance lessons, yes, it was his idea. I am not saying we want to come out and show up Dancing with the Stars, but we want to choreograph our first dance a little bit. We feel it will give our guests a little more entertainment than simply swaying back and forth.

Bringing Blingy Back

2007-08-16T21:57:00.000-05:00

So, I became a bit obsessed with taking my engagement ring to the jeweler to have it cleaned. After about my 5th trip, they finally disclosed a wonderful bit of advice that I will now share with you. To clean your ring at home, fill a saucepan to about an inch with water and boil. Bring the temperature back to medium and add 2 drops of Palmolive Dish Soap. Holding your ring with your fingers, carefully dip it into the hot water for about a minute. Next, take an extra soft toothbrush (the kind they make for kids) and gently brush your ring from the under side. Diamonds sparkle because light reflects off of the bottom of the stone, when this surface is clean, they sparkle brighter. Your ring should have tiny spaces underneath the setting for this very purpose. Rince, and repeat: brushing the top surface of your ring as well. To finish, carefully blot with a soft cloth. Wha-Laa: The bling is back!

Photag Prelims

2007-08-14T17:15:00.000-05:00

I have started the search for my wedding photographer. This can be one of the most meticulous searches of your planning process, second only to finding your perfect groom.

I started by asking my reception venue for a list of recommended photographers, and soon ruled them out one by one. I then asked around. I found this to be more helpful, and I learned what I needed to be asking.

Do you have an assistant working with you?

Do you provide all-day coverage of my events?

Do you take an unlimited amount of photos?

Will you be able to shoot at several locations (i.e. church, venue grounds)

Do you offer my guests easy online ordering of prints?

How long will these prints be available online for my guests to order?

Do you give me a CD or DVD with all of my high resolution photos?

How long will it take before I receive this CD or DVD?

What type of albums do you offer?

What is your deposit requirement?

Do I get to keep my proof book, if one is printed?

What are your engagement photo session rates?

Do we get to choose our engagement photo session location?

Do you offer my guests easy online ordering of our engagement photo prints?

Do you have a back up plan if your camera breaks?

How long have you been a wedding photographer?

What is your style of photography?

Can I see your portfolio?

Today, you will find many photographers that are taking a photo-journalistic approach to wedding photography. This is unique way to capture every moment of your day and not be stuck with only those posed shots. This gives you an opportunity to really create a story when creating your wedding album. If you find that you do not like the albums that your chosen photographer offers, you have the option to use several online resources to create your own wedding album using the high-resolution images that your photographer provided you on CD or DVD. Several online vendors I came across while contemplating this notion are listed below:

I have found that most of these sites offer several ways to create a wedding album. You can create a hard copy book for yourself, your parents and the all-important new in-laws. As well as making fun little paperback books to give to you bridal party or to carry with you.

Fall Faux Pa

2007-08-13T17:37:00.000-05:00

With much consideration to Chicago's rainy spring months and sticky summer days, my fiancé and decided on having a Fall wedding. I have notice a trend when it comes to bride's planning fall wedding, and this is choosing Autumn-Themed decor.

I must ask myself, do these brides really love squash, pumpkins and wheat this much, or are have they become victim to the Fall Faux Pa of wedding planning? Just because your wedding is to be held in a particular season, does not mean you need to run out and grab every item from the seasonal aisle at Hobby Lobby. Express your personal creativity and get past this typical decor barrier. We chose late September because Chicago weather is unbeatable in the fall. The first question I am asked when I tell friends of our date is: 'are you doing a fall theme?' My answer is no. I am quite sure my florist will have flowers in other colors beside burnt orange, rustic red and squash yellow. If I do find my selection is limited, I am not afraid to mix in a few beautiful silk replacements to match my decor, or go with a classic white arrangements and accent with my colors elsewhere.

City Chic Venues

2007-08-10T19:15:00.000-05:00

Chicago boasts as one of the most beautiful and unique cities in the world. For every Bride, there is a perfect venue. Below are a list of some of the most unique downtown venues I came across while doing my research.

River East Arts Center
435 E. Illinois Street
Chicago, IL

Located in the New East Side neighborhood of downtown Chicago, this loft-style venue is perfect for a Bride who wants to make a vibrant impact for her wedding reception. The venue offers a variety of different settings for groups of 100 - 1,500. The venue is located in the heart of downtown, so hotels will be plentiful for your guests.

A New Leaf
1820 N. Wells Street
Chicago, IL

What more could you ask for? A New Leaf is Chicago's premier florist that doubles as a hip, urban event venue. The space accomodates smaller groups, but is perfect for a flower-filled, contemporary wedding reception in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood.

Architectural Artifacts
4325 N. Ravenswood Avenue
Chicago, IL

This northside museum is another of Chicago's amazing wedding reception venue. The space offers an eclectic atrium and garden perfect for your ceremony and reception. This venue can accomodate up to 1,000 guests, yet will make any size event seem spectacular. The museum offers free guest parking, which is hard to come by in the city.

Chicago Illuminating Company
19 E. 21st Street
Chicago, IL

This sofisticated South Loop venue takes dramatic lighting to an entirely new level. With it's grandious loft-style architecture, this is perfect for any chic wedding reception. The space holds 250-600 guests and will amaze any Chicago Bride.

Of course my list only resembles a small portion of the cities extravagant venues, these are one's that caught my eye because of there trendy uniquness.

Flash Drive Frenzy

2007-08-10T16:22:00.000-05:00

In the age of the almighty Internet, every bride needs a flash drive. If you haven't noticed, there are a gazillion bridal websites, and you can sometimes find your self going in circles when doing online wedding research. I purchased a flash drive in the early stages of our engagement and created subfolders within my wonderful little memory stick to keep every component of wedding planning separate. So, as I a surfing the web, I save images I like into the appropriate folder. Sure beats the days of clipping out of magazines, although I do that as well.

This is also where I keep all of my important documents that generated over the past several months (i.e. our guest list, itineraries, checklists, vendor contracts, etc.) The flash drive comes in handy if I am at my parents house, my sisters apartment, or at work, I can access everything I need at any given moment.

Do be sure to make a weekly back-up of your flash drive, just incase you lose that little sucker. For most brides, I recommend getting a 1 GB drive with a keychain.

An Amazing Wedding Website

2007-08-10T15:53:00.000-05:00

The very first thing I did when I got engaged, was create a Wedding Website. I wanted a tool that was easy for all of my friends, family and guests to use as our wedding plans progressed. I wanted a site that looked like it's own entity, and was not part of one of the many popular online wedding resources (i.e. theknot.com or brides.com) Although these websites are useful for generating ideas, I would stear clear of using their websites. Your guests will get confused.

I wanted a site that would allow us to use our own domain name, this was really important to my fiance and me, as it would be something easy for our guests to remember. I also wanted it simple, offering our guests only the important information that they would need to know for our entire engagement process. I came across Wed Page Designs, a web hosting site, dedicated to the internet-savy Bride.

Here are a few of the site's features:

Simple.

Multipage Design: you chose what sections you want.

Allows you to choose your own Domain Name: $80 for a 3 year supscription example: www.smith-johnsonwedding.com
Password Protect your website.

Change information instantly with Wed Page Designs login account.

Guests can download Maps and Directions.

Navigate your guests to your online Bridal Registries.

Add photos, slideshows, guestbook and RSVP section.

The most important function that this site offers is the ability to enter the addresses of all your events so your guests can generate Google maps on their own. I am a bit of a wedding invitation snob, and there is nothing worse than recieving an invitaion with a folded up map inside along with directions from every end of the earth. With Wed Page Designs, our guests can print there own directions and maps, saving us the paper and the clutter. We plan to simply list our wedding website on our invitations along with the password for our guests.

My Purpose

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My purpose is to help all of the Brides of Chicago plan their perfect event. This blog is also going to help keep me in check, as I am planning process as well. Let's do this together.