Style Me Pretty: A Secret Loft Garden

Ahhh!! It’s been sooo difficult to contain my excitement about our photoshoot that is featured today on Style Me Pretty’s Little Black Book Blog!

Back in the winter, I had lunch with Grace from Vale of Enna Floral Design and photographer Kenny Nakai, who had recently moved into their fabulous new studio space in Lincoln Park. Uhm, hello-what-a-perfect-place-for-a-photoshoot!! There are a ton of pics in the SMP feature and even more eye-candy in the Gallery, but here’s one that’s not in there:

Grace and I, tired and happy after hours of tweaking and perfecting :)

Here is probably one of my favorite shots. I am OBSESSED with the hanging mirrored table number!

I can’t even explain how tricky these bubble shots were to pull off!! But I saw it in my head and was determined to bring it to life. It involved me standing on a tall chair, ungracefully huffing and puffing, while Grace fanned the bubbles in the right direction, all while Kenny snapped a million shots! But totally worth it :)

    

Another one of my favorite details were the mirrored escort cards in the glass globe holders with a dainty ranunculous bud.

What do you think, friends?!

Images by Nakai Photography.
Event Design & Styling by Sweetchic Events
Florals by Vale of Enna
Draping by Art of Imagination
Food by Pure Kitchen Catering
Calligraphy by Write by Mike

Venue Spotlight: The Newberry Library

I am super excited that one of my 2012 couples just booked one of my favorite venues, The Newberry Library as their wedding venue! It was a tough choice, and it came down to the Private Dining Rooms of Spiaggia and Fulton’s on the River. In the end, the uniqueness of the Newberry won out!

I first heard about The Newbery Library when I read The Time Traveler’s Wife (one of my favorite books) a few years ago! It also happens to be an amazing wedding venue… one that is booked solid up to 14+ months in advance! So if you love this place, be prepared to wait (or get lucky).

Why is it so popular? Well, first and foremost, it is a gorgeous library and you get the place all to yourselves for six hours. The $6,000 rental fee is fairly reasonable for downtown Chicago (ok, it’s still a lot…), especially when you consider that it includes all the tables, opera chairs, a parking lot, and you have the freedom to bring in any caterer (with the appropriate licenses and insurance) and can purchase your own liquor. It is also across the street from the lovely Washington Square Park where you can have your ceremony (a separate permit must be obtained through the Chicago Park District).

A ceremony across the street at Washington Square Park.

 

Ruggles Hall (check out those Opera Chairs!!)
   
All images above by Second Print Productions, from one of my favorite 2009 weddings!

Any Newberry brides out there?

Wedding Eye Candy

I’m headed to Hawaii today for 8 days of blissful vacation and to attend a friend’s destination wedding! We have been looking forward to this trip for months, so I am SO excited! Not to mention… I need a break! Wedding season is exhausting  :)

But before I leave, I thought I’d leave you with some wedding eye-candy: here are a few teaser pics from my last two weddings (taken by yours truly, obviously)! Stay tuned for pro pics later this month…

Dana & Steve, September 5, 2010, University Club of Chicago

Kelley & Mike, September 11, 2010, Chicago Botanic Gardens 

I’ll be back soon with some pictures from Hawaii!   

Tuesday’s Tablescape: Drama in Aubergine & Chartreuse

First of all, what is aubergine? It’s French for eggplant, as in the vegetable and color!

Today’s tablescape inspiration is full of DRAMA! I love the use of the vibrant jewel tones and the lighting, lighting, lighting! I know manzanita branch centerpieces have been done to death, but when done right, I still can’t help but love them! Especially here with the fluffy rose pomanders and crystals, nestled in a lush arrangement at the base.

 

And how gorgeous is this venue? Wedding at the Skirball Cultural Center in LA and photographed by Joy Marie Photography

Via Junebug Weddings

Indie Wed: A Unique Wedding Show

Are you going?

I am so looking forward to Indie Wed on January 30th! According to their site:

“On January 30th 2010, Chicago will be the location for a unique wedding event. The event, called Indie Wed will be the first of its kind in the Midwest, bringing together local vendors with a twist. Indie Wed caters to unconventional couples who are taking a more modern, edgy, or eco-friendly approach to their special day as well as the more conservative couples who simply want to add some special touches. The event will highlight the work of local independent designers specializing in various wedding related fields including stationery, cakes & pastries, fashion, catering, floral design and photography”

Saturday, January 30th, 2010
from 11am-5pm
at the Showroom at the Ravenswood Event Center
4025 N. Ravenswood Ave
Chicago Illinois

Click HERE to pre-order tickets, and HERE for the list of participating vendors! Hope to see you there…

We have moved!

Please check out our new home at www.sweetchicevents.com/blog

Introducing: Sweetchic’s New Website & Blog

Happy New Year, everyone!

We are SO excited to announce that Sweetchicevents.com and our blog have undergone a MAJOR overhaul! Our old site was a flash-based website through Bludomain, and while that served us very well for a year and a half, it was time for an upgrade! Our new html site now has an entirely new look and feel with the help of web designer, Lauren of Goodspark. And did you notice that Sweetchic’s logo also received a little love?

Our new blog has been integrated into the website itself, and is located sweetchicevents.com/blog/

Please be sure to change your RSS feed, Google reader, or whatever you use…

Soooo… whaddya think?!

Happy Holidays from Sweetchic!

Happy Holidays dear readers and friends of Sweetchic! It has been a wonderful year, and I’m off for an 8-day vacation to ESPANA with my husband and family tomorrow! Email access will be sporadic if at all, so hopefully you’ll understand :) I’ll be back in January with pictures galore!

I am so excited for 2010! Here are just a few of the things Sweetchic has in store for the new year:

- NEW website and blog launching in January! 
- NEW branding! (keeping my logo and my fun colors… but with a twist!)
- New Marketing collateral, fun fun!
- More consistent blogging (I promise!) and bringing it to a more personal level, and hopefully interesting to you readers :)
- A Silent Auction for charity!
- Attending the Eventology conference in Indy, and the ABC conference in Phoenix

… and of course, weddings, weddings, WEDDINGS!

Above is a close-up of the diviiiiinnee letterpress cards I sent out this season (in my colors, no less! :)  They are courtesy of lovely Etsy seller, Ruby Press, who kindly customized them to my liking. The luxurious paper, the vibrant color, and the amazing press… ooh la la!!

May your holidays be filled with family, friends, and much JOY!

Cheers,

Charlene

Venue Spotlight: theWit Hotel

There has been a lot of buzz surrounding my next featured venue, theWit Hotel, and after a recent site visit, I’d have to say that buzz is well deserved! Everything about this hotel is super modern, sleek, and chic!  theWit is located next to the Chicago Theater (as evidenced by the picture below) and the rest of the theater district and some fabulous State Street shopping.

 
Carasco Photography

Above two images: Ashley Portraits

Ballrooms with floor-to-ceiling windows and great views are not as easy to find as you may think!  
 
theWit is also home to new Chicago hotspot, Roof, aka a fab rooftop bar. Check out all the Yelp reviews.  

A hotel with a private movie theater? Yes, please! Imagine a bride and her ladies getting ready in their suite upstairs while the groom and his entourage take over this theater and catch a game (or whatever) since we all know it takes the gents less time to get ready :)

  
Swanky lobby

The lovely Library area

 
Wouldn’t it be nice to wake up to this view (in this cozy bed)?

See more hotel pictures here.

Capacity for seated dinner:  200 with full-size stage and dance floor
Capacity for cocktail reception: 400
Ceremony space: Yes, up to 300
Package starting price: $155.00**
Food & Beverage minimum: $24,000.00 for a Saturday, $20,000 for Friday or Sunday.
No Room Rental or Ceremony Fees

**Includes Cocktail Hour on ROOF

Additional options:
- AfterParty on ROOF
- Brunch in Library Space
- Party in the Theater

Chicago Weddingbee Holiday Party

Back in 2006 - 2007 when I was planning my own wedding, I was thrilled to blog as Mrs.Emerald, the first Chicago “Bee” on the fabulous site, Weddingbee, which has exploded in popularity over the years. We have since expanded our numbers to include 11 Chicago-area Bees, so I decided to invite everyone over (sans significant others) for our first annual Holiday Party! To make it quick and easy, I asked everyone to bring a drink, hors d’oeuvres or dessert… and the result was an 8 foot long spread of sparking wine, quiche, shrimp puffs, sushi, bruschetta, cookies, cream puffs and cake galore! And thanks Quiche for the lovely calla lilies :)

Thanks Heather, aka Snappy, for taking the pictures below with her new DSLR!

  

 

Cutting into my Kahlua cake and topped with fresh whipped cream… so easy to make, and so deeeelicious to eat. Let me know if anyone is interested in the recipe! :)

Had to get a picture of snap-happy-Snappy!

From L-R, Powderpuff, Stiletto, Quiche, Emerald, Snapdragon, Nacho, Mascara, and Parfait
Missing from our Chicago contingent: Jasmine, Radish, and Peacock (who almost came, but instead gave birth to baby Eloise 24 hours after our party!)

Thanks ladies for a fabulous evening! It sounds crazy, but Weddingbee really changed my life, and I now have such a wonderful network of amazing women (and a few men) who I would never have met otherwise!

Kids + Stuffed Animals Down the Aisle

I just saw this image on The Bride’s Cafe and had to share… how cute is this flower girl carrying a stuffed doggie down the aisle in her basket? It just goes to show that that a flower girl does NOT have to do anything with flowers and will still be oh-so-adorable. Simple is good :)

Photo by Jonathan Canlas (who shoots in film!!)

I love this photo and this idea because it reminds me of my own wedding back in 2007 when I gave my young flower girl and ring bearer teddy bears to carry down the aisle. She was also supposed to ring a bell with her free hand, but she felt more secure holding hands with her big brother :) And the ring bearer-bear was holding a tiny pillow with fake rings attached!

 
Photo by Dennis Lee

Did you have kids involved in your wedding, and what did they carry down the aisle?

DIFFA: More Tablescape Inspiration!

I just realized that I never finished posting the pictures that I took from the DIFFA event a few weeks ago! So let’s round out the work week with some visual fabulousness…

I love everything about this tablescape, especially the simplicity of it! There isn’t anything here someone couldn’t replicate themselves on a budget… amazing what simple topiaries and baskets of fresh apples can do!

Yes, that is a giant Benjamin Moore paint can! Someone was very creative, and this display is oh, so cute!

 Did you know that cobalt blue will look amazing with fuchsia and orange? Why yes it will! 
 

This display screams “rustic with a modern twist!!!” to me!



If I was a little girl, I would want my birthday party hosted under this tent, with those yummy cupcakes (see below)!

 
The tablescape itself was not very inspiring, but the hanging chandelier made entirely of PAPER CLIPS certainly was! I can’t imagine how much time this took…

 

    Adore the multiple vessels each with a different flower…

  
Manzanitas are still hot stuff…

Have a fabulous weekend and stay warm!