JCrew’s Fall 2009 Preview!

JCrew Strikes Again…. I can barely contain my longing for some of these fabulous frocks! Bridesmaid or no bridesmaid, I would love to add these to my wardrobe (I would if I could… but I can’t). It looks like some dresses are already available, while others you may have to wait until the fall (hence, “Fall Preview”). Hrmm, and it looks like a few of these are mixed in from past seasons as well…

Here are some of the standouts!

I <3 chiffon

Perfect for a summer wedding!

 

The subtle sweetheart neckline and seaming is lovely… and I’m really feeling that shade of green!

 

My absolute favorite, the pleating detail is just exquisite!

  For the relaxed, beachy bride.

That lace panel in the back is SO HOT, I could totally see this as a bride’s reception dress. And I love that this is also available in black!

*swoon* Click on over to JCrew to see the rest! Which is your favorite??

Father of the Bride Woes

No surprise, I am a big fan of the Weddingbee message boards – they are chock full of interesting tidbits and provide a truly helpful network of readers. I recently caught a post where a reader shared her FATHER’S new blog that he recently started in order to document his own perspective during his daughter’s wedding planning process. The title of the blog is called, “Poor Wedding Dad”. No fancy-schmancy layout, no pretty pictures, this is the most basic of basic-looking blogs. And yet…

HI-LA-RIOUS!

OMG, I really hope this dad continues to update, because this is definitely an untapped blog market! And it really works because he is such a witty writer. Check it out and show this dad some love!

Are You Funky?

There are a ton of websites out there that let you manipulate your pictures, but I had some fun with BeFunky.com this morning! Upload your fave picture, try out some of the effects, and then save the image. Just think of all the fun wedding-related uses for your new images! Save-the-date cards, on your wedding website, table numbers, thank-you cards… the list goes on!

Here is the original jpeg that I uploaded:

 

Sunburst Effect

 

Charcola

 

Inkify

 

Patriotic

What are some other cool websites like this? Have you tried the RATERBATER yet?! An oldie but a goodie… 

If I Could Do It Again: The Photographer

{Disclaimer: Being a wedding planner, I see so many options, ideas, venues, vendors, etc., that I never knew existed when I planned my own wedding a few years ago. So I’m going to have a little fun with a series called, “If I Could Do it Again” and plan my dream wedding… if I could do it again!}

Wonderful, I’ve got my dream venue! What’s next? Generally, I recommend to my clients that they start their photographer hunt as soon as they’ve secured their date and venue. I’ll follow my own advice :) Now personally, this is a toughie! There is a serious abundance of FANTASTIC photographers in the Chicago area. Yay for options! Yikes for decisions, decisions, decisions… (and I know there are a TON of amazing photographers all over the country, but gotta represent Chicago here!)

While I want a modern, chic, whimsical wedding, I want my pictures to be forever classic and utterly romantic. Enter - Dean Thorsen of Thorsen Photography. I don’t know how much more “classic” you can get. See for yourself:

Dean photographed the amazing wedding of my former clients, Natalie and Jake last September. Natalie is fellow Weddingbee blogger, Mrs. Peacock! This one below is probably one of my favorite pictures of all time!

 

Perfection.

Ohhh, but do I have to pick just ONE photographer?! For my fantasy wedding, I’d like three, please!

Hellooo Olivia Leigh Photographie… so fresh and vibrant with a heavy dose of fun and a splash of vintage.

 

Now if you don’t mind, I’d also like a rock star at my wedding… Kenny Kim is a photography ROCK STAR! He is globetrotter these days, shooting high-profile and destination weddings galore; I just love the sophisticated and editorial look of his work! Check out the amazing photos from a wedding he recently shot – the groom is Yul Kwon, winner of Survivor: The Cook Islands!

 

 

Now, if budget were no issue, who would YOU hire?!

Next: Google Has a Sense of Humor

{This is completely random, but it amused me to no end, so I just had to share! Has everyone else seen this already?}

Thanks to Nicole of Making it Lovely, I just discovered the niftiest function in Google Reader! When you install the “NEXT” bookmark, it allows you to read all of your subscribed blogs in their original format! And then as you keep clicking “next”, it takes you to the next unread post and marks them as read. BRILLIANT! Go to Google Reader –> Settings –> Goodies

But after I clicked through all of my unread posts, this is what Google told me:

 

Nice.

Top 10 Reasons to Hire Sweetchic Events

10. At Sweetchic, we understand that STDs are a good thing.

9. Because the only chargers your fiancé knows attach to his cell phone.

8. We help keep the “party” in “bridal party.”

7. We’ll make your rehearsal run more smoothly than a George Clooney casino
heist.

6. When it comes to troubleshooting, we’re locked, loaded, and ready to fire.

5. Ivory and cream aren’t even in the same family. We get that.

4. We hold advanced degrees in aisle runner placement.

3. Your bustle, our hustle. It’s a match made in heaven!

2. “Details” is our middle name. (Yeah, we were teased a lot as kids.)

1. Spreadsheets make us hot.

{This is originally from my website, but I thought I’d put it here for those who haven’t seen it.}

HAPPY FRIDAY!

If I Could Do It Again: The Venue

Being a wedding planner, I see so many options, ideas, venues, vendors, etc., that I never knew existed when I planned my own wedding a few years ago. So I’m going to have a little fun with a series called, “If I Could Do it Again” and plan my dream wedding… if I could do it again! Not that my wedding day wasn’t the best day of my life – because it absolutely was! But knowing what I know now, I would plan a completely different affair. And keep in mind, this is with an imaginary budget of… oh wait, there IS NO budget, this is my new DREAM wedding so let’s go nuts! haha.  But I will do my best to keep this concentrated on mostly Chicago vendors since they are my bread and butter, despite the abundance of fabulous vendors from all over the country (have you checked out WeddingbeePRO lately?!)

Let’s get started! We’ve set a date - May 15, 2010! Why May? Peonies! Ranunculous! Tulips! Need I say more? (I was super disappointed when my florist told me that I couldn’t get those for my REAL September wedding)

So for my first installment, I present to you, my dream venue:

Chicago Illuminating Company

So modern, so chic, so light and airy… the perfect space for my fake wedding of 150 guests. There are three distinct areas for 1) the ceremony 2) cocktail hour 3) dinner, as well a bit of outdoor space for those who need to take a little breather. When I went to visit the raw space for the first time the other day, I was blown away (I can’t wait to actually plan a wedding here!)

An un-assuming building on the south-side of Chicago with endless possibilities on the inside! This building dates back the early 1900’s and was a power plant/warehouse in its former life.

This is the middle room, perfect for cocktail hour.  Then we’ll transform the room during dinner hour with a white, glossy dance floor (hot!), lounge furniture and a new lighting scheme. Yes, you must bring in an additional dance floor despite the gorgeous hardwood floors…

The HUGE built-in bar with marble subway tile. I especially love the drum lampshades overhead, so dramatic!

The back room where guests will be seated for dinner. We’ll do a combination of square and long 8’ rectangular tables. Bring on the drama! (FYI Those back windows have recently been changed to a frosted glass so that you don’t look out onto industrial nothingness.)

Don’t forget the upstairs nook… can we say, VIP room?!

Chicago Illuminating Company Rental Fee: $7500 for a Saturday evening) . All images from here.

Although I do have to mention my runner up venue:

The Chicago Botanic Gardens. I love love love flowers, and the thought of a spring wedding surrounded by flowers just makes me giddy.

A unique ceremony set-up in the English Walled Garden.
(Rental fee: $2000 for a Saturday evening, May – Dec)

 

 

A gorgeous evening reception at McGinley Pavillion
(Rental fee: $7000 for a Saturday evening, May – Dec)

Source

A girl can dream, right? :) What is YOUR dream venue?