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!