At The Highland Loft, Kristina Jones Events led their Designers’ Challenge team into a blown-glass dreamscape. To showcase this vision, The Black Tie Studio captured the works of Delish Cakes, Elegant Presentations, Kristina Jones Events, Maxe Designs and Willrett Flower Company against the textured, brick backdrop of the venue.
Headed by Designed and Detailed Event Management, this Designers’ Challenge team sailed away and made waves on Lake Michigan. Inspired by the sensation of being swept away by the water, they showcased innovative and playful ways to experiment at sea. Shane Cleminson Photography captured the dreamy work of BBJ La Tavola, Delish Cakes, Designed and Detailed, Marquee Event Rentals, Nerissa B Modern Calligraphy and Town & Country Gardens aboard the Spirit of Navy Pier.
By Carol Badaracco Padgett | Edited by Kristen Rouse
It’s a well-known statement that your wedding invitation is your guest’s first glimpse at your wedding. Your wedding website, however, is a very close second.
Your wedding website allows you to communicate with everyone, all in one place. It provides an online hub for details regarding the ceremony, wedding reception, any necessary travel info — and perhaps even a look at your love story.
We have three words for you: Sofia Richie Grainge. Surely you’ve seen the world’s favorite it-girl plastered all over your phone screen. She’s inspiring fashion trends across all occasions, but most notably bridal. Everything from her effortlessly dewy makeup to her timeless wedding outfits and accessories is to die for. Here’s what to look for when curating the ultimate cool girl wedding wardrobe.
Pictured save-the-date stationery by Nerissa B Modern Calligraphy
As you check off your wedding planning tasks, one of the first big decisions will be sending out “Save-The-Dates.” These crucial pieces of snail mail not only inform guests of the upcoming nuptials with a request to attend, but they also set the tone for your wedding. Such pieces of stationery are the first part of your wedding that your guests will see, and therefore will set the stage for the theme, tone and experience your big day will take on.
But what does it take to create a beautiful and functional Save-The-Date? Here are 10 key things to keep in mind when designing and sending out wedding save-the-dates.
While weddings are often associated with lavish receptions and free-flowing drinks, the idea of having a dry wedding is becoming increasingly popular among couples. A dry wedding is a celebration where no alcohol is served – and we aren’t talking about BYOB events either!
While some couples may feel that serving alcohol is an essential part of the celebration, there are also several benefits to having a dry wedding. Here are five reasons why you might want to consider making your wedding day alcohol-free.
Every year, fashion enthusiasts eagerly await the Oscars award show red carpet to see what formalwear styles are showcased by the stars. This year’s Oscars red carpet fashion took inspiration from wedding attire, with many celebrities donning white gowns and glimmering textiles. From intricate beaded detailing to flowing trains, the fashion choices nodded to elements we love most about wedding attire. Keep reading to see some of our favorite wedding-inspired looks from the 2023 Oscars red carpet and get dreaming about your own wedding looks!
By Jessica Mae, Makeup Artist & Founder of WarPaint International Beauty Agency
Each year, color experts at the Pantone Color Institute™ select a much-awaited Color of the Year. Through trend analysis and consideration of the cultural zeitgeist, these trend forecasters study fashion, film, travel, new technologies, home design, socio-economic conditions, and more to coin a color to set the pace of the next year’s visuals.
For 2023, Pantone’s team named Viva Magenta (PANTONE 18-1750) as the Color of the Year. Vibrating with vim and vigor, the color is optimistic and strong.
If there is one thing I love, its bold colors and fun looks. I’m personally obsessed with this year’s Pantone Color of the Year for 2023, Viva Magenta. There are so many ways you can wear this color! One of the things I love the most about Viva Magenta is the feeling or attitude it creates within you when you wear it. It’s a powerful color that boosts confidence and swag – at least for me. It’s boldness, with a feeling of fun.
Cover Photo by Stephanie Wood Photography, showcasing engagement ring from Razny Jewelers
A burgeoning engagement is a thrilling and exciting time. You’re about to embark on a lifetime union and the wedding process will come with lots of decisions. The first big decision (after choosing your partner, of course) is your engagement ring. Before we share some of our favorite Chicago-Style engagement rings, let’s go over some shopping groundwork:
Photo by Rachael Schirano Photography
The wedding dress shopping process and purchase is frequently one of the most magical parts of the wedding planning process. But after the vows are said and the reception dance floor is empty, what happens to this beloved dress?
Just as you saved memories with beautiful photography and videography, don’t forget to properly preserve this part of your wedding day as well. Step one of that process begins here. We spoke with Jonathon Reckles, VP of Marketing at CD One Price Cleaners, to answer questions surrounding wedding gown preservation.
To describe the Chicago bride is to rattle off an adjective soup in vain. Because what makes her her cannot be pinned into explanation, she just has it. She doesn’t need to define herself with fashion trends or aesthetic boxes, she makes a name for herself by just being present.
So when the It Girl falls in love and decides to wed, the Chicago streets welcome her in. When it comes to wedding planning, there’s no reason to look beyond Chicago’s graffitied alleys and remnants of World’s Fair charm for inspiration. The It Girl bride is playful, vibrant and a purveyor of fine things — and her wedding matches. “The 2023 bride is the epitome of the modern woman,” mused stylist Catherine Vreeland of Mira Couture. “She is a cool girl, intelligent, confident, electric and, of course, stylish.”
The Windy City’s home run roster of vendors and artistry energizes. Skipping through West Town in eclectic couture pieces, come step into the world of our It Girl bride.
WRITTEN BY Cora Gold, Revivalist | Featured Photos by Katherine Salvatori (See the rest of Kailee & Joey’s wedding here!)
Pictures are a beautiful way to remember your wedding day. They capture memories you’ll remember forever and moments you may not notice while they’re happening. They deserve more than a picture album, especially for the standard cost of a wedding photographer’s time and skill.
Check out these creative ideas for what to do with your wedding photos. You’ll find new ways to use your favorite pictures and continue celebrating your big day long after it’s over.
WRITTEN BY Michael J. Calabrese, Principal of Calabrese Associates, P.C.
It’s not glamorous to talk about, but couples engaged to be married often consider whether to have a prenuptial agreement or, less frequently, a postnuptial agreement. Breaking down certain provisions of Illinois law can be helpful in making this decision with your partner.
Photo by Rachael Schirano Photography
Starting your new life as a married couple comes with many exciting changes. One of the biggest changes is a new identity (so to speak). Let’s not make the assumption that everyone who gets married changes their last name. In fact, data analytics show that about 20-30% of women keep their maiden name after marriage. But that does leave 70-80% of newlyweds who do take their partner’s last name upon marriage.
While the origins of taking your partner’s last name are admittedly outdated, the sentiment behind the practice remains. Many couples like having the same last name, as it makes them feel more unified. Other couples like the idea of creating a singular identity for when they plan to add children to their family. Others might just not like the sound of their maiden name! And every reason is perfectly valid and a good enough reason to take part in this age-old tradition.
With every wedding season comes new trends in wedding attire. While there are some styles that will never go out of fashion, there’s always room for new ones! From alternative colors to reimagining of classic bridal textiles, here are some of our favorite wedding attire trends we saw at New York Luxury Bridal Fashion Week Fall 2023.