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Weddings – Those Extra Touches: Save the Date, Events, Thank You Cards

One of our featured wedding brides, Jenny, sent us these cute design ideas for Save the Date and other invitation items that her husband, Jason, created. Jason owns a high-end marketing/design firm in Chicago and he works with clients from all over the country. For their wedding, he created faux newspapers that were personalized and placed in the out-of-towner gift bags. The newspapers gave the details of the weekend but did so in a way that mimicked an actual newspaper right down to the type of paper and sepia coloring. They were such a hit that they’ve had many people (through word of mouth) contact him to recreate the newspapers with their own pictures, story, etc. His thank you cards and save-the-date were also buzz-worthy among friends. Below are examples of the designs. To contact Jason you can email or phone him at 773.248.2591.

Out-of-Towner’s – Wedding Details

Save the Date

Thank You Cards

Wedding Album Covers by Photographer Jai Girard

We are always amazed (and delighted) by the creativity and talent of our wonderful wedding partners at StrictlyWeddings.com. We’ve showcased Chicago photographer Jai Girard’s work in many of our featured weddings. Recently she shared with us that little extra she gives to her clients when delivering their wedding albums – the cover.

Cathy Waterman – Magical Engagement Rings

Cathy Waterman works in a sun-splashed studio within sight of the Pacific Ocean, a must she says, for the sight and sound and scent of the sea is a tonic for her inner peace. Ivy and bougainvillea cling to every outside wall and roses from her garden fill the air with their fragrance. Cathy was born in Hollywood, rode horses and danced ballet. She studied Byzantine and Early Church history in college and became a lawyer and developed film projects and designed clothing and had a family.

It was in 1990 that she began translating her love of exotic stories into 22k golden jeweled treasures inspired by ancient and medieval history.  She followed that first collection with her uniquely identifiable Color of Dreams collection of interlocking platinum and diamond leaves, multi-colored webs and vines like lace, colorful tassel earrings and richly hued beaded bracelets enrobed in platinum and diamonds.

She’s passionate about her work and a perfectionist, too, seeking to create jewelry with the attention to detail of the old world masters with a modern aesthetic. Below are just a few of the exquisite engagement rings in her collection. Visit her site for more.

Featured Wedding – Samantha & Paul – Party in the house!

This gorgeous black and white themed wedding came to us courtesy of the photographer and the entertainer, so if it’s heavy on the entertainment end, it just goes to show you how fun a wedding party can be when you just let the professionals do their thing! But before the party even began, Samantha and Paul celebrated their vows with elegance and style.

Chicago Event Planner Randy Schuster worked closely with the families to create an atmosphere of Romantic Elegance. The entire ballroom was illuminated by candlelight as The Bradley Young Monte Carlo Strings ushered guests into the pre-ceremony with exquisite music from The Great American Songbook by composers such as Gershwin, Porter, Arlen, Rogers and Hart, and Kern.

(Wedding gown – Monique Lhuillier)

The cocktail hour was fabulous, with delectable hors de oeuvres and toe tapping music by the Bradley Young Jazz Ensemble. Then the guests were ready to PARTY!

“This was a vibrant, audacious, amazing, crazy, outta control Chicago Wedding Celebration that reached a literal fever pitch of excitement when the bride and groom, their parents, wedding parties and families all joined The Bradley Young Orchestra ON STAGE for the last hour of the party, dancing, jumping, and singing along with the band and our outrageous vocalists!,” says Eddie Victorian of Bradley Young Entertainment. (And if a sentence like that is anything like the reception, whew, no wonder there was energy to burn!).

The dancing continued until 2 am! Motown classics, 70s and 80s hits, and new music by Lady GaGa, Usher, Coldplay, Ray La Montaigne, Kee$ha, Taio Cruz, and of course the famous “Bradley Young Endless Hora” kept the guests blood PUMPIN’! No body wanted to leave! Having the stage filled with family and guests sharing the spotlight with our performers is something we never forget! We all had a BLAST!

Couple’s Names: Samantha Storch & Paul Jackson
Wedding Date: 06/19/2010
City: Chicago
Photographer: KingenSmith
Event Planner: Randy Schuster & Associates, Erin McDonald
Entertainment Bradley Young Entertainment

Go Wild with Wildflower Linen on your Wedding Day!

StrictlyWeddings.com Chicago partner, Wildflower Linen, never fails to thrill us with their creativity and freshness in new ways to think out-of-the-box when planning the wedding reception.

We recently visited her website and found a wealth of ideas from her gallery as well as her blog.

Wildflower Linen is the leading designer and producer of specialty table linens and chair covers for event rentals. Founder Youngsong Martin, formerly a nationally known fashion designer and marketer of high-style women’s apparel, launched Wildflower Linen in 2001 in Southern California. Her full-service rental company has since redefined the special-event linen field in terms of style, glamour and customer care while becoming a prestigious provider to clients nationwide and abroad, for functions of all sizes, budgets and occasions.

We’re so happy she’s a valuable resource for our StrictlyWeddings.com bride!

A Little France in Houston – La Colombe d’Or Luxury Hotel

La Colombe d’Or in Houston, Texas is the home to the World’s Smallest Luxury Hotel. Epitomizing Southern French hospitality, elegance and warmth, La Colombe d’Or is a distinguished Texas historical landmark. Built in 1923 as the Fondren Mansion, the hotel would make a statement for any wedding or reception and the perfect honeymoon suite.

Sylvia Weinstock Cakes – a New York Destination

She considers herself a destination shop. One look at her cakes and you definitely “get” why she is the destination for wedding cakes, not just in New York City, but worldwide.

“She” is Sylvia Weinstock, and in peak wedding season, it’s not unusual for Weinstock and her small staff to work 15-hour days at her TriBeCa bakery (fortunately, she lives upstairs, when it’s time to go home!). At 80, Sylvia Weinstock’s philosophy for weddings and wedding cakes is straight forward and simple.

Weinstock offer cakes that are by no means ordinary: all icing is made from butter cream; all flowers are handmade of sugar; and no fondant (a creamy sugar paste used in icings) is used on any cakes – she doesn’t like the taste of it and won’t impose it on her clients. Her cakes start at $17 per person, but prices can go much higher.

She creates cakes as part of the overall wedding “statement” and each is designed to coordinate with the theme and mood of the wedding. Her unique creations have ranged from the whimsical to the magical and every part of Weinstock’s cakes is edible … one can only imagine.

To view just a few of her delectable creations, visit her blog.

Photos courtesy of John Labbe.

Featured Wedding Bride Reports from New York Fashion Week

This week we posted Alexandra Dillard Lucie’s incredibly beautiful featured wedding. Today she graciously dropped us an email and photos to share her thoughts on this week’s Fashion Week in New York City. Alexandra represents the fashion interests of Dillard’s.

“I have been in New York since Sunday for an exciting week full of fashion shows, market appointments, and design meetings. It’s insanely busy but  exhilarating at the same time. Fashion Week always brings in a colorful assortment of characters and the fashion crowd is out in full force!  It’s the best people-watching imaginable and also the best time for trend-spotting. I always leave feeling incredibly inspired. This year, Mercedes Benz Fashion Week was moved from Bryant Park to Lincoln Center and many designers opted to host their shows in smaller, more intimate settings.

My favorite show was Cynthia Steffe. It was held at Eyebeam, an ultra-chic art gallery near the Chelsea Piers. I loved the industrial feel of the space with it’s exposed red brick walls. We arrived to the venue and headed back stage to say hello to the designer, Shaun Kearney and preview the looks. As always backstage before a big show, the crowd consisted of celebrities, stylists, and a dozen or so models getting ready.  The vibe was remarkably relaxed and drama free. We took our front row seats with enough time to check out the other guests as they arrived, including famed Vogue editor, Andre Leon Talley, who surprisingly was seated right next to me. I must admit I was a little awe-struck. The show was spectacular with wearable yet chic styling. My favorite pieces were the dresses and leather trimmed outwear. I also loved Shaun’s use of color mixing and his prints, especially the florals.

The show was an overwhelming success, and our night was topped off by a delicious dinner at hotspot, Nobu.”

Purple Reign – Inspiration from Jordan Payne Events

My office is purple, need I say more. Purple reigns true for me and, from what we see in the photos below, with our brides as well. Many thanks to our StrictlyWeddings.com Jordan Payne for sharing with us.

Featured Wedding: Alexandra & Craig – Elegant, yet Modern

It started as a typical college romance. Two people meet at a fraternity/sorority party, fall in love and marry. Yet this romance of Alexandra Dillard and Craig Lucie went beyond the four years of college and stayed strong for eight years before vows were spoken. Four of those years were in cities on opposite coasts (and at certain times countries)!

“As I walked down the aisle,” said the bride, “the sun was setting at the perfect time through the church’s stained glass windows, and there was a gorgeous glow lighting up Craig and our minister as I approached the altar. It was stunning, and I will never forget that sight!” (Nor the symbolic message).

Our bride wrote a very long, but very sweet story. So enjoy the stunning photos below from Stephen Karlisch Photography, and then click to continue at the end to read the complete details from the bride!

Bride’s full maiden name: Denise Alexandra Dillard
Groom’s full name: Craig Andrew Lucie
Current city of residence: Florida
Hometown –  Bride: Little Rock, Arkansas and Groom: Jacksonville, Florida
Wedding date: 8/15/09
Ceremony location: Trinity Episcopal Church in Little Rock
Reception location: Country Club of Little Rock
Wedding Gown: Monique Lhuillier
Shoes: Custom-designed by Vince Camuto

Please continue for more on this featured wedding.