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Featured Weddings – Jeff & Michele – The “Door Lady” Plays Cupid

This love story started when Michele asked the door lady at the downtown Chicago building in which Jeff and Michele both lived, one simple question… “Who’s that cute guy?” After answering, the door lady approached Jeff one day while he was enjoying the building’s fabulous rooftop deck. She told him there was a girl in the building who had asked about him. He thought that was pretty cool and asked for the secret admirer’s phone number. He called Michele the very next day. Their first telephone conversation lasted four hours (Michele was out of town when she received the call) and they met in person a few days later. And the rest, as they say, is history…

Fast forward 2 years. On a relatively boring Monday in late April, Michele was on a call with her favorite client. After she hung up the phone, she turned her chair around only to see Jeff standing by her desk. She thought this was strange, but Jeff quickly explained that a mutual friend had let him into the building to hand out passes for a special promotion being held at the restaurant Jeff manages. Michele said, “Okay,” grabbed the passes and began to walk Jeff toward the door. As he was being hurried out, Jeff asked Michele to slow down, pulled her off to the side and out of the office walkway. It was there that he got down on one knee and revealed the ring that he had on his pinkie finger. After asking Jeff several times if he was crazy, Michele promptly accepted the proposal. Jeff gave an overhead thumbs-up and Michele’s coworkers (who had been peaking over the cubicle walls) began to cheer.

Michele had a pretty clear idea of how she wanted the wedding to look. It was very much a celebration, and the color scheme of the wedding should reflect that. “We chose Kehoe Designs because the design they offered us literally took our breath away. My bridesmaid Claire and I went to see what Pavel Juricek from Kehoe had designed and we were literally speechless. The design was far superior to anything else we had seen. The designers took what we described and made it even better,” said bride Michele.

“Two centerpiece designs were created for the dinner tables, consisting of a lifted arrangement featuring a lively display of floral alternating with a low collection featuring coordinating floral in multiple vases.  Much like the hotel itself (Chicago’s The Blackstone), each centerpiece design was eclectic, contemporary and very unique hosting a wide array of colors and textures,” said Lauren Peterson, Event Producer.

“The wedding was absolutely gorgeous. Everything looked amazing and the guests couldn’t stop talking about the flowers and how beautiful the room looked. Michele and I said that it exceeded our expectations,” said Anna Silverman, mother of the bride.

“I would not have changed a thing about our wedding. I was so happy, it was so beautiful and meaningful in all the right ways. It was emotionally and aesthetically the wedding of our dreams. The best part about our wedding day was being surrounded by everyone we love and really celebrating. It was everything we wanted it to be and more,” said Michele.

Couple: Michele Silverman & Jeff Schramm
Date of Wedding: 5.8.10
Venue: Blackstone Hotel
Floral & Décor: Kehoe Designs, Event Producer: Lauren Peterson
Photographer: Jai Girard

Featured Wedding: Jenny & Jason – Indoor Drama / Outside Romance

Jason and I met through our mothers who were sorority sisters in college at Bradley University. During winter break in college, we were both home from school. One night, while waiting to be seated at a restaurant with my family, Jason happened to be there with his family. Our moms saw each other and immediately started catching up. They introduced Jason and I, and I thought that would be the end of it. Later that night, I was downtown with some girlfriends at a bar and Jason happened to be at the same bar. We talked that night but nothing came of it. That summer we started bumping into each other until finally we went out on a date. Nearly six years later, we were married!

Jason and I knew that we wanted to be married somewhere unique and not the standard hotel. At the same time, we wanted a place that was architectural and had an outdoor area. When we went to the Adler Planetarium, the gorgeous Chicago view, beautiful lines of the museum and window covered main room, immediately sold us.

The outdoor ceremony faced the lake and took place right before the sun set. The chuppah was earthy and the large floral aisle runners were enhanced with over-sized palm leaves. I wanted our reception room to look starry and lit from within. The exploding orchid centerpieces, blue beamed lighting and twinkle backdrop all were intended to give the feeling that we were on a boat or below a star-filled sky. The room is lined with square windows, which we replicated in the square patterned table linens. The fireworks outside made a spectacular view too! I liked the idea of incorporating the astrology elements with the decor of the room. Ryan was able to make the outdoor ceremony and inside room have two distinct looks that still blended together well. The outdoor scene was romantic and natural and the indoor reception was completely dramatic.

Couple: Jenny Wolin & Jason Muslin Wedding
Date: 9.6.09
Venue: Adler Planetarium
Floral & Décor: Kehoe Designs, Event Producer: Ryan Wille
Caterer: Food for Thought
Photographer: Gerber+Scarpelli
Gown: Vera Wang
Bridesmaid Dresses: Jenny Yoo
Cake: Take the Cake
Entertainment: The Bradley Young Orchestra
Written by: Jenny Wolin-Muslin

Romantic Wedding at Vanderbilt Mansion on Fisher Island

Elizabeth Greig had always had a passion for helping people; especially the Haitians and their medical care system. Unfortunately one month before her wedding, on February 20, the horrible earthquakes hit Haiti and Elizabeth felt she had no choice but to take a plane Port-au-Prince and help the distraught country and citizens.

Elizabeth said she felt a bit guilty about leaving the wedding plans to her mother, Margaret Greig, but that she was an enthusiastic planner. Plus Margaret had well-known designer, John Ansehl, create the concept for the dream wedding in Florida. Also with the assistance of Tom Kehoe and Kehoe Designs, each elaborate topiary, grand candelabra and exquisite flower would be perfectly set in place.

Elizabeth married the love of her life, Jason Extein, near the old Vanderbilt Mansion on Fisher Island, FL. Everyone desired a colorful and tropical, yet classically sophisticated outdoor ceremony. Chicago based, Kehoe Designs, created thirty custom made ornate pedestals and matching urns to line the aisle. The urns alternated between hosting Sago Palms and orange topiaries, which were accented with floral rings and votive candles. A fifty yard custom made aisle runner lead the bride and her father to a glorious wedding canopy; which hosted hundreds of multicolored grapes, lemons, limes, clementines, pomegranates, orchids and roses. With every detail set in place, the sun shining brightly and enormous palm trees surrounding the couple and their family, Elizabeth and Jason recited their vows and were married!

They held their reception at Fisher Island Club in the Residence Courtyard. The room was lush and romantic. The fourteen tables were covered in a never before used gold and pink BBJ Linen. The centerpieces consisted of rich gold gilded candelabras filled with fuchsia, hot pink and light pink roses, orchids and hydrangea, while jasmine vine eloquently floated from the arrangement. The after party was a Moroccan themed lounge with masses of lanterns, pillows and sari’s. After a brief honeymoon to St. Bart’s, the couple continued on to Haiti.

Wedding Date: February 20, 2010
Décor: Kehoe Designs, Tom Kehoe
Consultant: John Philip Ansehl Design – 847.869.1112
Venue/Location: Fisher Island, FL
Photographers: Ryan Sjostrom & Miguel Irias

Featured Wedding – Marriage at Midnight – StrictlyWeddings.com

Couple: Jacqueline Morginstin & Joshua Wachtel
Date of Wedding: 12.31.09
Venue: Hilton Towers, Grand Ballroom
Décor: Kehoe Designs
Photographer: Ryan Sjostrom (décor shots) and R&R creative images (people shots)

This fairytale romance began when Jacqueline Morginstin was introduced to Joshua Wachtel at her roommates’ engagement party! Joshua swept her off her feet and a year and a half later he proposed to her by decorating The Morginstin families’ front yard with an enormous sign that read, “Jackie I love you, will you marry me?” When Jacqueline arrived to the home she jumped out of the car screaming with excitement… All the neighbors came out of their homes to see what was going on and it turned into a block party!

Then the celebration really began at their 2010 New Years Eve wedding! (Enjoy the photos, then read the rest of the story about this dazzling wedding)

Love and glamour surrounded the couple at their dazzling wedding in the Grand Ballroom of the Chicago Hilton Towers. An enchanted Cinderella style three-tiered chuppah covered in white roses welcomed the blushing bride! Jacqueline and Joshua were wed to one another in front of 425 of their closest friends and family. “I could not have been happier with the overall outcome of the wedding and reception, it was honestly perfection. Walking into the ceremony, without even a glimpse of it in advance. It was like stepping into heaven,” glowed Caryn Morginstin, mother of the bride.

The couple and guests celebrated the beginning of a new year and a new life together! The romantic ballroom was complimented with gold and bronze décor, rich chocolate and cream fabric treatments and white floral provided by Kehoe Designs. Each table was accented with one of five unique grandiose centerpieces, adding drama and height variation to the room; consisting of draping crystals, water fountains, cascading white phaleonopsis orchids, hydrangea and lilies. “Working with Tom Kehoe and his team was such an honor, I hope everyone is so lucky. The way Tom matched the linens, from BBJ, to the centerpieces and the plates was just beautiful,” said Caryn. Their enormous white wedding cake was covered in hundreds of flowing white roses, standing out against the dark passionate room. And when the clock struck midnight, loads of balloons were released from above with excitement!

“The wedding was the talk of the city, USA, and most of Europe. The Spielberg’s were there, the head of Luxe hotels around the country. They’ve seen it all, but they said never anything quite like this. We will never forget it. Tom knocked the socks off of everyone, and left them speechless. Saturday night was just the icing on the cake. Totally unexpected and wonderful (as always),” said Caryn. “We chose Kehoe Designs because there is no one better in the industry. Kehoe Designs is simply the best! No one executes a party like Tom Kehoe. Just walking into his showroom you are already wrapped in the feeling of excitement, everything is just beyond exquisite. When we had our showing it just took my breath away.”

A love so deep – Featured Weddings – Chicago’s Emily and Craig

Emily Miller and Craig Mandell have been together since they were 18. They met 8 years ago at college and both went to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, but were from nearby Chicago suburbs. They have been living in Chicago, mostly together, since school. Craig is an attorney and Emily is in Healthcare Consulting. StrictlyWeddings.com would like to thank the lovely couple for sharing their beautiful wedding with us.

Photography: Jai Girard Photography
Video: Larry Wayne Evolution Video
Flowers- Kehoe (Vince)
Planner- Barbara Moss Events
Band- Larry King Orchestra
Dress: Divina Sposa
Bridemsaid dresses- Jenny Yoo
Rings- Cy Fredricks
Makeup- Cynde Cosmetics
Hair- Jessica Gryz
Venue: Fairmont

Featured Wedding: Shivani Sharma and Aalap Shah

“My husband and I met Tom Kehoe through our wedding planner, Sabrina Hans of Sabrina Hans Events.  I still remember the day we went in to discuss our ideas with Tom.  He showed us a few pictures of prior events he had done and we were instantly sold!  We briefly discussed our personalities and some ideas we had and left the rest up to the team at Kehoe Designs,” glowed bride Shivani Sharma-Shah.

From the brief discussion Shivani and fiance, Aalap, had with Tom, they desired clean and simplistic, with touches of their Indian tradition. The couple chose Marriott Oak Brook Hills Resort for their venue; Tom transformed the room into a sumptuous getaway, using extensive white fabric treatment creating a bright glowing feel throughout the room. The ceremony hosted a towering ceremonial mandap which dramatically showcased hundreds of floating green orchids, all of which surrounded a suspended vintage-inspired chandelier. Bright pink floral balls were a unique twist for their aisle décor, while guests wore brightly colored sari’s, all the pieces tied together for a design that married elegance & tradition with lightness & modernity.

“We gave very few suggestions and basically left all the decisions up to the Kehoe team.  They did such a fabulous job! The team at Kehoe Designs is not only the most professional vendor we dealt with, but they are perfectionists.  Every area of our venue was decorated perfectly.  We were totally in love with the décor at all of our wedding events.  We loved everything about our décor and our guests raved about it for months after our wedding,” said bride Shivani.

Décor & Floral: Kehoe Designs, Event Producer: Tom Kehoe
Venue: Oak Brook Hills Marriott Resort
Location: Oak Brook Hills, IL
Photographer: Gerber+Scarpelli
Wedding Coordinator: Sabrina Hans Events

Kehoe Designs: Cultures Unite at this wedding celebration

A wedding celebration with the ultimate unity of cultures! This traditional Indian bride and Western groom from Chicago desired aspects of both customs be taken into account. The festive Sangeet (see definition below) held at The Ritz Carlton transported guests into another world, incorporating rich pinks and violets into entertainment canopies, organic hanging fixtures and exciting centerpieces to finish the look. At the ceremony, gorgeous rouge orchids draped the golden Mondap, while mirrored balustrades and lush floral accented the aisle. The formal reception held at The Drake Hotel, showcased traditional crystal centerpieces filled with yellow and lavender floral atop coordinating patterned table linens provided by BBJ Linens. This beautiful weekend celebration harmoniously fused two cultures in every detail.

Sangeet: It’s a Hindi word, meaning music. In the wedding context, you can refer to it as the bachelorette party!  It’s a time for the female members of the marriage party to get together, have fun, dance, sing and basically have a good time.  Sangeet usually takes place the day before the wedding.  The new trend, of course, is to have professional singers, DJs and live music for Sangeet these days.

Floral and Decor, Kehoe Designs, Chicago

Photographer: Phil Farber, Photo Images, Inc

Event planner: Sabrina Hans Events