Weddings
You’re engaged! Congratulations! Now what?
As soon as you get make the announcement, you’ll find that everyone has an opinion! There are unlimited resources about how to organize and prioritize your planning. With all of the blogs and tips out there, we want you to have a bit of insight from the Gold Grid Studios team.
Below are 5 things to do once you are engaged. Before you hit the ground running with planning, these are some basic conversations and decisions that will save you time and effort. Your wedding day is too important for you to have to say “Well, I wish we’d…” afterward. Use these “just engaged” tips to plan smartly!
1) Insure your ring.
When it comes to weddings (and life), anything can happen! You’ve just been given one of the most invaluable gifts you’ll ever receive. Taking the extra step to insure your ring will give you peace of mind!
2) Don’t start planning right away.
Take a moment to breathe and enjoy being engaged! You have a lot of decisions ahead of you, so pop some champagne, relax, and have fun!
3) Talk about it.
You two have a lot of planning to do, so it’s good to go into everything on the same page. Figure out what your priorities are for the day, and don’t be afraid to share your dream ideas. Include all of the decision-makers in this part of the planning. It’s easier to divide and conquer if you know your whole team is in the loop!
4) Don’t pick a date. Pick a season.
Have you always dreamt of fall colors, or is an outdoor summer wedding your style? Starting with the ideal season for your wedding gives you so many more options in terms of venues and other vendors.
5) Get your guest count.
The final exact count will fluctuate, but it’s important to have a good “guess-timate” early in the game. The last thing you want to do is fall in love with a venue that won’t suit your needs. An informed guest count will help you narrow your options, and will have an affect on many of the decisions that follow.
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Weddings
The holidays are a time for family and friends, an opportunity to surround yourself with the people you love. How fitting to be able to have an engagement session during this holiday time! We’re so happy that we were able to capture some time with Jordan & Joel. It was a joy to celebrate their engagement in downtown Chicago.
Jordan & Joel currently live in San Francisco, and will soon be celebrating their nuptials in both cities. They were back in Chicago for the holidays, and wanted to capture their story in the city they called home. A love of architecture and a want for holiday flair made downtown an excellent choice!
By meeting in the morning, we were able to enjoy the quiet of downtown before the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping. We started at the Chicago River, enjoying the city backdrop and the timelessness of the bridges. We then headed further downtown to the Christkindlmarket Market, a Chicago holiday staple! The cool winter morning provided the perfect amount of romance, with lighting that allowed the holiday lights to shimmer. These two lovebirds were able to feel like it was just the two of them.
We’ll see these two again this summer as we capture both their San Francisco and Chicago celebrations. We can’t wait!
Take a look at more downtown Chicago moments!
Weddings
Autumn was in the air for Katie & Ryan’s special day at the Mistwood Golf Club. We loved the warm, vibrant tones of the bouquets and the rich marsala of the bridesmaids dresses. This was a wedding wrapped in the season. Add the happy surprise of golden sunlight throughout the affair, and you have wedding day perfection!
Mistwood Golf Club is a part of Katie’s family history. Her parents are members, and she & Ryan go to the golf club at least once a month! It was that mix of familiarity and friendliness that let the couple know that Mistwood was the perfect spot. The stunning architecture of the buildings next to all of the stone bridges made for a beautiful backdrop. As Katie & Ryan’s story unfolded in front of their loved ones, all of the laughter and smiles that surrounded them were…par for the course!
Enjoy!
Meet the Team:
Venue: Mistwood Golf Club // Custom Printing: 221 Creations // Bridal Ensemble: Bridal Boutique of Naperville & TeeDee Designs, Ltd // Men’s Clothing: Men’s Warehouse // Bridesmaid’s Clothing: David’s Bridal // Hair & Make-Up: Glimmer Salon // Floral: Roscoe Blooms // Band : One Night Band
Weddings
As the Chicago Cubs recently showed us, a rain delay can sometimes be a blessing in disguise. Such was the case for Allison & Benjamin’s stunningly vibrant fall engagement session in Lincoln Park. On the date that we were to originally meet, the skies turned gray and it was just too rainy for an outdoor session. Little did we know that the rain (and the bit of cold weather that followed) was the perfect ingredient to get us ready for the perfect fall session! The leaves continued to brighten and change colors, and we met the following week to find a gorgeous array of green, yellow, orange and red! Allison & Benjamin had been excited to have autumn as their back drop, and that little rain delay proved a great way to achieve success!
We can’t wait to see these two on their wedding day next year! Until then, take a look at this romantic stroll through Lincoln Park, where the fall colors and Chicago skyline are the ideal backdrop for Allison & Benjamin’s laughter and smiles!
Take a look at another Lincoln Park photo session!
Weddings
It was gorgeous, sun-kissed day at Redfield Estate. It was the kind of day that brides dream of for their wedding, with its golden light and just-right temperature. Whether it was the romantic light coming in through the curtains of the bridal suite or the warm glow of the Redfield Estate cottages, this was a day about all kinds of light. The sun, the candles, the smiles on everyone’s faces…everything beamed. It was the perfect backdrop for Ariellah and Eli’s nuptials.
Ariellah & Eli’s story is unique, and details of their journey were found throughout the day. Ariellah is a neuroscientist from London who once played for the London Symphony. Music was indeed a big part of the day, as both the bride & groom have a flair for music. Eli’s harp teacher provided beautiful harmonic sounds throughout the day. Eli is one of eight siblings, all of whom were in attendance for this intimate family affair.
A big congratulations to Ariellah & Eli! May many future days be as blissful as this one!
Meet the Team:
Venue: The Grove at Redfield Estate // Florals: Marguerite Gardens // Catering: Shallots Bistro // Wedding Planner: A & E Events
