Weddings
Get ready to swoon! Heather & Brandon’s downtown Chicago wedding day is the sort of elegant, romantic affair we love to see! Not only did this day tell Heather & Brandon’s story, but it was a story perfectly set against some of our favorite downtown spots in The Windy City! A showcase for the happy couple, as well as a showcase for the city they love? Yes, please!
While Heather got ready at the JW Marriott, Brandon was just a few blocks away at the W Hotel. After a trip with the bridal party to the Chicago Riverwalk, everything culminated at the incomparable Rookery Building! When asked about their choice of venue, Heather said: “The Rookery is just perfect. That Staircase! I love every little detail between the railing designs, the marble and gold, the staircase. Just everything.”
To echo Heather, this wedding day is “just everything” and more! From the bride and groom’s happy tears to the perfect amount of bling on every detail, this was downtown elegance and class at its best. Enjoy, and congrats to Heather & Brandon!
Meet the Team:
Ceremony & Reception Venue: The Rookery Building // Caterer: Jewell Catering // Drapery & Flowers: Art of Imagination // Band: Run Forrest Run and Bear & Jake // Wedding Planner: Linda Crown // Transportation: Premier Trolley
Weddings
Your wedding day is a perfect opportunity to tell your unique story, to give your family and friends a sense of your journey as a couple. The details and events of your wedding let your loved ones learn more about you, and are a special occasion where you can express gratitude to all of those people who helped you get to today.
Amy & Tim met on the Chicago campus of Loyola University, right on the picturesque waters of Lake Michigan. The campus chapel and library made for beautiful backdrops to the sunny day on the lake, and allowed the happy couple time to reflect on their early days as a couple, and look forward to their future as husband & wife.
Tim said it best during his toast, as he reflecting on all of the loved ones present. He was so thankful for everyone in the room, knowing that he and Amy would not have been able to do it without all of them. This was a heartfelt emotional day not just for Tim & Amy together, but for everyone involved. It was an occasion full of joy and thanks, set on this gorgeous Chicago day at Loyola University!
Meet the Team:
Ceremony Venue: Madonna della Strada Chapel // Reception Venue: Cudahy Library // Stationery: Village Paperie & Gifts // Bridal Ensemble: J. Crew // Men’s Clothing: Men’s Wearhouse // Bridesmaid’s CLothing: Bella Bianca // Hair & Make-up: Mario Tricoci // Floral: A Stem Above // Caterer: Aramark // DJ: Toast & Jam // Cake: Alliance Bakery // Videographer: Eivan’s
Take a look at another gorgeous wedding on a Chicago campus!
Weddings
When ChicagoStyle Wedding issues a challenge, Gold Grid Studios answers the call! We always enjoy being part of a styled photo shoot, and the CSW Designers’ Challenge had local planners go head-to-head to create their fantasy wedding designs. For this “The Art of I Do” challenge, we worked with the planners at Big City Bride to capture a breathtaking collaboration at Bridgeport Art Center.
We could not have asked for a better design team, an eclectic group of Chicago professionals who make elegance look easy! We chatted with two of the creative minds who helped bring this challenge to life! Enjoy!
Jessi Cabanin, owner of Just Invite Me
What does your work in the Designers Challenge say about you? Is there something specific you hope couples will see?
I think our participation in the Designer’s Challenge really got us back to our happy place of being the true creatives that we love to be! Everyone can get lost in their busy wedding seasons and fall into a creative rut. Nothing wrong with it at all, it just becomes hard for us to find time to be awesome outside of making sure our clients are being taken care of! I painted a lot (way back when) I was in college, so this watercolor theme was just such a great connection for me! We just started offering laser cut items this year, so I really wanted to push the limits with our capabilities for this project, and I am blown away with what we came up with!
What’s one thing that makes you different than other professionals in your field?
We offer the TOTAL PACKAGE. We are a full service stationery studio and want to make the process as simple and stress free as possible for our brides. There are so many other things to stress about! We have a team of trained professionals to not only walk you through your design process, but also to produce your entire order for you so that they are ready to go when you receive them! We totally understand that not everyone is on the same budget, so we are proud to offer a variety of options for everyone!
What’s one thing you wish you could tell every couple?
BE YOU! Opinions can multiply very quickly, and I have seen couple’s original ideas get so far derailed just because someone doesn’t approve. While I want all of my clients to ultimately be happy with the service and product we offer, nothing makes me happier than a bride who’s vision ACTUALLY came to life. You can see an extra sparkle in their eyes when they first see them in person!
Chandra Pridgeon, a cake designer from Vanille Patisserie
What was your inspiration for the Designers Challenge?
After I received the inspiration board and really took the time to look everything over, I immediately thought of Patina—to me Patina represents a beautifully weathered vintage spring garden and that is what I tried to convey in my wedding cake(s)
What does your work in the Designers Challenge say about you?
That I can take someone else’s ideas and make them come to life. That they (a couple) can trust that we will make a cake that will truly represent their dreams and ideas.
What’s your favorite part of a wedding day?
Delivering the wedding cake to the venue. I look at the wedding cake as the final piece to a large puzzle and the sense of completion I get when it’s on the table.
Vote for winner of the Chicago Style Weddings Designers’ Challenge!
Take a look at more styled shoots on the Gold Grid blog!
Weddings
We can always tell when a couple has been together for a long time. There’s a sense of ease and honesty that only comes with history. Lauren & Zack have known of each other since high school. Though they didn’t really become friends until college, their circle of friends was a tight knit group that has known each other for a long time. The comfort of having so much history made for such an emotional, joy filled day. It comes through in Lauren & Zack’s nature with each other. It’s the little things that make for the best moments. It’s how Zack always knows when Lauren needs a decisive mind, and how Lauren knows the right moment to tease Zack. The elegance of the Hotel Orrington and the breathtaking beauty of Alice Millar Chapel were the perfect backdrops for Lauren & Zack to celebrate their love, surrounded by all the people who helped get them to this special day! Here’s to several more years of comfort and love!
One of the unique aspects of the Hotel Orrington is that they offer options for where you get ready on the wedding day. We love that Lauren & Zack picked the gorgeous rooms at the Orrington (instead of the conference rooms that are sometimes used). The renovations and the slated windows in the suites provide a gorgeous getting ready space for everyone, and allow the comfort and space to set a great tone for the day!
One of the highlights of the day was Lauren & Zack’s first look. The happy couple had decided to write notes to each other before they saw each other. Zack had inadvertently misplaced the card, and quickly wrote down his thoughts on a piece of paper at the hotel. The emotion of his honest, heartfelt message became obvious as Lauren teared up reading it. It was a great example of what really counted on this wedding day: the connection between Lauren & Zack. It’s always amazing to see how relaxed two people become once they see each other, and it’s a clear sign they are meant to be together.
Lauren had always know that she wanted a classic church ceremony for her wedding day. Specifically, she loved the idea of gorgeous stained glass windows. Alice Millar Chapel was an obvious choice. All of the vibrant colors can make it tricky for a photographer, but we love the challenge. Every time we are there, the images are always so unique. Each couple’s day has a slightly different hue, based entirely on how the sun came through the glass on that day!
Another AMAZING moment: The ray of sunlight that came beaming through a window at the reception for their First Dance was perfection. You never anticipate natural light for a ballroom reception, but just as the sun was setting, it shown straight onto Lauren’s dress. We immediately turned off our own flashes and embraced the impromptu, perfect serendipity of it all! Those photos are some of the best of the day, and are among Lauren & Zack’s favorites!
Meet the Team:
Event Coordinator: Tying the Knot // Getting Ready/Reception Venue: Hilton Orrington // Ceremony Venue: Alice Millar Chapel // Men’s Clothing from Jasmine Galleria // Bridal & Bridesmaid’s Clothing from A Joyful Occasion // Printing: Ashley’s Custom Stationery & More // Florals: Phillip’s Flowers // Make-up: Christy Swain Beauty // Band/DJ: DJ Kyle from Stitely Entertainment // Cake: Cake Chicago // Photo Booth: The Traveling Photo Booth // Transportation: Second City Trolley
Weddings
Everyone loves a good challenge, especially one issued by Chicago Style Weddings! We always enjoy being part of a styled photo shoot, and the CSW Designers’ Challenge had local planners go head-to-head to create their fantasy wedding designs. Gold Grid Studios was there to capture it all! For this “Color Outside the Lines” challenge, we worked with Lola Productions at Ravenswood Event Center. The talented team of designers collaborated to create this vivid, vibrant dream of a look!
We chatted with Lori from Lola Event Productions, a highly trained and creative team with diverse education and backgrounds that have 50+ years of combined experience implementing savvy, stylish and FUN weddings and events of all shapes and sizes. She told us a bit more about the inspiration for this challenge, and how the experience reflected what Lola does best!
What was your inspiration for the Designers Challenge?
We knew we wanted to do color, and we loved the idea of taking a 2-dimensional image & creating a 3-dimensional design. The vintage wallpaper we chose was the perfect starting place for this idea.
What does your work in the Designers Challenge say about you? Is there something specific you hope couples will see?
We like to think outside the box, take a small detail & expand it to incorporate multiple facets of an event design. It isn’t only about the flowers. It’s about the presentation of the food, the overall design of the room & how all of these things will play into the guest experience.
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What’s one thing that makes you different than other professionals in your field?
Our background in design, as well as our excellent business management, make Lola Event Productions the total package.
What’s one thing you wish you could tell every couple?
There isn’t anything I won’t say to a client as long as it’s constructive. Honesty is a really important ingredient in marriage as well as wedding planning!
It was an absolute joy to be part of the “Color Outside the Lines” shoot! In addition to working at the stunning Ravenswood Art Center with Lola Event Productions, we were lucky enough to capture the creative work of Elysia Root Cakes, Steracle Press, BBJ Linen, Hall’s Rental & HMR Designs. We cannot wait for you to see the gorgeous work of all four challenges! Go team(s)!
Learn more about Lola Event Productions!
Vote for winner of the Chicago Style Weddings Designers’ Challenge!
Take a look at more styled shoots on the Gold Grid blog!
