Tiffanny and Steven at Riverside Receptions

Tiffany and Steven at Riverside Receptions

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Tiffany and Steven at Riverside Receptions October 13th, 2019

In the words of Tiffany…

It was amazing and my florist knocked my vision out of the park! My photographer captured all the perfect moments and all the feels! Dillon from Music By Design kept everyone on the dance floor all night long!

I wanted a romantic enchanted fairy tale fall wedding and I knew from the second I tried it on that the gorgeous Casablanca Bianca dress from Bijou Bridal in Oak Brook Terrace would set the tone for me to build around. This dress was the only dress I did not want to change a single thing about and that is how I knew it was the one.

I have to stay that for my Husband Steven as well, just like the dress I wouldn’t change a thing!

As for my day of wedding look- Annetta Michelle, award winning makeup artist (two years in a row!) from Rockford, IL, gave me the perfect romantic fall glam and Kathya from Meld Studio in Naperville gave me the bun of all buns to top it all off (no pun intended)!

MK, my florist- Flour & Flowers By MK, completed the whole look with the beautiful floral arrangements to go with my romantic fall fairy tale theme!

Tiffany and Steven at Riverside Receptions – Let’s recap all my vendors:

Venue – Riverside Receptions in Geneva
DJ – Chicago Wedding DJ Music By Design
Photographer – Bridgette Burgman Photography
Flowers – Flour & Flowers By MK
Award Winning Makeup – Annetta Michelle
Hair Style – Meld Studio Naperville
Wedding Dress Style #2340 BIANCA – Bijou Bridal – Oakbrook Terrace

All images of Tiffany and Steven at Riverside Receptions is courtesy of Bridgette Burgman Photography.

Tiffanny and Steven at Riverside Receptions
Tiffanny and Steven at Riverside Receptions

Winter Wedding Favors

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We gathered a few of the top winter wedding favors! These are sure to please your guests and bring the cozy comfort inside.

  1. Gingerbread Cookies. Who doesn’t love the smell of freshly baked cookies? Gingerbread cookies as wedding favors can bring back good memories of childhood treats and snowball fights. You can easily package these cute cookies with fun holiday-themed bags and ribbons. They’re not too expensive and if you feel so inclined you can even try to get a friend or relative to bake them!

Photo cred Fiona Carins Wedding Cakes 

2. Chocolates. These are a sure favorite for any guest at your wedding. Chocolate is so versatile – you can flavor it, decorate it and customize it. We love the idea of putting your initials on pieces of chocolate or form them in wintery shapes like snowflakes or snowmen.

3. Mini Ice wine bottles. A fun winter wedding favor! The tiny bottles filled with iced wine – made from grapes that have been picked on the vine while frozen – are sure to please your guests.  You can personalize the bottles with your name and wedding date too.

4. Chestnuts. We love the idea of roasting chestnuts for a winter wedding! You can package a handful in bright wrapping for your guests or even have a roasting station. That way the guests can eat them fresh! It’s a different idea than just simple chocolate that brings the winter spirit to life.

5.  Another favorite winter wedding favor is soy candles. We love the soft glow that candles give and you can pick a scent that won’t overwhelm your more sensitive guests. Some of our favorite scents are pine, sugarplum, cedar or orange clove. They will be fun favors for guests to remember your big day by.

 

Romantic French Inspired Wedding@sephoryphotography

French Inspired Styled Shoot

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This French Inspired Styled Shoot brought a magical shoot to life by using a vibrant palette of blush pinks, pure white and rich greenery. Also, subtle details like macaroons and croissants helped create sweet, delicate French vibe. The result was a French-European inspired feel that showcased the love between two people. A perfect reminder for couples that everlasting love is about the small, kind gestures more than anything.

Romantic French Inspired Wedding

Photo Credit: sephoryphotography.com.au/

             Wedding Invitations: @invitationbweddings www.bweddinginvitations.com/

Photography & Concept: @sephoryphotography sephoryphotography.com.au/

Hair & Make up: @suzyselamakeup www.suzysela.com/

Menu & Place Cards: @adorninvitations www.adorninvitations.co.uk/

Stationery Design: Catsy Creative www.catsycreative.com.au

Printing: Inktank Printing www.inktankprinting.com

Flowers: @chloelashay_florist www.chloelashay.com/

Dresses: @raffaeleciucabridal www.raffaeleciuca.com.au/ and by @heleneconstancebride | @berta

Cakes: @maryeatscake www.maryeatscake.com.au

Jewellery: @loveonjewellery www.loveonjewellery.com.au/

Model: @oliviaa.williams from @giant_mgmt

Venue: @montdusoleil

Wedding Dress Trends

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You’ve got the date, the bridesmaids and the reception hall all picked out, now comes the wedding dress!  We are loving some 2018 wedding dress trends that really make you pop as you walk down the aisle.

  1. Statement veil. Your wedding dress might be the centerpiece but you can also jazz it up with an amazing veil! You might be a bride who doesn’t want to wear one but think about it for a second – a beautiful, flowing veil that cascades over your dress and trails behind you. We’re sure we are seeing this “dramatic veil” search due to the Royal wedding that just took place. Megan Markle’s veil was stunning and you can utilize her elegant style too! We love the simpler wedding dress paired with the intensity of the statement veil.

2. What else goes perfectly with your wedding dress? Diamonds! This year we’re seeing a lot of stacked rings. You can customize your rings and it’s okay to cross jewelry designer lines. You get to pick the color, cut and style. What could be more fun than the first engagement ring – how about more rings on the wedding day? Some engagement rings also come as a stackable set. So you get to wear the engagement ring first and then it layers beautifully with the wedding bands.

3. Another wedding dress trend we’re seeing is bell sleeves. What’s more whimsical or flirty than bell sleeves? It might be a little retro but give it a try! We think you might be surprised at how flattering these flare sleeves are. The style sleeves can look great on modern sleek dresses, vintage wedding dresses or even mini dresses. There are a lot of variety in bell sleeves so that you can go bohemian or keep it more medieval.

Ultra Violet Wedding

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What is the color of the year you may ask? We answer: Ultra Violet! Brides, this year this blue based purple hue is very in and we have some creative ways to use it.

  1. Reception decoration : Ultra Violet is a versatile color and perfect for spring or summer weddings. The deep blue base could also work well for fall. We love using flowers with this shade for your reception center pieces. Tree peonies, ranunculus, and heirloom garden roses can come in this pretty shade. We also love using Ultra Violet for ribbons on the back of chairs with decorative clips or table runners.

2. Add Ultra Violet to your cake. Most people think of wedding cake as white so why not accent it with beautiful purple blossoms or a geode effect? We love that this color can not only be used an accent but also as a main color.

3. Your wedding party. If you’re a daring bride you may even wear the color yourself but it also looks great on bridesmaids and groomsmen! We love the pop of elegant violet against a handsome tux or suit. It’s a great shade for skin types as well. You can still give your bridesmaids a choice in the style of dress but the color will unite your wedding party.

 

No matter what you choose to do with Ultra Violet it’s a great color that it very hot right now! We know you’ll be seeing a lot of this hue in weddings this spring and summer!

Small Wedding Party

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As a new bride it’s tempting to rush out and tell everyone and invite all your friends to the big day but we’re giving away tips on how a smaller wedding party can make your life easier! Just because some friends are not IN the wedding doesn’t mean they can’t have a good time or enjoy the celebration with you.

We aren’t just talking about bridesmaids and groomsmen either. Having a small wedding party in terms of guests will help cut down costs. The average cost per guest for a wedding is $100 so multiply that by 100 guests and it adds up. Keeping your guest list limited is the first way to cut costs.

However, let’s address the small wedding party itself. Keeping your bridesmaids to three or four close friends will save you a lot of headache. For one, it’ll make things easier to stay organized. It’s hard enough to plan an entire wedding so be sure your bridal party makes things easy for you.

It’s easier to take photos after the wedding ceremony as well with a smaller wedding party. You can fit everyone in the same frame and have time to try fun pictures like goofy shots or even use props. Along with photo taking a smaller wedding party allows you to let your bridesmaids have more flexibility with their choice of dresses. If you are comfortable letting your girls pick their own styles the less people makes the “mix and match” look classy instead of messy. You could also give them the option to rent a dress instead of buy. Happy bridesmaids make for great photos!

A small wedding party will both cut costs and allow you more control over your big day!

 

Spring Wedding

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We have some good reasons for you to choose a Spring wedding! Not only is this time of year ripe with flowers but it also is not terribly hot yet for those brides who want a wedding outside.

First reason we love a Spring wedding is the flowers. After winter we’re all ready for that splash of bright color. A lot of popular flowers are in bloom like peonies, tulips, daffodils and hyacinths. Nature can also provide a great back drop for your ceremony or reception. Trees start to bloom, grass becomes green and cherry blossoms, dogwood and moss are in this year. You can use them all to decorate your centerpieces or use as accents.

A second reason we love the Spring wedding is flexibility. The longer days make a midday wedding or evening wedding a piece of cake. You also don’t have to worry too much about scorching your guests at an outdoor venue. The bonfires and rustic theme go very well in a Spring wedding because the weather is cool but not bitter. Your guests can enjoy dressing in layers or even changing for the nighttime event!

Now, there are a few set backs to a Spring wedding as well. You should keep in mind holidays like Easter and breaks like Spring Break. This might leave a few weekends unavailable. But, there are plenty of ways to work around them. Just be sure to send out save the dates at least nine months in advance and check with your close family and friends to find a weekend that works for everyone.

If you’re planning on a Spring wedding destination then be aware of popular Spring break places. Your heart is set on say, Cabo, then just be sure to check in with the hotels and venue as early as possible. Or, let’s say you want a great honeymoon at a Spring break place – we suggest delaying it a week or contact the hotel/bed and breakfast to make sure there won’t be any crazy college kids shenanigans going on.

A Spring wedding is a great way to celebrate your marriage and the season!

The Cotillion

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Hello, local Chicago area brides! We are featuring a reception venue that some of you may have already scouted out. The Cotillion in Palatine, IL is a fantastic place for your reception. The outside is lavish and elegant with white pillars and inside does not disappoint either.

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Chinese Wedding

Chinese Wedding

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A culture clash doesn’t have to happen at a Chinese wedding! We have a few tips for those who don’t know how a Chinese wedding proceeds or don’t want to be surprised when they go. No one wants to embarrass themselves or the happy couple on their big day. You may be very familiar with Chinese traditions and it’s never impolite to help that person looking “lost” in the corner!

First, you may be expecting to go to a traditional ceremony and watch the bride and groom take vows. In a Chinese wedding this does not happen in front of people. The couple will do their vows at a local governmental office before the wedding and have the paperwork done there. So, you are attending the celebration of their marriage at this point.

Second, in a Chinese wedding tradition pictures are usually done before the celebration. The bride and groom will likely take pictures around their venue, in the city, or popular sites. The wedding album doesn’t usually contain actual photos of the ceremony. These pictures are taken in advance so they can be displayed at the wedding breakfast! This is a great idea since it takes the pressure off the actual wedding day and guests can see the happy couple’s photos all over the reception area.

The third thing you’ll most likely notice is a different color scheme than other weddings. Red is the color of fortune, fertility, love, loyalty and honor. It is used liberally in a Chinese wedding theme and the decorations and bride’s dress are usually red.

Gold is another color you’ll see in a Chinese wedding. This color represents fortune and wealth. White is a color not used in a Chinese wedding because it is associated with funerals. Dark colors such as black, gray or blue are also not usually used because they are considered unlucky.

A Chinese Wedding can be a lot of fun and something totally different from the “traditional” American wedding. Have an open mind and enjoy all the beautiful colors and culture!

 

Royal Wedding

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Hello Brides of Summer! We thought a royal wedding is just the thing to get the summer started. You know you want to feel like royalty on your wedding day but how hard is it to plan? With a little consideration a royal wedding is just the thing for you to be the princess for a day!

First on the royal wedding schedule is invitations. We never said it had to be based on European royalty – you can use your imagination and think Disney princess if you want! We love wedding invitations with emblems or family crests on them – even if they are made up. Some of the best invitations are ones that reflect you and your fiance. You should try to incorporate as much pomp and circumstance as you are comfortable with.

Next up for a royal wedding are the locations! Most royalty tie the knot at historic or grand places and you may not have the budget for this. However, you can plan accordingly such as perhaps a smaller, more selective guest list or scout out places around you that have that vintage, historical feel. You may opt for a venue that’s outside to get that big royal feeling but be sure to have a plan B in case of inclement weather. Also you could look into garden options to get married in. Gardens say flashy, romantic and very “your highness” feel to them.

And finally, for your royal wedding we recommend a spa treatment for you and your bridesmaids! We love for the bride to stay in a hotel either near the venue or in the venue with her team of girls. The hotels usually have nice relaxing spa treatments like massage, hot tubs, yoga or facials available. Get the royal treatment and stay relaxed before the big day! You don’t need to spend like a royal to get the same feeling.