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Supportive Bridesmaids

How to Be a Great Bridesmaid

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How to be a Great Bridesmaid

When your friend asks you to be their bridesmaid it is such an honor. It comes with lots of fun, but also some responsibilities. Once you’ve said, “yes” to becoming a bridesmaid your job begins! What does that job entail, you ask? Here is exactly how to be a great bridesmaid.

Be the calm in the storm and a listening ear.

Wedding planning can cause heightened emotions. When brides are overwhelmed, things that may seem small to others may seem tragic to the bride. Sometimes we all just need a listening ear without advice or judgment. Because of that, don’t forget to ask if they need advice or just a listening ear. It’s important to be both supportive and level-headed for your friend. Whether her dream photographer is unavailable, her wedding dress is delayed in shipping, or her veil came in at the wrong length she will be grateful to have an empathetic and problem-solving friend like you. Remember, the key is to be supportive AND level-headed.

Put all important dates and deadlines in your calendar.

Wedding costs can add up quickly and you will be surprised how quickly the year of wedding planning will go! Make sure you mark any deposits needed for dresses, hair/beauty services, or accommodations in your calendar so you are prepared. Don’t make the bride have uncomfortable conversations about overdue deposits. Keep in mind there are many celebratory events throughout the wedding planning process. Engagement parties, bridal showers, bachelorette parties, rehearsal dinners, and after-wedding brunches are all important events you’ll want to mark in your calendar.

Communicate Early

Take stock of your allotted PTO days at work. We all only have a certain number of days off available each year. Look at how many you have, pronto, and let the bride know if you cannot attend any events. While the bride may be disappointed that you can’t attend every event, she will likely appreciate you telling her far in advance.

Another important thing to communicate is your abilities based on whether you have children or are pregnant. If you’re due around your friend’s wedding date, be clear with her about that. If you have children, it’s also important to communicate what you can/cannot do based on your children’s needs or schedules. Again, the bride may feel disappointed, but it’s best to be clear up-front to prevent any last-minute surprises. Moms & women are known to be excellent multi-taskers, but it is okay if you cannot do everything as long as you communicate early!

Be excited with/for the bride!

Every bride has likely looked forward to their wedding day for a long time. It always feels good to be supported by your friends, so show your friend your mutual excitement for her wedding day. While you may have opinions about how you’d plan your own wedding, allow the bride her turn to choose whatever wedding colors and details she loves. Then, be complimentary and supportive of her choices. Likely, the bride will not make terrible choices, like in the movie 27 Dresses, but be supportive regardless. Don’t forget, no matter the bridesmaid dress, you can likely shorten it and wear it again ;).

On the wedding day, be ready to jump in!

Be on the lookout for any hiccups on the wedding day. One often missed detail is fixing the bride’s train during the ceremony and pictures! Be on the lookout during the ceremony to ensure her train is fluffed and positioned beautifully so her photos turn out well. There’s nothing worse than beautiful ceremony photos, but the train is bunched up, fluff that train!

If anyone tries to begin conflict with the bride (Let’s be real, every family has that one family member.) gently whisk her away with an “important matter.” If her hair doesn’t look like she’d hoped, advocate for her, help her fix it, or talk her off the ledge by putting it in perspective. Be ready to make her wedding day as stress-free as possible.

Being a great bridesmaid is essentially just being a supportive friend.  By following our tips on how to be a great bridesmaid, your friends will be so glad they had you by their side on their wedding day! Now you are ready to be a great bridesmaid! For more wedding planning tips and inspiration, check out more Chicago Wedding Blog posts below. And don’t forget to share this with any bridesmaids you know!

tips for wedding bouquets

Wedding Flower Tips

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Wedding Flower Tips

To achieve your ideal wedding flower look, it’s essential to be an informed bride or groom by knowing wedding flower trends and expert tips. One of the most fun parts of planning your wedding is selecting your wedding flowers. We put together all the must-know tips so you can plan your wedding flowers even better than you imagined.

Keep in mind your wedding dress.

Floral appliques are a huge wedding dress trend. If your wedding dress has a specific floral look, such as roses, include that type of rose in your bouquets. This will help your wedding dress and flowers be cohesive, both as you walk down the aisle and in your wedding photos. If you choose a sleek wedding dress instead of a floral one, you can select even more elaborate flowers as a perfect contrast to your sleek bridal look.

Roses, roses, and more roses…don’t get stuck on the title, go by look.

Roses are timeless wedding bouquet flowers. Have you ever seen an unfamiliar flower and are shocked to find out it’s actually a rose? Roses come in so many shapes and sizes. When you meet with your florist, bring your budget and photos of the bouquets you like. If you love an out-of-season flower that tends to be more expensive, say peonies, many Bourbon, Hybrid Perpetual, Alba, Portland, & Damask roses are the perfect look-alike choice that may be less expensive if they’re in season. Don’t get stuck on the title of your ideal flower, two different flowers could look so similar. Your budget will thank your flexibility.

Bigger isn’t always better.

In recent years, the beautiful focus of some bouquets has been the smaller, filler flowers that surround the larger ones. If you are planning a bohemian-style wedding, smaller flowers are the perfect choice either as the focus of the bouquet or even the entire bouquet. Some popular smaller flowers include Cherry Blossom, Baby’s Breath, Queen Anne’s Lace, Craspedia, Quince, or Phlox. The filler flowers are the perfect way to add texture and dimension to your bouquets.

Bring your ideas and budget, but trust your florist!

Florists are truly artists! While you should absolutely bring your plan and budget, be open to their ideas and input. They may have flowers in colors, shapes, & textures you didn’t even know existed. This is why choosing a great florist matters so much. Look on social media, wedding websites, and florists’ own websites to see photos of other bouquets they’ve created. Then you’ll be able to trust them to exceed your expectations of your wedding bouquets. An added bonus is they are experts in knowing how to give you the look you want while staying within your budget.



Choosing your wedding flowers is an important part of designing your wedding day and planning your wedding. Be sure to prepare as you meet with your florist. Bring photos of bouquets and flowers you love to show your florist and don’t forget to be transparent with your budget. A good florist can deliver stunning bridal bouquets at any price point. Happy Planning! For more wedding planning inspiration and tips check out more Chicago Wedding Blog posts below.

Engaged couple

A Scaled-Back Wedding

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A Scaled-Back Wedding

Happy New Year! For 2023, we’ve noticed one trend going very strong: a scaled-back wedding. For some couples bigger is better, but it’s becoming increasingly popular to take some of the hubbub out of the wedding day. Having a scaled-back wedding means different things to different couples, so we’ve taken note to give you an overview of scaled-back wedding ideas. Here are some of the best scaled-back wedding ideas for couples ready to start planning a simpler wedding!

No Bridal Party

This trend definitely can be controversial. Oftentimes friends have been waiting to be part of your bridal party for years. Imagine their dismay when they find out you are not having a bridal party. But here’s the thing: it is your wedding. Not having a bridal party means allowing your friends to be at your wedding with less of a financial commitment: no shoes or dress involved. Not having a bridal party can also benefit you as there will be fewer details and events to coordinate. Speaking of fewer details, if you do not have a bridal party you don’t have to choose bridesmaids’ dresses, or even wedding colors for that matter. If you are someone who feels overwhelmed by having to make numerous decisions, not having a bridal party might be the perfect way to have a scaled-back wedding.

Fewer Guests

Another commonly controversial way to scale back your wedding is by inviting fewer guests. It can be controversial, especially because so many people have been excitedly awaiting your wedding day. Yes, that may mean not inviting your mom’s college friends, sorry mom, but the added benefit is you have more quality time with your closest people. If large social gatherings are not your thing, this trend will add more enjoyment to your wedding day. Likely it will also benefit your overall budget.

A Shorter Wedding Planning Process

While planning a wedding usually takes a year to a year and a half, some couples are opting for a quick, six months-or-less planning window. This can be very stressful especially because many venues book out a year in advance and many bridal gowns can take eight months to arrive, but if you’re ready to get married this option may suit you (pun intended). In contrast, it may make decision-making easier because you will have fewer options. Couples are usually choosing from a sea of dozens of wedding vendors. If you are booking a last-minute wedding fewer vendors will be available, therefore your vendors will likely choose themselves for you. This takes your job of sorting through vendors away. For couples who are indecisive, having a shorter wedding planning process may be the way to go.

Simple Flowers and Décor

While many couples enjoy choosing large centerpieces and bouquets, others are opting for simplicity. If you are looking for a simpler bouquet option, what is more timeless than white roses for a wedding? Clean and simple can be so beautiful, so there is no need to sacrifice beauty if you prefer a simpler wedding. This makes choosing your décor much more simple because white goes with everything. You could just use your engagement photos or other photos throughout the years as décor and call it a day, no need to search for color-coordinating candles and beads.



Choosing a scaled-back wedding may not be for everyone, but there are many benefits. Did you choose to have a scaled-back wedding? What were your reasons? We’d love to know, comment below! If you have engaged friends, send this blog post their way to inspire their scaled-back 2023 wedding planning. For more wedding planning tips and inspiration check out more Chicago Wedding Blog posts below. Happy Planning!

Wedding Lights photo

Lights as Wedding Décor

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Lights as Wedding Décor

If you walk into just about any store looking for wedding décor you will likely find an array of lights. Most venues have typical ceiling lights. If you add unique lights to your wedding décor it will create a warm and artistic atmosphere. From candles to string lights, there are so many options to choose from. To make designing your wedding décor easier we narrowed down the best lights to use as wedding décor.

Candelabras

Since the first time we saw Beauty and the Beast, we all saw the formality a candelabra can add to an event. If you are having a formal wedding, a candelabra is the perfect complementary lighting choice. You can introduce your wedding colors by using colored candles in the candelabra. If you prefer the classic, white candles you can have colored flowers draped around the bottom of the candelabra.

Modern Candelabra

Post: The Knot, Photo: Henry Photography

Fairy or Twinkle Lights

If you want a less formal lighting option, fairy or twinkle lights are a softer choice. Fairy lights are very thin lights on a wire that are easily moldable into or around shapes, such as mason jars or vases. Twinkle lights are essentially Christmas lights that come in many bulb colors and sizes. Twinkle lights can be hung from the ceiling or draped with tulle or other soft fabrics. Fairy lights tend to be done on a smaller scale such as being used in centerpieces. If you want to incorporate many different lights, fairy and twinkle lights are very complementary.

String lights

Speaking of lights that can be hung, string lights have become increasingly popular in the last few years. If you are having an outdoor wedding, reception, or cocktail hour string lights add romance to the space. String lights also make for amazing after-dark photos. If you dream of having a beautiful kiss-in-the-dark wedding photo, string lights are a great addition to your wedding décor. As with any light that is hung, it’s important to check with your venue about your hanging options before you get your heart set on hanging lights.

Tea lights

Even the smallest touch of light can make a big impact. Tea lights can be burning or battery-operated candles. They can be used in so many ways from floating in water to placed in a floral centerpiece or table. If you already have a lot of wedding décor tea lights are a perfect, smaller option that will also highlight the existing décor.

Paper lanterns

Paper lanterns come in many shapes and sizes. These lights are soft but add drama to your ceremony, cocktail hour, or reception. Paper lanterns can be hung from the ceiling or placed on the ground to frame the aisle, patio, or dance floor. Similar to string lights, lantern lights are a great option if you are having any part of your wedding outdoors. The beauty of these lanterns comes not only from the color of the paper but also from the dramatic contrast of light.

We hope these ideas will make designing your wedding décor easier. Don’t forget, even a little light goes a long way! Happy Planning! For more wedding planning inspiration and tips check out more Chicago Wedding Blog posts below.

Chicago Wedding

A Chicago Wedding

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A Chicago Wedding

Chicago may be known as the Second City, but it’s first in our hearts. There are so many characteristics that make Chicago such a great city. Because of this, what better wedding theme than a quintessential Chicago wedding? Here are all the things you need to include in a Chicago wedding theme.

Choose your baseball team.

This aspect of a Chicago wedding is ripe for controversy, but such a Chicago stable nonetheless. Are your family and friends North Side or South Side people? Depending on this answer, any Chicagoan knows which baseball team you’d be choosing. On the North Side is the iconic Wrigley Field, home to the Chicago Cubs. On the South Side is Guaranteed Rate Field, formerly known as U.S. Cellular Field, formerly known as Comiskey Park, home to the Chicago White Sox. These teams’ logos or memorabilia could be stand alone wedding themes, or simply decorations for tables.

Speaking of former names, the Sears Tower is an iconic landmark to include.

Recently renamed the Willis Tower, let’s be real, everyone still calls it the Sears Tower. Any artwork you see of Chicago, or any picture on a postcard, will surely include this iconic tower. Consequently, it’s a must to include to your Chicago themed wedding. Some easy ways are as a photo booth prop, cake topper, or table centerpiece.

Navy Pier and the Ferris Wheel

Navy Pier is such a tourist attraction. If you live in the Chicagoland area, the odds are you’ve been to Navy Pier and have either seen or ridden on the Ferris Wheel at least once. An easy way to include Navy Pier and the Ferris Wheel into your wedding day is with a candy bar. Navy Pier’s  cart vendors are memorably like everyone’s favorite childhood fair. Set up a candy cart with your favorite desserts and sweet treats, just as if your guests were at Navy Pier.

If you’re a sports person we cannot forget the other sports teams.

Chicago has sports teams from soccer to baseball. A fun way to incorporate them into your wedding day is by theming tables by Chicago sports teams. Some options are: the Chicago Cubs, the Chicago White Sox, the Chicago Bulls, the Chicago Blackhawks, the Chicago Bears, & the Chicago Fire. Alternatively, you can have the wedding DJ play each teams iconic songs during your bridal party entrances. Good luck as your bridal party fights over which team they get.

Deep Dish Pizza

If there is one undebatable Chicago food, it’s deep dish pizza. If there one thing that is debatable about deep dish pizza it’s who is the original deep dish pizza restaurant and which restaurant is the most iconic. Nevertheless, in-town guests will be super happy to eat some deep dish pizza as an appetizer, dinner, or late night snack. Similarly, out of town guests will be excited to try and give their opinions of the uniqueness of deep dish pizza.

You can’t forget Chicago theatre!

Whether it’s Broadway In Chicago, storefront theatres, or Improv, Chicago has some crazy theatrical talent and entertainment. You can easily theme tables by different theatres or shows, or have some showtunes playing during cocktail hour. A great gift for your bridal party would be tickets to a theatre show! Better yet, you could experience it together and go as a group instead of doing a morning after brunch!

Chicago’s so beloved for tourists all over the country. We know you will be able to tailor your wedding to what makes Chicago so beloved to you. We hope these ideas helped spark your creativity as you plan your Chicago wedding, For more wedding planning inspiration, check out more Chicago Wedding Blog posts below. Happy Planning!

Married Couple

Wedding Vendor Feature: MBD Wedding Photography

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Wedding Vendor Feature: MBD Wedding Photography

MBD Wedding Photography

Photo: MBD Wedding Photography, Venue: The Armour House

If there’s one wedding vendor you want to get right on your wedding day it’s your wedding photographer. Choosing an experienced photographer is key to cherishing your wedding moments for years to come. Because there are so many wedding photographers in the Chicagoland area, we’d like to feature one amazing one. We would like to introduce you to MBD Wedding Photography to learn why we think they are fantastic wedding photographers.

1.) How would you describe MBD Wedding Photography & photographers?

Our photographers can be described as Artistic/Creative Photojournalists. The goal is to capture your wedding day in a style that allows you to relive specific memories for years. If your children look at your photos years from now, you can piece together the memories from your ceremony all the way until your first dance. The smallest details, the funniest moments, those tears of joy, and those unexpected surprises on the dance floor will all come rushing back when viewing your photos.

Having been a wedding industry leader for over 25 years before offering photography services, Music By Design has built long lasting relationships with award winning Chicago area photographers. After the word spread that Music By Design started MBD Photography and began offering photography services, those same photographers reached out to us looking for an opportunity. This situation gave us the luxury of choosing some of the best photographers in the country. Our photography staff is composed of the industry’s best and we are proud to be affiliated with such amazing artists.

2.) What recommendations do you have for couples booking their wedding photographer?

It is important to choose a company that offers the complete package. Amazing in-office customer service and award winning photography. Be sure to communicate your expectations and be wary of a company that says yes to everything. It is important your company offers an honest and open level of customer service to create a refreshing experience, giving you piece-of-mind during the booking process and beyond. At MBD Photography, if you are looking for something we do not provide, we will be honest with you. It is important to us to cultivate a relationship with each couple we work with, and that relationship is built on trust. Our goal is to fulfill and exceed your vision for your wedding photos and we believe great communication is how we achieve that. MBD Photography embodies the same dependable philosophies that made Music By Design a leader in the wedding industry.

3.) What photography packages does MBD Wedding Photography have?

As today’s couples are more budget conscious, the standard 12 hour wedding package is rapidly becoming a thing of the past. Therefore, we offer 10 hours of wedding photography. That is enough time to cover from Noon to 10pm and capture your entire wedding day. In addition, to honor customer demands, based on our market research, our pricing structure is very simple and straight forward. All prices and options are listed on our website ‘MBD Photography   , but always be sure to ask if we are offering and discounts or promotions.

Your wedding package includes your professional photographer, online planning system, digital hi-res images with print rights, online gallery for sharing and viewing images, and digital downloads.  You can choose between one or two photographers. A second photographer results in more view points and angles of your ceremony and reception. More information on our wedding packages can be found on our MBD Wedding Photography wedding information page on our website.

We also offer engagement sessions, which is a great way to get to know your photographer even more before your wedding day. You and your photographer will discuss location and details for your engagement shoot. We are also happy to offer tips and suggestions on everything from what to wear for your engagement shoot to beautiful locations that photograph well. If you are in need of suggestions, don’t be afraid to ask. You can find more information on engagement and event packages at the MBD Photography Event Options page on our website.

4.) What makes MBD Wedding Photography different than other wedding photographers?

After being the industry for years and seeing all types of photographers, we differentiated ourselves by only hiring the absolute best Chicago has to offer. We understand that is a simple answer, but that is what truly makes us one of the best in the country. In addition, we take care of our team. We value our photographers’ skills and expertise, so they enjoy working for us. When people feel valued and love what they do it definitely shows in their work and, therefore, your wedding photos!

5.) Do you have any favorite fellow wedding vendors you love working with?

Our favorite vendors include our sister companies: Music By Design and Photo Booth By Design. Regarding venues, here are some of our favorites in no particular order. We love these venues because the staff is amazing and the venues are beautiful! And…let’s not forget the amazing food – delicious!

Riverside Receptions
Emerson Creek Events
Fisherman’s Inn
Heritage Prairie Farm
Hotel Baker
Herrington Inn & Spa
The Armour House

6.) Tips for couples who are organizing their wedding photography timeline?

When organizing your wedding timeline, look no further than Chicago Wedding Blog, of course. Quick Tips: keep your timeline simple and trust your vendors to ‘make it happen’. For example, a great wedding DJ will control the flow of your wedding in coordination with all your vendors – including your banquet captain. This will allow you to enjoy your family and friends without having to stress about what is happening and when. Your experienced DJ, such as Music By Design, will take care of the rest.




Thank you to MBD Wedding Photography for providing this information and beautiful photos to accompany it. For more information on MBD Wedding Photography, be sure to check out their website. We hope we’ve helped you find your perfect engagement/wedding photographer! For more wedding planning advice and information check out more Chicago Wedding Blog posts below. Happy Planning!

Wedding Favor Ideas

Wedding Favor Ideas

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When you think of your wedding guest tables you think of the centerpieces and table linens. But have you thought about wedding favors yet? These are a great way to say thank you to your guests as well as pull your wedding theme together. Here are some great wedding favor ideas sure to please your guests.

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Why You Should Hire A Wedding Planner

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Why You Should Hire A Wedding Planner

The cost of a wedding planner can be priceless if you arrive at your big day refreshed, excited and rested! There are many reasons why you might want to hire a wedding planner. The price of wedding planners vary, but you can find one on any budget. It just depends on what you want your planner to do and how involved you want them. Here is why you should hire a wedding planner:

A wedding planner can often save you expenses and are well worth the investment.

A good wedding planner will keep your budget in mind and do the legwork cost breakdowns. They are great at keeping you within your budget by coordinating your guest list with venues you can afford.
In addition to saving you money, a wedding planner will save you time. You’re probably both working full time to afford this amazing wedding. A planner will be the go-between to venues, bands, caterers and flower shops. They will leave the decisions up to you, but once you make a choice, the wedding planner will put it into action, which frees you up to do the things you need.

A wedding planner can be a great idea if you’re very detail oriented.

A planner pays attention to every little detail so you don’t need to. They will most likely have contacts in the industry. That will save time and energy if they know off the bat who will work within your budget. The wedding planner will keep your day organized as well, down to when it’s time to walk the aisle and wrestling your belligerent uncle in line. You don’t need to stress about forgetting cake toppers or favors when you’re planner is already on it.

They lend fresh eyes and ears to your dream wedding.

We all have a vision of our wedding day and a planner can help make it unique. They have the connections and knowledge of trends to help you plan a wedding just for you. We think a wedding planner is well worth the expense because you only get one day and why not make it as fabulous as possible? You don’t need it ruined because you forgot to schedule your wedding makeup or hair!



Did you use a wedding planner? Who did you use? Why did you love working with them? We would love to feature your wedding. E-mail credited vendors and photos to hello@chicagoweddingblog.com . For more wedding planning tips & advice check out more Chicago Wedding Blog posts below!