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kids at a wedding

Keeping Kids Busy at a Wedding

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Keeping Kids Busy at a Wedding

Kids add so much hilarity to weddings, however, you want to be sure to keep them busy during the right times. It is important to keep in mind the length of your ceremony so the kids do not run out of things to keep them occupied. Although the focus usually goes on keeping the adults happy, open bar, and a good DJ, anyone? your younger guests deserve the same amount of consideration. Whether they are in the bridal party or simply esteemed guests everyone will be happier with these fun ideas for keeping kids busy at a wedding.

The Ceremony

Let’s start with the ceremony. The options you will have available to the kids will differ depending on whether you are having a full-length church ceremony or a quick ceremony at your reception venue.

Full-Length Church Ceremony

If you are having a full-length church ceremony, likely it will last an hour or more. Consequently, kids will need more time-consuming activities. Coloring books and crayons are the perfect quiet time-consuming activity. Luckily you can even buy these at the dollar store, so they are great for your wedding budget! A nice aspect of coloring books & crayons is they are mess-free and easily tailored to the interests of the kids. For example, if you know your niece and nephew are in love with Paw Patrol, coloring pages with those characters will be a hit!

A Quick Reception Venue Ceremony

Obviously with kids, and some adults, a quick ceremony is ideal. In this case, small fidget toys are a great option. Small toys buy you just enough time for the ceremony to be as quiet as possible before the kids’ imaginations get bored. Again, thank you dollar stores. If you are around kids at all, you’ll know fidget toys are all the rage nowadays. Kids will be more than happy getting to keep a fidget toy as a memento from your wedding.

After The Ceremony

You’ve gotten married! Now everyone can let loose a bit. However, don’t forget kids are less patient than adults. There are still plenty of things to keep in mind when trying to keep little ones busy.

Wedding Photos

Once the wedding is over, the next most difficult aspect for kids, specifically kids who are in the bridal party, will be wedding photos. It can be really boring for kids to stand around waiting for it to be their turn. Pro tip: take all photos that will involve the kids first, then let them go run, play, & eat. In the meantime, while they’re waiting for photos to start, have mess-free snacks ready. Think pretzels, goldfish crackers, peanuts, and no snacks that have color, juice, or oil. No one likes being hangry, especially kids who are having to wait. Kids will be much happier, and more cooperative if they’re not hangry during the wedding photos.

During the Reception

Yay! You’ve made it through the wedding ceremony, through photos, & now it’s time to party! The easiest idea to keep kids occupied during dinner is more ness-free (crayons) coloring. Similarly, quiet activities that keep kids still so their parents can eat, or during speeches are important. Quiet, open-ended toys are great for kids when they need to take up some time. Kids love making things out of nothing, so everything from tape, to beads, to pipe cleaners, to pompoms is right up their alley. Odds are you’ll be amazed at the quiet busyness of the kids’ table! If the venue has paper table cloths available, that is the easiest way to incorporate a coloring option as well.

Are you having a photo booth at the wedding reception? If not, you should definitely consider it! Adults and kids alike love taking silly photos with all the props. Similarly, another fun momento would be for the kids to make their own photo booth prop, think mask, or crown. You can easily find cutout templates off google images to tailor this to boys and girls alike.



Did you have kids at your wedding? Are you going to? How did you keep them occupied? We’d love to see it! Submit your kid-friendly wedding to hello@chicagoweddingblog.com. For more wedding planning advice and inspiration, check out more Chicago Wedding Blog posts below. Happy Planning!

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!

Ballgown

A Ballroom Wedding

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A Ballroom Wedding

Have you dreamed about a fairy tale wedding since you were young? A ballroom wedding is probably the exact wedding venue you’ve imagined. Especially after the last few years of smaller weddings, we expect a big return to large celebrations, perfect for a ballroom! If you’re looking for a wedding fit for a queen, here some ballroom wedding elements sure to wow!

Wedding Flowers

When planning such a formal wedding you want to think tall and grand when it comes to just about everything, but especially flowers. The grand centerpieces really help fill a large room. Tall centerpieces also add an extra touch of formality to any wedding. You can also add a beautiful floral arch at the entryway to the reception venue for some extra beauty.

Tall Centerpiece

Photography: Amy Arrington Photography, Flowers: Mollie Cushing

Ballgown Wedding Dress

While brides can wear any wedding dress they love in a ballroom, a ballgown is obviously the most popular option. That being said, if a ballgown isn’t for you, think formal and grand! Your jewelry and accessories can definitely help with this too! Think sparkly, statement pieces sure to catch the light in a ballroom. You can even add a sparkling tiara or comb in your hair to feel like a royal bride!

Wedding Cake and Desserts

When weddings are in a ballroom, often the wedding cake or desserts are the centerpiece for the room. Because of this, it’s important your wedding dessert makes a statement. The taller or larger your cake is, the better. Another option is to have an eye catching dessert or champagne display that is both functional and beautiful. Though usually the last meal of the night, it is often the highlight for guests and newlyweds alike, so think big!

Wedding Guest Attire

A ballroom wedding definitely needs a formal or black tie wedding formality.  This is the perfect formality when your bridal/groom attire is also very formal. It is also fun for your guests to get to dress up. If you are planning large group photos it is always good to communicate the dress code clearly in advance so no one is uncomfortable or sticks out in your photos.




For more wedding planning tips and inspiration check out the Chicago Wedding Blog posts below! Happy planning, and don’t forget to tag us in your wedding photos! We can’t wait to see your ballroom inspired wedding photos!

Jumping The Broom Ritual

Wedding Ceremony Rituals

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Wedding Ceremony Rituals

Every wedding ceremony is personalized by the engaged couple. One way couples personalize their ceremony is wedding ceremony rituals. A ritual can be religious or spiritual in nature, or simply symbolic. The choice is yours as to which you prefer. Here are some unique wedding ceremony rituals to give you some ideas.

Sand Art

Any child of the 90’s will remember the joy of sand art! Each person can choose their own color they’d like. Then, during this ritual the couples will pour both of their sands into the capsule to blend them together. As with most wedding rituals, their meaning is the union between two people becoming one. Couples can then use this capsule as a decorative keepsake.

Unity Candle

A unity candle is similar in idea to the sand. Each person will hold a lit candle and together they will light a big beautiful candle, called a unity candle. The candle makes a great living room keepsake. Who doesn’t love a good candle? Every year on your anniversary you can make use of it again by relighting it.

Jumping The Broom

Jumping the broom is a wedding ritual from the African culture, specifically Ghana. Traditionally a broom is circled over the engaged couple to cast away evil. Then, at the end of the ceremony, the couple jumps over the broom, as a solidifying of the ceremony. The jump of the broom traditionally symbolized a wife’s promise to clean their house and whoever jumps higher over the broom, typically the man, would get to make the decisions in the home. However; in the 21st century most couples embrace this tradition simply as a cultural tradition they want to pass on, not a symbol of the wife being lesser than. Many couples embrace this ritual by applying their own meaning to it such as their embracing of one another’s culture and commitment to their relationship.

Hand Tying Ritual

A hand tying ritual originated from the Pagan and Celt traditions. Some couples, however, just like the meaning of the ceremony, so it does not need to be a cultural ritual. The tying of the hands, also known as handfasting, symbolizes a couple’s commitment to each other through good times and bad. Historically, some traditions would tie a couple together for a year and if they lasted a year being tied together their marriage would last. While we are not recommending you be tied to your fiance for a year, a hand tying ritual is a great way to demonstrate your commitment to each other through good times and bad times. You can later keep the rope, maybe even braid it to create home decor.

Wine or Communion Ritual

In the Christian traditions, some couples will feed each other wine and bread symbolizing their promise to care for eachother. Some weddings do not have a communion service, but just have the couple give communion, bread and wine, to each other. Some people do not come from a religion who participates in communion. In that case, this ritual can also be a sort of blessing that the couple may never go hungry or want for anything.



Each ritual can mean something different to each couple, and that is the beauty of planning a ceremony. Unless you are getting married in a religious denomination with strict guidelines, there are many ways you can customize your ceremony to embrace symbolism that is meaningful to you as a couple. You could even get creative and create your own ritual specific to you as a couple, such as a beer pouring ritual. It is your wedding day! Structure your ceremony to reflect the love you feel for each other. From there, there are no wrong choices. Happy Planning!

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!

Bride On A Budget

Bride On A Budget

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Bride or not, finding chic outfit choices at amazing prices is ALWAYS an appealing headline. Here are our picks for great resources when it comes to summer dressing for the Guest and Bride that will make you and your wedding budget very, very happy for years ( or seasons) to come.

 

Bride On A Budget

Photo Credit: Old Navy

Old Navy: If you are a big blog reader, you know that pairing affordable items from Old Navy with your closet staples is a no-brainer especially for summer. And when they rolled out their summer dress collection full of crisp whites perfect for pre-wedding events, we just about fell over. Whether you are packing maxi dresses for your Honeymoon or simple white minis, they have you covered. Plus, their online summer sales are no joke. Most days of the week you can checkout with a code for 35% off your entire order!

Bride On A Budget

Photo Credit: The Loft

Loft: Best known for their smart wear-to-work pieces, Loft is upping their game for incredibly priced summer wear. Thanks in part to their partnership with the ultra chi line, Lou& Grey, their fun skirts, jumpsuits, and crazy chic beachwear will take your from rehearsal to sipping cocktails oceanside for your Honeymoon.

 

Bride On A Budget

Photo Credit: Chicwish

Chicwish: A newbie, but a goodie. Chicwish has also become a major name in blogger favorites. Mostly because of their CRAZY good prices and trendy pieces. Full midi skirts in fun florals, and bright prints for wedding guests, they have pretty much every aspect covered. For lace detail that would cost you hundreds at Neiman Marcus, Chicwish lets you explore trends that are within budget and gives you options for all of your upcoming events. Join their email list and get 25% off your order too!

Modern Monogram Guide

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SimplyBridal‘s Modern Monogram Guide Inforgraphic

Not all couples are loquacious and able to articulate their joy and happiness adequately on their special day; some are the strong silent type, and prefer more understated, low-profile ways of subtly showing off the deep affection they have for each other. Monograms become their tool of choice, and you can find out how to share in the fun and excitement with this gorgeous infographic!

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Modern Monogram Guide

Establishing A Wedding Budget

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Establishing a wedding budget you can stick to is one of the biggest challenges of getting married in today’s world. Your budget will determine decisions for every detail from the venue, dress, food, etc. First thing first, is sit with your fiancé and determine what is feasible without sacrificing your current quality of life.

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Establishing A Wedding BudgetImage via The Examiner

Things to consider: Will your wedding be paid for by your parents?  Are your fiancé and you solely responsible for paying? Have you saved any money to put towards this event?How many people are you considering inviting to your big day?

These sample questions should be addressed early on in the planning process.  Who will be paying for wedding festivities is the foundation when planning. There are traditional and cultural circumstances to consider. However, every family is different, and thinks differently about money. It is very important to make these decisions together as a joint family rather than assume that under the archaic thought that the bride’s parents will cover everything.

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Establishing A Wedding Budget

There are many tools and calculators out there to help guide you. Otherwise, Excel and some basic math skills work just fine too! Some tips to consider when figuring out your budget:

1) What are the most important aspects to the two of you? Are you foodies? Must you have a 10 piece band rather than a DJ? We recommend you splurge on the most important items to the two of you, and save money in other aspects.

2)  Consider incidentals into your budget such as postage for the invitations. Also, remember to add in gratuity, sales tax, parking, and tips, where applicable. If you don’t adhere to your budget, you could end up spending a lot more for all the “incidentals.” Stay posted for some guidelines on tipping in the near future!

3) Brides on a budget look to DIY projects to make customized additions to the event. From making your grandma’s homemade jam as a favor to creating your own invites if you have a knack for graphic design, there are ways to save money by doing it yourself.

4) Finally, remember to have fun! This is supposed to happen once in a lifetime. You want to make sure this is a special time of your life. Sure, there will be stress and some hiccups along the way, but that’s life. Ride with it!

In closing, pay close attention to both fixed and variable costs. Variable costs are contingent on how many wedding guests you have and fixed costs you will have to pay regardless of the size of the guest list. Managing costs means paying attention to both, but recognizing that you will get the biggest impact by lowering variable costs, since they are multiplied by the number of guests and adds up quickly.

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Wedding Guest List Tips

 

 

Vendor Spotlight Carnivale

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Vendor Spotlight CarnivaleVendor Spotlight CarnivaleSpring is right around the corner and Chicago brides are ready for some bright colors. What better way to experience the festive atmosphere of a party than at Jerry Kleiner’s Carnivale. This vibrant and flavorful restaurant in Chicago’s west loop boasts a reception atmosphere that’s “Exciting, colorful and unique” as proclaimed in the website. We love the wide paneled colors on the walls and the pick of seven captivating rooms to choose from! The seating ranges anywhere from a cozy seating of 40 to 1,000. There are the three salons, the Samba room, Flamenco room, Lambada lounge and Tango room (see photos below). Each room is flagged with colorful accessories and brilliant chandeliers. For the fun and quirky bride Carnivale could be the best choice. We think this venue is perfect for those spring brides who want to make sure their reception is a party atmosphere rather than stuffy winter draping’s.

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Vendor Spotlight CarnivaleSamba Room

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Vendor Spotlight CarnivaleFlamenco Room

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Vendor Spotlight CarnivaleTango Room

Their menu, prepared by Chef Rudolf Quadros, is bursting with only fresh and seasonal ingredients. The chef uses organic and sometimes home grown ingredients. Brides can choose from tapas style meals or traditional plated meals. The menu is tailored to each bride’s tastes and Carnivale caters exclusively to the bride’s requests.

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Vendor Spotlight Carnivale

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Vendor Spotlight CarnivaleCarnivale Ceremony via Sweet Chic Events

wedding reality tv

Wedding Reality TV Shows by SimplyBridal

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Wedding Reality TV

We are all guilty, all very very guilty for giving into reality shows. Why wouldn’t someone be interested in watching a show that features ordinary people and their actual lives? Whether you’re normally a fan of Keeping up with the Kardashians, Project Runway, or The Bachelor, the moment you get engaged the wedding reality TV shows are on your mind. SimplyBridal has compiled a list of shows for brides to get their daily dose of drama from and to help them gain a bit of inspiration.

Wedding Reality TV