Posts

Guest list simple

Wedding Planning: Keep It Simple

/0 Comments/in /by

Wedding Planning: Keep It Simple

During the time of the pandemic, couples made the best of smaller weddings out of necessity. Then, extravagant weddings filled with entertainment, experiences, and desserts galore came next. While both of those weddings can be equally meaningful and special, we propose another option: simplicity. Here are the main areas of wedding planning you can simplify to keep your wedding planning stress-free.

Bachelorette/Bachelor Party

While elaborate vacations are fun, they are not necessary to have a great time. The most important element is not the location; it’s the people you are with! As a result, you should put extra thought into the guest list. Only invite those who you enjoy spending time with! Inviting people you don’t enjoy being around is a recipe for a bachelor/bachelorette party disaster. Once you determine the list, it’s important to choose a date on which you know they can come. Send a survey to your closest and best with two or three date ideas. Then spend the decided date having fun with your friends locally. You could go to your favorite restaurants or bars or hang out all day at your house watching Netflix. Whatever you do, do it with your favorite people and it’s sure to be a special day you’ll never forget.

Guest List

The guest list is easily the most stressful aspect of planning a wedding. That being said, your marriage is still valid whether you have ten people or 300. Once you have your allotted guest number that fits your budget, focus on ease. If going through and cutting people you are close to off the guest list stresses you out, then have a bigger wedding. Remember, we are focusing on simplicity, therefore less stress. Simple doesn’t have to mean small. However; if having a huge party stresses you out, have a small wedding. There is nothing wrong with keeping such a special day more intimate if that’s what feels best to you. People will have dissenting opinions no matter what you do, so take the stress out of it and stick with what simple means to you.

Guest list simple

Photo: MBD Wedding Photography, Venue: Heritage Prairie Farm, Wedding: Fatima and Nolan

Décor

We all can recognize the beauty of elaborate candelabras and giant floral arches everywhere, but there is also so much beauty in simplicity. The easiest way to simplify your wedding décor is to go to the venue and take a mental list of their existing décor, lighting, and color schemes first before you start buying décor. You may not have to decorate much if they already have a beautiful, standard setup. Instead of having details everywhere, think about where you want people’s eyes to go. Do you want them looking at each other at their tables? Choose lower, simple centerpieces. Do you want their eyes on you the whole night? Dress up the sweetheart table while keeping the rest of the venue more simple. If your venue has a bold color scheme already, use soft, simple colors and less ornate décor.

Simple wedding decor

Photo: MBD Wedding Photography, Venue: Riverside Receptions, Wedding: Missy and Dan

We hope these ideas will help you simplify your wedding planning and take the focus from the details and put it back on to getting married. The more you can simplify, the less stressful your wedding planning will be and the more meaningful your wedding can be. Happy Planning! Share this blog post with a friend who is beginning their wedding planning. For more wedding planning tips and inspiration check out more Chicago Wedding Blog posts below.

Vintage Wedding Blusher Veil

Make Simple Vintage New

/0 Comments/in /by

Make Simple Vintage New

Wedding seasons have trends, but why don’t we make simple vintage new? When we think back on our own history, we remember the simple things. As kids, we got lots of toys for Christmas, but played with the boxes. We remember the fun of running around in a sprinkler all summer long. Those are not grandiose memories, but they are fond and special. Let’s make vintage new by embracing the beautiful simplicity of our life memories.

1.) Use paper invitations from a professional wedding calligrapher.

Though we can send and receive emails at a moment’s notice, we all cam admit how special it is to receive a card in the mail. There is something memorable about a tactical stationary as opposed to an email. Buying invitations from a large online conglomerate is easy, but wedding calligraphers can create your exact vision. Additionally, all small businesses love what they do and we should support them. You can frame your beautiful, handmade invitations as a cherished keepsake.  Also, let’s keep it simple for your grandparents! Send them paper invitations and RSVP’s; technology confuses them.

2.)  Wear a vintage style blusher veil.

There are no rules in choosing your wedding attire, but there is something so dramatic and emotional about a blusher veil. The classic meaning doesn’t have to be what wearing a blusher represents to you. If you love the drama of veiled photos, what better reason? You do you! Maybe you know it means alot to the person who is walking you down the aisle to pull back your blusher. That’s a special honor to give your loved one.

3.) Save your first look at your wedding for the walk down the aisle.

Don’t see your fiance until the aisle! Relax in the morning and keep the excitement and anticipation of seeing your soon to be husband/wife for the ceremony. The walk down the aisle is a once in a lifetime, joy filled, emotion packed moment. There are few events in life as beautiful as this moment. Save the feeling for that moment. Sometimes wedding traditions exist for a reason. Soak in the love and simple beauty of this once in a lifetime moment! It will be worth it!

4.) Keep your decor simple. Focus on you, the engaged couple.

Before the world of Pinterest there weren’t really wedding themes. Typically you chose a color and that was it. Couples could have framed photos of their relationship and simple flowers as their only decor. We love this idea of simple wedding decor. Focus on the point of your wedding day; each other, and your marriage. Go through favorite childhood photos, your first photos as a couple, and through the years. Not only will this bring back so many cherished memories and laughs, but it’ll also cut costs for your wedding reception decor! It’s a win/win!



How are you embracing simple, vintage for your wedding? Did you have a simple, vintage wedding? We’d love to see your wedding photos! Email photos with vendors credited to hello@chicagoweddingblog.com. Do you love this idea? Share this blog post with a friend! For more wedding planning inspiration check out the suggested blog posts below. Happy planning!

Simple Weddings

/0 Comments/in , , /by

For the simple wedding we are loving a limited guest list! This can take some of the pressure off of who to invite. You get to limit the list to family only with a few friends or even limiting extended family. We know you don’t want to leave out people for your big day but sometimes due to budget or time constraints its just better to go simple. Simple weddings are also great for those who don’t want a long engagement because they are easier to plan!

What are advantages to the small, simple wedding? First, the food. Likely, the food you serve will be a big focal point since you can afford to expand the menu or higher quality plates. You can also custom make the menu. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to work with a personal chef and have food made that it’s significant to you and your partner?  You can have dishes that reflect your personalities or traditional cultural food.

Another benefit of a simple wedding is the seating. Your guests will get to be in a more intimate setting which will allow for great conversations and people actually getting to know each other (if they don’t already)! The decor for a simple wedding can still be luxurious and glam. The fewer tables you need center pieces for equal perhaps bigger center pieces. Guests will get to feel like they are dining at a 5 star gourmet restaurant. The wait staff also won’t be over taxed and will be able to be attentive to your guests.

 

A key factor to a simple wedding is having the ceremony and reception at the same place. This way you don’t have travel constraints. You do want to be sure to pick a place that is where you’d want a lot of pictures taken. An inn or bed and breakfast make for cozy, romantic spaces that may also have amazing natural back drops. No matter what you choose just remember that a simple wedding is supposed to be that – simple! Don’t stress too much over finer details because in the end, your guests just want to celebrate you!

 

 

Courthouse Wedding

/0 Comments/in , , /by
Five Details That will Make a Courthouse Wedding Special
Couples that opt for a courthouse wedding typically are looking to either save some loot or don’t want to be bothered with the minutia of details. A small wedding at a courthouse or city hall can still be special,romantic, and fun. You should still feel like a bride- so dress the part! You don’t have to spend a lot, but the ideal attire for the bride is a white or ivory dress to the knee. There are many fabulous options. Most bridal gown designers have at least one or two short gowns in their collections, and some even have entire collections devoted to short dresses, such as Amsale’s Little White Dress. A hot white suit, a la Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City marriage is another option.
Still yet, you can always wear a dress that makes you feel beautiful and special that’s already in your closet. Invite your closest, most significant friends and family to help support you. A courthouse wedding does not necessarily mean an elopement. You might very well wish to have at least your immediate family and a couple of close friends there to witness your vows. The entire ceremony may not last much longer than a few minutes, so it would be a little strange to pack fifty people into a judge’s chambers to see it.
Invitations for a small gathering or reception are a nice touch for groups more than 10. You will definitely want to have some sort of celebration after your ceremony. Couples generally opt for a limited menu and a selection of beer and wine served at the tables. It can be very pleasant and also very affordable. Naturally,the hosts will pay for everything, just as they would at a more traditional wedding reception.
If you can afford to hire a professional photographer,that would be ideal. If not, at least have one family member with a good eye who is designated to capture the key moments of your wedding. You will certainly want to have some beautiful photographs to remember your special wedding day.A DJ is not necessary, but perhaps an iPod playing some soft music or if it’s possible, hire a pianist or violinist to play some soft,ambiance music.
With these small touches, you can still have simplicity, keep the budget low, and enjoy your special day with the most important loving, supportive people around you on your new journey of marriage.