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Recycled Wedding Rings

Ways To Recycle Wedding Items

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Ways to Recycle Wedding Items

It’s no secret that weddings generate a lot of waste not only in leftover or unused food, but also in items people won’t use again like favors, your dress, or wedding décor. We’ve got some great ideas on how to help the environment and recycle those wedding things!

You can re-purpose your dress.

If you’re not terribly sentimental and don’t mind parting with your wedding gown you can sell it. There are a lot of great stores that buy pre-owned wedding dresses. You could be helping someone else out whose on a tight budget. If you’d like to keep your wedding dress but don’t want it sitting in the back of your closet, you can tailor it. We love turning a wedding dress into a cocktail dress, Christening gown, or prom dress! Your daughter could go to her prom with a one of a kind dress or get baptized in something very special to you.

Another way to recycle wedding items is to give them to a secondhand shop.

Some places take gently used wedding décor to re-sell. If you are tight on your budget you can even consider getting your wedding rings from a family heirloom or secondhand shop. Keep in mind if you want to donate wedding decor it may be difficult to find a place for it if it has your initials all over it. Call around and see what stores take wedding décor.

Re-use those flowers!

It’s bittersweet that all the time and effort into decorating with flowers and they’ll just wilt and die within a few days. We love programs that use wedding flowers as donations to hospitals or nursing homes. You’ll be brightening someone else’s day with your pretty floral arrangements. If you and your bridesmaids have the time and desire, you can also take apart the bouquets at the reception. Then you can re-gather them into small favors for your guests to take home. This does require more work and attention when all you probably want to do is celebrate at the reception. So, it’s worth asking if your wedding coordinator or some very helpful family members would be in charge of that so you don’t have to worry about it.

It always feels good to contribute to a green environment. We love the idea of using your joyous wedding items and brightening someone else’s day too. Did you use recycled wedding decor for your wedding? We would love to feature your green wedding. E-Mail credited photos and vendors to hello@chicagoweddingblog.com . Happy Planning!

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
Wedding Dress Shopping

Myth & Truth of Saying, “Yes” To Your Wedding Dress

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Before you start your wedding dress shopping process it’s important to differentiate between reality and reality TV. TV shows and movies add dramatic moments surrounding saying, “yes” to your wedding dress for entertainment. At best, they give you an outline of the wedding dress shopping process, at worst, they put so much pressure on you, brides, to have a specific reaction, or emotional moment that it sabotages your experience. We are here to help you have a successful dress shopping process by differentiating fact from myth.

Myth #1- “If you do not cry, it’s not your dress.”

Truth: There is so much thought and pieces that go into a dress shopping appointment. Most brides are so shocked they found their gown they do not cry at all. Even brides who are “criers” are often so confident with the wedding dress they fall in love with they react calmly. Other brides who are usually very stoic, cry like they never have before. It’s an experience we only do once in a lifetime. You don’t know how you’re going to react until you experience it. Don’t put pressure on yourself to react a certain way because a TV show says it’s a must.

Myth #2 “You can’t try on a veil until the last dress of the day.”

Truth: We do not wear bridal veils with a wedding dress every day. If you do not try on multiple styles of veils you won’t know what options exist.  Veils can also change the feel and look of a wedding dress, so it is important to try them on with your favorites. TV shows like to make putting on a veil a magic moment. Sometimes it helps you realize you are truly, finally a bride, but it is important to envision yourself as a bride in multiple different styles to determine which is your favorite.

Myth #3 “You have to bring all your favorite people with you to go dress shopping.”

Truth: Only bring people with you who you know, for a fact, will support your wedding dress vision and style. It seems fun to bring all your friends and family, but it quickly turns into negative chaos with too many opinions. No two people have the same exact style preferences, body types, or wedding day visions. It is important to only bring people with you who will put your wants and needs over their own. There are so many wedding planning related events you can share with your friends and family together. Keep dress shopping only with your closest family members or confidants.

Myth #4 “There is only one wedding dress that is ‘your dress’.”

Truth: Dress shopping is fun because wedding dresses are made to make us all look beautiful. You truly can fall in love with multiple dresses from multiple different stores. The most important thing is to keep in mind your budget, time frame, wedding day vision, and comfort. Then, choose the wedding dress that checks the most boxes. You can go dress shopping forever, but if you don’t narrow down your bridal shop options, style, or price point you will never get a gown in time for your wedding day. The most bridal shops you should go to is three shops with different designers. That is more than enough options to find a wedding dress perfect for you. Extra Pro-tip: Don’t go to more than one shop in a day!

Myth #5 “You will not be able to sit in a mermaid dress.”

Truth: No dress silhouette should restrict your movement if it is fitted correctly. Bridal sizing runs very small, do not pay attention to the number of size in which you measure. The goal is for the wedding dress to fit. The last thing you want to do is order a smaller size because the number sounds better and have your wedding dress come in way too small. Trust the consultant with the size they recommend with your measurements, even if the number is much bigger than your normal size. When the gown comes in the consultant recommended size, a good seamstress will ensure you can sit, squat, stand, dance, and move so you can dance the night away on your wedding day.

We hope helping you learn myth from truth will help you have a great wedding dress shopping experience. Always remember every bride, wedding, dress, and shop is different. Find the combination of those things that work for you and enjoy planning your wedding!

Wedding Dress Trends

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It’s a new year and new trends emerge. We’re taking a look at some wedding dress trends!

Bows! This year we’re seeing the wedding dress trend go towards statement bows. These huge pieces can be used on the back of trains, loops on straps or accents. You could also use the bows on your bridesmaid’s dresses. Bows can also define a waistline or draw attention to areas of your body you’d like more attention to.

Photo by Martha Stewart Weddings 

Another trend we’re seeing is geometric shapes on wedding dresses. Shapes and cut out shapes can create a sleek and elegant outline you want. Geometric shapes on dresses are also a great way to draw the eye where you want it go.

Photo by CoutureLace

The next trend is very “girly” but if you’re into glitz and sparkle this one is for you! Glitter. This year we’re seeing wedding dresses utilize the sparkly stuff all over and it can literally help you light up the room. Glitter on your wedding dress will catch the light beautifully. If you don’t want an entire dress full of glitter you can just do a light dusting, or have a few places accented with it.

Photo by the Crystal Room

No matter what wedding dress trend you pick, you’re sure to glow on your big day!

Recycle Wedding Items

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You’ve spent a lot of money on your wedding, but how do you get the most out of the leftovers? We have some creative ways for you to feel like you haven’t wasted your time and money by recycling wedding items!

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Autumn Wedding Attire

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It’s that time of year again – the autumn wedding! We’re taking a look at what attire to wear to this seasonal event.

For the daytime autumn wedding, we like a cocktail type dress with darker tones. A daytime wedding usually isn’t as formal as an evening one, but you should still make an effort to appear polished. Jewel tones like burgundy, emerald, sapphire mixed with elegant black are always a classic for autumn. You could even re-use a dress in your closet and spice it up with a new pair of heels or cute jacket.

For a later afternoon or evening autumn wedding we suggest simple and elegant. We love a splashy pair of earrings to make a statement or bold necklace. We like looking for dresses than can be dressed up or down. Some people are confused at a later afternoon wedding if they should be more black tie or daytime attire.  You can stash a fun jacket and bold earrings in your purse for the evening reception. Think of it like dating – a day to night outfit change without having to completely switch clothes!

Lastly, we’ve got the festive autumn wedding attire. If your going to a wedding that’s themed and the bride and groom have okayed wacky outfits like costumes, then this is your chance to play! We’ve heard of Halloween themed weddings and as long as your costume is tasteful we love the idea. Even if you don’t want to wear a full on costume, there are plenty of ways to dress up for the occasion. Try a gothic type dress, black lace or high boots!

 

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.

New Age Bohemian

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Welcome to 2018 brides! We are taking a look at a trend for the new year: New Age Bohemian. This may sound like hippie nonsense but give it a try. The Bohemian look is going to replace all the rustic wedding trends we saw last year.

What entails a New Age Bohemian wedding? First, let’s look at where your guests will start – the invitations. Bohemian is all about florals, romance and non-fussy. We love a touch of elegant flower on your invitations to set the mood. You can set the tone you want depending on which flowers you choose and the color scheme. Romantic doesn’t have to mean all pinks or reds. If you’re a more dramatic bride you can incorporate plenty of dark greens and blues.

Let’s not forget where flowers are also a big hit – on a hair piece! The New Age Bohemian look is perfect if you are a bride who wants to wear flowers in her hair and dance barefoot. You can put together a lovely crown of flowers with greenery for both you and your bridesmaids.

The most important aspect, to go with this crown of flowers, is your dress. There are hundreds of Bohemian style dresses out there and we’ve picked out a top few! As an added bonus, the flowy, lacy dresses also look quite comfortable to wear.

Feel free to go all into the Bohemian wedding trend this year! We love that it is fun, elegant and romantic.

What to Wear to a Fall Wedding

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Now that the autumn season is upon us the big question is: what do you wear to a fall wedding? The weather can be very tricky this time of year depending on where you live or where the wedding takes place. One day it could be 80 and sunny and the next stormy and 64. So, we have some great options for you to think about if you’re attending a fall wedding!

A lot of brides pick this season because it’s beautiful and the cooler temperatures don’t hurt either. For a fall wedding it’s great to wear layers. That way you can be comfortable during all parts of the day. We also recommend looking at the invitation to get an idea of the color scheme of the wedding. Or, if you know someone in the bridal party just ask what colors the bridesmaids are wearing. You wouldn’t to clash with them either.

Let’s take a look at some cheaper dress options if you are on a budget. Or, you might have more than one fall wedding to attend and you wouldn’t want to wear the same thing four times, would you?

First dress is lovely crimson colored dress with lace sleeves. This is a comfortable fit for most body types and it’s a striking color! The lace gives it a nice feminine touch as well.

A second option would be to go to the Rent the Runway site. You can rent high quality dresses for as little as $3o.  You get the option of a 4 day or 8 day rental. The downside is you don’t get to keep the dress but who needs the maintenance of a high end dress anyway?  Just be sure to take lots of pictures!

Whatever your taste is for a fall wedding you’ll do it in style! Let’s not forget that old little black dress in your closet either. That is perfectly fine to wear to a fall wedding – just glam it up with accessories and amazing shoes!