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Jenga yard games wedding

Wedding Experiences

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Wedding Experiences

The last few years, experiences have become more popular than tangible things. Experiences are fun activities you participate in within a specific event. They create memories far after your guests lose your wedding programs. While your wedding is a once in a lifetime event in and of itself, you can make it packed full of memorable fun by adding wedding experiences to your day. Here are a few ideas!

Games

If your venue has the option for an outdoor reception or cocktail hour, this is a fun option. Games such as bags, bocce ball, giant Jenga, and Twister are amazing games to add extra fun to your wedding day! This gives your guests plenty of activities to keep them occupied as you wrap up your wedding photos. They will surely not forget how much fun they had!

Make Your Own

Do you have a large group who isn’t so sure about dancing? Keep them busy with a make your own activity while they wait to become dance floor ready as their liquid courage to kicks in. Make your own experiences can range everything from make your own wedding favor to make your own custom drink or dessert bar! Guests will love customizing this fun experience to their taste and preference.

Boat Ride, Petting Zoo, or Pool Party

While definitely venue specific, these amazing experiences will definitely take the cake. If your venue is on a lake, treat your guests to boat rides. If you’re getting married on a farm, guests may be able to enjoy petting and feeding the animals. Guests will have to prepare in advance, but having a pool party as part of your reception will be one-of-a-kind, refreshing fun for you and your guests. Keep your venue in mind as you think about experiences. So many options are available if you think creatively.

Dance Lessons

Having two left feet is nothing to be afraid of when you bring in the experts. Your guests can enjoy learning some new dance moves by having dance instructors come in to teach you and your guests some ballroom dance! Everything from swing dance to tango can be easily taught in a few minutes, but you and your guests will have fun memories, and impressive dance moves,  for years!

Magic

Table to table entertainment may not be for everyone, but if you have a group of guests who prefer to stay at their tables a magician is a great way to keep them entertained. Cocktail hour is another ideal time for a magician to perform. Some guests may not know many people, so having entertainment is a great topic to promote natural, easy mingling.

Are you planning experiences into your wedding day? Does your wedding venue have built in experiences? We’d love to hear about your plans! Comment your plans below. For more wedding planning tips and inspiration check out more Chicago Wedding Blog posts below! Happy Planning!

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!

Geode Wedding Cake Ideas

2021/2022 Wedding Cake Ideas

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2021/2022 Wedding Cake Ideas

Cake at a wedding is such a classic. In years past, people were leaning toward cupcakes, candy bars, and even donuts for their wedding dessert of choice. But coming back strong for this wedding planning season is the classic wedding cake! 2021/2022 has plenty of stunning, yummy, & creative wedding cake ideas. Here are some of our favorites sure to inspire your wedding cake selection.

Geode Cake

From the trend of gemstones and crystals comes the geode cake! Geode cakes are easily customizable for your wedding colors. The sparkle, often made from sugar, adds fun and formality to your wedding cake. Below is a geode cake by Erica Koren Cakery. This is just one beautiful option of many options for shapes and colors.

Timeless White Wedding Cake With A Twist

A white wedding cake is a classic option! There are so many variations and textures you could choose from. If you have a lace wedding dress, you can choose a coordinating lace design. If you are having a wedding with lots of vibrant colors, a simple white cake is a great neutral option. For a simple white wedding cake, frosting can be in beautiful patterns without overwhelming your color scheme. The beautiful cake below with sugar pearls is by The Cakery Inc.

Watercolor Cake

A fun, colorful option is watercolor cakes! We love how different shades of the same color, or even different colors, can be blended together in one cake. Often, these cakes pull together multiple different wedding colors making them a beautiful decorative piece for your wedding reception. This artful watercolor cake is by Two Wild Seeds.

Drip Cake

This wedding cake idea is perfect for the chocolate or fruit lovers! Drip cakes can have either a chocolate drip or a fruit flavored drizzle down the cake. This is a great choice if you are indecisive as to what kind of cake you want. If you are in between chocolate and vanilla, you could choose vanilla cake with a chocolate drip to make each of you happy. The delicious drip cake below is by The Sugar Path.

We hope the photos above will make your wedding cake selection easy as cake! If you have already chosen your wedding cake, we’d love to hear which you chose! Comment what kind of cake you chose below! For more wedding planning inspiration & tips, check out the Chicago Wedding Blog posts below! Happy Planning!

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!

Burgundy and Blue Wedding

Wedding Color Palettes

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Wedding Color Palettes

You’ve dreamt of your wedding day for a while now and what do you see? Yellows, blues, purples, reds? We are seeing an increase in picking more than 2 colors for your wedding color scheme. So, you’re in luck if you just can’t pick a few favorite colors. Here’s how to incorporate multiple colors in wedding color palettes.

When thinking of color palette for your wedding day you may want to consider time of year, venue and the theme.

If you’re a bold bride it’s tempting to use all bright, flashy colors. We love pairing those huge flashes of color with at least two neutrals like beige, cream or navy. The pop of color like a deep red or gold will garnish the elegant feel.

If you want more than 2 colors for your wedding palette, we also suggest looking at the theme.

If you’d like a summer theme think of wedding flowers. You could use green and cream for neutrals while also incorporating the variant colors of peonies or hydrangeas ranging from sapphire blue to sky blue and put a yellow in there for sizzle. If your wedding is in the fall we love browns and creams paired with crimson, gold and oranges.

On the flip side, if you like just one color, you want to be sure you don’t over use it!

You want your colors to be complimentary not distracting. Decide which color you want to be dominant and pick other colors/neutrals accordingly. One great way to do so is a pop of color. For example using grays, blues, and silvers can be a neutral if you use a few splashes of burgundy. Burgundy is a bold color, so if you add in a few splashes of it, it won’t be overwhelming.

Lastly, if you want a large color palette for your wedding, try textures.

Sometimes colors that you wouldn’t think go to together, look okay if their texture is different. You could also use the same shade but in different layers and subtly different hues such as a cream table cloth with a white runner down the middle. Your color palette is endless so take your time and be creative! You can take risks by seeing colors in fabrics and flowers before you commit to one.



Happy planning! We hope this will help you choose your wedding colors. For more wedding planning inspiration and advice check out the Chicago Wedding Blog posts below.

Wedding After Party Food Truck

Wedding After Party

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Wedding After Party

You’ve done it – you’re married and nothing besides Aunt May’s lost hat was catastrophic! Now you and your partner would like to continue the wedding festivities. That’s called the Wedding After Party and we’ve got some tips on how to throw the best kind!

You’ll want to scout ahead of time where you want your wedding after party.

If your venue has a hard closing time this is even more important so that you can keep the momentum going! Or perhaps you have a good family member or friend who offers their place. That’s even better since you could decorate and stock their fridge way ahead of time and you’ll know it’s open. However, you can also think about reserving a theater, bar or conference room at a hotel. You can also take into account locations: are you near a beach or live music venue? Have a bonfire or jam to a live band!

For the after party decorations no one is expecting over the top grand, but you can think of a few signature decorations.

We love the idea of using your honeymoon as the theme of the after party! Are you going someplace tropical? Then why not go to a tiki bar and hand out leis. This does require some set up beforehand so if that’s not an option explore venues that are themed.

Now comes the most important part of a wedding after party, the food!

You’ll want to be sure guests get a great bite to eat before more dancing or running around town. A food truck is a brilliant idea that can pull right up to wherever you want. Think tacos, sundaes and pizza trucks. If your after party is going to go until sun-up we suggest a breakfast. You can end up at a food truck or nice breakfast place.

When even the after party is winding down we love being thoughtful to the family and friends who have stuck with you this long.

Why not assemble a little hangover kit or next day rest spa basket? Just a few things like Alka-Seltzer, aspirin, sunglasses, bottle of water and a pack of gum for the hangover kit or scented soap, lotion, hand sanitizer and candle for the spa basket. You can have these final gifts as guests arrive at the beginning of your reception or hand them out at the after party. We love the idea of celebrating your wedding all night with those closest to you!

For more helpful wedding planning tips and inspiration, check out more Chicago Wedding Blog posts below! Happy Planning!

Wedding Reception Add-Ons, Coffee Cart

Wedding Reception Add-Ons

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Wedding Reception Add-Ons

A new trend we’ve been loving is wedding reception add-ons! Wedding reception add-ons are unique options you can add to your wedding reception, usually food or activity related. These options add extra fun and uniqueness to your wedding. If you want your wedding to stand out from the rest, here are some fun, and yummy, wedding reception add-ons to inspire you!

#1 A Lemonade Stand

If your wedding is during warm weather this is a great add-on idea for you! You could do different flavors of lemonade or iced tea. You can also add fruit to your lemonade/tea options. This is a refreshing way to keep guests cool and happy.

#2 A Donut Stand

Who doesn’t love donuts? Donuts come in all flavors and designs from classic to gourmet. If you love dessert or just want an extra fun snack for your wedding donuts are the in choice; and delicious. The donut displays are equally as unique as the donut options. You could add the donuts around your cake, or you can even have a wooden donut display. The sky’s the limit if you love donuts!

#3 Coffee Bar

Do you love coffee? If you don’t want sleepy guests on the dance floor, choose a coffee bar! You can have a signature drink, or have options for your guests. So many people are coffee-obsessed, so this option has become very popular. Also, coffee pairs very well with desserts.

#4 A Photo Booth

There are many fun ways to do a photo booth. You can make it in to a guest book by using the photos for the guest book. It even works as a wedding favor so the guests can take their keepsake photos with them. Who doesn’t love taking funny photos with props with your friends? This fun activity is great for a break from the dance floor, or right after dinner before dancing.

#5 Graham’s Homemade Ice Cream Bars

Graham’s in Geneva, Illinois will provide their homemade ice cream at your wedding reception! Their chocolate is to die for and their ice cream is like the cherry on top! Your guests will talk about these desserts for years!

Did you have add-ons at your wedding reception? Are you planning on having wedding reception add-ons? We’d love to hear what you are doing and see photos! E-Mail them to hello@chicagoweddingblog.com . Happy Planning! For more helpful wedding planning tips read the blog posts below!

Home Decor Wedding Gift

Wedding Gift Ideas

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Wedding Gift Ideas

Every couple appreciates receiving monetary gifts from their wedding. However, some wedding guests can’t afford a large monetary gift. Here are some wedding gift ideas newlyweds are sure to love!

First Idea: Artist Rendering Of Couple’s Photo

As newlyweds begin their lives together, they will need to decorate differently than when they were single bachelors or bachelorettes. Photos and artwork of the married couple is a great gift. But if you’d like to make the gift more special, get an artist to hand paint or design a caricature of a favorite photo of the couple  or even one of their engagement photos and have it framed. This is a great gift for a range of budgets depending on the size or skill of the art. A meaningful keepsake perfect for the couple to decorate their new home.

Second Wedding Gift Idea: A Funded Date Night

This gift can be done many ways. You could give a gift certificate to their favorite restaurant in a basket with a bottle of nice wine. Give a card written in calligraphy that you will pay for a date night of their choosing and place that certificate in a photo album for their wedding photos. A gift certificate to a spa or hotel is also a great gift for a quick getaway. This is a great way to treat a newlywed couple nomatter what your budget may be.

Third Gift Idea: Special Home Goods or Decor

Most people will not splurge to get themselves nice home decor. Purchasing a special item for the newlyweds’ home you know they’ll love is a generous gift. Maybe you know the couple LOVES Crate & Barrel, but is very frugal. Purchasing them a gift from that store would be a meaningful surprise for them. Home decor or serverware is a great gift especially if the couple loves to have friends over.

Fourth Gift Idea: Contribution To A Charity In Their Name

Some couples have a cause they are passionate about. A beautiful way to support them and their passion is by making a donation to a charity close to their hearts for them. This is especially meaningful if the couple has lost someone close to them from an illness. Some charities sponsor children others rescue animals. Choose one close to the couple’s heart.

Fifth Wedding Gift Idea: Holiday Decor

We’ve discussed how couples love to decorate their new home. Giving decor for each holiday will be a useful and fun way for couples to decorate their new home. Keep in mind which holidays the couple celebrates, or if they have a favorite holiday. If they love Christmas, you can throw in extra Christmas decor. You can also put in holiday glasses, plates, or serverware to accommodate extra people at holiday gatherings.



What physical wedding gifts have you given? As a couple what would be your favorite gift as above? Let us know! For more wedding planning advice, tips, & tricks check out the blog posts below!

Sustainable Wedding Decor

A Sustainable Wedding

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A Sustainable Wedding

More and more couples are becoming aware of how their big celebration will impact the earth. This year we will see an in increase in sustainable weddings. While it’s perfectly alright to want a big celebration; it’s also great to keep in mind everything that goes into it. From the caterers to florists, there a lot of waste that goes on with weddings. We have a list of things to consider if you’re going to have a sustainable wedding.

Choose your wedding venue wisely.

A destination wedding means a lot more carbon footprint from airplanes or car rides. Think about who you want to invite and perhaps pick a location that’s not too far for everyone to reduce the amount of travel involved. We’re all about getting married wherever you want, but if you’re thinking of the sustainability, keep travel costs/emissions in mind.

Ask your venues what their processes are for waste.

You have every right to ask potential venues about their green initiatives. How do they dispose of waste? Where do you source your food – is it local? What is your plastic policy? What kind of cleaning products do you use?

Find an eco-friendly caterer.

In this day it shouldn’t be too hard to find a caterer or venue that will be able to create a “green” menu. Ideally they will source local, organic produce and ethically produced ingredients. A vegan or vegetarian menu would also the environmental impact but we’re realistic and if that’s too much perhaps try at least half the menu be vegetarian. Getting your alcohol from local distilleries is also a great way to reduce your carbon footprint.

Limit stationary.

You can completely side-step this by going digital and only do email wedding invites, but we love just one statement wedding announcement piece. You can ask that it be printed on recycled paper. It’s also worth trying to get the printer to add extra signage like seating arrangements and directions/schedule to save paper.

No matter how you celebrate your big day it’s possible to have a sustainable wedding! You will not only feel great surrounded by your closest friends and family, but also love knowing you’re helping sustain the environment for future generations.

Slow Down your wedding day

Three Ways To Soak In Your Wedding Day

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Three Ways To Soak In Your Wedding Day

The one piece of wisdom everyone tells you for your wedding day is, “It goes by so fast. Slow down and soak it in.” Here are three tips to help you slow down and soak in your wedding day.

1. When you’re getting ready, look in the mirror.

You will only see your beautiful, bride or groom-to-be wedding day face one time. Slow down and take in the memory of your smile on that day. You’ve planned your outfit and/or  hair and makeup for months. You’ve dreamed of your wedding day and/or wedding gown your whole life. Mentally remind yourself during your prep time to look in the mirror. Soak in the significance that today is finally your wedding day. You will be married in a matter of hours. Take a deep breath, this will center you to truly appreciate this moment. Pro tip, it makes a great photo!

2. Walk down the aisle slowly.

The excitement builds up, adrenaline kicks in, but slow down your walk! The moment you see your spouse coming down the aisle will only happen one time. Hold tight to the person walking you down the aisle. Appreciate them being at your side. Remember it. If you are walking by yourself, take a moment to appreciate your confidence and all that has brought you to your wedding day, the best day of your life. As you walk look at all those attending your wedding beaming at your smiling face. Look around at your bridesmaids, groomsmen, & spouse. Soak in their happiness, love, and pride for you.

3. Enlist the help of the wedding day pros!

Build in moments of newlywed time. Your best allies in this are your photographer or wedding planner. Tell them when you want time just the two of you. These pros are organizer extraordinaires! They will ensure you get the perfect amount of time at the perfect time. Maybe you’ll even get a sweet, candid photo op from it. During this time, slow down together. Look at your venue and each other. Become aware this is it your wedding day. It will help you be present and soak in every second of the party.

Your wedding day is one of the only days in your life in which you have all the people who love you in one room, at the same time. Such a once in a lifetime event can be enjoyed to the fullest with simple preparation. Best wishes on slowing down and soaking in every second of your wedding day! If you like these tips, check out more advice from the experts at the Chicago Wedding Blog below!