Most couples go into wedding planning with zero experience, which means they don’t always know the right questions to ask when hiring their vendor team. As a wedding coordinator, I am constantly amazed by how often I begin working with a couple only to realize they don't know the basic details of the vendor contracts they’ve already signed. If you want to protect your investment and your peace of mind, here is a guide to the key questions you need to ask before you hire each vendor.
Read MoreThe CHI thee WED Community to proud to bring you part 1 of “Italian Summers”. A curated luxury styleshoot at Sky on Nine Ballroom, featuring an open-concept design and a fresh summer aesthetic which creates the perfect backdrop for this shoot. Thank you to Bukky with Exquisite Events and Floral Designs for bringing the creative inspiration to life!
Read MoreAs a bridal designer, I've seen hundreds of wedding dresses make it through wedding days beautifully. The truth is that most gown emergencies aren't major emergencies at all…they're small, fixable issues that can happen during a long day of hugging, dancing, eating, and celebrating. I recommend putting together a small wedding dress emergency kit and here are the dress-specific items I recommend every bride pack.
Read MoreMany couples wonder whether they need both Save the Dates and wedding invitations. Learn the difference between the two, when to send them, who should receive them, and how to decide what makes the most sense for your wedding.
Read MoreWedWork is a full day workshop designed to bring wedding industry business leaders of all different levels of expertise together to learn from one another. We hone in on small group settings to allow open communication about ways to work best together as a team and discuss business goals. It is a combination of structured networking and providing educational tools to enhance individuals careers.
Read MoreAs a Chicago wedding photographer with over ten years of experience and over 300 weddings under my belt, I think it’s fair to say that I’ve pretty much seen it all. I’ve witnessed the good, the amazing and the…ah…not so amazing?!
Here are five of the biggest decisions you’ll make that will impact your wedding experience:
The candid film aesthetic captured a beautiful spring day in late May. With garden party floral baskets set for ceremony, paired with the colorful bridesmaids' bouquets, the decor and softness of color use in this wedding is truly one-of-a-kind. The mix of overcast and partly sunny weather made for amazing romantic photos by the willow tree or walking by the flower fields.
Read MoreYour timeline is the most important thing nobody sees. It's the invisible architecture of the whole day — and it's the difference between a wedding that happens to you in a blur and a day you actually get to be present for.
Most of the best decisions cost nothing. They're just about sequencing the day around the moments you want to feel. These are the ones we build in again and again.
When most couples think about wedding music, they picture a packed dance floor at the end of the night. While those high-energy moments are certainly important, the music at your wedding begins long before the first guest steps onto the dance floor.
The most successful weddings don't rely on great dance music alone. They use music intentionally to enhance every chapter of the celebration.
Part 2 of this gorgeous collaboration styled shoot with CHI thee WED Vendors, Velvet Vows. Rogers Park never looked so romantic!
Read MoreDream weddings are often filled with stunning lush floral arrangements. Finding creative ways to repurpose your flowers throughout the day is the best way to maximize your floral budget while also ensuring a cohesive design from ceremony to reception. Here is a list of do’s and don’ts to ensure that you get the most for your floral budget.
Read More“Velvet Vows” was born from a love for romance, texture, and storytelling through design. This shoot feels endlessly romantic, bold, intimate, and timeless, capturing a feeling: an endless romance that feels dramatic yet deeply personal.
Read MoreEvery year, the wedding industry publishes reports: spending trends, booking behavior, consumer insights. These publications are treated as the authority on how couples plan, budget, and make decisions. The problem is that most of this data was never built with Black brides at the center. Not intentionally excluded, just overlooked in the process.
Read MoreThis vibrant editorial was inspired by the luxurious, transportive energy of the television series" White Lotus"—reimagined through a wedding lens with bold color, elevated design, and playful tropical touches.
Read MoreWhen couples begin planning their wedding, one of the most common questions is: Do I need a wedding planner or a wedding coordinator? The titles are often used interchangeably, but they are very different roles—and understanding the difference can help you invest your budget where it matters most.
Read MorePassport Pro is a touring event hosted by Megan Garmers and The Wedding Masterclass. As I’ve been expanding my wedding photography business to include more international destinations, this event caught my attention! Its sister event, State of the Wedding Industry (SOTWI), also took place in Chicago on March 9th at Wildman BT.
Read MoreThis couple hosted a gorgeous wedding in some of Chicago’s iconic places and the backrop offers all of the inspiration for other couple’s planning a wedding in Chicago.
Read MoreIn a beautiful October day, the colors have started to shift from lush to rustic. With the bloomed and colorful flower fields and the golden brown grass streaks, the Fall setting created the perfect bohemian aesthetic for an outdoor wedding.
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