Blossoming Bridesmaids

A little over 2 weeks ago, my younger sister got married! It was a fabulous day, full of fun, friends and family ... and flowers. My youngest sister and I were the only bridesmaids, so we went simple and romantic with long cream gowns (by the same designer that my sisters wore in my wedding), and donned traditional babysbreath floral wreaths. It was elegant but whimsical ... and likely the only excuse we'll ever have to wear a flower crown! I will share more photos later, but wanted to share a peek at our summer wedding ensembles ...

the merry maids


the lovely couple

Mini Vaca

After a wonderful whirlwind wedding weekend for my sister, some family members have decided to stick around for a reunion of sorts ... so we're off to the lake for a couple days to soak up some sun, catch up, and kick off the summer. Be back soon!

Have a Festive Weekend!

It's going to be another beautiful weekend in Chicago! I'm especially happy because my little sister gets married Saturday, so the more sun the better. I will be busy with celebrations, but there is lots to do around the city ...

Also this weekend ...

• Another weekend of summer festivals starts with Ribfest up at Lincoln and Damen. I love me some finger lickin' good ribs – mix that with good tunes and cold beers and you've got a fantastic fest.

• Head to U.S. Cellular Field for another fun fest – the Chicago Food Truck Fest. For one day, the parking lot fills with fab food on wheels (including one of my faves, Tamale Spaceship).

• Last but not least, Andersonville's Midsommarfest will take place this weekend. I love the neighborhood on any given day, but even better when the streets fill with music and munchies.  

Have a great weekend!

Photo courtesy of TWO restaurant

Showering the Bride-to-be

My lovely little sister is getting married next month, and as the matron of honor, I'm "honored" to organize any and every celebratory occasion! This past weekend, I hosted a bridal shower for her, complete with a dozen bottles of bubbly, decadent sweets and her nearest and dearest friends and family. I took every opportunity to create pretty little decorations, design some funny games, and give some fizzy favors.   

 

Now, onto planning her bachelorette! (though I can't promise a post on that one :)

Rock the Registry

I haven't written much wedding-related since Steve and I married over a year ago, but we've since then gotten some serious use out of our wedding gifts. With my sister now engaged, and I'm sure some of you are, I thought it my duty to report on a few of the things that we are so glad we put on our registry (we seriously exclaim "this thing is the best!" when using the items below) ...
  

Clockwise from top  
panini press: we love this contraption so much and whip up the prettiest paninis all the time (it makes even PB&J amazing). On the weekends, I love opening it flat and making pancakes. We like to have friends over and set up a panini bar (less work for us and very little clean up).

something pretty: okay, maybe you don't need a big crystal bowl, but not everything on your registry has to be a practical or functional item. I fell in love with this bowl and I would never buy it myself – I may not have fresh flowers for it all the time, or even use it often, but it sits on our shelves and I admire it every time I walk by.

really nice sheets: another item on the list of things you never want to buy yourself are thick, high thread count sheets. They make a world of difference but usually too pricey to just pick up when you need a new set.

Soda Stream: we were buying seltzer water by the bottle/can/liter ... anyway we could, so getting a Soda Stream just made sense. We use it all. the. time. I just add a lemon wedge and it's as good as Perrier.

thick bath towels: we thought our bath towels were fine – and they were – but then we bought these luxuriously thick towels for a friend's wedding gift and promptly put them on our own registry. In a word, amazing.


When it comes down to it, register for items that you need or want, but just don't foresee buying for yourself. And of course, cash is always top of the list (amiright?!) so throw Honeyfund on there as well ... you "register" for items on your honeymoon (like a fancy dinner or kayak tour) and when guests buy these, funds go into a PayPal account that you set up – voila – money in the bank!

Wedded Bliss

Planning a wedding can be a smidge stressful, so I was glad Steve and I could enjoy our party and be done with the details. But after endless sifting through all of the lovely dresses, decor, and details, I couldn't help but peek at the pretty pictures every now and then since that day. Well now that my little sister is engaged, I have a new excuse to revel in the beautiful bridal details. Below are some of my recent finds – yes, for the bride ... but who says I can't rock a gold and rhinestone headpiece someday??

Clockwise from top: green garland on the "getaway car"  //  gilded lace cuff bracelet  //  lovely lace dress  //  nude and rhinestone sandal  //  watercolored invitation  //  simple blush bow dress  //  vintage inspired headpiece  //  gold draped Marchesa gown

Have a Relaxing Holiday Weekend!

Happy holiday weekend! Since it's supposed to be a cooler than average Memorial day – not exactly ideal for a summer BBQ – I plan on taking the opportunity to relax and visit with friends (sure I say that now, but "down time" has a funny way of quickly filling up with fun things).

Around town this weekend ...

• This weekend marks the summer kick-off of the Randolph Street Market. Throw on a spring jacket and peruse the huge array of art, antiques, live music, and tasty treats.  

• For all of you brides-to-be ... on a budget, check out the Glamour Closet annual sample sale. All gowns are $499, $999, or $1499!

• Not on a budget? Head to the Scoop NYC gold coast location during your Monday off for the Chanel trunk show, featuring gorgeous vintage jewelry and handbags. 

Have a great weekend!

Photo courtesy of Pinterest

The Perfect Dress

There is an art to the perfect summer dress – a flowy fabric that drapes into a lovely silhouette and floats in the breeze, plus a choice of pretty pastel, bold hue, or versatile neutral. While perusing the lovely bridal blogs last year, I fell in love with Joanna August. Her feminine designs are simple and versatile, perfect for dressing up for a formal affair, or throwing on with a denim jacket for a chic casual ensemble. I chose the dresses below for my sisters to wear for our wedding ... and couldn't resist the State Street dress in the long version for myself (the black one above). I know it will be my go on hot summer days ... and on the other days, well, the thing about sisters is you share everything!

Top photo courtesy of Joanna August

Our Honeymoon

It took a little while, but here are some snaps from our amazing honeymoon! How do I even begin telling you how magical French Polynesia is ...

Our Wedding: The Ceremony and Party

Balena restaurant was the perfect spot for our non-traditional wedding. We wanted everyone to know how happy we were that they could be there to celebrate with us so we held our ceremony in the round. Our family surrounded us in a tight circle and our guests gathered around, making our large group feel intimate and special. Best of all, Steve's best friend officiated our ceremony, which meant the world to us.

The gorgeous space was filled with candles, delicious food, vintage touches, and fantastic people. We invited our guests to sign our "guestbook", a beautiful piece I found on Etsy that will hang on our wall as a reminder of our evening.

Our dessert table was filled with wonderful confections like lemon lavender shortbreads, candied blueberries, salted chocolate creameaux, and of course, some French macarons. Steve and I had a small cake made, a delicious concoction of lemon, ginger, blueberry and buttercream frosting (which also served as my breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the days that followed. Serious)

The night was an amazing blur of lovely friends, family, and fun times. Best of all, I got to walk away with a pretty sweet man to call my husband.

Oh, actually best of all, we had the Meatloaf Bakery food truck pull up in front for a midnight snack.

Previously: What We Wore  and  Our First Look

Our Wedding: The First Look

We were blessed with a beautiful day on our wedding, so for our first meet Steve waited on the terrace of my bridal suite at the Public Hotel. I could feel a big, goofy grin stretch across my face as I stepped out to greet him (which Steve would later tell me, was plastered on my face all night long).

Always a sharp dressed man, Steve looked extra handsome that day. Together, we took in the incredible city views from our room (I never grow tired of the Chicago skyline), then took advantage of the gorgeous day in a beautiful, almost private section of Millennium Park.

Looking at these photos now, I see Steve was right, I may as well include "ginormous smile" when listing what I wore that day.

Next Up: Our Ceremony and Reception

Previously: What We Wore

Our Wedding: What We Wore

Today marks one month since Steve and I tied the knot! It feels like just yesterday, I remember every moment – how handsome Steve looked, how delicious the champagne tasted out of our glasses, and most of all, the smiling faces of everyone we know (so surreal!).

Steve and I kept our outfits a secret from each other (though I nearly slipped a few times, I was so excited about my look). Steve did own a tuxedo already, but wanted this outfit to be extra special, so he went to Nicholas Joseph on Grand Avenue to have one custom made. In true Steve fashion, he donned some swanky socks, and details like his gear-shift cufflinks and favorite watch.

My sisters, mom and I set out in search of my dress within a couple months of Steve and I getting engaged. Even though it was out of order, it was love at first sight when I spotted these nude glitter slingbacks at Nordstrom. I pointed and said "those are the shoes I will wear on my wedding day." Stashing these beauties away for almost two years was the hardest part!

For my dress, I knew I wanted a slim silhouette in a soft fluid fabric. I hit a slew of beautiful bridal boutiques in the city, but settled on the reliable and lovely dresses at J.Crew (I love how thick and luxurious the fabrics are and the fine details of each gown). I decided on a headband in lieu of a veil, fashioning my own out of a necklace I found.

I wore vintage bracelets that I had collected from flea markets and vintage shops. One of my favorite things was carefully choosing vintage jewels for my sisters, sister-in-law, and my mother to go with their neutral-tone chiffon dresses (from Joanna August). I found some spectacular gold and rhinestone pieces at Vintage Underground on North Avenue. 

Getting ready that day was a breeze ... my mom, sister and I strolled to Starbucks, popped in a bookstore (so I could grab some literature on French Polynesia since I hadn't had time to even think about the honeymoon yet!), and relaxed on the terrace in our hotel suite. I was so happy to spend the time with my family, sipping on some bubbly, and chatting while the very talented Frankie and Aga did our hair and make-up.

Next Up: Our First Look 

Here Comes the Bride ...

Well this is it! After a nice long engagement, our wedding weekend is here. We are so excited to celebrate with our closest friends and family (though does anyone else find it fascinating to have everyone in you know in one room? It's like an episode of This Is Your Life, it seems like it will be totally surreal).

We leave the next day for our honeymoon, and to be honest, I don't see myself sitting at my computer everyday, so I will be signing-off for the next two weeks. We were told our professional photos would be waiting for us when we return (likely the only thing I would reason from paradise for), so I will be sure to share some favorites.

Before I receive ours, I'm sharing a wedding photo of my grandparent's above. It perfectly captures my Nana's personality; glamorous, effortless, and always fun. I'm thrilled she will be present to witness our vows this weekend.

In the meantime, I will share a smattering of fun finds from my past posts.
 

Have a great one, and see you mid-September!
(unless, of course, I can't wait and decide to post a mid-honeymoon brag session)

Something Blue

The goods:
• polka dot shirt from Nordstrom Rack
• shorts from Banana Republic
• wedges from Nine West
• bangles from IGWT, Coach
• initial necklace from Stitch

After donning summer whites this week, including these silk shorts, I'm prepping for the weekend by wearing "something blue". This shirt is a fantastic mix of casual and chic – the tiny polka dots elevate it from simple staple, to simply adorable. Too bad it's not fancy enough to add to my ensemble this weekend, this shirt is "spot on" for upholding that blue tradition.

A similar shirt is available here!

Château de Versailles

My friend was telling me all about the splendor of Versailles, a place Steve and I never made it to on our trip to Paris a couple of years ago. Since Steve and I both loved Paris and got engaged there, We had toyed with the idea of planning an intimate wedding back there, even talked to a wedding planner about venue options. She told us how we could have a small ceremony inside the palace, and cocktails out in the garden ... can you imagine? C'est très magnifique!

We are currently planning our wedding here in Chicago, but hope to get back to Paris soon, and you can bet that first on my list is a trip to see this sensational sight. Beautifully pictured below are a few amazing events that have taken place in and around the palace over the past year (surely had we done that wedding on this site, it would have given these a run for their Euros) ...

French Minister of Culture held a fundraiser for the Opéra Royal de Versailles, a gala dinner in the famous Hall of Mirrors. It was the first major event hosted in the space since Marie Antoinette herself called for a dinner party(!). Floral designer Jeff Leatham couldn’t use water in his flower arrangements, the first time flowers had been allowed in the Hall since Marie's reign. Read more about it here.



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Dior filmed a short video in and around the palace to showcase their Fall 2012 collection. Like some sort of eerie fantasy, Daria Strokous winds through the immaculate halls and pristine gardens (but manages to keep your focus on her amazing attire). See the dreamy video here.







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Chanel also took to the garden setting to show off it's 2013 Cruise Collection. The models wore Marie Antoinette-inspired details mixed with modern finishes while circling the fountains on the grounds. You can view the entire show here.






top photo from Pinterest