Thursday January 26, 2012
Photo: Courtesy of BHLDN
BHLDN couldn't have picked a more perfect day to open their second brick-and-mortar store (the first was in Houston): Valentine's Day 2012! Yep, the store, which is part of the Anthropologie family, will be located on N. State and E. Walter in the Gold Coast neighborhood, among other fine and specialty boutiques like Vera Wang, Hermes and Tory Burch.
The wedding emporium will be full of the same fantastical treasures found on their online store—wedding gowns, bridesmaid and social dresses, shoes, accessories, and decor. And since BHLDN has gained a cult-like following with non-trad brides, it might be a good idea to book an appointment now. Just saying.
Oh, and to get you even more pumped, check out an insider sneak peek of their Spring 2012 collection here! No need to thank us. —Stephanie Davila
Get your head in the gown-shopping game by visiting our Wedding Dresses gallery first.
Thursday December 8, 2011
New Jersey natives Kristen and Scott met in 1993, but didn't start dating until eight years later. Now residents of Chicago, the couple wanted to hold their wedding at a site that would showcase the city to their out-of-town guests, and they found the ideal venue in Terzo Piano, a restaurant in the Modern Wing at the Art Institute of Chicago.
Following the ceremony—held at the couple's parish, St. Michael in Old Town— the reception at Terzo Piano reflected modern details and vibrant floral designs by Hello Darling. History books on the Art Institute of Chicago served as escort cards and the dinner menu featured a meal the couple had enjoyed at the restaurant when they celebrated Valentine's Day there earlier in the year. Before the end of the evening, the newlyweds stole away for a walk on the Modern Wing's bridge. The bride recalls, "That quiet moment with Scott was just magical."
Follow the jump to see more from Kristen and Scott's wedding, visit our Real Weddings page to find other great style ideas, and search our revamped local listings to find wedding vendors near you.
Read more ››
Wednesday November 16, 2011
Photos: Chennergy
Emily and Mason chose Gallery 1028, a loftlike space on Chicago's Goose Island, to play host to both their ceremony and reception. The raw space was decorated with long, rectangular tables, paper lanterns, ferns, and origami cranes suspended from the ceiling.
Emily wore a silk chiffon gown by Nicole Miller: "I wanted a dress I could really dance in," she says. The couple got engaged in 2009 after Mason popped the question in a historic barn while friends performed "You Are My Sunshine" on violin, banjo, bass, and guitar. Not surprisingly, the couple chose the same song, performed by the Barehand Jugband, for their first dance. "As we danced, kazoos were passed out," says Emily. "When the band paused, the wedding party ran onto the dance floor and blew their kazoos. Then the band kicked it into high gear and suddenly everyone was dancing!"
Follow the jump to see more from Emily and Mason's wedding, and visit our Real Weddings page to find other great style ideas.
Read more ››
In the Fall/Winter 2011 issue of Brides Chicago, we announced the winners of our first-ever Editor's Choice Awards.
It's a way for the editorial staff and me to officially recognize the amazing, forward-thinking, art-creating, call-returning, trend-making wedding vendors who inspire and delight us every time we craft an issue of our magazine. And, most importantly, we're excited to share this winning list with all of you—it's a great place to start assembling your dream team. —Julie Raimondi
See the full list of winners after the jump.
Read more ››
I spotted this Rice Krispies wedding cake on Alix Klingerberg's photography blog and loved the idea (and the heart-shaped topper!)—it's a great alternative to traditional wedding cake or cupcakes. This confection was made by the bride's sister and a friend; the Rice Krispies treats were molded in round cake pans, accented with white fondant ribbons, and topped with a DIY felt heart. Learn how to make the heart-shaped cake topper or purchase similar ones here. Also, see more of this couple's DIY wedding at the Byron Colby Barn, located near Chicago, on Alix Klingenberg's blog. —Heather Lee
See more photos of creative wedding cakes in our Cakes Gallery. Also, find a wedding cake designer near you in our local resource guide.
Photos: Ashley Bulkowski
Check out these photos from the Filene's Running of the Brides gown sale, held last weekend in Chicago. Hundreds of brides and their entourages braved the rainy weather and lined up hours before the doors opened at 8 a.m.—one bride's father queued up at noon the day before to hold his daughter's place in line. Once inside, it was a mad dash for dresses, with women carrying armloads of gowns and trying them on between empty clothing racks. The schedule of upcoming Running of the Brides sales around the country is listed below. —Heather Lee, Brides Chicago
Washington, D.C. (Mazza Gallerie): Friday, April 29
Miami (Aventura), FL (17651 Biscayne Blvd.): Friday, May 6
Columbus, OH (3704 W. Dublin-Granville Rd.): Friday
New York City (Union Square South): Friday, June 3, 2011
This week's wedding cake is a romantic confection by
Amy Beck Cake Design in Chicago. The delicate lace pattern was handcut from rolled fondant and was designed to resemble the bride's lace wedding gown. The three-tier cake was accented with an edible sugar brooch that matched the sparkly pin the bride wore in her hair. (You also can see more photos from this wedding on
Clary Pfeiffer's photography blog.) —Heather Lee
See more photos of romantic wedding cakes in our Cakes Gallery. Also, find a wedding cake designer near you in our local resource guide.
Photo: Robb Cohen
Chicago brides: Get ready, because it's time again for Filene's Basement Running of the Brides. The annual wedding dress supersale kicks off Friday, April 8, at 8 a.m. and lasts until 9 p.m. at the Filene's location at One N. State St. in Chicago. The final sale includes more than 2,000 gowns sizes 2 to 26 in discounted prices ranging from $249 to $699. Brides looking for the best deals (and the best selection) are encouraged to line up by 6:30 a.m., but those of you with a less competitive streak should aim to arrive any time after mid-morning. For a first-hand sneak peak at the excitement, check out our video from the New York ROTB last month. —Heather Lee, Brides Chicago
Photos: Becky Hill Weddings
Caroline and Gene met in 2005, when both attended graduate school in Philadelphia. The couple currently reside in San Francisco, but decided to wed in Chicago because the location was convenient for both sides of the family. They chose to have the ceremony and reception at a private club in downtown Chicago, where the bride's father has been a member for many years. "We loved its elegant interiors, central location, and amazing views of Millennium Park," says Caroline.
She wore a custom wedding gown created by Dana Gail of The Bella Bride. "I tried on a million gowns at different salons and couldn't decide on one," says Caroline. "So instead I worked with a dressmaker to create a custom design that was just right." The couple hired Lisa Zimbler as their "day of" coordinator to ensure that the wedding day would go smoothly. "Lisa suggested that Gene and I steal away after the ceremony to have a few minutes to ourselves--that was wonderful advice." Visit the slide show to see more about their wedding.
Saturday February 26, 2011
Photos: Courtesy of Susan Pittard
Check out this sweet Chicago-themed wedding invitation suite by new-to-me stationery company Swiss Cottage Designs. The bride and groom wanted their invitation to celebrate the city where they met and fell in love, so designer Courtney Jentzen created this suite that reflected the wedding's turquoise-and-coral color scheme and featured hand-drawn city icons and motifs. One of my favorite details: a weekend guide to the city, which listed some of the couple's favorite spots to visit (Lou Malnati's! Wrigley Field!) along with classic Chicago tunes to listen to—genius! To see more of Swiss Cottage Designs's work, visit their stationery portfolio. —Heather Lee, Brides Chicago
See more creative invite designs in our Invites & Stationery Gallery.
Photos: Jeffrey and Julia Woods
The bride and groom met in 2006 through a mutual pal. "Our friend Brittney boldly introduced us to each other as 'your future husband, Tyson' and 'your future wife, Kathleen,'" remembers the bride. "It was embarrassing initially, but it's so funny how things worked out." The couple's wedding featured a bold color scheme: "We wanted red, and lots of it," says Kathleen. She carried a bouquet of deep red roses designed by Enchanted Florist & Boutique in Peoria. Her 10 bridesmaids wore red satin dresses with black sashes by Badgley Mischka. The reception, held at the Country Club of Peoria, was designed to feel like a hip lounge, with red lighting, draped fabric, and lots of candlelight. The red velvet wedding cake was created by Wedding Cake Connection and featured sugar roses on each tier. Read more from this couple's wedding here.
For more inspiration from real couples' weddings, visit our real weddings gallery.
Photo: Courtesy of Orange Beautiful
California-based cupcakery Sprinkles has just opened a Chicago shop (50 E. Walton St, between Michigan & Rush)! The shop exterior is a modern grid of their signature cupcake tops; inside, you find an array of unusual flavors including chai latte, banana, and ginger lemon. Mix and match you and your groom's favorite flavors and arrange them on tiers to serve at your reception. —Heather Lee, Brides Chicago
Also, see more wedding cupcakes in our Wedding Cakes Gallery.
Etsy has long been the mecca for brides who are looking for handmade, alternative products for their wedding, but imagine if their online marketplace came together for an event where you could browse and buy everything in person. Enter Indie Wed, a wedding show and market that will be taking place on January 29th at the Ravenswood Event Center in Chicago. In addition to 90+ vendors from around the country, the event will also feature music and dance performances, food tastings, free massages, and a fashion show. Tickets are $12 but if you purchase them here before this Friday January 7th you will get 40% off with the coupon code NEWYEAR.
Tuesday December 28, 2010
Photo: Courtesy of Hey! Sugar
If you're looking for an edible locally made wedding favor, check out the cookies from new Chicago-based sweets shoppe Hey! Sugar. The online cookie confectionery features adorably named treats include the Strawlemon (my fave, a lemon cookie with strawberry bits), Choc3, (triple chocolate), PC Toasty (gluten-free pineapple macaroon), and the Boyfriends (chocolate chip, vanilla, and walnut). Best of all, the company features a custom "cupcakery," where couples can work with owner Michelle Olszewski to design a wedding treat in the flavors of your choice. Pretty sweet! —Heather Lee, Brides Chicago
Also, see more edible gift ideas in our Favors Gallery.
Tuesday December 21, 2010
Courtesy of Anais Collezioni
The St. Pucchi collection is known for jaw-dropping, couture-inspired wedding dresses. So we were, of course, delighted to hear about a new wedding gown line designed by Rani and her two sons that maintains St. Pucchi's grand, whimsical style, but retails for under $2,000. Called Anais Collezioni, the collection features fashion-forward detailing and modern silhouettes. I'm particularly in love with the dress pictured above—the gold sash accentuates the natural waist, and the silhouette is so flattering. The gowns are already available at stores in 27 states, so visit Anais Collezioni's website for more information on where to find these gorgeous gowns. And don't forget to head over to our dress gallery to see hundreds of amazing wedding dresses.—Kim Forrest
