Lovely: A Bake Shop

We were so thrilled to have The Sweetest Occasion and Elizabeth Anne Designs team up with Chicago’s most fabulous bridal show, Indie Wed, to hold the first-ever in person Inspired Creations Contest!  Teams of Chicago wedding vendors submitted inspiration boards for the event, and 6 talented teams were chosen to exhibit their Inspired Creations Contest concept at Indie Wed in January.  In addition to the brides’ and grooms’ on site voting, votes from the EAD and TSO blog readers will be counted, so weigh in on your favorites!

What a beautiful way to start the week – a gorgeous tabletop, dessert table, and fashion shoot inspired by a French countryside tea party!  This chic shoot at Chicago’s Loft on Lake was designed by Carlene of Naturally Yours Events and features DIY and eco-friendly elements throughout.  Carlene created the escort card display from strips of muslin, lace, and textured fabrics tied onto a piece of wood, many of the florals were grown by Larkspur and are all seasonal, and the stunning bridal gowns were created by Mignonette Bridal using repurposed lace. Even the art from Emmy Star Brown is framed in old window panes!  I’m utterly in love with each and every little detail and all of the images by Julia Franzosa Photography!

The adorable J. Lauren and Thomas were married on a gorgeous summer Chicago day and their ceremony and reception contains so many personal and handmade details!  I absolutely love it when couples incorporate special memories into their day and J. Lauren and Thomas’s wedding is full of them.  The beautiful images are by Ryan Timm Photography for Two Birds Photography.

This gorgeous inspiration shoot is full of artsy, bohemian flair, set in the gorgeous garden venue of The Grove in Glenview, IL.  I love the natural, woodsy feeling of the location and the way this team of talented Chicago wedding vendors wove together an eclectic mix of elements to create a sophisticated and ethereal look!  The lovely images are by Dawn Roscoe with floral and decor by Evolution Floral.

This elegant ceremony and handsome after-party are simply perfect for the quickly approaching cool weather! Greatest Expectations Special Events & Weddings, Inc., styled this shoot along with Julia Franzosa Photography, and it features a simple, Zen-like beginning followed by a crisp reception that includes a homemade s’mores and hot cocoa bar from Truffle Truffle. Genius! We adore the geometric color-block stationery in white, gray, and black from Sarah Drake, as well as the greenery arrangements paired with bronze succulents from Pistil & Vine. There’s just nothing better than a timeless Chicago affair—complete with traditional tuxes from Black Tie Formalwear—where no detail was overlooked! See it all in the gallery!

Ladies and gents, today we have the privilege of sharing Melissa Hayes’ sparkling new wedding website!  If you haven’t seen Melissa’s work before, you are in for quite a treat today because we can assure you it is positively lovely!  Her new website showcases her amazing photography perfectly with several collections that will make your jaw drop.  From cheery outdoor ceremonies to chic ballroom receptions to cultural weddings filled with color and warmth, Melissa has photographed it all beautifully!

There’s nothing better on a cold and snowy day than the arms of your sweetie wrapped tightly around you. This warm and fuzzy engagement shoot by Laura Ivanova, Melissa Schollaert, and Molly Michel would make anyone excited for winter love and the stunning winter-inspired anemone, rose, and privet berry bouquet by Asrai Garden would set any chilled heart aflutter! The cool greys and soft pastels in these photos Laura Ivanova by are perfect inspiration for a winter wedding!

From the ceremony at Sts. Volodymyr and Olha Ukrainian Catholic Church to the reception at The Drake in Chicago, Stefanie and Matt’s weekend was filled with family, love, and lots of tradition the bride holds dear. “One of the many things that I love about Matt is that he has always embraced my Ukrainian heritage, which is a really significant part of my identity,” says Stefanie. The elaborate church ceremony included lush florals by Stems, with pale, mostly white bouquets that popped against taupe and black bridesmaids dresses from the Jenny Yoo Collection. Stefanie dazzled in an Oscar de la Renta gown that was topped off by a big, modern bow on the shoulder. Ukrainian custom called for an overflowing sweets table with desserts from family friends and Shokolad Pastry & Cafe, but the couple still offered a traditional tri-flavored cake made by Sarah’s Pastries & Candies. The lively end of the night included special dancing—the kolomeyka—by Stefanie’s family. We’re swept off our feet by this fun wedding documented to perfection by Melissa Hayes Photography!

Photographer Eric Kelley and Lora Kelley and Mallory Joyce envisioned an urban, chic elopement in Chicago, and we’re completely enamored with the styled shoot these creative minds crafted. Models were striking in Oscar de la Renta, Manolo Blahnik and J. Crew. Vale of Enna designed moody flower arrangements made of succulents, anemones, roses, air plants and more, adding depth to the already varied backdrop of Prairie Street Brewhouse. The paper suite created by MaeMae Paperie is modern, yet classic—we love the pop of color inside the envelopes and the green hue that brightens this shoot!

Some of the most striking photographs we see at EAD don’t simply capture a beautiful bouquet or a stunning bride: they also frame memorable moments within the lovely architecture of a unique wedding venue.  It takes a distinctive type of photographer to be able to capture those oh-so-special moments: a graceful bride, a dome of windows bouncing light off a wedding dress, and pillars flanking happily oblivious newlyweds, and our newest Chicago vendor guide member, Artisan Events, knows just where to look.   Over their 15 years in business, the Artisan team, founded by award-winning photographer Amanda Sudimack, has photographed a variety of different Chicago venues.  Here are some of their favorites – perhaps one is the perfect choice for your wedding!

I’m so excited to share today’s shoot with you. Not only was it inspired by the oh-so-popular Hunger Games Trilogy, but it’s absolutely gorgeous whether you read the books or not. Naturally Yours Events combined both rustic and very glamorous details, symbolizing the contrasts that occurred throughout the series. Rich foods and exotic flowers reflect the extravagance of a feast while rustic elements like unfinished tables and the natural moss with primrose “kokedama favors” still give the shoot a rough-around-the-edges feel. The whole shoot is natural yet utterly decadent and I love every single photo by Anthony Barlich Photography!

A huge thank you to all six teams who entered the Indie Wed Inspired Creations contest!  We are so excited to announce the winner and runner up – every team did an amazing job and all of the couples who attended Indie Wed, as well as all of you readers, actively voted for your favorite teams, and Kelly from Indie Wed and I are so grateful!  So, without further adieu, here we go!

I absolutely love the idea of a museum wedding and so did Laura and Mark, who were married in the modern wing of the Art Institute of Chicago. The clean lines of the venue and beautiful artwork as a backdrop really create such a unique and cultured event. Larkspur did a beautiful job creating arrangements that reflected the modern feel of the venue and incorporated organic elements like succulents and branches in a clean green and white color palette. I love the fresh and modern feel of this wedding as well as all the wonderful photos from JPP Studios!

Isn’t there just something magical about hot air balloons? Our Inspired Creations Contest concept today from Pemberley Events, Petal Play Design, Image Icon Photography and 11 Eureka Boutique was inspired by a photo of a fun-loving couple in a hot air balloon. Floating glass balls and papier-mâché hot air balloons floated above a vibrant and colorful tabletop filled with roses, tulips, and poppies. The color didn’t stop with the flowers! Along the natural runner sat colorful vases and glassware too. The seating chart was actually burlap map of the world with different colored hot air balloons showing people where to sit. Such an adorable theme and wonderful ideas for a colorful travel-inspired wedding!

It’s already so hard to resist photo booths, but add in antique details, vintage LPs, and fabulous accessories like these from Love, Lulu Mae? Sign me up! This team behind this Inspired Creations Contest put together the Ultimate Photo Booth. Guests use props like vintage hats, mustaches on a stick, sequined and feathered headbands to create photos, buttons, and even videos to post on friends’ facebook walls! Certainly, this is not your ordinary photo booth. It’s super interactive and has so many different options to play with. Doesn’t it look like so much fun?

Welcome to day 2 of the Indie Wed Inspired Creations Contest! The incredible team involved in today’s shoot created an amazing and beautiful idea, a “Belles and Gents Bar”. Picture this: one day, wives crash an old-school gentlemen’s club bringing in big beautiful blooms and brightly colored details to freshen up the usual decor of cigars, highball glasses, aged scotches, and decanters. SQN Events stocked the bar with his and hers drinks (homebrews and sweet tea) from Femme du Coupe personalized by Courtney Callahan Paper and treats like chocolate-covered cigars and bourbon-infused brownies from truffle truffle. Fleur never disappoints with their stunning florals and these peony, ranunculus, and cotton arrangements are absolutely some of my favorites! Love this brilliant idea and beautiful photos by the wonderful Simply Jessie Photography!

Inspired by a peacock feather, these jewel-toned tabletops designed by Beth of SQN Events are the perfect combination of elegant and modern.  Whether you’re planning a wedding or a party, jewel tones set the stage for a fabulous urban holiday soiree, and the gorgeous purple, red, and green palette is brought to life by the modern blooms from Dilly Lily.  Ribbon-wrapped menus and favor boxes with touches of swirling calligraphy add an elegant touch to the wedding tabletop while “naughty” and “nice” gift boxes add cheeky punch to the holiday tablescape.  The scrumptious sweets table and 4-tier truffle cake from Truffle Truffle is a fun and unique alternative to a traditional cake.  I’m in love with all of the colorful images from Maypole Studios!

Working with the fall color palette of amber, gold, saffron and chocolate, Kelly Marie of Fleur and Heather of Greatest Expectations pulled from the in-the-moment trend of beer and hops to style a shoot that is the perfect combination of modern and rustic.  With custom stationery and the cutest vintage beer bottle labels from Lily Red Studio, a mouthwatering menu (a charcuterie and cheese station!) from Pure Kitchen Catering, a beautiful bridal look from The Left Bank, and the fabulous raw space at Architectural Anarchy, every little detail was thoughtfully presented.  And don’t even get me started on the amazing desserts from Truffle Truffle – including an out of this world 4-tier truffle cake!  It was impossible to narrow down the gorgeous images by Amanda Hein, so run over to see ALL of the eye candy in the gallery!

Today is such a fun day for me because I get to show off my very first designed shoot! I was so thrilled when Sara Gray asked me to create a shoot for her latest MarryThis! wedding guide, and immediately enlisted the amazing Kelly Marie Uss of Fleur to join in to help me style a romantic summer wedding shoot, full of vibrant colors and elegant and fluffy blooms. I love trends, but wanted to take a few of the design trends that are popular today, such as vintage china and lace, and use them in a way that was classic and timeless, a wedding that would stay fresh and inspiring for years to come. We chose the absolutely fabulous Aeree Loft at Room 1520 as our venue, its clean white walls and amazing light were the perfect backdrop!

Deciding on Galleria Marchetti in Chicago as their venue was one of the easiest choices for Emily and Tom. It wasn’t as easy, however, for Emily to keep Tom from wanting to hang streamers from the tent. Either way, their colorful wedding looks like it was a blast! The florals by Fleur are stunning (love the limes!) and Emily’s necklace makes me want to dig through my mom’s jewelry and find a brooch to steal just so I can have it made into my own necklace by Elva Fields. The couple is very lucky to have some extremely helpful friends. Emily’s sorority sister, Amanda Hein, took great photos of the day, the one of the bridesmaids shoes is my fav!