Stylish Weddings for Less

As a wedding planner in Chicago, I am often interviewed for magazines and online publications and blogs.  I was interviewed and able to contribute to a great new book last spring, Stylish Weddings for Less, and it has finally hit book shops in time for all those new brides getting engaged over the holidays.  Our suggestions for affordable reception ideas are featured on page 78.  They include suggestions for brunch events, great food presentation, decorating tips and basic rules of thumb for getting the most "bang for your buck." Happy Reading!

LOLA featured in Chicago Magazine

LOLA Event Productions named one of the top wedding planning companies in Chicago, by Chicago Magazine!

Check out the March issue of Chicago Magazine and read the feature on LOLA references some of our favorite problem solving moments and highlights our focus on the “personalized little touches.”

Creating a Registry

We’ve all seen them… That engaged couple wandering aimlessly through the aisles of a large department store with glazed eyes, clutching a clipboard or scanner, and occasionally giving their partner a look that could burn through steel. Registering for gifts can quickly turn into a tedious, intimidating or down right frustrating process, but with a little planning, it can be one of the pleasurable parts of planning a wedding.

Take inventory of your cupboards and your lifestyle
Whether you have been on your own for a number of years or you are just starting out, making a checklist of what you have, what you would like to upgrade, and what you are missing altogether is the most helpful tool to have when starting the registry process. It is important to remember that the items you add to your registry will be with you for many years to come. This may be your only opportunity to ask for that new set of luggage or beautiful set of cookware, or for the sorts of items you may not purchase for yourself like a fine crystal vase or serving platter.

This is also a good opportunity to take a look at your current lifestyle and how it may change a few years from now. Make practical decisions about what you might enjoy using down the road. If your lifestyle is very casual, you may still want to register for a simple and versatile china pattern that can be dressed up or down with different types of table linens or more formal stemware.

Don’t go crazy
After you’ve taken inventory and made a “wish list” of the items you want or need, make a pact not to stray too far from the objective. It is one thing to have a single vase or pair of candlesticks catch your eye, and quite another to register for a mound of small appliances that will take up space, rarely be used and quickly end up as nothing more than wasted cupboard space. Ask the advice of some newly married couples you know and find out what they were happiest they registered for… Or what they wish they would have passed upon. Usually these recommendations are right on target!

Diversify
Let’s face it… Most men are never going to gush over crystal goblets or fine china. Reactions to the question, “What do you think of this china pattern, Honey?” usually range from polite surrender and acceptance to impatience and lots of eye rolling. These days there are plenty of “guy friendly” places to register as well. Many stores that sell everything from sporting goods, electronics and home improvement supplies have a bridal registry. By diversifying your registry you are giving your guests more choices to find a gift they want to give, and you are also offering your groom his chance to gush over power tools, digital cameras and camping equipment!

Make it easy for your guests
You can spend hours registering for just the right assortment of gifts, but if your selections aren’t convenient or cost appropriate to obtain, you will still end up with items you don’t want or need. Make sure you register for a range of gifts including an assortment of items in the $50 range so all of your guests will find something they can afford. If you have guests coming from out of town, find a registry with an on-line ordering process or a presence in the area where many of your guests may live. If you are registering for items considered “seasonal” like picnic baskets or Christmas ornaments, make sure you double check your registry occasionally to make sure the items are still readily available. Many times these items are taken off the shelves or liquidated from stock at a certain time of the year. It can be extremely frustrating to a wedding guest to be looking for something on a registry that is no longer available.

Read the fine print
Always review a store’s return and exchange policies. Make sure you are comfortable with all the terms and fine print. There will be nothing worse than coming home from your relaxing honeymoon and realizing you have a stack of gifts that you cannot exchange or return for alternate items!

Lori Stephenson
LOLA Event Productions

Chicago: Our Kind of Town!

You are from the West coast, he’s East coast. You’re both from small towns in the Midwest and want a destination with more alternatives for guests. Your family won’t travel outside the country, or his is spread out all over the country. You always dreamed of a traditional wedding, but he wants to run off and get married. It sounds as if you two need a centrally located domestic destination that is easy to get to with lots of options for your friends and family. We have just the answer…Chicago!

Chicago is the perfect destination for a wedding, Bachelorette or Bachelor party weekend or a romantic weekend getaway for just the two of you.

Easy Access
Chicago has two airports that fly direct to almost any destination on the continent. Major airlines like United and American and secondary airlines like Southwest and ATA fly direct flights to and from both coasts that are affordable and convenient. The public transit system is clean and easy to use, cabs are plentiful and hotels of all price levels and styles are numerous. Chicago started out as the ‘gateway to the west’ in American history, but is now a gateway and example to the world of diversity, style and sophistication. All this, and it still maintains its friendly Midwestern personality!

Here Comes the Bride (and her Posse)
Brides and grooms will find some of the most beautiful and unique venues in the country in Chicago for ceremonies, receptions and all their pre-wedding parties and events. Many are perfect for veterans of the city as well as visitors traveling to this great city for the first time!

Lincoln Park Zoo and Lincoln Park Conservatory
Whether you are lucky enough to score Café Brauer as your reception venue, you are looking for a beautiful spot for a garden ceremony downtown, or you just want some wedding photos with the skyline as your background, these centrally located spots in Chicago’s Lincoln Park, just north of downtown are picture perfect. Our #1 pick for best photo spot in the city is the bridge over the zoo’s duck pond. Have your photographer stand at the shore and use a zoom to get some great shots. It is just a short trolley or limousine ride from any downtown hotel or venue.

Out of town guests that want to enjoy a day at the zoo can still do it in Chicago for free! That’s right, Lincoln Park Zoo remains one of the only zoos in the country with free entry. Great for both kids, and kids at heart! Check out the new Primate Exhibit – the real version of what was fictionally featured in the film ‘Return to Me’ directed by Chicago’s own Bonnie Hunt.

Chicago by Water
Whether you send guests on an afternoon architectural tour up the Chicago River where you will learn about the rebuilding of this great city by world renowned architects after the Great Chicago Fire (our #1 recommendation for things to do with out of town guests!), plan a Bachelor or Bachelorette booze cruise or decide to celebrate your union aboard a vessel that leaves from one of Chicago’s many harbors and does a picturesque sunset cruise of Lake Michigan while you toast your new life together – Lake Michigan is part of what makes Chicago such a gorgeous and livable city. Don’t discount this Midwestern city as a destination for land-lovers only! One of our favorite vessels is the El Presidente. Leaving from a harbor near Navy Pier, this is a wonderfully sophisticated opportunity to wine and dine up to 60 guests for a rehearsal dinner or informal wedding ceremony.

The Art and Science of the Windy City
From the world renowned Art Institute and Museum of Science and Industry, to the Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium, Museum of Contemporary Art and the brand new Millennium Park, it is hard to list a favorite among these unique destinations that are perfect backdrops for a celebration in Chicago – or even a lazy afternoon with friends. All are available for private events, but book well in advance as these are the spots coveted by veterans of the city as well! For something more off the beaten path, try unique spots for the artistically inclined like West Loop Studio, Flatfile Galleries or Architectural Artifacts for sophisticated urban celebrations your guests will be talking about for years to come.

Get Some Culture
Designed in the beaux-arts style, the Chicago Cultural Center was completed in 1897 and dedicated as the city's original Chicago Public Library. Your photographer will start to drool when he/she sees this gorgeous neo-classical backdrop for stunning wedding photos. Make sure to utilize the famed spiral staircase for some timeless shots you will treasure forever. Brides and grooms should also make sure guests know about the free walking tours of the city offered to visitors and the many complimentary performing, visual and literary arts exhibits offered almost daily.

Sky High
No visit to Chicago is complete without a visit to the observatories at the Sears Tower or Hancock building. Enjoy a ‘Skyscraper’ in the Signature Room on the 99th floor of the Hancock after a long day of shopping along Michigan Avenue or plan an entire reception or rehearsal dinner in the Metropolitan Club at the Sears Tower. A venue that will truly have guests ‘ooohing’ and ‘ahhhing’ over the bride, the food and the views of the city!

Wild Chicago!
Don’t just consider Chicago for weddings. Remember how much fun Ferris Bueller had on a random day out in this city?! The wilder side of Chicago is perfect for a Bachelor or Bachelorette weekend that will get you started early and staying out late! The guys will appreciate golf at some of the nation’s top public courses like Cog Hill, and a ballgame at the historic Wrigley Field located on Chicago’s hip near north side. Smack dab in the middle of the Lincoln Park and Lakeview neighborhoods where young professionals gather at their favorite watering holes, The Cub’s home field is hopping on game day and every day. Many of the local bars even have DJ’s and live music after the game and are open as late (or early) as 5am. Hit one of Chicago’s infamous steak joints like Gibson’s for dinner and smoke a cigar at Mike Ditka’s self named restaurant in the Gold Coast to fortify yourselves for a busy night out on the town!

Bachelorettes will be stumped as to what to do first in Chicago. Head to Michigan Avenue for world class shopping, hit the chic boutiques and spas of Wicker Park or Lincoln Park, or head out to Oak Street Beach to do some people watching (i.e. shirtless volleyball players!) and get some sun. Might we recommend the shopping first, as you will need a lot of energy, and follow it up with some in-room massage and beauty treatments from Beauty on Call and Windy City Massage who both offer great group rates for services. G Boutique also does on-location ‘lingerie’ showers that could get the evening festivities off to a racy start. You’ll be looking and feeling your best before hitting the dance clubs on Division Street, the Kit Kat Club or The Batton for some drag shows, or The Second City for world class comedy. Want to plan your own party? Hop a Chicago Trolley with some beverages and party CD’s and create your own bar crawl to end all bar crawls!


Lola Event Productions

"Something Blue"

‘Something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue.” The adage goes as hand-in-hand with weddings as ‘I do,’ and the blue stands for good sentiments like fortune, love and fidelity, so here are ten fun ways to incorporate your something blue on the big day! Best wishes and good luck!

1. Get Personal
   Adding a monogram or your wedding date to the wedding day ensemble is a great way to tastefully incorporate your something blue into wedding attire. It will also serve as a keepsake for you and your family in years to come.
   
   
2. Blue shoes aren’t just for Elvis
   Chances are you are going to dye your shoes to match your gown. If they sport a bow or embellishment, have your cobbler dye this small portion of the shoe a pale blue. When you dance and move, the detail will show just enough, and the look will create a peek-a-boo photo op that’s a bit less compromising than the ‘garter’ shots we all secretly dread!
   
   
3. Accessories are a Girl’s Best Friend
   Whether it’s some light blue Swarovski crystal pick pins tucked into your hair, a single sapphire dangling in a classic pendant or chandelier earrings, a bracelet scattered with aqua marines, opals and blue topaz or some special crystals sewn into the beading on your gown, adding color to a bridal ensemble is actually a trend that bridal gown and accessory designers are embracing more and more.
   
   
4. Eye love Blue!
   Blue eye shadow can actually look sophisticated if done in a soft modern look. No harsh shades reminiscent of Cindy Lauper or Madonna circa 1985! Check out more subdued shades like the ‘Cleo’ Duo by Nars or the color ‘strip’ by Urban Decay at Sephora.com Stay away from anything too trendy or make up looks that you wouldn’t normally wear – you don’t want to look like a stranger on your big day. Consult with your wedding day make-up artist before making any final decisions, and make sure you do a dry run before the wedding!
   
   
5. It’s a Wrap
   Find a pashmina, shawl or wrap in your favorite shade of blue and have it on hand for keeping warm between shots when you are doing outdoor photos on a chilly day. Or add extra fabric to your purchase when you order your bridal gown then pick a blue shade for the back or edges and have the salon or tailor make a wrap made to match with just a hint of blue. If your gown came with a wrap, bead the edges lightly in blue Swarovski crystal.
   
   
6. Bluebells, cockle shells…
   Blue flowers in a bridal bouquet can add depth to the white of your gown and give crisp detail to photos. Consider the fact that periwinkle is one of the only colors that flatters all skin complexions, and use shades of blue for the entire wedding party. It is a great accent to gowns in almost any color from bright to neutral. Our favorite blue bouquet flowers include hydrangea, hyacinths, blue veronica, orchids, iris, forget-me-nots and phlox. Oh, and don’t forget about bluebells!
   
   
7. Tied up in blue
   If incorporating blue flowers into your bridal bouquet doesn’t fit with the theme or feel of the wedding décor, try having the florist wrap the bottom of the arrangement or the stems in a light icy blue ribbon. Adding crystals and pearls to floral arrangements is also becoming more popular – especially for smaller flowers like stephanotis. Make a few of them pale blue and voila! You’re set to go!
   
   
8. It’s in the Bag
   A blue handbag (or handbag with a blue lining) is always a fun accent. You’ll need something to carry a lipstick, compact and a handkerchief or tissues if you tend to gush like a fountain at emotional moments. Consider a purse you can tint, and you can re-dye it a darker color after the wedding and use it as a staple for black tie events in the future. If the handbag isn’t blue – put something blue inside! We recommend a sentimental note, poem or copy of your vows written on blue stationery.
   
   
9. Tried and True Blue
   Yep, a blue garter or white garter with blue ribbon and detailing will always be a tried and true way to add blue! Show a little leg during the ceremonial garter toss during the reception or keep it a secret for you and the groom on the wedding night.
   
   
10. Write on!
    A simple, unique and last minute ‘something blue’ is having the bridal party to sign the sole of your shoe in blue ink. A few last minute good luck wishes from your attendants are always good karma! If the sole doesn’t get wet, this will most likely last through the day and be a reminder of some last minute silliness as a single gal. Just don’t write anything you wouldn’t want your guests to see - especially if you and your fiancé have to kneel at all during the ceremony where such details may get noticed.

Lori Stephenson
Lola Event Productions