It is always a pleasure to collaborate with other wedding vendors for our clients weddings. It is just as fun to collaborate together on styled shoots of what we hope to see in the future trends for our clients. This shoot is no different! An incredible collaboration over all and I had so much fun dreaming up this invite suite for this colorful, city wedding!
Find all the images and more information on each vendor over on Lakeshore in Love Blog today!
What is harder than choosing a new logo? Being a graphic designer who chooses to design and update their own logo! You may have noticed the updated LLP logo on the header of the website. Along with a brand and color refresh. I updated my headshots with a fun brand shoot with the wonderful Ness McCormick Photography this past Summer, and love how they turned out!
On a warm August night, a handful of vendors came together for a gorgeous vow renewal on the rooftop of Lacuna Lofts under a gorgeous floral arch.
The invitations and paper good were inspired by traditional Moroccan patterns and colors as well as the lush colors of the florals. I loved getting to pull in warm tones to a lighter palette with the contrast of a deep wine color as the RSVP envelope. To add a hint of glamor and a little more elegance, the calligraphy is done in a metallic gold with the invitation foiled in a warm gold.
The theme continued on the beautiful table scapes with arched menus in the same sand color pulled from the invite palette with mimicked arched acrylic placards, bringing in a pop of green to this already stunning table.
CAKES & CATERING:
CEREMONY MUSICIANS:
FAVORS & GIFTS:
FLORAL, DESIGN, & DAY OF COORDINATOR, TABLES 1 & 2:
FLORALS & DESIGN- CEREMONY BACKDROP, TABLES 4 & 5:
FLORALS & DESIGN- TABLE 3 & BOUQUETS:
GROOM & HIS MEN:
HAIR, MAKEUP & BEAUTY:
LIGHTING, ENTERTAINMENT & PHOTO BOOTH:
FEMPRESS Fit | @fempressfit
Hitched Wedding Bands | @tryhitched
Lavish Exposure Photobooth | @lavish_exposure
OFFICIANTS:
PAPER GOODS & CALLIGRAPHY:
SIGNAGE:
VENUES:
VIRTUAL VENDOR:
WEDDING DJ:
WEDDING DRESSES:
WEDDING FILMS:
WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS:
Menus, should you have them or not? When it comes to weddings, the esthic and design of your reception is the largest portion of time people will focus on, and rightfully so! Though I will always say the ceremony is THE most important aspect of the wedding, your reception is where your personality and the design of the day really gets to shine. The small details add up to big impact and that includes menus!
These informational pieces do not have to be boring! Consider them to pull double duty and use them to include:
Guests place cards
Thank you note from you as the couple
A place to request a card and hand it in to the DJ
Additionally these do not have to stay a simple rectangle. Consider other elements in your day such as arches or making the menu fit in the charger of your guests place setting. These details are so fun and won’t go unnoticed by your guests!
Photos starting top Left Column: Boutonnière florals by Izzy & Co. Photography | RSVP by Lina Lulu Paperie | Florals by Elisabeth Dari | Bridesmaid Dress Photo by Teresa Williams | Organic Florals photo by Teresa Williams | Save the Date by Lina Lulu Paperie and Photo by EV Photography
I am in love with the color trends emerging for late 2020 and forecasted for 2021 weddings! We will continue to see beautiful earth tones with such colors as Terracotta, Warm Grey, Hazy yellow and Sage Green through out all the seasons. Neutrals, I believe, will continue to dominate in the winter and spring weddings with a mix of off-white colors complimented against beige, grey and pale pinks. For late spring and summer wedding colors found in nature will be back in vibrant hues including airy blues, shades of greens, and a mix of purples and soft pinks to bring in the feminine, romantic feel that comes with those long summer nights.
What do you think will be popular this upcoming year? Do you think neutrals will be gone by the time Winter 2021 comes? I’d love to hear your opinion or what colors you have picked for your wedding!
Stationery by Lina Lulu Paperie | Candles from Pottery Barn | Table Scape by Sweet Blossom France | Bridesmaid Dress Photo by StoreEnvy | Rustic Florals from Bridal Musings
With the Fall weather around the corner and the hopes of planning weddings in 2021, this beautiful color is one you will keep seeing for sometime. I have personally have loved Terracotta for a long time, even desiring it for my own wedding back in 2012. In the last year this minimal and earthy tone has been cropping up everywhere from clothing to home goods to the most envious of chic weddings. This natural, earthy color is always a winner and will instantly create an elegant boho vibe in any setting .
Thinking about using this color for your own wedding? I recommend staying on the earthy side of colors by pairing it with lush greens, creamy whites and copper for a bit of shine. Are you wanting a few more colors on the pallet? Add a dusty rose or a deep wine/maroon to play off the red undertones of this orangey hue.
Winter months don’t mean you have to resort to traditional black, maroon or blues. With dusty colors and organic elements being hot through out the last few years, use a palette of jewel tones starting with emerald green to create a beautiful, full color palette that will create a elegant and minimalist vibe against a grey and white backdrop.
With less outdoor elements available, go with a chic industrial vibe using warm tones through out your decor by bringing organic elements such as brick, wood, and mixed metals through out your decor. Allow your guests to know your minimal but elegant affair design from the start with our Olive branch suite, showcasing our modern calligraphy and simple greenery design. With minimal neutrals and lush green being your focus, add small accents colors such as a lush Bordeaux red, a dusty rose pink or even a amethyst yellow among your tables and flowers to create that warm, inviting feel to draw your guests out of the cold and onto the dance floor!
Clockwise from top: Table Top | Tent, Katie Stoops Photography | Bridesmaids | Arch Way | Lina Lulu Paperie Poppy Suite| Florals
Back in 2012 as I was planning for my own Fall wedding later that year and I made the choice that my main wedding color would be burnt orange. This color was near to impossible to find for my bridesmaids at the time and we came to a close second with a deep tangerine dress from Anthropolgie. Friends thought it was silly and a little crazy that we would choose orange as our “main” wedding color, as it wasn’t the norm, but I loved it—and am over the moon that it is coming to it’s own popularity in the wedding scene this Fall.
The trend of Fall weddings with subdue and organic color palettes are not only beautiful but (in my opinion) also timeless. The above mood board was created from the trends of burnt orange and dusty pinks that you see in my very own Poppy invitation suite. How can you go wrong with soft pinks, gorgeous greenery and pops of natural colors ? The wild, organic mood that florals, table decor and flowing dresses can create with these colors in mind is a elegant but casual event just too dreamy for words.
If I were to get married today, I think little would change in our planning and venue, but options for our color palette would be abundant. I often find myself saying “where was that when I got married?” ( especially those burnt orange bridesmaid dresses). That is what I love about this industry though—trends come and go, but the timeless elements seem to be a beautiful base for couples to paint their dream day on—whatever color they choose.
Clockwise from left corner: Bridal party | florals | groomsman | Lina Lulu Paperie watercolor wedding suite | Outdoor arbor | Cake
When you think of blue, you often will think of the winter months full of frost, snow and cool tones. With dusty and subdue pallets becoming a trend in the past year, soft blue is having a gorgeous moment not only in the winter months, but shining in the lineup this Spring alongside wedding veterans such as navy blue, dark green, and blushing pinks.
From a casual beach wedding to a an elegant southern formal— this cool tone is an easy color to pair and blend to any decor. With our watercolor wedding suite acting as the backdrop for this breezy affair, I imagine this romantic early spring wedding full of this soft, blue hue emphasized in the flowers, table linens and even the cake. Accompanied by lush greens, moody golds and dark blues this soft blue will help move your event out of the cool of the winter and breath a breath of fresh air into your spring affair.
When I heard about the Big Fake Wedding, I immediately thought about when I was a bride planning for my own big day. Being younger in age as a newly engaged bride-to-be, I hadn't attended many weddings with the mindset of what I liked about them and if I would repeat anything for my own day.
The concept of the Big Fake Wedding is so simple and smart. They come to a city, gathering talented local vendors and “create an experiential opportunity for wedding vendors to showcase their products and services to shopping brides and grooms just as they would at a real wedding.” You get to see the wedding in the form of a vow renewal ceremony and the reception complete with drinks, DJ and dancing. The best part s if you like something you see, taste or hear you can talk to the vendors who created it right then and there! How cool is that?
Each city is a different theme and experience for the couples attending, and Chicago did not disappoint. With the theme of “World Royalty” and pulling from beautiful, rich tones—there was so much inspiration to play with! Check out how the day pulled together over all:
The venue was the beautiful Zhou B Art Center owned and founded by two Chinese brothers, both incredible artist who rent out the space for art exhibits and events. This industrial and chic venue was full of charm and some seriously beautiful art.
Elizabeth Greve Photography
Elizabeth Greve Photography
My role in this big day was one of two invitation designers. With such a rich color scheme and moodboard full of pattern and texture to work from, I knew that I wanted to do something more elevated than a standard invite to incorporate these elements. After deciding on this beautiful paper cut folder in a rich gold to house the invitation suite, I wanted to incorporate each color in a unique way on the rest of the accenting pieces.
Blending the free strokes of the watercolor with the formality of the calligraphy created the perfect mixture of classic and modern that would be represented in both the venue and the elements of the wedding day overall. I loved how this suite represented the theme in a chic way!
Elizabeth Greve Photography
Thais Photography
The day flowed like a real wedding, complete with photos of the “bridal” party, ceremony and reception. The bride and groom who modeled for the day performed a vow renewal during the ceremony portion including their pastor, real friends and family in their “bridal” party.
It was a beautiful ceremony complete with string quartet playing a custom arrangement as the bridal party walked down the aisle and an incredible copper arch with lush florals serving as the backdrop for the bride and groom’s ceremony. The reception was full and fun with fantastic appetizers, desserts and specialty mixed drinks. The bride even performed a special choreographed dance mid reception!
Thank you again to the team at The Big Fake Wedding for having me, it was such a fun party to be apart of and incredible to meet so many wonderful couples!
Thais Photography
Elizabeth Greve Photography
Elizabeth Greve Photography | Mila Craila
Elizabeth Greve Photography
Cakes & Catering SOCIAL sparkling wine @socialsparklingwine
Favors & DetailsThe Standard Canvas @TheStandardCanvas
Groom & His MenBlank Label @blanklabelclothing
Bridesmaid Dresses Brideside Jewelry European Jewelry @europeanjewelryinc
Photo Booth Smilebooth@smilebooth
Cake ParfaitsVanille Pattisserie@vanillechicago
Day Of CoordinatorWedicity. DJ & EmceeCharizma Entertainment Group
Floral & Event Design: Bouquets, Boutonnieres & Tables 5,6,7 Eden
Floral & Event Design: Ceremony Backdrop & Tables 1,2 Nightshade Floral
Floral & Event Design: Flower Wall & Tables 3,4 Crafts By Stacey @craftsbystacey
Hair Styling Carrie Kacen Hair and Make-up Artistry @carriekacen
Hotel Accommodations W Hotel @wcitycenter
Invitations The Paperie Co @thepaperieco | Lina Lulu Paperie @linalulupaperie
Craft Cocktails CraftYours @craftyours
Makeup Artist Fearless & Bella @fearlessandbella
Marshmallow Favors Malvi: Marshmallow Confections @malvimallow
Catering LM Catering @lmcateringchi
Seating Chart, Custom Drawing, & Paper Goods XO Art & Design @xo_artanddesign
Dance Lessons Windy City Wedding Dance @windycityweddingdance
Photo Magnets Flash Magnets @flashmagnets
Ceremony Musician Bridge and Bow Music
Wedding Registry Mishkalo@mishkaloregistry Wedding Cake ECBG Cake Studio
Signage & Custom Jackets KRorerDecor @krorerdecor
Sparkling Water Spindrift Cookies Warm Belly Bakery @warmbellybakery
Table Accents The Blonde Scribe @theblondescribe
Travel Agent LovinAway @lovinaway
Photographers Thais Photography @bythaisphotography | Mila Craila Photography @milacrailaphotography | Elizabeth Greve Photography @egpwed
Venues Zhou B Art Center @zhoubevents
Wedding Dresses Winnie Couture @winniecouture
Wedding Films Eyework Studios
I met Joy this summer at a local wedding gathering and instantly loved her spirit and vibe. I then proceeded to fall in love with her style and gorgeous photos! She invited me to be a part of an amazing team assembled to create a gorgeous boho inspired shoot at Venue 5126 in Oswego, Illinois.
Finding the right mix of modern, boho, and romantic was my aim as I created a simple but sophisticated wedding suite for this shoot. A combination of hand drawn botanicals, calligraphy and gold embossing become the perfect mix to produce a wild and tame feeling all in one.
The Incredible Vendor team included: Photography, Being Joy Photography | Venue and Props, Venue 5126. | Flowers, Ashland and Addison, RJPdesigns | Gowns, Victoria Sdoukos Couture. | Hair, Hair By Dorthi. | Make-Up, Alana G | Models, Gabija Guzauskaite and Whitman Johnson
Summer is so close! With our move to a new apartment last Fall we gained a patio space. I must say this was one thing I felt was lacking in our old apartment. With the days getting warmer, I can't stop dreaming about what our patio will look like and spending time there! Here are a few dream patios of mine...
I have been loving the fun black and white trend with a pop of color. I'll be honest, I don't love the color pink. Look at that lounge chair though! I love the scallops and the way it would pops with so many black and white accents. Just imagine the space filled with leafy palms and how the soft light would look at twilight bouncing off the gold plant stands. Dreamy!
My second dream patio mixes fun patterns and the ease of the boho trend. Pulling in more bright colors, beautiful wicker lounge chairs, and teases of copper and gold—this space would be great for relaxing on any day of the week. I love the idea of hanging plants to give a "surrounded" feel to the patio, but creating more foot space. Wouldn't it also be fun to fill that pretty geometric lantern with fairy lights?
I'm still figuring out what would fit in our smaller patio space (as well as in our budget), but I'll keep looking around and combining my dream patios till I find my "can't part with "pieces.
Image by Robert Kutsaev for Unsplash
March is here with the promise of Spring (maybe) in the midwest, and with Spring comes color! Here are a few links I have been loving so far in 2016 filled with color and beauty:
Jewelry with a cause, 31 Bits has an amazing Spring 2016 collection. I am in love with all their bright colors and designs. Any one else in need of their droplet bracelet collection right now?
As if you couldn't fall in love with Jessica Hische even more, read her 7 Truths for Creative Success here on the Minted blog.
Did you catch the Oscars this year? World famous photographer, Mark Seliger, is at it again with his instant Portrait Studio at the Vanity Fair after party. Among the stunners I particularly love how he captured Lady Gaga and Anne Hathaway.
Such a sweet DIY flower filled wedding—I love those colors!
When everyday objects match a favorite Pantone color, it's a good day. When tiny little objects match a Pantone swatch perfectly, even better.
Flowers are great any time of the year and Springtime is their time to shine! I love the variety and stylization that floral prints take on. I couldn't narrow it down to one type (because I love SO many!), I decide to narrow it down to one company. Anthropologie is dreamy unto itself, but then you add all the floral's and BOOM - a slice of paradise. I especially am excited for the Paper Crown & Rifle Paper Company collaboration line ( lower bottom left).
I love the variety of florals they always have in store. From their clothes to their home goods, everything looks good with a little floral splash - am I right? How do you use florals? Are they everywhere or do you limit them to just clothes?
I have been loving the patterns popping up on my Pinterest lately. From fun food patterns to illustrated gems, they seem to be all that I have been pinning. I especially have been loving the floral and geometric gems. I grabbed a few of my favorite to create this mood board. What have you been pinning lately?
Recently I have been seeing this deep wine, almost brown color in a variety of mediums - clothes, flowers, home goods, ect. Who knew that the actual color name was Marsala?
Regardless the name and the slight variations I have seen, I think the color is lovely. If you are not sure what to pair this rich color with, Pantone has given us a quick guide of a variety of colors that will complement Marsala, including a few of my favorites : Calypso Coral, Cress Green, and Marina. What do you think of 2015 color of the year?
Clockwise: Kate Spade | Dessert | Hair Bow | Garland
This post may be a few days late, as June is almost here and we (finally) have a heat wave here in the Midwest. I'm loving the sunshine and the beautiful outdoors! Never the less, you can't go wrong with a beautiful green and white combo!
This stunning dress | This simple but attractive wall art | This inspiring flower arrangement | This elegant, but casual top
First Column : 1 /2 Second Column: 3 / 4 / 5 Third Column: 6 / 7 / 8 /
I can't resist a beautiful ampersand. I have a small collection now that you can spot around both my work desk and apartment. You can also see a few in my shop. There are so many more out there, I wish I could share them all with you!
Here are a few more of my favorite unexpected ampersands:
It's a wet introduction to April here in Chicago, but at least it's not snowing, right? With the absence of Spring greens and abundance of moody skies, I have a found a particular beauty in the different blues peaking out of the clouds these days.
Clockwise: Room | Lettering | Beach Blanket | Painting
