The Summers Hottest Venues

As completely different as they may be, barns and warehouses have become two of the hottest venue trends this year. From the romantic and intimate vibe a farm has, to the modern and sleek feeling a warehouse projects, there is something for everyone in these locations. Both of these locations can create a breathtaking wedding that no one could ever forget.


Romance and Intimacy

A little bit country, a little bit casual, and a whole lot of romance. Barns are being discovered and used by women everywhere for their special day. Whether the bride is from the city or the country, bride’s can appreciate the romantic and intimate atmosphere a barn has. Also, barns can be a canvas for any bride’s décor style. If you truly want to appreciate this venue and use it to its best advantage, then a rustic elegance with a touch of modern is a great theme to have for your wedding day. There are many decorations that have been trending when it comes to barn weddings. The use of mason jars, chandeliers, chalkboards, rustic wood, lace, lanterns and greenery are just to name a few. But the most important element to really bring out the romance of a barn wedding is candlelight. There is something about candlelight in a wooden barn that just screams romance and intimacy. Not only are barns a beautiful place to have a wedding, they are also budget savvy and something different that not a lot of brides in the Chicago land area have used yet. Barns bring a unique and vintage charm that could provide an amazing place to have a wedding

Modern and Sleek


If you are looking to create your vision from scratch, then a warehouse as a venue could be the perfect place for you. With large spaces, tall ceilings and a very sleek look, modern brides have been choosing to go with a warehouse as their venue site. There are many different ways a bride can transform this space into her dream come true. An advantage to having a warehouse as your wedding venue is the way you can transform the room. Use any colors and decorations that you would like. And if the space is large enough, you could easily break the room down into different rooms by using draping to utilize the space for the ceremony, the reception and the cocktail hour. This way you will only have to worry about renting one space and will not have to transfer your guests. Another advantage is with draping, you can make the room as large and grand or as small and intimate as you would like. A warehouse is a perfect blank canvas to create your perfect vision and create the atmosphere you were dreaming about.

Design by Elizabeth Anne Designs

Photo by: Daniel Taylor Photo

So whether you are looking for that romantic and intimate vibe or the sleek and modern feeling, either one of these venues would be outstanding for your special day.  There is a reason these two venues are trending and everyone can appreciate the details and creativity each venue can provide. 

Happy Venue Hunting

BBFN (Bridal Bliss for Now)
Olivia

Finding the One

You already found the perfect guy, and you have the perfect ring on your finger, so now it's time to find the perfect venue to host your wedding celebration.

You'll find the same theme throughout our blog, but we'll say it again...

No piece of a wedding is one size fits all. Each element should be a reflection of who you are as a couple, including your venue.

Here are our top tips to keep in mind when choosing your venue:

• Have an idea of what type of venue you would like to consider for your event such as hotel, country club, banquet hall or specialty venue.
• Set a budget, inclusive of the space, and likely the food & beverage.
• Know the size of your guest list. Don’t forget that every person you will invite will not necessarily attend.
• Always visit the property, and take a site tour,before making your final decision. Pictures and websites can be deceiving.
• Read reviews of the venues you are considering and check with your friends and family to see if they have attended an event at the facility.
• Plan what time of day your event will be taking place. Pricing is considerably different between lunch events and dinner events
• Food service style: pricing is different between plated, buffet and family style service. Some venues do not offer all three types of service.
• Special features: Have you always dreamed your wedding would have natural light shining through floor to ceiling windows, sky high ceilings, outdoor gardens to stroll through, etc. Identifying, and finding these features can assist in narrowing your selection.

Have further questions? Contact a member of our team who can help make your venue selection easier.

BBFN (Bridal Bliss for Now),
Olivia

Your Venue Manager is Not Your Wedding Consultant

I have said it before, and I will say it again, I love catering/venue managers. We work together all the time. They do a magnificent job of taking care of event details that pertain to their property. They do their job, and as a planner, I do mine, and they are not the same thing.

Brides, you need to know, that your venue manager is NOT your Wedding Consultant!
(or Planner, or Coordinator, pick your favorite title, we like Event Architect!)



Here are some differences in what you should expect from a Venue Manager and a Wedding Consultant:

Tasting:
A Venue Manager will schedule a tasting. At that time you, your fiancé, and maybe a few others, will sample food and make selections for your event. A Venue Manager will provide you information on cost and service. She will detail your decisions into directions that will go out to the kitchen staff, servers, etc.

A Wedding Consultant will also attend your tasting with you. She will photograph each plate of food to document the presentation and portion size of your final selection. She will make sure that your bar and menu choices fit in with the overall ambiance of your event.

Inventory:
If you are lucky a Venue Manager might let you drop off your inventory supply a couple of days (no more than 2) before your wedding. They will put out your place cards, cake knife and toasting glasses.

A Wedding Consultant will also take your inventory from you. (Our policy is that we will take it 3 days prior to your event.) We will make sure that your place cards or scroll are displayed. We will also keep a copy of your guest list so that if someone can’t find their name, or shows up without having sent a response, we can place them at an appropriate table. A Wedding Consultant will be sure that each piece of inventory is available to you for its intended use. A Wedding Consultant will also make sure that your inventory is returned to you, or more ideally your designee, before the end of the wedding.

Vendors:
A venue manager will most likely speak to the other vendors you have hired to provide them with load-in and load-out instructions. They will make sure that the vendors follow the policies and procedures of the property.

Your Wedding Consultant will coordinate the arrival and set-up of each vendor that will make sense for your overall timeline. She will review their contracts, and any special instructions you have for them. A Wedding Consultant will serve as a central point of contact for all vendors, and will step in to prevent a problem.

In the end a Venue/Catering Manager’s job is to represent their property. They will provide you excellent service, in the scope of their property. A Wedding Consultant’s job is to take away stress from the Bride and Groom, to make sure that your event is executed above and beyond your expectations, to bring your vision to reality.

Not sure what to look for when hiring a Wedding Day of Coordinator? Click here

Think wedding planners are overrated? We don’t. To see why, click here

BBFN (Bridal Bliss for Now),
Olivia

Path to a Perfect Venue

Navy Pier or Michigan Avenue
Modern Lux to Contemporary Art
Urban Chic or Historical Landmark
When it comes to hosting Conventions, Galas, Fundraisers but most importantly Weddings, Chicago has it all and done it all.

So how do you find the perfect venue to celebrate your nuptials? For starters make a list. List 5 things that you want at your wedding venue and most important, 5 things that you don’t want. This list won’t match you with the “Perfect” venue but it is a start. Feel free to add to the list.

Here are my 5 wants in a wedding venue and absolutely don’t want:

1. I want my wedding reception to be the only wedding at the venue.
2. I want food at the venue to be the showcase since I am such a foodie.
3. I want an old world romance charm to my dining room.
4. I want a venue that can accommodate 200 guests.
5. I want my cocktail reception in a separate area either outside the ballroom or away from the ballroom. Patio or Terrace would be ideal but not a deal breaker.

I don’t want from a wedding venue:

1. I don’t want to pay more than $150.00 per guest.
2. I don’t want a Friday or Sunday wedding.
3. I don’t want the venue off the beaten path.
4. I don’t want the venue to be more than 45min away from my ceremony location.
5. I don’t want the bar to close at midnight.

This should give the bridal couple a sense of their needs and wants. Marriage is about compromise, you may just start making some in your search to find the “Perfect Venue”.

BBFN (Bridal Bliss for Now) Olivia

Next blog: Can I find the best kept secret venue in Chicago. Any guesses as to where it may be?