Color of the Year

Our design studio team is busy working away on designs for brides throughout 2012. Our head designer takes time with each and every couple to truly bring their vision to life. Luckily, she took time from her busy schedule to sit down with me and talk the trends she’s seeing for 2012.


Color
The color of 2012 is… Purple! In every shade from lilac to plum to violet our brides can’t get enough purple. There are so many blooms that come in amazing shades of purple. Here are a few of our favorites:

We were somewhat surprised to learn that shamrock/kelly green has been sneaking its way into event design this year as well. We are using more green linen than ever before, and using green more often in lighting design as well. We have also been incorporating some green blooms into centerpieces and bouquets.

Moving Forward
Each year Pantone releases their color of the year, and in the past few years the release of that color has been making the news. However, it typically takes a couple of years for that color to filter it’s way into wedding and event design (thank you for pointing this out to us Sasha Souza). So while Pantone has said that Tangerine Tango is the color of the year 2012, we think it’ll be a year or two before we see requests for orange dresses, bouquets and linen.

We’re anticipating seeing lots of pink as we move into 2013.

What colors are you using in your wedding design?

BBFN (Bridal Bliss for Now),
Olivia

Making Your Dreams Come True: Why You Need A Planner

You may have always dreamed about what your wedding may be, or perhaps it feels like your engagement ring must have magic powers, making your wedding the only thing on your mind. As your daydream becomes more vivid, filled with crystal and floral details you likely are NOT thinking about how this dream becomes reality. After assigning a budget, and hiring all of the vendors comes the real work, coordinating all of the details and executing them. Somewhere along the road though you will stop and wonder “When did planning this wedding become so stressful?” Simple, as your dream becomes reality, you want everything to be perfect and it is hard to put your trust in others to make that happen.

Often times the tension leading up to the big day is so enormous that brides cannot wait for their wedding day to be over! Brides miss out on the opportunity to spend cherished time with friends and family, take in the magic of the day, savor each moment as they promise their lives to their new husbands and simply enjoy themselves.

Much of this stress is alleviated by hiring a professional to handle the execution of your wedding. Planners often have a variety of planning packages to accommodate your wishes. They can stand by your side from the beginning advising on vendor selections, or come in during the few months leading up to the wedding to coordinate all of your details. You do not want to burden your close friends or family members with these responsibilities. You want them to have fun too!

Here are just a few responsibilities a planner should take off of your place:

1. Load in / Load out – your planner will confirm that vendors are arriving on time and providing the services you paid them for.

2. Point of contact – you wont have twenty different people coming up to you, you will only have one! Your planner.

3. Less Clutter – Planners are organized and will keep all of the information, from you and all of your vendors organized.

4. Communication – Planners will tell people (your wondering new mother-in-law, the groomsmen who just needs one more drink) where they need to be, and what they need to do in a professional manner. You won’t want to be stern to get them lined up for your entrance, but planners have a way of making this happen.

5. Keeping it Positive – Parents tend to be extra sensitive during your big day. The napkin layout might upset your mom, the clothes the DJ is wearing might offend your dad. At the end of the day, you don’t have to hear about it, your planner will listen to your family, talk to your vendors, and make sure you don’t hear a word about it.

Let your day be filled with love, laughter, happy tears and memories to last a lifetime!

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

Did You Put a Ring on It?

Congratulations to all off the newly engaged ladies who have undoubtedly been staring at their left hand quite often. Are you in love with your ring? We hope so. Soon you will likely start talking to your beloved about your wedding band. Do you have a dream band? Is your engagement ring part of a set? Will your bands match? Which brings me to my question today…


Is your guy wearing a ring?

It made news last year when Prince William decided not to wear a ring. Honestly, it didn’t send up and red flags for me. It’s not like the entire world didn’t know he was married. Many of us work early/stayed up late just to watch it! I know men who don’t wear their wedding rings on a regular basis, some not at all. They do this for a variety of personal and professional reasons. If their partner is ok with it, who am I to judge?

Looks like love to me!

Male Engagement Rings

On the far other end of the spectrum, it seems more guys are wearing engagement rings. These rings are given as a gift from a bride-to-be to her groom. Often, she gives it as a gift after he’s already asked her but some women are choosing to propose to their guy. Many grooms wear these rings up until their wedding day, and then put on a new wedding ring.

Ladies, can you imagine your guy wearing an engagement ring? What happens to it when they switch to a wedding ring? I can’t imagine them stacked the way women’s rings work. Or, are you ok with your guy wearing no ring at all?


Please share photos with us of your beautiful engagement and wedding bands as well!



BBFN (Bridal Bliss For Now),
Olivia

Wedding Trends for 2012

2011 was an amazing year for the Oliveaire team, but as the year turns, it’s out with the old and in with the NEW.

Here are 5 things we are looking forward to seeing at weddings in 2012:

1. Lollipop Hors d'oeuvres
Couples are making their cocktail hour food simpler for their guests to enjoy, with a touch of whimsy. You’ll see everything from lobster, to cheese and sweets.

2. Food Trucks
They hit the road strong in 2011, and we’ll see them pulling up curbside at many weddings in 2012. Have them stop by for a cocktail hour surprise or late night treat.

3. Crystals
Her marriage may not have lasted but Kim Kardashian’s wedding style has influenced design requests for 2012. We’ll see lots of sparkle and shine this year

4. Botanical Design
Brides are asking for simplified designs, made mostly of plants and greenery. Whether they found inspiration from the Royal Wedding or their overall movement toward a more eco-friendly lifestyle, we like it.

5. Lace
Romantic touches are being added to gowns, table linens and aisle runners. This is also a great way to incorporate family heirlooms.

We're excited to see how you incorporate these ideas into your big day!
Cheers to a New Year!
Olivia

2011: A Year in Review

Thank you and congratulations to all of our Brides & Grooms from 2011!
It was such an honor to be part of your special day. Thank you for trusting us to bring your visions to life. It is an amazing experience to get to know you and your families so well through the planning process.

2011 was an exciting year with many new trends and décor pieces being introduced.

Here are a few highlights from some of the extraordinary themes that were presented:

Romantic Red

Garden Zen

Lush Lavendar Elegance

Heaven on Earth

Special thanks to R.E.M. Video and Photography for their photographs, as well as the Hyatt Regency O'Hare, Westin Lombard Yorktown Center and Intercontinental Chicago O'Hare.

Check back next week to see what we’re predicting for 2012.

Cheers!

Olivia

Meet the Team: Sr. Event Archtiect Mahvish Bhatty

We are very thankful for our team. Today I'd like you to get to know another of our Senior Event Architects, Ms. Mahvish Bhatty. Mahvish came to Oliveaire with event planning experience, and has impressed her clients with her professionalism and expertise.

What is your favorite part of planning a wedding?

My favorite part is picking out décor with the client. I love to see the wonderful stages and center pieces.


How would you describe your style? Has it changed since you started working in the event industry?

My style is to work closely with the client so I am on top of every detail throughout the wedding planning process. However, this does change when the client wants to take full control.


What has been your biggest challenge in planning a wedding or event?

Getting information on time has been my biggest challenge. The other challenge is making multiple changes too close (less than 2 weeks) to the wedding.


What one piece of advice would you give a newly engaged couple?

Wedding planning can be very stressful and it’s overwhelming when there are many decision makers. Make a plan with your fiancé and families and make one contact person. The less people involved the better, prioritize making yourselves and your parents happy and don't worry so much about the distant relatives.

Put a budget in place and stick to it.

Also, work with your planner and ask for their candid opinion prior to hiring a vendor. We have experience working with vendors and can make suggestions on who we have both positive and negative experiences with. Listening to us and that will make your planning smoother and successful.


Do you have a favorite wedding moment or event (i.e. first dance, when the groom first sees the bride, parents reaction, etc.)?

I love the entrances and all the announcements. The ambiance is very vibrant and energetic. The couple and the family is entering to their favorite songs and doing a little dance. I love it.


How would you describe what you do everyday?

I not only do I plan the weddings/events, but I also try to advise the clients and to keep them relaxed so they can enjoy this process. Being organized is very important as we’re managing multiple weddings at the same time. I interact with all vendors, develop the wedding paperwork (which consists of timeline(s), checklist(s), menu, diagrams, bridal party entrances, and much more. It’s a very busy position, which is fun but also requires great organization and time management skills.

If you you are interested in speaking with Mahvish about your wedding or special event call her at 847-885-3200 or e-mail her here.



Happy Thanksgiving to all of you, we hope you have a wonderful holiday weekend with your friends and family.

Cheers!
Olivia