We recently got the great opportunity to work with a beautiful couple at the Meadows Club in Schaumburg on this spectacular wedding. From the Navy Blue Linen, Gold Chiavari Chairs with purple ties, Red Floral and crystal embellishments all together created an amazing ambiance. Special thanks to Maha Designs for the Amazing photos!!!
And they lived happily ever after
BBFN (Bridal Bliss for Now)
Olivia
Thursday, July 23, 2015
Thursday, July 2, 2015
A well orchestrated wedding event at the Palmer House Hilton
We recently had the great honor and privilege to plan and manage Sarah & Hem's wedding at the iconic Palmer House Hilton in Chicago! It was such a joy to work with both families on the magnificent event. Enjoy their love story as told by Kina Wicks Photography!
And they lived Happily Ever After
BBFN
Olivia
Getting Ready (Bride)
Getting Ready (Groom)
First Look
First Ceremony
2nd Ceremony
Bridesmaids
Groomsmen
Cocktail Reception
Entrance
Cake Cutting
Dinner
Dessert
Bride & Groom Dance
Bouquet Toss
Dancing the night away!!
And they lived Happily Ever After
BBFN
Olivia
Thursday, June 11, 2015
Will you choose a Florist or an Event Designer?
Flowers and decor can be the next highest ticket item for a wedding following the venue and food & beverage. Aside from floral centerpieces, if one wants to truly create a stunning wedding, there are selections such as linens, lighting, chairs, lounge furniture, bellowing fabric, illumination boxes and etc..... If the budget allows you to "Pimp Up" your big day, the most common question is should I choose a Florist or an Event Designer.
Florist
These can be neighbor hood shops that have been part of the community for years. They cater to "foot traffic" and create arrangements that are geared more towards the personal flowers. Some florists have taken on the additional business of weddings. However, they can be limited in their resources and inventory. They may tend to be less "hands-on". They will not be a one stop shop if you want to add linen, lighting, etc... to your event. You will work individually with different vendors and connect the dots so to speak.
Price: Value to Middle
An Event Designer will have more flexibility on time. Service and products will be the highest priority. They will have a trained crew to produce the event as it has been envisioned. Even if the company had partnered up to provide certain elements of the event, it is the Creative Director that will connect all the dots for a stunning wedding.
Price: Middle to High
As I always tell my newly engaged brides, inform yourself on the limitations of your wedding team. This will allow you to create a cohesive picture of your big day. The more you are vested with your vendors and they are vested with you, there won't be any surprises as you walk down the aisle.
BBFN (Bridal Bliss For Now)
Olivia
Florist
These can be neighbor hood shops that have been part of the community for years. They cater to "foot traffic" and create arrangements that are geared more towards the personal flowers. Some florists have taken on the additional business of weddings. However, they can be limited in their resources and inventory. They may tend to be less "hands-on". They will not be a one stop shop if you want to add linen, lighting, etc... to your event. You will work individually with different vendors and connect the dots so to speak.
Price: Value to Middle
Event Designers
An Event Designer will create an overall design concept and ensure that the visual details are cohesive with the color story and floral palette. A Creative Director will select products from many resources and are not limited to inventory, color or design. They will spend time with each client in creating a unique wedding day story. It will reflect the couple's personal style and brand the event with layering of visual astonishment. A Design Studio can offer a complete look for your event including linens, furnishings, fabrics, up-lighting, covered dance floor, custom products etc....
An Event Designer will have more flexibility on time. Service and products will be the highest priority. They will have a trained crew to produce the event as it has been envisioned. Even if the company had partnered up to provide certain elements of the event, it is the Creative Director that will connect all the dots for a stunning wedding.
Price: Middle to High
As I always tell my newly engaged brides, inform yourself on the limitations of your wedding team. This will allow you to create a cohesive picture of your big day. The more you are vested with your vendors and they are vested with you, there won't be any surprises as you walk down the aisle.
BBFN (Bridal Bliss For Now)
Olivia
Thursday, June 4, 2015
Enhancing Your Event with Linens
The feeling of glitz, glamour,
luxuriousness and elegance can all be brought to life with the use of linens on
your wedding day. From the wide
selection of fabrics, colors, and patterns to choose from, there will be
something that matches the tone you are trying to set. There are many different ways linens can be
used to enhance your venue in a whimsical and romantic way. Here are some helpful tips of advice on what
linens would be a perfect match and how to incorporate them on your wedding
day.
Finding Your Perfect Linen
1.
Research
When searching for
inspiration for your lavish linens, be sure to research everything from colors
to the material. Every aspect is
important and everything will determine the look and feel of your venue space. Always consider what you have envisioned and
get advice from the experts and from your family and friends. Both will help you come up with what would be
perfect for the atmosphere you are trying to portray.
2.
Color Considerations
Even
though bright colors are trending this year, the use of ivories and whites for
table clothes and chair covers are more popular than ever. Here are a few reasons as to why you should
consider ivory or white for your linen choices.
·
Plain
and simple, white and ivory are the easiest to decorate with because it matches
just about everything. It is very good
against splashes of colors from your table napkins and your centerpieces.
·
White
and Ivory also look absolutely breathtaking with up lighting because it will
somewhat turn the color of your room without blending into the backdrop. Either of these two colors shimmers against
the lighting.
·
If
you are looking to save money and you are lucky enough to have this, most
venues can only provide white or ivory linens when it is a part of their
wedding package.
Even though there are
many different benefits to having white and ivory linens, the use of colored
linens can also look just as magnificent.
It may be a little more tough to mix and match and get the lighting
right, but we have seen some exquisite venue spaces with colored linens
before. Be creative and follow your
heart on what you believe fits your personality and your vision.
3.
Other Ways to Use Fabric Besides a
Table Cover
Chair Covers: The use of fabric to cover a chair can turn a fabulous chair
into a spectacular piece of art that flows with the scenery. Sure we have seen couples choose to use the
venues chairs without a cover or order specialty chairs that match the décor,
but the use of a cover and possibly a wrap around of another color, really
pulls the whole room together.
Backdrop: A very unique way of incorporating
fabrics into your wedding day is by using a backdrop made of all linen. Although this might be an expensive way to
incorporate linens because of all the yards it will require, you could use this
backdrop at both the ceremony and the reception. The below picture shows a backdrop that we
did in the past that incorporates two different colors and if you look close
enough you will see that it has elements of crystal curtains throughout.
Aisle: Flowing fabric aisles definitely gives off a romantic and flowing feel to
a ceremony space. Although it may be
tough to keep everyone off of it before you walk down the aisle, it will be
well worth it. We have seen some
beautiful aisles that are made of linen and are topped with flower pedals going
all the way down to the alter or the Mandap.
Below is a picture from one of the weddings we did the décor for that
has a breathtaking fabric aisle with floral elements.
Mandap and Stage: At Oliveaire we specialize in South Asian weddings. With the above picture, you can see a
gorgeous fabric Mandap made out of all linens with a hint of floral elements. The stage is also covered with a beautiful
soft white fabric. This luxurious way of
decorating a Mandap looks absolutely romantic and the lighting brings out the
beautiful pink color.
4.
Steps You Should Take
1. Research information and size of
tables, chairs and other measurements where you might be incorporating linens. This information includes if your venue space
provides linens or areas close to you that can provide you the linens you want.
2. Find out Costs. Call around to many different places and
compare costs on the amount of fabric you will need and their services to
deliver and possibly set up.
3. Consider the costs and envision the
best possible outcomes that stay within your budget.
4. Before ordering, make sure this
fabric brings to life the look and feel you have been dreaming about.
5. Once you are sure, make an order with
the company and make sure before your big day that they will be ready on time
and that they have everything you ordered.
Linen simply adds pure elegance and
pulls your dream décor all together.
When choosing your extraordinary linens, make sure to gain as much
knowledge as possible, brainstorm and get advice from your close family and
friends. Having all of this information
can only help and it will make choosing a lot easier and a lot more fun. Follow your vision and nothing can go wrong!
Labels:
2015 wedding trends,
2015 Weddings,
Linen,
Wedding color
Thursday, May 7, 2015
2015 Hot Trend - Bollywood Inspired Weddings
Large Indian weddings — events that can cost six, sometimes seven, figures — are increasingly coveted by the area’s largest and more luxurious venues. Bollywood has inspired a hot trend for all types of weddings in 2015 and beyond.
So
what is this fixation upon Bollywood-style and other exotic weddings? First and foremost it is the opportunity to
do something different and daring. The
rituals, Indian music, vibrant shades of orange and red, beautiful saris and
the tradition of henna-painted hands, etc. add an element of spice to a
well-worn formula, a bit like ethnic food and music would to our daily
lives. Chicago has always been ahead of the times
when it comes to a cultural twist on events.
Take a stroll down Devon
St. and see all the beautiful Indian & Pakistani
influences.
Here are some style tips if you would like to add a cultural Indian influence to your wedding event
Style Tip 1
Using Metallics in your invitation adds unexpected sparkle, and sets the tone for your magical day.
Style Tip 2
Get creative with your centerpieces. Cultural weddings are amazingly colorful events. A floral elephant is a work of art that people will be talking about for months.
Style Tip 3
Use crystal and jeweled accents in your décor to instantly add glam to any room and transport your guests to a faraway place.
Style Tip 4
Pick a
colorful sari if you are comfortable wearing one, the colors are
limitless. If not, embellishments such
as a colored sash, or ruffles and flowers on your traditional wedding dress
count can really add an exciting element to your event.
Perhaps,
there is an underlying myth that these culturally rich marriages are more
stable because non-western cultures have superior family values. In any case Bollywood inspired weddings have
enormous crossover appeal into our western society, and it is easy to add an
element of rich culture to your wedding if you desire. The most important element to remember; a
Bollywood theme has one aim and objective, and that is fun! Find some great
entertainment and go out there and have fun with your culturally infused
ideas.
BBFN (Bridal Bliss For Now)
Olivia
Friday, May 1, 2015
How “Real” is Reality TV When it Comes to Planning Your Wedding
I love watching “Say Yes to the Dress” & ‘Four Weddings”
as much as the next girl. WE TV can distract me for a few hours at a time as I
watch couples navigate all of the decisions that go into wedding planning.
However, as someone who works in the wedding industry I am watching from a
different point of view than a bride-to-be or single girl daydreaming about her
big day.
Reality TV does a great job of inspiring brides. The best,
brightest and most cutting edge trends are highlighted for all to enjoy.
Wedding related television shows have guided brides in their gown style,
inspired décor and bridal party attire color selections and no doubt helped to
create some fantastic celebrations.
However, I fear that reality TV has also given brides some
unrealistic expectations when it comes to their big day. Many of these shows do
not disclose costs, or at least the full cost of their wedding. For example, it
is common to see a bride with a $3,000 budget for a wedding gown on television.
Given that the gown is often budgeted at 5% of the total wedding cost, we can
guess that this gown is part of a $60,000 wedding. The average wedding cost in
the United States is $24,000, which creates an average gown budget of $1,200, quite
a difference.
Finally, for better or worse, there needs to be
accommodation for the cost of living in different locations. The price of labor
will likely be higher in a large metropolitan city (i.e. Chicago , New York )
than it is in a smaller city. If you have your heart set on a product only
available in a larger city you may end up paying more in shipping fees to get
it to you. This information is not meant to scare you, rather provide you
information to set realistic expectations.
Floral designers, bridal gown consultants, and wedding
planners truly do love when an inspired bride comes in. It is lovely to work
with a couple who know what they are looking for on their wedding day. So,
watch all the reality TV you would like to, and keep notes on your favorite
ideas. When it comes time to start your planning, be up front and realistic
with your budget. Hire professionals you trust, and work with them to create
the day that you have been dreaming of.
BBFN (Bridal Bliss for now),
Olivia
Labels:
2015 wedding trends,
2015 Weddings,
advice,
Weddings,
weddings brides
Thursday, April 9, 2015
Ideas on Selecting Your Special Wedding Date
What does it mean to have “the perfect wedding date?” To each couple this will likely mean
something very different. Some couples
opt for days that have a special significance to them, while others choose the
date based on a specific month or season.
No matter the reason for the date you choose, it’s important to keep many
aspects in mind before signing contracts.
So you’re
interested in an elegant white winter wedding?
During winter you of course will have to be conscious of the limited daylight
hours. Prices may be cheaper in months
like December, January, and February since fewer couples tend to get married
during these times. Do keep in mind that
there are exceptions to these price breaks, Christmas and New Years are often
more expensive in terms of locations and vendors. Out of town guests will also
likely have increased travel costs. In
addition, some of your out of town guests may have their own vacations that
they have already planned during the holidays.
February can also be more expensive for flowers, especially roses, since
vendors see an increase around Valentine’s Day.
Selecting
the date for your special day can be more complicated than you originally
thought, but as with all aspects of wedding planning, if you think it through
you are sure to find the perfect fit.
This is your fairytale…dream as large as you
BBFN (Bridal Bliss For Now)
Olivia
Special
Significance
Is there a specific event or occasion that occurred, or does
occur, on your wedding date? Or does it
just hold significance to you as a couple?
Many a times couples would like to get married around the day they met,
or the anniversary of their first date.
This way it will make the past memory even more significant. It is important to realize that your “special
date” may not be available, or may not fall on the particular day of the week
you hope to host your wedding. Be prepared to make compromises. Sometimes you will have to settle for a
wedding date that is close to your “special date.” If you are lucky enough to have your wedding
on a significant date to you and your fiancé, then it will the celebration even
more special.
The Four Seasons
Some couples
know a particular season in which they would like to get married, but not
necessarily a particular month or date. Each
season does come with its own advantages and disadvantages in regards to hosting
your special day. For example, if you
want rich colors to be a part of your wedding, then you are an autumn
bride. However, daylight begins to
decrease in these months, so if you want outside photographs be sure to
schedule accordingly for these pictures.
Of course, this will also impact you if you want an outdoor ceremony or
receptions. If you are interested in a
fall wedding, then try November. Fewer
couples choose to get married then, which could mean more openings at your
desired venue. Of course, avoid Thanksgiving
for increased rates and as you know our Chicago weather is quite unpredictable
during this time.
If you have
always wanted a fresh feel to your wedding, full of pastels, then a spring
wedding will fit the bill. Do remember
that if you want an outdoor ceremony/reception, Chicago’s weather can be
unpredictable again to say the least, which could mean snow for your March
wedding! The benefit of having a spring
wedding, especially April or May, is that many flowers are in season, which
could help in the overall look you are trying to achieve.
Who could
forget about summer? It is the most
popular time to get married! Since the
summer months are in high demand, especially June, August, and September, the
prices for vendors can be higher.
However, the benefits of beautiful weather, long days with lots of
sunlight, and endless amount of available flowers may just make the extra costs
worth it. Do remember that not everyone
likes the sticky heat and summertime bugs if an outdoor wedding is what your
heart desires.
Make the day about
you, but keep your guests in mind
The wedding
day should be all about you as a bridal couple.
The date you choose will likely affect your dress style, your flowers,
the lighting, and possibly even your venue.
While it is your wedding day, it is important to talk it over with
immediate family, as well as close friends (such as those whom you wish to have
in your bridal party), to ensure they can attend. It is your day, but you want to be positive
the people you want there to celebrate with you are present.
BBFN (Bridal Bliss For Now)
Olivia
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