Elfster.com

We love this idea.  Almost everyone is involved in at least one Secret Santa give-away each year. Whether it's for work or the family, it's almost inevitable!

Well this year, we've found a way to make the gift giving as easy as pie.  Elfster.com is the online Secret Santa mecca.  Just enter everyone's name and email address and click DRAW and the program RANDOMLY matches names.  With everyone being so busy these days, having an online version of SS is uber convenient!

Benefits of Elfster.com

1. You can post links to your 'wish list' so your Secret Santa has no trouble finding what you really want this year 

2. You can anonymously ask your gift recipient questions to help you buy

3. You can FB Connect. Meaning you can post to Elfster.com through Facebook and even use your Facebook profile picture as your Elfster.com photo.

4. Names are stored and can be used again next year - saves you the time and hassle of re-entering information

5. It's FREE!!

6. It's Green! No paper pieces being wasted to pull names :)  Every little bit helps.

Start your own Elfster community at Elfster.com today!

2010 Holiday Train - It's Magical

If you've never seen (or even heard of) Chicago's Holiday Train,

don't worry, you are not alone.

While it isn't really an 'event' per se, it is one more reason to love Chicago! For the past several year's now the city has decked out one 'floating' el train in twinkle lights, garland, and candy canes and calls it the Holiday Train.  And this year is no different.  What started a few days after Thanksgiving (as in all year's past), has become a lovely holiday tradition for us locals.  And while many have yet to see this spectacle in person, those who have had the pleasure have nothing but great things to say. The Holiday Train, running through December 22nd (CLICK HERE for the full schedule), is "...just magical" says one rider.  "Sure made this Grinch smile," says another! 

We have to agree. Nothing gets you in the Holiday spirit like Santa waving to the boarding passengers from his sleigh on an open-air flatcar that carries his reindeer and decorated holiday trees.  Sure brightened our day! Take your kids, take your grandmother, take yourself...just make sure you see the Holiday Train this year. You won't be disappointed!

Days to Christmas: 18



Happy Hanukkah

Happy Hanukkah!

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Happy Thanksgiving to all of our readers, clients, friends and family! We hope you are having a wonderful day with your loved ones. This year, we are so grateful to our family and friends for their support, for our amazing clients who allowed us to share their biggest celebrations with them, and our amazing partners and vendors who make work so much fun! Thank you all!

Happy Veteran's Day!

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Happy Veteran's Day to everyone who has served to make the United States a safe and free place to live. We are forever grateful for your service in the military.  And to our dear friends serving (again) in Afghanistan, come home soon and come home safe! We can't wait to see you again soon!

The Great Bridal Expo

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The Great Bridal Expo is coming to Chicago this Sunday. It will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel (5440 N River Road), starting at noon.  Bridal expos can be overwhelming to the newly enegaged, but they can also be a great start to wedding planning.  It's a great opportunity to gather information about an array of vendors in one afternoon. Plus, there are tons of freebies at wedding expos. My friend won a free engagement photo session at a bridal expo!

For more information on the expo, check out the official website.

Ask a Planner: Wedding Colors

Hi!

My fiance and I are getting married next August. I am having a bit of a hard time choosing a colour scheme, and I'm wondering if you could send me a few ideas! I really love purple. My favourite is probably warm plum purple.

Please help! :)
Thanks,
Emily

Our Response:

Hi Emily,

We predict the colors for 2011 will be bold; considering your love for purple, here are our ideas:

Idea #1: We've always loved Purple and Silver/Gray together, it's sharp and modern. Throw in a few Light Blue (or Light Pink) accents and you've got an elegant, crisp look.  Add shimmer or crystals to really make your wedding shine!

 Idea #2: For a summer wedding we think deep plum and mint would be beautiful. Add accents of Chocolate or Cream (or both) and viola! Instant beauty.  What we love most about these colors is that you can bring in many natural details such as cork, tree branches, or burlap.

 Idea #3: If you really love purple, try Plum and Lavender (or Lilac) together. Each purple helps to accent the other and make the white really pop. Bring in sparkle, shimmer or crystals here as well to create a dream wedding.  

Idea #4: Lastly, and you might think we're crazy, but Deep Purple (or even a Lavender) and Orange is something we're really into right now. We say, go ahead, be bold :) Do something different, something no one would have thought of, something that will make everyone remember your big day!

We hope this helps, Emily!



Have a question about your upcoming wedding or event.  Need color ideas, timeline or venue advice?  Just visit our Ask a Planner page and we'll give you our best industry opinions.

Sean and Felicia: Engagement and 'Save the Date' video

Being Florida Gators ourselves, this video duo really makes us smile.  Provided by Belvedere Films.

Sean and Felicia, while both from Miami, fell in love in Gainesville.  Their engagement and 'Save the Date' video both highlight some of the best parts of our favorite town in Florida: Ginnie Springs, the 'Wall', and Florida Field!

Enjoy :)

                                

felicia marie + sean: save the date from Belvedere Films on Vimeo.

Also, don't forget to watch the Proposal Video! So cute.

Twist on a Wishing Tree

We recently posted about Wishing Trees, and the other day came across this super cute idea on one of our favorite blogs, 100 Layer Cake.  We had to share. It highlights just how creative you really can get.

The wedding was set in the mountains of Wyoming with an Earthly yet elegant feel.  And their version of a Wishing Tree fit right in.  Check out more pictures from this beautiful wedding HERE.

Event Recap - Summer 2010 Series (2 of 3)

Chelsey's and Pat's August Wedding!!!

All photography done by Bill and Karen Peary of Peary Photography 

SO CUTE!

Flowers were done by Joanne at FlowersFlowers

The wedding took place in Evanston, which made for a gorgeous backdrop for pictures!

Floor to ceiling windows on three of the four walls in the Monaco Ballroom of the DoubleTree Chicago North Shore provided a great backdrop with both sunset and city views.

Chelsey made her own favors from test tubes (Pat is a chemist) and M&M's! ADORABLE

I had such a great time helping to coordinate the day of Chelsey's and Pat's wedding, and wish them all the best in their new future together!!

Happy Halloween!

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Happy Halloween! We hope your holiday is full of treats and few tricks! 

Suggestion Saturday: Foosie Design

We're so proud to offer Foosie Design Paper Products here at WGIC that we've decided to feature them on this week's Suggestion Saturday.


What: A consciously creative paper company that offers recycled paper products great for your wedding, for holiday cards, and for your baby announcements.  Foosie Design offers everything you need for your wedding from Save-the-Dates to Table Numbers to Escort Cards.  We're big fans of cohesive, economical events - and Foosie makes it possible.  With free customization available, we can tailor any of the designs to fit your wedding perfectly!

When: Recently have a baby? Planning a wedding? Holiday greeting card list getting pretty long?  If you answered yes to any of the above questions, then it's the perfect time for Foosie!  Proofs are available within 2-4 business days.

Where: Get them here! Contact us for a personal quote.  Check out the basic designs HERE.

Who: Brides, New mothers, anyone that wants adorable holiday cards.


Why: To customize your event and remain a Social(ly Responsibly) Butterfly!

Spooky Contest

One of our favorite clients came to us not too long ago with a very special request.  A friend of hers will be holding a 40th Birthday celebration for her husband; a birthday (and party) that falls the day before Halloween.  How fun, right!?  Our client's friend had the great idea to have a costume contest to spice things up - that's where we come in.  We were given the wonderful task of creating a Ballot Box and Ballots for said, creepy contest. 

The theme of the party is old Paris; decor colors being black and purple, with hints of an earthy orange.  We love Halloween here at WGIC (the party possibilities are just endless and so Spooktakularly (yes, it's a word!) delightful), so we couldn't wait to take on the project.

AND, we couldn't wait to share with you, enjoy!  (Please excuse our far-from-perfect photography skills)

Need paper products of some sort, design ideas or assembly help?  Give us a call and we'll develop something special, just for you!

Think Pink!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and even though the month is almost over it doesn't mean the giving/awareness has to be.  Thinking pink also got us thinking about about a great new trend we're seeing at weddings these days: Donations in lieu of wedding gifts or wedding favors.

We love this idea here at WGIC because it's not only green (eliminating the packaging and wrapping of the more traditional gifts given), it's inspiring.  The economy has hit everyone hard in the last few years including very needy charitable organizations.  Research shows when we give of ourselves, life satisfaction, self-realization and physical health is significantly improved.  So in our eyes it's a win/win!

Another great byproduct of asking your guests to donate to your favorite charity (is there a cause you feel strongly about? The prevention of cruelty to animals, Breast Cancer Awareness, feeding the hungry, bringing clean water to those without...) you give each guest the option to choose an amount that works for their current situation.  With many struggling to just make ends meet, this is a great benefit. 

If you prefer to be the ones making the charitable donation in your guests honor (in lieu of traditional favors), consider this great website we found, TisBest Philanthropy. 
It works like a gift card, except that instead of using it to buy stuff in a store, the recipient spends it to support a charity of their choice. You are the donor and your recipient chooses the charity!


How it works:
1) You buy a Charity Gift Card online. TisBest Philanthropy holds your donation in a specific bank account.

2) You give the Charity Gift Card as a favor, (made from 100% recycled content, or course! And you can even upload your own photo on the cards - how fun!).

3) Your gift recipient visits the TisBest Philanthropy website and chooses a charity to receive your donation.
 

Whether you and your partner choose to make the donations or you leave that to your guests, giving to others is always great in our eyes.  What a great way to have your wedding really make a positive impact on the world!  

Happy Donating!

 
 

Wedding Wishing Trees

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We can't get enough of this creative alternative to the traditional Wedding Guest Book.   It gives brides a chance to show their style and personality AND it gives guests a chance to really be a part of any wedding.  

It's Simple:  Using actual branches found outside (ones that have already fallen, of course) makes this a great green event idea. You can spray paint the branch whatever color you would like, or even keep it natural if that fits into your theme/decor. 

Get Creative:  Add flowers to some of the branches or even hang candles to jazz up your Wishing Tree. Use a potted plant as your base or a glass vase (any shape, size or color works here); add marbles or stones to the base for an extra punch. The possibilities are just endless! The tags your guests will fill out can also be any color, shape or size.  Tie on a elegant ribbon, dangle a beautiful crystal or stamp with an artsy swirl or two.


Some of our favorites are below:

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Chicagoween

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Looking for something to do with the kiddos for Halloween, or have guests in town?  The 14th annual Chicagoween is here.  Daley plaza is often transformed for the holiday season, and Halloween is no exception.  As in years past, Daley plaza becomes Franken Plaza complete with prizes, give-aways, hayrides, a performance by Midnight Circus and a costume contest (Oct. 30th 11am-1pm).

Have a contest you know will be a big hit?  CLICK HERE to officially enter the Chicagoween Monster Bash Costume Showcase and Contest.  Want the full schedule of events, CLICK HERE.

And the best part - it's all FREE1!

Franken Plaza (Daley Plaza) is located at:
              50 W. Washington St.
              Chicago, IL 60602
 
 
Have a Spooooktacular time!!

First Day of Fall!

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Today is the first day of fall. We love fall . . . there's a nip in the air that energizes us and keeps us going through the day.  And the changing leaves could not be more beautiful.  Most of all, we love everything that fall brings. The holidays are fast approaching, college football is in full swing, and of course, the fall is a great time for a fun event!  Over the next few weeks, we'll tell you about all the fun fall festivities you can plan and how you can make your fall fetes green!

Event Recap - 2010 Summer Series (1 of 3)

So our summer has been pretty busy here at WGIC and we've got a few Event Recaps that we owe you! 

First in our three-part series is a special Birthday Surprise: We LOVE outdoor events in the late summer. So, when we got a call about a 30th birthday party with a host that wanted a great outdoor space, we were thrilled.  We chose DuChamp on Damen just south of Webster in Bucktown.

The request was for a simple but elegant, 'summery' type of space.  The outdoor patio was perfect. Guests enjoyed their own private bar as well as passed hors d'oeuvre of mini hamburgers, east meets west chicken wings, and mini flatbreads with Maine lobster (among a few others).  There was even Birthday cake, in the form of bite sized passed ice cream sandwiches of course.

While the space was beautiful, it did need to be "glitz"-ed up just a bit.  Small, square vases (filled with one floating orchid and one floating candle each) were placed in the center of low cocktail tables and about a dozen mini lanterns (cordless, battery operated, amazing!) were hung throughout the cozy garden space.

The event turned out great with beautiful weather (78 degrees and a light breeze) and a blast had by all.  Very great, very rowdy crowd.   Happy 30th!!

**Highlight** The mini hamburgers, hands down. As the party was wrapping up those (not so mini) burgers were the perfect snack to wind everyone's night down.

Happy Labor Day!

From all of us at We've Got It! Chicago, we wish you a very Happy Labor Day! We hope you're enjoying the long holiday weekend with your loved ones.

Hot and Cool!

Aqua and red may not be the newest trend in wedding colors, but it's one of our all-time favorites.  This dynamic color combination is super hot and mega-cool at the same time. It works for all seasons.  Imagine a playful summer picnic style wedding or a spring wedding in bloom or and icy cool winter wedding!  Check out these hot and cool idea boards for some inspiration.

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Are you searching for the perfect palette for your next party? Email us at info@wevegotitchicago.com for more info on how we can help!

Gift Guide: Custom Stamps

Today we're kicking off a new column: the Gift Guide.  The Gift Guide is your source for the best gifts to give for any occasion. We'll feature a new gift and tell you who it's perfect for, where to buy it and how much it costs.  Searching for the perfect gift? Look no further than the Gift Guide!

Featured Gift: Custom Address Stamps!

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Where to Shop: We love the variety available on expressionery.com, but custom stamps can be found all over the web.

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Cost: Around $50, depending on where you buy and how complicated the design is

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The Perfect Gift for: newlyweds, anyone who has moved recently, new grads moving out on their own, and pretty much anyone else. Youngsters will also love the monogram stamps to personalize their stuff. Or give a custom stamp to your favorite book-lover to label the books in their personal library.

Are you looking for the perfect gift or favor to give?  Email us at info@wevegotitchicago.com to see how we can help.

Ask a Planner: Kids' Party Favors

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Dear WGIC,

I'm planning a party for my child's fifth birthday party.  Every year it seems we spend more and more on favors for all of the kids. It's not that I mind handing out favors, but it's getting expensive.  The favors are becoming one of the most expensive parts of the party.  Do I have to give out favors? Any ideas for more affordable goodies to give the kids?

Angie

Angie,
We couldn't agree more. Some parties these days have super elaborate and expensive favors.  It's getting out of hand. The point of favors is to thank your guests for attending, but it shouldn't break the bank. And there are many great ways to say thanks in a more budget-friendly way.

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1. Give away a sweet treat.  At the party, kids are often stuffed full of candy and snacks and cake.  So go with a smaller cake for the party (and smaller portions for guests), and then send home a cupcake or cookie with each child.  You can wrap the treat in a pretty bag or box for easy transportation.

2. Do double-duty with your entertainment and favors.  When I was a kid, my mom bought a bunch of stadium cups, paint pens, glitter and glue, and puff paint.  Each kid at the party decorated a cup. They dried while we played, and then we made ice cream sundaes in the cups. At the end of the party, each child got to take their cup home.

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3. DIY! One of our favorite favors to make and give is custom-decorated wooden initials. These are so simple and affordable, and the possibilities are endless. Initials are perfect for boys or girls, and can be attached to a ribbon to hang from the wall or sit on a shelf.

We hope that helps, Angie! Thanks for sending in your question.

If you have a question for an event planner, email us at info@wevegotitchicago.com. We respond to all questions, and your question may get posted on our blog.