Ombre Cakes



One trend I'm loving right now (and really have for a while now) is using many shades of one color, or ombré. While still picking two or three main colors for your wedding or event, try singling out one of those hues and varying the saturation.  Purple is a really great color to try this with, as is green. Below are some pictures of cakes that have incorporated this design technique, just fantastic!!



This was the inspiration cake for this post, sort of! I saw a larger version

(4 tiers by [NineCakes.com]) in the Spring 2011 'The Knot' Mag. The one

pictured above is [Maggie Austin].

ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE! [pretty little wedding things]

[pretty little wedding things]

 Try using textures with your hues. This adds a dramatic elegance.

[Martha Stewart Weddings] If you're adventurous, click source link
for the recipe!

This is one of my favorites. Simple, yet fabulous!
[Madly Stylish Events]

Love the apple! Shapes can also contribute and
help tie in a fabulous theme [Half Baked, Miso Bakes]

GORGEOUS
[pretty little wedding things]

   

If you're really creative, you can even
ombré the inside! [Style Me Pretty]



 
Try the ombré trend for BM dresses or even florals!  What color do you think this technique would look best in?  






What's Happening, Chicago (August 16)
1. Free Movie Tuesday, Sixteen Candles @ 7pm
2. Museum of Contemporary Art Farmers Market, Tuesdays 7am-3pm

Invite Spotlight - Foosie Design

We love Having an early Spring wedding? Looking for simple, yet chic paper products to accent your big day?
Then our Spotlight Design is perfect for you.  The maggie & bradley features gorgeous curves with a soft, yet rustic look.  If you're planning an outdoor wedding in the mountains, these would be perfect!

[Source]


We can help you with all customizing; from your font colors to the weight of the paper, all for FREE!  If you are in need of Save-the-Dates, Place Cards, Menu Cards, Invites, etc. for your upcoming wedding, check out our website and click 'wedding'.





What's Happening, Chicago?    (February 26)
       1. International Kennel Club of Chicago - Show Times

Event Recap - Summer 2010 Series (3 of 3)

Steven Gross
Real Life Weddings

We know it's well into late winter and a whole new year, but we're still tickled to see these pictures! Thanks Nara and Raj :)

All photos by Steven Gross of Real Life Weddings







Steve Gross
Real Life Weddings





Steven Gross
Real Life Weddings





Steven Gross
Real Life Weddings





The Great Bridal Expo

[source]

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!!

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!

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

[source]

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:

                                                                              [source]

                                                                              [source]

                                                                              [source]

                                               
                                                                                  [source]

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.

[source]

[source]

[source]

[source]

[source]

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!

White Hot!

When I told my bridesmaids that I wanted them to wear white too, they looked at me like I was nuts. So did most other people I shared the idea with.  Almost everyone smiled and nodded in that polite way that says, 'sure that's a great idea . . . if you're crazy!'  But when the wedding pictures came back, everyone raved about how gorgeous the crisp white look was.  Stop thinking of white as just a color for the bride. It's not simple and plain . . . it's a sharp, fresh palette that can make your big day stunning.

[source]

[source]

[source]

[source]

[source]

Are you planning a white wedding? Are you searching for the perfect palette for your party? Email us at info@wevegotitchicago.com to see how we can help!

Friday Eye Candy!

How pretty are the little eco-details of this beautiful wedding?  They say the devil is in the details . . . well, then this party must have been downright evil!  For more amazing photos, click here.