When we first met, we met in the bar at the Ambassador Hotel, and Randy pointed at the architecture.  He wanted to have vintage 1920’s cars, architecture, and printed pieces, and Ann just loves pink.  By combining the two, we were able to come up with just the right mix for a wedding design and everyone was happy.

The Astor Hotel was the venue of choice for both ceremony and reception.  The entire hotel drips with 1920’s flair, from the wood paneling to the chandeliers.  Once we selected that, everything started to fall into place seamlessly.

The Elegant Touch provided the linens and the pink sashes in just the right shade of dusty rose.  La Tulipe created centerpieces with silver and feathers nestled in among the pink roses.  And Centennial Press + Design created utterly divine art deco invitations, escort cards, table numbers (with names of 1920’s cars instead of numbers) and the like.

After a very very touching ceremony (Ann cried the whole time, I think), we flipped the ballroom while people had cocktails and appetizers.  Sound by Design lit the room in a pale shade of warm pink, and prepped the music.  Front Room Photography was busy capturing all the little moments, and taking the couple around town to grab photos in the fall colors and among Randy’s favorite art deco hotels, driving around Milwaukee in Riteway Limo.

By the time we pried all the guests out of the bar (the Brewer game was in full swing), salads were ready and the cupcakes, from Delicately Delicious, were on the art deco stand, ready to go.  Dinner was delicious, but the best were the speeches.  As jaded wedding planners, we don’t generally tear up, but we certainly did – listening to the heartfelt happiness from the wedding party as they explained how happy they were that Ann and Randy finally found each other.  When Randy got up, to explain that he’d waited a long time…and that finally God in his graciousness had found him the love of his life…OK, we were all crying.

It makes sense that the Brewers won (they probably did it to celebrate Ann and Randy’s big day) so everyone was in a festive mood, and the dance floor was packed before we even got the bride and groom together for their first dance!   But it’s a great thing to see everyone having fun right away.

I know the happy couple took off to celebrate and relax for a few days, but I’m still thinking about their wonderful lovely day.  It was such a pleasure to work with them – they deserve all the best and more!

Though Jeni and Andrew, both doctors, worked and lived in Chicago, much of the groom’s family lives in Milwaukee, so they chose the Milwaukee Art Museum to hold their ceremony, as it’s the epitome of Milwaukee-ness.  Plus, the gleaming architecture was the modern sophisticated vibe they were drawn toward in their design aesthetic.

While the wedding day brought challenges to this location – it’s no small feat to wiggle through the huge Al’s Run to get to the ceremony early – the guests were easily valeted by Downtown Auto Parking, the bride arrived on the Lamer’s trolley, and the stage was set!  Almost exactly 200 guests watched Jeni, in her stunning, gorgeous dress, come up the elevator into the soaring Calatrava to say her vows to Andrew, and enjoy the view of Lake Michigan while listening to their very gifted officiant marry them.

The decor at the MAM was kept to a minimum; the couple wanted the museum itself to be the main attraction.  Narrow copper fabric runners were on either side of the wide aisle, with glass vases of varying heights held flowers, greenery and branches of leaves.  Ten foot tall trees graced either side of the stage, which was draped in copper linens.

After many photographs, the wedding party greeted their guests for cocktails at the Cuvee Champagne Lounge in the 3rd Ward.  Cozy, lit with deep amber lighting provided by Sound by Design (who was also the DJ and lit the ballroom as well), the cocktail area was stuffed with family and friends who had flown or driven in from all over the country.

Once cocktails had finished, guests were ushered into the main ballroom area of Cuvee for dinner.  The space was the exact cozy fall interior Jeni and Andrew had wanted – so many of their guests often go to banquets and galas, so they wanted this to feel like a warm, intimate dining experience for their guests.  The warm lighting, exposed beam ceiling, buffed wooden floors and cream city brick walls of Cuvee was the perfect match for this vision.  Long banquet tables from Canopies created a more intimate feeling than the usual rounds, and guests had comfortable seats with deep mahogany wood chairs.  Tables were covered in copper linen (all linen was from BBJ), and lined with lush fall floral, miniature trees and loads of candles, thanks to La Tulipe.  Paper products matched the invitations, all from Paper Envy.  It was truly cozy.

Delicious courses were served by Shully’s, and guests gobbled up the gorgeous cake from The Cake Lady.  Later on, guests also enjoyed a huge candy buffet and pizza, which was provided by the local Rustico.  I cannot wait to see the professional photos from Front Room Photography!

All night, Jeni and Andrew’s friends and family socialized, chatted, and tore up the dance floor.  It was the experience they had wanted for everyone – a modern, fall affair.  They succeeded in creating this warm happy vibe – and I know their marriage will too!  Best of luck and everything to them!

We started planning mid-2010, so the process was even paced and super low key, which is the best way for brides and grooms to experience their wedding planning.  Once we put together their design book, it was easy to realize their rustic, casual country vibe near Lake Geneva, WI.  There was the initial challenge of choosing a look – the location of their reception and cocktails, Hawks View Golf Course, was also the location of Marci’s sister’s reception.  How to make a place look unlike the previous family wedding?  We settled on hanging banners of satin from the ceiling, bringing in a ton of color – navy blue and brilliant orange – with linens and chair ties and napkins from BBJ Linen.

Jeff was into letting the outdoors in for this big day, and Marci was completely on board.  We worked with Centennial Press + Design to create invitations hand printed on wood, backed with vintage fabric.  RSVP’s were also printed on wood with highly textured paper backing. The couple chose a monogram with their initials that had deer antlers, which fit perfectly with the log cabin vibe of their reception site, and set the mood accordingly.  Calligraphy was provided by Carmela in New Jersey, and compliments started pouring in on the uniqueness of the event immediately.

We decided to deck the men out in grey suits, which looked divine with the navy vests and bridesmaid dresses, and Marci came in style with navy blue shoes.  To compliment all the blue and grey and deep ivory, we turned to Vicki of La Tulipe to provide the luscious centerpieces and bouquets, which were full Fall and foliage.  Add in the complications of Jeff’s severe allergies and the couple’s desire to use pheasant feathers from one of Jeff’s hunting excursions, and Vicki had a lot of pieces to pull together.  And it turned out smashing – low centerpieces of a spilling of greenery and sunflowers and snapdragons, filled in a vase covered in birch bark.  Tall pilsner vases were ensconced in twigs so they resembled tall trees on other tables, topped with lush leaves and twigs.  Once again, wood was used for table numbers as well.

Marci and Jeff chose to be wed in the Catholic Church that both Marci’s parents and grandparents had gotten married in, so there was special nostalgia attached to the location.  Tucked in the rolling hills of the Lake Geneva and Burlington area, their wedding ceremony kicked off a fabulous wedding day.  Afterwards, the wedding party enjoyed themselves cruising the area in a Churchill Limo party bus.

After photographs around the golf course, the wedding party enjoyed drinks and celebrations with tons of family and friends.  Music was provided all evening by Sound by Design, and the serving staff at Hawks View was super efficient.  Throughout the day, Ideal Impressions captured the close knit vibe and genuine joy of the bride, groom and wedding party.  Some of their fabulous images are shown below.

By the end of the night, guests were sated on great music and delicious sweets (the couple provided a divine sweets table in lieu of cake) from Gooseberries, and feeling that rustic cozy environment Marci and Jeff desired, thanks also to lighting provided by ACME.  It was exactly  as we’d hoped for the two – a wonderful, fall day full of family, friends and good times.  I cannot wait to hear how their honeymoon went, and how they love married life!  So thrilling to be part of their big day!

We immediately set on a course to plan the details and design of this more modern wedding, which was to take place in Kohler for the ceremony and the Osthoff Resort for the cocktails and reception.  Bright colors – peacock blue, magenta, lime and touches of orange – were chosen to keep the feeling of the wedding fresh and yet very summer-like.  Jenny had an all encompassing vision of her wedding being elegant and classy, but most definitely not traditional or stuffy, so we set about choosing brilliantly color and embroidered linens, tying the chair cover ties in sleek foldovers instead of bows or flowers, and including a lot of tropical flowers and orchids in all the table decor, bouquets and men’s bouts.   It was a fast seven months, but we managed to do it all and still have a little fun and a few beers in between.

The wedding day arrived, hot and warm, just like a good old fashioned July weekend should feel!  A large, luxurious coach bus from Riteway Limo took the wedding party in two trips to the Catholic Church in Kohler where the wedding took place.  The church itself was simple and newly refurbished, so we only had large vases full of bright, lush floral flanking the altar.  Jenny was breathtakingly gorgeous, her dress simple and yet so timeless.  The traditional Mass was over without any hiccups, and then everyone headed back to the Osthoff for cocktails and appetizers.

Jenny and Ted had quite a large group – it was one of the larger weddings we did – and they also decided to really help people find their seats.  This meant they went back to the original wedding etiquette of having both escort cards – to get people to their table – and place cards, which designated the exact seat for each guest, as well as their pre-selected meal choice.  It was a very smooth transition for a lot of the out-of-town guests, and kept everyone sitting with someone they knew.  The lovely paper suite was printed by Centennial Press Designs.

The room was filled with gleaming china, and loads of candlelight.  La Tulipe brought in green manzanita trees, hanging with fuchsia orchid bunches and votive candles.  Other tables were graced with tall cylinders topped with squares of fuchsia carnations, and a third design was a trio cluster of vases filled with magenta hydrangeas, orange orchids, and green bamboo.  Linens were provided by The Elegant Touch, and Delicately Delicious provided a very modern wedding cake!

Exhibit A, reped by ACA, provided live music and entertainment throughout the night, as guests and wedding couple alike danced well into the evening.  It was a night full of jovial speeches, family banter, and gorgeous design!  Everyone enjoyed the photobooth from Shutterbooth, and the couple was left with a wonderful memory of the night in photos.  It was such a pleasure working with a couple who knew who they were and what they wanted for their day.  I can’t wait to see the professional photos!

Have a wonderful holiday week, and thank every American solider you see for their service to this country – it’s so hard to believe that we wouldn’t have half of what we do if it weren’t for the service and sacrifice of others.  We should be grateful for everything we have, every step of every day – from having fresh flowers at our weddings, to a lake or swimming pool to cool of in.  My brother is currently in Afghanistan as well: we flew the flag for him this year!

For brides:

A Compelling New Series On A Major Women’s Network Is Reaching Out To Brides-To-Be Who Want To Reunite With An Estranged Loved One Before Their Wedding day

Have you and a family member been torn apart by a long-standing rift?

Have you gone years without speaking?

Are you a bride-to-be who wants to take the first step toward reconciling with an estranged family member before your big day?

Has your upcoming wedding and future marriage changed your outlook on your broken relationship?

Would you like to ask this person to be there to support you on your wedding day?

Breakthrough Entertainment is currently casting a brand new series for a Major International Women’s Network. “Mending Fences” is a compelling one-hour documentary-style series that will be dedicated to working one-on-one with family members who desperately want to repair their broken relationships. We’re reaching out to brides-to-be because often times, a life-changing event (like a wedding) can make even the largest rifts seem less significant and may even inspire the courage to reach out to an estranged family member after years of silence. On this series, family members will work with Janet Morrison, a well-respected and dedicated Family Mediator, who will be there to lend support, encourage honest conversation and ultimately, give family members the chance to reconcile and start again.

If you live anywhere within a two-hour flight of Toronto and want to learn more about this exciting opportunity, we want to hear from you! Please include a description of yourself, the family member with whom you’re feuding and the issues plaguing your relationship, along with a recent photo (don’t forget your contact information!). This is a five-day (non-consecutive) filming commitment and participants must be willing to travel and share their stories on television. Each participant will receive a $3500 financial honorarium as a “thank you” for their time and commitment.

For everyone else:

Compelling New TV Series Is Now Casting Estranged Family Members Who Want To Reunite!

Have you and a relative been torn apart by a long-standing rift?

Have you gone years without speaking?

Is a life-changing event (pregnancy, deployment, wedding, illness, etc.) now shining a light on the void it’s left in your family?

Are you finally ready to take the first step toward healing your broken relationship?

Breakthrough Entertainment is currently casting a brand new series for a Major International Women’s Network. “Mending Fences” is a compelling one-hour documentary-style series that will be dedicated to working one-on-one with family members who desperately want to repair their broken relationships. An estrangement can have a devastating impact on a family, but it’s never too late to step forward and extend an olive branch. On this series, family members will work with Janet Morrison, a well-respected and dedicated Family Mediator, who will be there to lend support, encourage honest conversation and ultimately, give family members the chance to reconcile and start again.

If you live anywhere within a two-hour flight of Toronto and want to learn more about this exciting opportunity, we want to hear from you! Please include a description of yourself, the family member with whom you’re feuding and the issues plaguing your relationship, along with a recent photo. This is a five-day (non-consecutive) filming commitment and participants must be willing to travel and share their stories on television. Each participant will receive a $3500 financial honorarium as a “thank you” for their time and commitment.

We look forward to hearing from YOU!

Danielle Gervais

Casting Director, Breakthrough Entertainment

Ph. 646.678.4999

Breakthroughtvcasting.danielle@gmail.com

This wedding was such a labor of love for me; not only did I get to know Emily and Jake as true friends, but their families were also so dear and lovely to work with all year long.  Dealing with loads of health issues and accidents and mishaps of family members throughout the process kept things a bit emotional, and yet through it all, no one lost touch of the fact that this wedding was to be a celebration of the Catholic sacrament of marriage…and a great dinner and party afterwards.

First, for the decor.  Emily and Jake opted for multiple shades of green for their wedding color – chartreuse, lime, emerald and true green.  Ivory was the base color, and tiny pops of black were brought in for interest.  At the church, huge vases chock full of large white callas graced both sides of the altar at Gesu, while thick bunches of green and white floral hung from the pews.  At the reception in the big Crystal Ballroom of the Hilton Milwaukee City Center, we lit up the room with a cool platinum glow.  Guest linens from BBJ Linen were ivory with great texture, and lime textured ties were on the chair covers.  Black napkins were the first pop of black you saw at the tables, and oodles of candles were everywhere.  The menus, escort cards and table numbers were all matched to the invitations designed by Centennial Press Design.  We had four different types of centerpieces – two were tall and two were shorter, with loads of texture and simple elegance on each.  La Tulipe did a perfect job making each piece look understated yet elegant.  My favorite was the trifle bowl filled with grapes, limes and thick fluffy white flowers.

I loved the double tiered head table, with different shaded green linens and napkins were the perfect backdrop for the bridesmaids in their black silk taffeta and luscious bouquets and candles.  Emily had a divine bouquet, and her shoes were the ultimate true lime green, which was a lovely touch to her ensemble.  The Pfister  Wellspa + Janice Salon did fabulously on everyones hair and make-up too.  Dreamy!

Of course, I have to rave about the cake by The Cake Lady. A few of my brides choose the lavender cake, and Emily and Jake were of the few that did – it was the perfect match for the raspberry and lemon filling, and the lavender was the right touch for a spring fete.  Decadent fondant wrapped with a two-tone green ribbon was the finishing look, and once we added loads of floral and grapes, especially along the bottom cake stand, the effect was utterly delicious!

The ceremony at Gesu was so beautiful and special.  The music swelled, the readings were spoken elegantly, and Emily and Jake had a full Mass with all their friends and family (we had guests almost to the back of church – huge wedding!!).  Afterwards, lots of photography continued on Marquette’s campus, before the bridal party moved to the Knick for lunch and more photography.

Meanwhile, all the guests were transported from the Hilton to Gesu and back before heading out on pre-planned and pre-registered tours to the Milwaukee Public Museum, the Milwaukee Art Museum, and Lakefront Brewery.  Our buses were kept moving as guests were constantly dropped off and picked up – no small feat to coordinate, but everything went swimmingly and all the guests had a blast.

Once the delectable dinner of steak and shrimp was over, and the heartfelt speeches were said, we jumped into dancing.  Sound by Design provided top notch music (as well as the lighting) and had the dance floor packed with well over 100 people at all times.  Everyone was in a celebratory mood, and further entertainment was provided by Shutterbox, a wonderful photobooth service that left Emily and Jake with a great personalized scrapbook.

In the end, it was a beautiful, heartfelt weekend.  Jake, the groom, came up to me at 10pm and said, “You were right, Sara, it goes way too fast!” but really, the wedding day is just the beginning of it all!

Photography was provided that day by Craig John, and video was handled by One Fine Day.

Lunch was a yummy cake from The Cake Lady, and the owner of Broadway Paper stopped by to enjoy the festive atmosphere.  Will got his first taste of buttercream, and of course he thought it was the best.

Some of the great photos from the day – hard to pick just a few!  :)

So, here’s some of my favorite images from 2010 (though I’m still waiting for my December ‘10 wedding images from Front Room Photography).  I’ve decided to go all out and make ‘em nice and big so you all can enjoy the visual lusciousness that was 2010!  Thanks to:  Sugar Leaf Photography, Craig John, Jennifer Johnson Photography, Jennifer Brindley Photography, Beau Peterson Photography & Artist Group.

Jenna wanted to make her wedding really celebrate the new year, so silver, gold and ivory were the staple colors with a dash of fresh green.  She and her bridesmaids wore amazing gowns from Priscilla of Boston, and Sam got dashing tuxes for the men from Suitors.

We began with the linens and flowers after picking the location, and BBJ Linen provided some lovely Ivory Deauville brocade linens for the guest tables, which spun together golds and silvers in delicate patterns, giving us a beautiful textural base.  Taupe, ivory, and silvery shimmery linens rounded out the look, and chair ties were spun into tight rosettes to give glamour to the ceremony and reception. La Tulipe came in with great ideas, and we collaborated to create tall centerpieces filled with roses and hydrangea and stephonatis and snapdragons.  Lower centerpieces were oodles of floating candles surrounded by a wreath of ivory blooms.  But the creme de la creme was the head table, where tall silver pieces filled with white flowers and silver branches were linked together by a sea of multiple different white blossoms in multiple vases and silver mercury candle holders.  Topped off with amazing paper pieces from Centennial Press Designs, every table was an elegant and chic affair in it’s own right  (invites themselves were out of this world gorgeous, with calligraphy from The Blooming Quill topping it off!).

We worked extensively with ACME, who lit the whole room with a warm golden glow, and provided huge white panels, which were uplit for the ceremony and as a backdrop for the band.  La Tulipe attached glittering crystal garlands to the panels which gave it just the right touch.  ACA Entertainment helped us coordinate with the fabulous North Coast Orchestra, who played a brass quartet for the ceremony, light jazz for cocktails and then full music for dinner and dancing.

The ceremony went off without a hitch; Rev. Jeff Best gave a very moving old fashioned hand fasting, and everyone immediately moved down for cocktails.  People mingled happily – we had guests who flew in from Egypt, London, Belgium, Canada and all over the United States.

That night, the dance floor was graced with a delicious and decadent cake from The Cake Lady, and Jenna and Sam enjoyed photography time with Front Room Photography throughout the evening (I can’t wait to see the photos!).  The food from the Bartolotta kitchen was of course out of this world – steak, chicken, ravioli and the fine touches of each dish made the guests gush.

As the band counted down to midnight, we handed out hand streamers, hats, horns and tiaras, and the packed dance floor continued to dance and wait expectantly for the new year, which then came with a bang and aud lang syne as all the golden streamers were released from the balcony over the dance floor amid cheers and loads of champagne.  It was a sight to behold!  The bride and groom then departed privately on a trolley, which then shuttled the rest of the guests later back to their hotel.

This was an especially fun wedding for me, as Jenna and Sam are so in love, so obviously happy to be together and start a life together – plus we all are Marquette grads, which makes it so much more personal.  Their families were a dream to work with, and I was thrilled with how elegantly the entire wedding looked in the end.  All the little touches and the sophistication of Jenna’s style were perfect; it was the best way to end 2010!