Author Archive

Red Letter Event Planning is excited to welcome our summer intern Ellen Havey.  Ellen is currently attending the University of Iowa studying Journalism & Mass Communication and Communication Studies.  Her experience as the Internal Events Chair for Chi Omega, Psi Beta Chapter and enthusiasm for all things wedding coupled with a fun personality make her a great fit for the Red Letter team.

We have a full summer planned for her as she will be writing blogs, marketing Red Letter, assisting at weddings and other events, meeting clients, organizing me and going to cool industry events. Read below to “get to know” Ellen:

What is your favorite color palette?

Light pink, gold/champagne, soft taupe, and ivory

Why do you like weddings?

I like weddings because they allow the bride and groom to celebrate their special day in their own unique way. I like how all weddings are different from size and location to colors and food. Weddings are the perfect way to express personality and taste. They are the best celebration!

What is your favorite TV show?

Anything on Bravo or the Food Network

Why do you love the Chicagoland area?

It’s where I’ve always grown up and I love the fact that I can go to the city for a day or night and come back to a quiet suburb. You get the best of both worlds! I also love being right on beautiful Lake Michigan.

Cubs, Sox or other?
Cubs!

Who is your celebrity crush?
Liam Hemsworth

Why do you love event planning?

I love the result. I love seeing people have a good time because of my effort and planning. I also love any type of party or social event and it makes it even better when I can contribute to it.

Share your thoughts on how you feel about your upcoming internship.

I couldn’t be more excited to have an event planning internship this summer. I have experience in planning my own events, but I am excited to gain more experience in planning other people’s events. I am also very excited to help with the marketing and social media aspect of the company!

Till Next Time I Hope Your Next Special Event is a Red Letter Day

As the temperature heats up, you may feel it is the right time to have a soiree on your deck or patio.  Instead of going with the full bar, consider serving two or three summer cocktails.  Here are two of my favorite via Pinterest, as you can see they are both easy and delish.

Tequila over lime sorbet-Instant Margarita-bonus if you rim the glasses with salt

Champagne mixed with fresh strawberry puree

We want to know what is your go to summer hosting cocktail and will you try one of these at your next party?

Till Next Time I Hope Your Next Special Event is a Red Letter Day

Sara Olsher is a mom, illustrator, and blogger located in San Francisco. By day, she is the marketing manager at JustGive, a nonprofit whose mission is to increase charitable giving.  I asked her to guest blog for Red Letter Event Planning on the I Do Foundation.  I am asked all the time by couples “what should I give as favors, or register for?” The I Do Foundation is an ideal solution.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to share a little about I Do Foundation, Robyn! ­­­We are very passionate about what we do, and will take any opportunity to tell brides and grooms about including charity in their weddings.

We at I Do Foundation believe that giving brings meaning to life—and we’re passionate about helping connect soon-to-be-wed couples with the charities and causes they care about most. After all, weddings are a joyous occasion, made even more so by sharing a little love with those who need it!

I Do helps engaged couples Celebrate Generously™ and make charity a part of their special day.  Launched on Valentine’s Day 2002, I Do has created and offers several unique, eco-chic and no-cost ways to give back through weddings:

Registries that make a difference

With a Charity Registry, couples can share the generosity of their guests with a favorite charitable cause. Guests make secure online donations through I Do as their wedding gifts to the couple, supporting their chosen nonprofit organizations.

With a Charitable Gift Registry, couples register for gifts through I Do’s partner stores or the Wedding Channel, and vendors donate up to 5 percent of gift purchases to their selected charities.

Charity for favors

Couples can honor guests and share the love by making a donation to a favorite charity for their wedding favors. This is a great way to support causes that hold a special place in the couple’s hearts.

Charity Gift Cards to thank the wedding party

The GiveNow charity gift card is a great “green” way to thank those who helped make the day special. The couple can choose the gift amount and add a personally-written message. Their recipient then redeems it for the charity of their choice, selecting from more than 1.8 million nonprofit organizations working throughout the world.

Benefit the local community

Through tips and ideas provided on I Do, couples can also discover more ways to share their commitment and love with charities in their community.

In the past nine years, through I Do Foundation and its partners, more than 44,000 couples have given over $6 million dollars to charity. That’s pretty remarkable! With more than 10 percent of all engaged couples visiting I Do each year to learn more about how they can give back, it’s clear that charitable giving is important to many engaged couples.  We are excited to be part of it, and hope you will consider joining us!

Thanks Sara for all of the great information on the I Do Foundation.

Till Next Time I Hope Your Next Special Event is a Red Letter Day

Last week the brand new Marriott Naperville, hosted our April Association of Bridal Consultants meeting, giving me the opportunity to be one of the first to experience this new gem in the Chicago suburbs.

When most couples and planners think Suburban hotels the words hip, trendy and contemporary do not come to mind but my fellow ABC planners and I agree the Marriott Naperville is all this and more.

As I entered I was pleased to see the light colored interior that still projected a warm and inviting feeling with chocolate brown and burnt orange accents. This hotel has public spaces that rival the hippest downtown nightclub, check out this booth in the bar area.

For events and weddings the hotel has a great layout, they have two main large ballrooms that are on opposite ends of the hotel.  Even though they can host more than one event it feels private because each ballroom has its own pre- function area.  The Naper Ballroom which is the smaller of the two ballrooms even has a wall of windows.

For those that know me, I am a chair snob, I don’t understand why venues can’t have nice looking, neutral chairs, however that is a rant for another day.  The Marriott Naperville has these as the standard chairs-simple enough to go with almost any décor.

They have a beautiful wall in the lounge area that would be such a cool backdrop for engagement or wedding photos.  Check it out!

The staff at the Marriott Naperville were such gracious hosts, we had a delicious dinner that was completed with mini wedding cakes made by their IN HOUSE pastry chef-So good!

Here are some of the specs for the property, give them a call at 630-505-4900 to check it out for your wedding or other event.

7000 Sq Ft Grand Ballroom

4000 Sq Ft. Naper Ballroom with floor to ceiling windows

Complimentary Parking

Concierge Level rooms

Till Next Time I Hope Your Next Special Event is a Red Letter Day

This week we explore my Things I Love from any Category board on Pinterest-  this board features random concepts, ideas, or just plain pretty that catches my fancy.

This neon color palette while recalling the 80’s is sophisticated and exudes energy.

So how best to use these bright, intense colors?

How about dressing up a tablescape, adding a piece of accent furniture or sporting a hot pink handbag with a black and white ensemble.

We want to know if you think this neon color palette is as Pintastic as I do. Repin and share!

Till Next Time I Hope your Next Special Event is a Red Letter Day

DIY, ,MOH, STD what do all of these mean?  When you started your wedding planning I bet you didn’t know you would have to learn a whole new vocabulary.  Here is a quick guide to wedding jargon.

DIY, this acronym is most popular among the wedding set. It stands for Do It Yourself, sentences it can be used in include: “I am a DIY Bride”, “I intend to DIY my flowers”, And my personal favorite, “DIY is not always easy or less expensive.”

MOH, she is your rock, your shoulder to cry on and your confidante, I am of course talking about your Maid or Matron of Honor.  And please tell your groom to pronounce it M-O-H not MOE.

STD, a Mother of the Bride (ooh another acronym MOB) once saw me mention this in an email and she was scandalized because I wrote, Megan’s STD is coming next week.  An STD is a Save the Date, usually sent out about a year or more before the wedding date. And really it SHOULD have a better acronym.

OOT-No, this isn’t the word “out” in a Canadian accent, it stands for Out of Town, can be modified using the nouns Guests, Gift Bags or Wedding.

FOG, MOG, MOB, FOB, as you saw above MOB refers to Mother of the Bride, the others refer to the rest of the parental units-Father of the Groom, Mother of the Groom and Father of the Bride. Note: Most parents do not like being referenced this way.

BM, FG, RB, GM, these are the others participants in the wedding party-the BM is interchangeable between Bridesmaid and Best Man, so be specific when referencing, the others refer to wee ones-Ring Bearer and Flower Girl.  The last one while also a brand of car means Groomsmen.

E-Session, Some couples decide to take pictures before the wedding in a fun, casual way, these are often referred to as engagement pictures, and the E-session is where this occurs.  This article about a groom and an engagement session is pretty funny.

Trash The Dress, this is not what the catty ladies at table 19 are saying about the brides dress. Instead it is a way to wear your dress one more time for fun pictures that may include, walking the lakefront, sitting on a L-train or other ways of “trashing” your dress and bonus you get really COOL pics for your album.

DOC, Ahh the DOC the one that will make all of your wedding stresses go away, and not by telling you to take two aspirin and call me in the morning.  A DOC or Day of Coordinator is a person hired to oversee your big day.  In reality there aren’t any true DOC’s no one would be able to handle your wedding coordination stepping in that day.  Instead your DOC is more aptly named a Wedding Day Manager (WDM). The WDM may work with you the last few months or weeks leading up to your wedding.  Every wedding should have a WDM so the bride, the groom, the MOB, FOB, MOG, FOG, MOH and BM etc can enjoy the wedding that day.

It’s your turn to share with us your favorite wedding vocabulary words, and your definition of them.

Till Next Time I Hope Your Next Special Event is a Red Letter Day (RLD)!

WALK CHICAGO’S GOLD COAST FOR YOUR WEDDING

First, fuel up for your day long shopping trip at Sprinkles cupcakes, check out their wedding cupcakes or treat yourself to your favorite flavor. Then head to Vera Wang , located at 945 Rush St. in Chicago. Just opened earlier this month it is the home of the classic and unique gowns that Vera Wang is known for.  The salon is large and very private, so that you can try on dresses comfortably and without the prying eyes of strangers. Appointments are necessary and can be made by calling 312-379-5355.

Spring 2012 Vera Wang Wedding Dress

The second stop is B H L D N (pronounced Beholden).  This store has two floors of wedding prettiness, you will find vintage style gowns, quirky headpieces, cool bow ties and even a whole room dedicated to less than ordinary decor. Prepare to spend at least 2 hours in this location looking over all of the items. B H L D N is located at 8 East Walton St., Chicago For dress appointments please call 312-573-2573.

Inside the B H L D N store

The third stop is the newly reopened Bella Bridesmaid. This store is dedicated to all things for the maids.  The airy salon has comfy couches and racks of colorful and wearable bridesmaid dresses. Bella is located at 1 East Delaware, Suite 200 Chicago, IL. For appointments call 312-943-0344.

You can Find Lula Kate dresses like these at Bella Bridesmaids

Here is a simple map to help you on your journey!

Walk the Gold Coast for your Wedding

Till Next Time I Hope Your Next Special Event is a Red Letter Day!

This past week my Mother in Law passed away.  She was very charming and gracious and she will be dearly missed.  The last time I saw her was less than 48 hours before she died.  She had been chronically ill for a while and had just moved into the memory support unit of her community however we thought she had turned a corner and was doing well physically.

My husband and I were going over to see her so I could see her new apartment.  We found her in the community dining room it looked like everyone else had already finished their meal, but she was still at the table.  We sat down with her and she said,” this cherry pie is very delicious, in fact this is my second piece, I bet I could get you all a piece as well if you would like” (there was that graciousness that she had).  We declined but continued our visit while she savored every bite of the pie, commenting more than once how good it was.  Our short visit came to an end, and as always I took her hand and said “we will see you soon” however that was not to be.

This last memory I have of my mother in law, has made me realize that you should always enjoy that second piece of cherry pie or whatever brings you joy and happiness.  I am glad I learned this final lesson from her.  Rest in Peace Joan-Carol, your family will miss you.

I love Pinterest, I find it inspiring, creative and just downright fun.  I have really enjoyed finding great pins and seeing them repinned by brides to be and even current and former Red Letter brides!  I imagine many newly engaged and soon to be engaged woman pinning away day and night, while their significant other wonders, what are they doing?

Well guys you are no longer on the outside looking in, there is now Gentlemint, a manly version of Pinterest where you Tack instead of Pin.  I just applied for my invite but I promise I won’t tack  peonies, veils or DIY wedding projects. (wink)

So far the biggest difference I have seen is the aesthetic however creativity is in the eye of the beholder and honestly, the Felted Guinness Beer Soap (see below) would make a great groomsmen gift- guess I need to make  a best of Gentlemint board on Pinterest!

A popular "tack" on Gentlemint

Till next time I hope your next celebration is a “Red Letter Day”

At the beginning of a year it is common to name the “top trends” for the next 12 months, here is my favorite list for 2012. However I think  it is time for some “trends” to take the leap and become traditions.  Below is my top five list of those trends:

Charity Favors: Crystal bottle stoppers and seed packets with your wedding date on them can be cute, however in my experience items like this are left behind more than 50% of the time. A charity favor, promotes a good cause and will not be relegated to a junk drawer or worse a garbage can. I really like the I Do Foundation as they make the donation process very easy and also have a huge variety of charitable causes to choose from. You can also go directly to a charity itself, I have clients that will be doing their favors through the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.  Charitable donations in lieu of take home favors is a great way to honor a cause you as a couple support.

Smaller Weddings: The average wedding size for 2011 nationally according to Brides magazine was 152.  Smaller weddings can mean a smaller budget, so if your budget is tight the easiest way to cut costs is to cut your guest list. Smaller weddings also allow a more personal experience for you, your wedding party and your guests. Examples include: inviting everyone to the rehearsal dinner, using long dining tables versus traditional round tables and most importantly celebrating with your nearest and dearest friends and family. A  past Red Letter bride honored all of her guests by placing two Phalaenopsis orchids at each place-setting. With 70 guests this cost under $150 with 200 guests the cost would have been much more, this simple touch spoke to the personal feel of an intimate wedding.

Flowers at each placesetting

Personal Details: I really believe this is already a tradition but it is still mentioned as a trend every year. Each couple wants a unique wedding to reflect who they are in personality and style. This can be a custom designed logo like the one below that a past Red Letter couple had used throughout their wedding planning. Other ways to personalize include naming each table after an important part of your lives, a signature drink during cocktails that reflects you as a couple or it can be your beloved pug dog as the ring bearer. The options are endless.

Custom Wedding Logo

Alternative Dining Styles: The sit down dinner will always be popular because of formality and ease of service. But there are so many different twists for food service that are no longer just trendy. My current favorite is family style. The best way to do this is have the protein served on a plate to each guest and then offer a variety of sides (starches and veggies) on the table to choose from. The cocktail reception is also a great alternative as it allows mixing and mingling for your guests and a variety in the types of food served either with passed hors d’oeuvre or food stations.

Guest Experiences: The candy buffet, the hot chocolate station, the photobooth, the nitro ice cream etc. these are all experiential for your guest. It allows them to participate in the party atmosphere, by either putting together the most amazing godiva and kahula hot chocolate or taking the craziest pictures with a crown and boa. These are the aspects of the wedding the guests will be talking about long after the last dance.

Nitro Ice Cream Station at Westin North Shore

So readers? What do you think are these trends ready to become traditions? What other trends would you like to see evolve?

Till next time I hope your next special event is a Red Letter Day!