Dettagli Weddings

Now that we're Blissful...

2012-01-19T13:44:00.000-08:00

...We get to share the beauty of the Bliss work!

http://www.stylemepretty.com/2012/01/16/chicago-botanic-gardens-styled-engagement-party-by-averyhouse-bliss-weddings-events/

I mean.. can you even?!
Renny and Kara styled this shoot this past fall.. and I cannot wait to jump in and help Charlotte + William with their wedding year.

Blissfully Excited...

2011-12-15T13:03:00.001-08:00

...to announce our BIG NEWS! Dettagli Weddings will be merging with Bliss Weddings & Events on January 1! We are SO thrilled about this amazing partnership and all of the exciting things ahead! Stay tuned for more news and a stunning new logo + website coming soon!

The List

2011-12-15T12:30:00.001-08:00

It's been a fun week at Dettagli and as we look back on the AMAZING year of weddings, parties, styling, planning, scheduling and of course, details... we can't overlook all of the essentials that go in to planning a wedding, outside of the main ingredients. Before the actual I-DO, there are months and months of parties, prepping, glamming, and celebrating that every bride {and groom!} endure. We can't help but recommend wonderful vendors for these "etcetera" items and we're so excited to share some of our favorites for 2011 with you:

Best Spa: The Peninsula Chicago
Best Spray Tan: Ortanic (formerly GLO)
Best Eyelash Extensions: Flutter
Best Waxing (brows + bikini):Jamie at Maxine's
Best Blowout: Adrienne at Maxine's
Best Highlights: Duschan at Salon U {ask about ballyage..it's amazing!}
Best Haircut {ladies and gents}: Jen at Swerve Salon
Best Shave: The Art of Shaving
Best Mani and Pedi with the girls: Princess Nail Salon
Best Bachelorette Party Dresses: Sara Jane
Best Shower Dresses: Le Dress
Best Hostess Gift: So Cute and Cozy {allow a week!}
Best wedding party gift {with one for yourself}: Dom Perignon Wedding Collection
Best travel site for girlfriend getaway: Hautelook.com
Best Kept Registry Secrets: Jayson Home and Garden
Best Pre-Wedding Workout: The Bar Method

Finally, after looking through hundreds and hundreds of photos from weddings this year, I've posted my favorite "best of" shot from a wedding this summer. Much more on this wedding {and several others!) to come soon, but how perfect is this shot?!

And of course...stay tuned tomorrow for the BEST news!

The Best Of Times

2011-12-13T13:26:00.001-08:00

Things at Dettagli are more exciting than ever. If this time of year already didn't bring so much joy and excitement, we have *so* much going on and we can't wait to share.

As our year winds down and we look back on the brilliant weddings from 2011, I truly can't believe the beauty, the details and most importantly, the love, that we were privy to this year. We had the dreamiest couples and seeing their adoration for each other and the happiness that their wedding day brought is truly why we love this job.

This week we are bringing you our "best of" list AND some very exciting news - stay tuned!

Frenchie in the Fall

2011-10-04T12:52:00.001-07:00

I'd never been to Paris in the fall.. until last month. It.is.amazing! The summer rush is gone, the weather is perfect for cutie fall coats, and the style is as gorgeous as ever. I was there on a whirlwind trip, but not too quick to miss the amazing flowers at George V (I was obsessing so much that the very nice French lady in the lobby walked me around and offered details on that weeks' installment), ridiculous cuisine and of, course, some French art and bubbly (because obviously the two go hand in hand). Let me indulge and share some of my favorite inspiration:

{French hotels have the best flowers. White was clearly in this fall.. Here are some hydrangea tufts at the Mandarin Oriental}

{Dreamy blooms at George V. I love the signature style!}

{seasonal hydrangea was everywhere! Just your "average" coffee table arrangement.. love}

{The Garden}

{These handsome bar carts grace every fashionable restaurant and bar. Hmm..what fun would it be to have these wheel around during the dinner party at a wedding?!}

If flowers don't do it for you, then the food will. I'm as inspired just looking at these treats (and this was just half the meal!):

{an amuse-bouche: Foie Gras in a sugar balloon}

{King Crab in a green tomato juices and coriander aspic, studded with spots of coral and tarragon mayonnaise}

{the cheese course. I also love the idea of doing this at a wedding. A beautiful French girl rolled this stunning table of cheese to our table and cut fresh selections.}

{one of the three (3!) desserts: Black Figs poached with spices, black currant juice, speculoos biscuit ice cream}

And, while the fancy food was fabulous, our long lunches were my favorite.

And finally, because I couldn't resist, I did see one bride and groom on our quick trip. They were taking photos in a garden in Germany and I quickly scurried over to take a peek (my husband was such a champ, sustaining all these food photos during lovely dinners and bride and groom hunts during our getaway!). Prior to our quick trip to Paris, we spent two days in Munich. Here's where I ran in to these guys:

{I literally couldn't help it}.

A Festive Fall

2011-09-30T20:37:00.000-07:00

While it is sad to bid farewell to summer in Chicago, I welcome the month of October each year with such happiness. The changing leaves, crisp air, and delicious smells grace the mornings and hints of the holidays are beaming from every store.

October is such a stunning month for weddings and we are so excited about the Dettagli events this month. I had high expectations for myself to post about every wedding after they happened and share the gorgeous details from each event: well.. better late than never. As Erin and Brent reach their one year anniversary next week, we toast them with gorgeous photos from their wedding. Erin's color palette was perfect for fall: Gray, ivory, dusty orange and green, and was brought to life with gorgeous blooms from Anthony Gowder.

They celebrated at the picturesque Cafe Brauer, where the colorful leaves in the surrounding zoo grounds completed their picture-perfect day.
{look at all of their darling details!

And, as I mentioned earlier this week, the relationship photos are always my favorite. Erin and Brent have the most wonderful, warm families and friends and their dance floor and toasts celebrated that all night long.

{a fun surprise from the bride's family: a little song and dance!}

{and the sweetest sendoff..}

The.Cutest.

2011-09-29T12:05:00.001-07:00

From the day that our daughter was born, it was pretty clear that she and my husband were smitten with each other. There's just something between a dad and his little lady that makes me choke up at every wedding that I see. Oftentimes, I'll be in the back of church with a bride and her father before she walks down the aisle. We take care to give them their space, all while doing final preps on the gorgeous gal as she makes her way to her hubby-to-be, but it's hard to miss the emotion, the bond and the sweet relationship between fathers and daughters. While digging through our wedding photos (four years ago today!), I found this one of me and my dad. I had just come down from putting on my dress and my dad was there to greet me. Anytime I call my dad with a question about: how to fix the car/update insurance/do a math problem/ask for directions/taxes/historical fact checking{and so on}, he always ends the call with, "love you kate, bye." On this day, in 2007, I remember literally bouncing down the stairs {to say I was excited was an understatement!}, and my dad just saying "I love you Kate" as he kissed my nose.

When looking through client pictures, I always gravitate to the "relationship" photos: those pictures between father and daughter, mothers, grandparents, dear friends and family. There is no better day than your wedding day to embrace the wonderful relationships that you have been blessed with and to celebrate with your nearest and dearest. Look how well some of our recent brides have done just that:

{the.cutest.hug: dad, bride and sisters}

{the first look!}

And... to my amazing hubby of 4 years, happy anniversary.

Table Matters

2011-09-27T11:44:00.000-07:00

Time and time again on this blog I share my ob-session with china. And so it continues.... Get ready, Chicago brides: Meet PLATE. Two stylish gals with an eye for design just launched this amazing company and now we have real.vintage.plates for rent! Their pieces are dreamy and the collection is vast.

Mix and match, get a set, create your dream table for a wedding, shower, or even a pretty dinner party. My absolute favorite weddings are the ones that feel like they are an extension of your home, of your personal style, taste and collection. Plate captures this essence beautifully, all while making your party table super pretty. I need to find a party to host stat.. these gems are just too pretty!

The Ultimate Date Night

2011-09-14T13:31:00.000-07:00

In addition to getting to work on such beautiful weddings, we often get asked to help plan a shower, welcome party or bachelorette soiree. We love parties, so it's such fun to help clients think of fun, different and special parties. I recently gave a dear friend a wedding shower gift: A date every month from now through their wedding. Between the stress of planning a wedding and the amount of time they are putting in, I always advise my clients - and friends - to take some time out and just be a couple. Their gift included some fun things to do at home {like wedding movies, a pizza gift certificate, a bottle of wine and fall goodies, to enjoy while putting together their wedding invitations}, and things to do out in the city, as well as a gift for the month after their wedding...
{a pretty nightie and baby onesies...I simply cannot wait for them to have babies!}

I got to thinking that this could be a fun theme for a wedding shower: A Year of Dates. When sending the invitations out to guests, assign them a month. They can use their creativity from there, picking out barware and a favorite drink recipe for a summer concert at Ravinia, or personalized Christmas ornaments for a tree-trimming date. The possibilities are endless and guests will have fun trying to come up with a special date for the couple.

Tomorrow I'm headed on the ultimate date with my one and only. Off to Munich and Paris for an amazing date weekend {and of course a few wedding venue visits while I'm there... I love to see how the Europeans do weddings!}. I always come back inspired {and refreshed!}, so look for fun fall trends and photos next week. Au revoir!

Love to Cook

2011-09-13T19:09:00.001-07:00

Have you discovered Pintrest yet? Oh my, it's super wonderful, but super dangerous! I could spend all too many hours on it, but what fun inspiration and style is shares. I am just getting started on it, having only set up categories and pinned a few things. One of my categories is "love to cook." I follow several food blogs on a regular basis, getting tasty advice for what to serve my family for meals. I'm a total recipe-follower: I love to cook but I'm not inventing anything {although I often get home from wedding tastings and try to re-create the beauties that I've tasted.. again, I'm a recipe-follower}. I do love to be in the kitchen, I love feeding my family healthy, seasonal and exciting meals, and I love when my husband is thrilled with dinner.

This week, we visited the farmer's market and came across the end of summer tomato stash, along with oodles of other fresh veggies.
{my cutie little tomato-helper}

It's hard enough to get us all to eat one great veggie each night, let alone six or seven. With a visit to the market, and a gift from a friends' family garden, I was able to finally pull enough from the recipes that I've been learning from and create a blog-worthy late summer dish.
{fresh from ellen's garden!}

Here's what you will need:

12 oz. pasta (I love Rigatoni)
3 Tbsp olive oil
1 medium red onion, very thinly sliced
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 ears of corn, cooked and the kernels removed
fresh peas, cooked and seasoned with oregano, salt and pepper
1.5 pints tomatoes (I used a mixture of different kinds)
1/3 cup pitted black olives
protein! (I used chicken, seasoned with oregano, salt and pepper), but shrimp or tofu would be great, too.
3 cups loosely packed baby spinach or arugula
1 Tbsp chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
8 oz. feta, crumbled
extra virgin olive oil
1 Lemon

Cook pasta according to package directions. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water.

Heat the evoo in a large skillet (love the le crueset large pan), saute the onion + garlic about 5 - 6 minutes. Add the tomatoes, olives, peas and corn. Cook about 5 minutes. Add the protein (cooked chicken, if using chicken).

Return pasta to the large pot with 1/4 cup of the reserved pasta cooking water. Add tomato and protein mixture, spinach, parsley, and feta. Toss until spinach wilts. Can add more pasta water if necessary to make pasta moist and saucy. Drizzle each serving with extra virgin olive oil and lemon.

{yum}

It was wonderful with a crisp glass of white!

Fashion Week Works!

2011-09-09T13:39:00.001-07:00

{photo courtesy of coco and kelly}

It's FASHION WEEK! Chicago has been buzzing with fun events {some of my favorite gals and I stopped by the fabulous 900 North event last night!}, and I can only imagine what the vibe is in NYC. It seems that every e-list that I'm on is sending deals, trend reports and updates on the world of fashion. Fall looks like fun, and I'm super excited about a lot of the trends and how they translate to weddings.

A few of my favorites:

Capes!
Perfect for the late fall/winter brides who want to cozy up while staying stylish.

{a past Dettagli bride looks incredibly chic in her winter whites!}

Polka Dots!
Personally, I think that polka dots have to be done right to be done at all, and Stella McCartney gets it right all the time. This scarf is sensational, and would be a fabulous accompaniment to any shower or engagement party look.

A Touch of Lace!
I hope this never goes out of style, but I love that this is a trend. How sweet are these dresses for a rehearsal dinner?

{Modern Trousseau on the left, Elizabeth Fillmore on the right}
Lace is also so feminine and sweet on the honeymoon.

{$39 at Victoria's Secret}

and finally, Bright Pants!
Ohhh.. color. The wedding year has plenty of parties and events that the bride needs a stand-out outfit for. How fun are bright pants with a beautiful blouse or sweater?! Love! These cuties are from J.Crew.

Have a wonderful weekend!

in to the great wide open

2011-09-06T12:07:00.001-07:00

There are so many gorgeous wedding blogs out there that once you discover them it's hard to stop. It's such a fun time to be a bride in this blog-age, but also dangerous! Often I meet with clients who love the "rustic" vibe portrayed on so many dreamy blogs. We have lots of terms for it: "anthopologie-esque" or "organic" or "farm chic." It's all beautiful and can make a great base for wedding inspiration. The tricky thing is that in Chicago, there are few venues that really have that rustic glam feel, so taking these weddings on the road is sometimes the perfect answer. A few weeks ago we worked on an AMAZING Northwoods wedding, and I'm literally jumpy to get photos to post and share. The entire weekend was out of a magazine and I learned so much about working in the Northwoods and discovered so many gems up there. In the meantime, I must share my other favorite discovery of that weekend: Coon's Franklin Lodge. This family-owned and run lodge is breathtaking. The minute we arrived (in the middle of the night, nonetheless!) I was enchanted with the place. Fresh firewood and ice are delivered daily to your screened in porch, this was our view:

Meals are served three times a day for an hour each, bringing structure and togetherness to a lakeside haven. Fresh, delicious meals are ordered tableside and an energetic and friendly team takes care of your every need. The cabin are clean, spacious but cozy with a fire. But it's the location, on the breathtaking Trout Lake, the sunsets and the impeccable service that would make this an absolutely dreamy wedding destination.

{sharing a kiss at Coon's}

All wedding photos by Stephanie Jolin Photography

Tennis Whites

2011-09-01T12:24:00.001-07:00

We are big tennis fans at our house {our dog is named Roger Federer}. I love the game, the tradition, the sportsmanship and of course, the clothes. We *may* be headed to the US Open next weekend with the hopes of seeing our pup's namesake in action and my head is already spinning with what to wear. I simply adore the way that the British dress to Wimbledon and the French to the French Open.

When searching for photos of the US Open, nearly 50 hits came back with gals in {gasp!} bathing suits! I just love what Kate did at Wimbledon and hope to come up with something snazzy if we make the trip. With my combined love of tennis and fashion, you can imagine how fabulous it was when a client asked for help planning her bridal Friday with her maids and moms.

Her wedding will take place at a country club next Spring and following a champagne brunch {using custom-made Lilly Pulitzer table runners and napkins),

the gals will head out to the courts for a tennis scramble. We just found these super cutie tennis dresses that will be monogrammed with each bridesmaid and mothers' initials {cannot.wait.for.pics!}.

Following a good little workout and surely some laughs, the ladies will prep for the church rehearsal with manis, pedis and special champagne. Wedding day attire is just so important, but it's so much fun to help clients find picture-perfect moments for the rest of the wedding events.
Now if only the groom and groomsmen would ask for assistance on this front... ah, Roger. :)

It's Just You, Me and the DANCE FLOOR!

2011-08-31T11:47:00.001-07:00

To start, these pictures literally give me goosebumps. I found them on www.swsmag.com and all I wanted to do was jump through my computer screen and join in on the fun. This is a dreamy dance floor and I'm sure, what many brides hope will happen on their wedding evening. Of course, the details will be perfect, the schedule and ceremony will be perfect, but is there absolutely anything better than being on the dance floor surrounded by all of your favorite family and friends? It's my favorite memory from our wedding and my favorite hours (okay, the bride down the aisle is my absolute favorite) of any reception. I love observing how all of the hard work that went in to a wedding results in a joyous, exuberant and even silly dance floor. This weekend we have a family wedding - I can hardly wait. I chatted with the bride yesterday and naturally, work is incredibly stressful in the days leading up to her wedding. I told her what I tell each of our brides every week: THIS.IS.IT! This is the week that you've been dreaming about, these are the days that you will look back upon with the greatest fondness and these are the moments that you will cherish forever. Hang work up, it will be there when you get back. Put on your party shoes, the bride hat {the veil! the veil!} and enjoy every single moment. My biggest wish for our clients is that they look back on their wedding day and feel that same emotion that I feel when looking at this picture above (and I wasn't even at that wedding!). L+P: All my love and congrats as you say I DO this weekend. Can't wait to hop on that dance floor. xoxo

cocktail party

2011-08-23T09:25:00.000-07:00

The cocktail party is perhaps my favorite part of every wedding. The happiness of the newly-wed couple has just set in and guests are seeing each other and really getting to catch up for the first time that day. This is the bride and groom's first chance to really set the tone for the party and celebrate the two of them as individuals and a couple. I love it when the appetizers pay homage to the bride and groom's heritage (or city where they grew up, or favorite foods!) and while it's certainly not a new trend, the signature cocktail is one of my favorite things. It's always wise to pass wine, sparkling water and champagne to guests as they enter the cocktail party, as to keep the lines at the bar as short as possible. I always recommend a signature cocktail. It's a great way to offer a mixed drink to guests without visiting the bar and more importantly, a fun way to showcase the b+g's personalities. At a recent wedding, we passed Spotted Cow Beer from Wisconsin for the groom and john daley's for the bride. Last weekend we combined the bride's love of champagne (my kind of gal!)and the groom's love of gin (my kind of guy!) into the French 75. It's my personal favorite cocktail and it's super easy to make at home for a fun dinner party (or a fun Tuesday night!).
First, set out the ingredients:

1.5 oz gin
1.5 oz simple syrup
3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
5 oz champagne/sparkling wine
lemon twist

In a cocktail shaker, combine the gin, simple syrup, lemon juice and shake with ice. Fill a glass with ice and pour the shaker contents in.

Top with the champagne and garnish with the lemon twist (be sure to twist it over the glass first to get the lemon oils in to your drink!).

Summer Reading

2011-08-12T11:58:00.000-07:00

{my mid-August cocktail table reading list}

I always love checking out what people have on their coffee tables. Books can tell you so much about a person: their style, their hobbies, their bucket-list... when meeting with clients at their home I always make a point of checking out what is on their shelves and their coffee tables (it helps tremendously to get a great sense of their taste to help them design their perfect wedding!) I got to thinking about what a fabulous shower favor a coffee table book could make... collect books that pertain to each guest: A baby book for the expectant mother, a style book for the eternal fashionista, a cookbook for the ultimate hostess.

Wrap a little ribbon around each book and top with an escort card and you have an incredibly personal and thoughtful favor.

so good to be a lady

2011-08-01T08:20:00.000-07:00

It's no secret that we love all things feminine at Dettagli. Gorgeous flowers, timeless china, colorful makeup counters and countless fashion and interior design magazines and blogs are where we find so much of our inspiration. Of all the things that I personally love about being a lady {luxurious bath products, fun shoes, playing dress up and of course, getting to have amazing girlfriends}, one of my favorite is pretty bath and bedware. I've always found it important to have pretty pj's, robes and undergarments, it just makes it more fun to be a lady! I adore when it's a friends bachelorette party and the occasion calls for gifts - it's a perfect time to help your gals stock their trunk with soft fabrics and pretty prints. Pretty Plum Sugar Loungerie takes being a gal and brings it to a whole new level with its scrumptious collection of robes and nighties. We love the idea of gifting your bridesmaids a robe to wear during hair and makeup - and it makes for even more colorful photos.

lovely little bouquet

2011-07-28T11:26:00.001-07:00

I have much more posting to do on this DREAMY Napa valley wedding, but I can't get enough of the bride's bouquet. It's sweet, romantic, bridal and the perfect compliment to this gorgeous bride. The tiny buds against the sweet lace is seriously divine. But what isn't divine in Napa? This wedding was SO much fun to work on. From the delectable food, heavenly wine and perfect scenery around every corner, it truly was a charming evening. More to come...

Vintage Chicago...Updated and Polished

2011-07-18T11:07:00.000-07:00

{the exterior of the new Public Hotel {when it was still the Ambassador East}

{...and a guest room at Public}

We often get requests from brides to help them make their wedding "vintage chic." This can translate so many ways: from the decor and tabletop, to printed materials and a supper-club vibe, there are many fun ways to bring that charming "vintage Chicago" feel to a wedding. I now have a new favorite. The old Ambassador East was bought last year and is opening this fall as an Ian Schrager hotel, PUBLIC. {Mr. Schrager is the brains behind Studio 54, and some of my favorite hotels: The Delano in Miami, The Mondrian in LA and the Hudson in NYC). His mantra is simple: A beautiful, polished and clean hotel with impeccable service. Taking that philosophy and putting it in to the charming old hotel on State and Goethe is beyond exciting. It's going to be fresh, pretty and most likely, a really fun scene. The iconic Pump Room {every famous crooner from the 50s ate here, Frank Sinatra even mentions it in "My Kind of Town") will keep its name, just get a facelift for menulift {farm-to-table! yay!} and the tradition and history from the room will stay in tact. We think that this will be such a fun spot for brides who want to really have that "vintage chic" wedding - the outside of the hotel has that incredible vintage feel, but the inside will be the chic. And what fun for Chicago to have its very own Ian Schrager hotel... I cannot wait! It's set to open September 12.

Happy Hair

2011-07-14T12:04:00.000-07:00

Of all the elements that go in to wedding planning, helping a bride feel her most beautiful, most glamorous self is one of my favorites. I love to consult with them on it all: the beauty regime they should follow the year of their wedding, the best experts in town for waxing, facials, nail care and even much needed massages! The biggest trick is getting their hair and makeup just right for the wedding day, which plays in to the gown they've selected, the hair ornaments and the look they want to achieve. I love it and LOVE seeing it all come together on our beautiful brides. Now, while that wedding day glam is obviously important, I encourage brides to use the wedding year to play with their hair and style. With so many parties, showers and festive soirees to celebrate the engagement year, one must always look her best! Enter Maxine's Salon. I am LOVING this look (fabulous braid, above!) for a shower, bachelorette bash or even just an afternoon of dress shopping {it's always a good idea to dress shop with a hair style you feel good with!}. Their stylists are incredible and can make your tresses tremendous on your wedding day, but also on the exciting days leading up to it.

every little thing.. is going to be all right

2011-07-12T11:38:00.000-07:00

This dreamy summer weather makes me long for beach weddings. We have done some fun ones this year and being immersed in blissful summer beauty routine {wavy hair, coral nailpoish, pink lip gloss and oodles of dresses} has me thinking about the beach wedding and the style, vibe and energy that they ooze.

Jim and Kaila were married this spring in Jamaica. The two of them are so darling and so in love it was such fun to make their visions for a Jamaican wedding come to life. The plan was to be married on the beach, have cocktails on a great lawn overlooking the ocean and dinner + dancing on the pool deck. While we can control many things, weather just isn't one of of them. A late afternoon rain storm brought a change of plans, but the Jamaican vibe and magic of the day helped calm nerves and a plan B was put in to place. They were still married facing the beach, just under a terrace. Their dinner and dancing was still open air and the Jamaican Band won my heart as the most fun band I'd ever heard. Guests from the hotel, other parties and even other hotels were gathered just outside of the reception to dance to the band and get in on the fun. What I loved most, was that even with so many last minute changes, Jim and Kaila were so focused on being together and getting married. It was the perfect beach vibe, even without being on the beach. The day after the wedding their photographer shot a "trash the dress" shoot. The photos are stunning, passionate and truly embrace the love and vibe that was in the room at their wedding.

i'd like your china, please

2011-05-25T12:36:00.000-07:00

When Eric and I got married in 2007 I was surprisingly not crazy obsessed with many of the details. I wanted it to be lovely, of course, but I didn't go nuts.
Where I DID go nuts, was with china, glasses, silver, serving platters and more. The ladies at Bloomingdales must have thought I was planning on having a family of 12 when I registered, but I honestly love those goodies so much, I couldn't help myself. Now, a few years later, I'm still at it. I can't go in to a shop without haunting a new champagne flute or darling juice glass. Good thing I like to entertain!

Parisian china took it to a whole new level.

A simple lunch:

Coffee and a croissant:

Oh, this is for the mini French jam. Yes.. it has its own china. Drooling.

I have a few brides this year who share my love for china. In lieu of the standard (but lovely!) options for tabletop, we are going for something fun and super reflective of the wedding. I think it's a very effective way to personalize the room.

For a modern bride:

with

or, for the garden wedding with vintage charm:

drinking the stars...

2011-05-25T12:22:00.000-07:00

I'm literally bursting with inspiration from this incredible month. Paris, the champange region, California, and of course, dreamy weddings have filled our days and everytime I sit down to try to properly share I find myself day-dreaming about beautiful details and get lost in the post.

It's hard not to get distracted when looking at photos of the view from my room:

or the breakfast presentation for simple breads and latte:

It reminds me of why I named Dettagli. After being so incredibly inspired by the amazing attention to detail everywhere I traveled in Europe, I was sure that "details" in a Romance language was the way to go. Sure is true.

Let's start at the beginning.. the very beginning. While in France I learned so much about my favorite champagne-maker Dom Perignon. He was a monk at this church.

I ADORE these simple pews. They look like they have been there forever {they have} but look so special. Wouldn't something like this be just breathtaking for an outdoor wedding? I digress.
Dom Perignon accidentally made champagne for the first time and by doing so, discovered the most amazing drink {oh, how I love it}.

His accidental discovery from the late 1600s was simple. He created, he sipped, he said:

"I am drinking stars".

Smart, smart man. Thank goodness for him.

Leaving in style

2011-05-19T13:15:00.001-07:00

It's no secret that it's so important to make a good first impression... everything from outfit selection to conversation topics, when meeting a new client, friend or colleague of course we always want to make a good first impression. It's like the bride walking down the aisle: what better first impression is there than the church doors swinging open and a gorgeous gal in a stunning white dress walking down the aisle?!
But it's the final impression that sometimes can be the most impactful, especially at weddings. I just loved the exits at Brittany and Jerry's wedding a few weeks ago. When departing the church, we handed out hundreds of ribbon sticks in bright pink and blue. As Brittany and Jerry made their way to the white Rolls Royce, they looked like they were floating through a pink and blue sea - 'twas so festive and fun!

{side note... how amazing do these sharp color look together?! love!}

After an evening of heartfelt toasts, a PACKED dance floor and happy flip-flopped feet, B+J made their grand exit to the tune of hundreds of sparklers. I love the traditional send-off.

Hmmm...now only if we could bring back the "going-away" outfit, a la my parents when they departed their wedding for their honeymoon.

I've just returned....

2011-05-07T14:39:00.001-07:00

..from heaven. Paris, Epernay and the finest champagne in the world (Dom Perignon!), I truly just had a fairy tale of a week. I've never been so inspired and I can't wait to share that with our Dettagli brides. Photos, tips, trends and of course, amazing information on that delicious bubbly to follow.

Well... I may speak quickly, but.. I have a lot to say!

2011-04-21T17:37:00.001-07:00

NBC's lifestyle website, The Feast, featured us on their site today! We were so excited to be part of the wedding special. Not that I ever forget how quickly I speak, but this sure does drive it home, haha! If you can translate, we do have some good advice for planning a wedding on a budget:

Katie Kozlowski of Dettagli Weddings on the Feast

oh my...

2011-04-06T09:05:00.000-07:00

Kate Spade has a wedding line. Doesn't she just look like FUN?! Visit the Oak Street store (or website)for flirty white cocktail dresses, accessories GALORE, more shoes, hair ornaments and bags than you could ever imagine. This is just all things fun and wonderful about being a bride (and a lady!): color, sparkle, and feminine polish (ohh and champagne)I feel like celebrating just looking at these pics!

itty bitty details

2011-02-23T08:18:00.000-08:00

With a few weekends off in January we were able to take some time to host a couple of baby showers for our nearest and dearest! I love the tiny details that go in to wedding and baby showers ...and everything is just cuter when it's itty bitty!

For Faryal: We put together "a tour of teas to highlight the virtues of motherhood."

We collected different tea to represent different elements of being a mother - from heritage and joy to fertility and patience, we served more than 10 teas with special meaning.

For Claire, a little French theme allowed me to take the little girl on the way theme and combine it with some of our favorite things: champagne, French sweets and oodles of pink bows to make for a cutie shower. I love giving the onesies as an additional gift and using them as decor for the event. Here we tied the onesies with the guests' name on them to the back of each chair.

L'occitane makes these darling guest soaps that say "Bon Mer" (Good Mother!) on top, so these became the perfect guest gift.
We draped the back wall with pink ribbon and hung dozens of baby photos of Claire and her hubby when they were babies!

I am so lucky that I get to spend most of my weekends working such dreamy weddings but I just LOVE when these weddings make for little bitty babies! :)

2011 kick off

2011-01-31T08:10:00.001-08:00

Happy 2011! We are so excited to start this new season with a couple of AMAZING awards...both the Wedding Wire Best of 2011 and The Knot's Best of 2011! What an incredible honor! We are so grateful for the work that we get to do and the couples and their families that we get to work with and this just makes it even sweeter!

Here's to a wonderful 2011!

Winter Break

2010-12-27T13:43:00.001-08:00

Happy Holidays!! I can hardly believe that 2010 is nearly done.. it's been such a wonderful year filled with beautiful and special weddings, tons of dear friends getting married and the most amazing memories with our little family. I have great plans to recap 2010 and the stunning weddings that we got to be a part of... I've done a terrible job of blogging about weddings that we do, so moving forward, I am planning to write about my favorite little details from weddings each month. It's why I love this job and why weddings are so personal, because it's all in the details! We're taking the next week off to spend time with our little family but we'll be back in 2011 with gorgeous wedding photos from this past year and lots of excitement for the wedding season ahead of us!

Happy New Year to you and yours!

rehearsal dinner style: winter baubles

2010-11-08T12:50:00.000-08:00

Experts seem to disagree on the bride wearing white to her rehearsal dinner. Most seem to be in favor of it, while others believe that the bride should save the white gown for THE BIG DAY. I say, "go for it." You get one weekend to be an ivory princess so I advise to do it ... I feel the same way about veils (wear them wear them wear them and keep them on!). One of my winter brides called today asking for advice on what to wear the night before her wedding, which falls right around the holidays. She doesn't want to look like a holiday billboard, but wants to be festive. I immediately dropped what I was doing to search through a few of my favorite designers recent lines for the perfect holiday rehearsal dinner.

Start with a polished and chic white or ivory dress - wool and cashmere are gorgeous options for these frocks. (This Milly option is amazing!)

To really bring sparkle to this look for the holidays, I love gold and red hues to bring out the holiday vibe. Finish with a vibrant red lipstick (we love Burberry's new Union Red) and your sparkly engagement ring and you have a perfect look for the day before you say I-Do. (on your way out the door, spitz yourself with Kate Spade's new party-favorite, Twirl).

Girls, Girls, Girls...

2010-06-23T07:27:00.000-07:00

I started to write this post in my head on May 29, during Brea and John's stunning wedding at Cafe Brauer. It was about 10:30pm and the dance floor was packed (Colby and the Great Life Music crew were amazing!)... I was standing on the balcony looking down at the party twinkling around me and my eyes landed on the father of the bride and his four girls: His lovely wife, his daughter the bride, and his two other daughters. The five of them were laughing and spinning around and looking at each other with the greatest love and happiness in the world. Dad couldn't have looked more proud with his beautiful gals around him and for a moment I lost my breath as I thought about that connection between sisters, fathers and daughters and mamas and their girls. I had worked with the family for more than a year on planning the special day and each step of the way, the sisters were there to support the bride, offering opinions, support and humor. And I can't forget about the groom! Many of the toasts jested at how the girls had always been the girls, but they were so sweet and loving as they welcomed a new brother in to the family. Check out these amazing pics from the SUPER talented Pen Carlson duo, Brett + Kiri.

Dee Dee and Peter: A Magazine Wedding

2010-06-23T07:23:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Dee Dee and Peter (I'm still working on pics from their wedding and promise to post a beautiful rundown of their incredibly special day soon.. yes, it was in November!)... BUT.. their wedding is currently featured in Brides magazine! I'm hoping to time my post about their wedding with the arrival of their new little BABE come the end of July... :)

Oh, October

2010-06-07T13:02:00.000-07:00

A few shots from an AMAZING October wedding that we were lucky to get to work on! Jaclyn and Andy are friends of my hubby and me and when Jaclyn asked for help on the details of her day, I was so thrilled to get to help. She has SUCH a beautiful sense of style and had an incredible vision for her October day. (yes, this wedding was LAST OCTOBER). Their ceremony was held at Holy Name Cathedral - the combination of their super close families walking down the aisle + the long aisle + the beauty of the church made for the most special ceremony. Jaclyn was a STUNNING bride - I adore her bolero jacket, cutie cocktail earrings and punchy red flowers. The celebration continued at River East Art Center.

Same Day Edit

2010-05-24T13:30:00.000-07:00

Kristi and Tony were married on Saturday at St. Vincent De Paul followed by an AMAZING reception at the Ivy Room! I adored her color palette of gunmetal gray and bright pink. She was so beautiful and the day couldn't have been more romantic and FUN. Their fabulous videographer did a SAME DAY edit - during the first band break (Matt Young -so fun) Ray from Emotia quickly put up a screen and gave guests a glimpse of the rehearsal dinner and the morning of the wedding. It was so neat to see their vows just hours after they said them and what bride doesn't want that kind of instant gratification?! You can check it out here: http://vimeo.com/11959736

ps. Clearly I still have tons of fall weddings to post - so from here on out, I'll try to get pics up from weddings new and old... so much beauty and inspiration to share!

Rainy Day Reminder

2010-04-07T14:04:00.000-07:00

I'm starting to feel quite badly about not blogging about all of the remaining fall weddings from TWO THOUSAND AND NINE! My goal is to have them all up by April... so stay tuned ... amazing pics and stories are ahead!

Jaclyn and Andy's fabulous October wedding was visited by the good-luck rain Gods and it made for super romantic photos and a lifetime of good-luck!

As I look out the window on this showering day (and dream about the spectacular spring flowers that are ahead!), I am reminded of these cutie umbrellas from Bella Umbrella.
If your wedding falls on a rainy month, order one just in case ... select a bright color to match your wedding palette and you'll use it for years to come!

One Fine Day... part three

2010-02-24T12:34:00.000-08:00

...and finally, Kristen and Jon at Morton Arboretum. Oh my goodness, these 10/17 brides are just so pretty! It's actually a fun story, we met Kristen when she found her wedding gown at Bella Bianca!! She was planning a garden wedding at Morton Arboretum, one of our favorite outdoor venues! Kate Z. worked with Kristen and her darling mother and look.at.these.pics! We LOVE Kristen's hair - it's perfect for an outdoor ceremony, but formal enough to say "bride."

One Fine Day...part two

2010-02-24T12:26:00.000-08:00

...Erin and Bryan at Prairie Productions!
Design goddess + bride Erin and dashing Bryan celebrated their nuptials on 10/17, too! Look at Erin's FABULOUS accessories and simply beautiful look! She looks so stunning with her elegant swooped pony and flawless face and her cutie wedding accessories (hair! umbrella!) really add punch to the pics! One of my favorite things that Erin added to Prarie Productions were the personal photos along the ledge. I feel as though it looks like a super special dinner party in their home, which is one of my favorite trends right now (the dinner party feel for a fabulous wedding!).

One Fine Day...part one

2010-02-24T12:14:00.000-08:00

October 17 was a super busy, but fabulously fun day for Dettagli. We were at River East Art Center (Katie), Prarie Productions (Susan) and Morton Arboretum (Kate) with three amazing different brides. I want to write and post photos of each one separately, so I'll start with Maggie + Tony at Old St. Pat's & River East Art Center.
Maggie and Tony's photographer, Dennis Lee, captured the essence of their day so well in his blog post: the entire day was such a BEAUTIFUL celebration of family and friends. Tony's immediate family is huge and while Maggie has just one sister, her family is so loving and supportive of each other that between the two families you feel like you're at one big fabulous family reunion with every meeting. Aunts, cousins, brothers and sisters spent the day celebrating with Maggie and Tony and it made for such a love-filled and happy day.
There was no shortage of laughter throughout the day - Maggie has the most contagious laugh I've ever heard and Tony's smile is spectacular. You can't help but smile and have FUN when with these two and their amazing families.

Chicago's Finest

2010-02-24T11:57:00.000-08:00

...a very special guest blog post from Dettagli coordinator Kate Zachary:

Ashley Madison and Richard King were married on Friday, May 22, 2009. You may recall that this was Memorial Day Weekend- a busy time for weddings and events in the city! Choosing to get married on a Friday, however, opened up so many possibilities for celebration! The couple opted to have their wedding rehearsal on the Wednesday night of that week so that they could fully enjoy their rehearsal dinner (held at O’Shaunnessy’s Pub on Ravenswood and Wilson- a neighborhood favorite!) and still have plenty of time to regroup for their wedding day! Both Ashley and Rick are Chicago Police Officers, and they have strong ties to the northside community that they were married in- it was easy to see why they picked the quant Luther Memorial to exchange their vows. One special element that I loved was the bride’s processional. To honor her late father (who was also a Chicago Police Officer) and celebrate the strong bond with her mother, Ashley chose to walk the first half of the processional on her own, the presence of her father strongly felt, until she met her mother, who was waiting for her at the halfway mark. Together, they took the rest of the aisle, arm in arm, until they reached Rick, who was clearly smitten by his beautiful bride. It was a lovely, personal touch that meant a lot to all who attended the ceremony. The reception was held at the beautiful Fulton’s on the River where the river patio allowed guests to enjoy the beautiful evening air and spectacular city views! Kristin Marks of Toast and Jam spun the perfect mix of contemporary and classic tunes, while Eric Meng (Brian Kinyon & Associates) snapped every beautiful moment. The flowers were Fleur (Kelly Marie Uss) and Videography by I Do Films. Sonia Roselli did an amazing job on makeup (and I hear she has a VERY busy summer, so book her soon!). For this couple, having a Friday wedding during a holiday weekend was a great way to keep the party going and get the most out of their many months of planning.

A Ballet of a Day

2010-02-19T15:22:00.000-08:00

I'm working with an impeccably elegant bride whose wedding is inspired by the ballet. She's a former ballerina and loves all things pretty, sophisticated and cultured... like the ballet. She needed help bringing this "theme" together...she didn't want to go the traditional black, pink and white route, which was lovely, but predictable. She was hoping for something a bit more modern, while still keeping the classic feel of the ballet. My initial thought was to use Degas (my personal all-time favorite artist) as our inspiration. Degas made things beautiful but brought in bold colors with innocent ballet scenes. We started going down that path and things evolved in to a very chic wedding design. She's wearing a gown that resembles Marilyn Monroe's "ballet" gown. The bridesmaids will done a shocking pink with over-sized hats flown in from England. The celebration will be in a tent, so in lieu of traditional chandeliers, we're going to do a more modern, but still crystal chandelier. We're keeping pink as the main color throughout, but really changing up the hues to bring in bright, bold punches of pink.

Brides Chicago Magazine

2010-02-19T14:59:00.000-08:00

How fun! From time to time we google "Dettagli" and today a new clip popped up from Brides Chicago magazine last fall (oye, our hands were a bit full, I think I must have missed that entire issue!) ... and we were quoted talking about fun "takeaways" for guests. I love cutie details like this:
http://www.annebenjamin.com/images/press/brideschicago_fw09.pdf

The NEW Brides Chicago is on stands now and it's a fabulous issue, filled with fun ideas and beautiful pics from our friend + wedding planner extraordinaire, Kara's, wedding.

'Tis the season for planning weddings, so be sure to turn to these glossy guides for inspiration: Brides Chicago, Martha Stewart Weddings, The Knot Magazine, Chicago Social Brides and Grace Ormonde Weddings.

I love the "Chicago" wedding picture... above is a shot from Maggie and Tony's October wedding (I promise, I'm almost there on blogging about the fall weddings!)... they are on LaSalle street in front of the CBOT. It's SO Chicago and we just love it. :)

Dreamy Wedding Shoes

2010-02-16T10:07:00.000-08:00

Happy Tuesday....

Jill + Mike at Morton Arboretum

2010-02-16T09:55:00.000-08:00

As we bundle up to go outside, it's so refreshing to look at wedding photos from the summer. Jill and Mike were married in a stunning garden at Morton Arboretum in August. It was a beautiful ceremony (I LOVE this pic above by Oliva Leigh of the bride walking down the aisle... look at the guests' faces... SO happy!) and the details were incredibly thoughtful. Jill really celebrated her surroundings and played up nature and the outdoors with their entire reception. The cutie cakes and macaroons by Vanille Patisserie are such a playful and pretty touch.

Sweet Lilly

2010-02-05T21:21:00.000-08:00

Who isn't dreaming of spring right now?! It's impossible to not feel a bit prettier when looking at (or wearing!) Lilly. The playful and refreshing clothing and life accessory line just launched a HOME line, sold at Garnet Hill. I'm not sure that my hubby will snooze under a pink and green comforter, so we'll just use these cutie cocktail shakers to bring a bit of sunshine to the winter indoors. We LOVE Lilly as wedding inspiration. An array of bright colors is sure to look fabulous in photos and prompt all sorts of fun details to mimic the inspiration. (candy bar in darling pastels?! cupcakes in bright pink with your initials in purple or yellow?!)

My dear friend Molly is busy planning her May wedding in St. Louis...we are wearing spring-green bridesmaid dresses by Ralph Lauren. She's using pink flowers to accent and the men will be daper in dark suits. Oh... spring. Cheers!

Fawn + Matt: Summer at the Peninsula

2010-02-04T08:39:00.000-08:00

I LOVE beautiful hotels. It all started when I was a little girl and my grandmother would take me to tea (well, hot chocolate) at the Ritz. Getting dressed up, sipping creamy chocolate from exquisite china and the occasional celeb spotting (Oprah on my 9th bday!) all made for such a blissful experience. I loved how beautiful hotels smelled, the flower arrangements, the constant exiting buzz that danced around the lobby and the BRIDES! I still remember seeing brides waltz through the lobby en route to the church or their reception and it was just magical. Twenty years later, I still feel that way when I walk into a beautiful hotel.

We first met Fawn nine months before her wedding and she was still debating on where to host her wedding. When she settled on the Peninsula, I couldn't hide my excitement. The space is stunning - a breathtaking patio sits atop Michigan Ave where guests can mingle during cocktail hour. The ballroom boasts floor to ceiling windows, showcasing the Mag Miles, and the food, service and ambiance in the hotel are top-notch. Fawn's request from us was to help her transfer the space into a personal and intimate wedding reception, as opposed to a hotel ballroom. With the help of Virginia Wolff, we transformed the space in to a fresh garden, featuring deep blues and bright green hues.

Fawn was absolutely breathtaking in her gown - and oh! my goodness, the pic of Fawn with her father gives me the goosebumps!

Katie + Charlie... LOOK.AT.THAT.CAKE!

2010-02-03T14:44:00.000-08:00

The fabulous Dean Thorsen just posted this first look at The Knot's new issue, which includes Katie and Charlie's SUPER STYLISH soiree at the Blackstone Hotel! Dettagli's super savvy Susan was on-site to coordinate the details, assisted by the lovely Whitney. Could Katie and Charlie's style be any cuter? Uber preppy and polished, with complimenting details on everything. Katie looks so stunning in her gown and THAT CAKE... (by Mary, of Take The Cake!) is beautiful.
Congrats Katie and Charlie!!!

Elizabeth + Matt! A July Vintage Chicago wedding

2010-01-31T11:08:00.000-08:00

Elizabeth and Matt were married in July at the STUNNING St. Alphonsus church, followed by a "vintage chicago" reception at the Allegro. The "vintage" was a super chic touch - incorporated through crystals, rich colors, beautiful room lighting and the most amazing place card board I've EVER seen. The bride and one of her 'maids created this entire board from scratch just a week before the wedding (ha!). It's a little hard to make out the details in the photo above, but she took an old black and white photo of Chicago and made it into a poster board. She made a second copy and cut it in up in to perfect rectangles to create the place cards. Each little piece listed the guests' name and table number, and was stuck on top of the original photo. So, even as guests took their place cards off of the board, the beautiful, old photo of Chicago was still showcased. It was a work of art and masterfully crafted. The Allegro did an amazing job with their cuisine and service and S1 captured the evening with style.
Could they be a more gorgeous couple?!!

A Summer Wedding Update... continued!

2010-01-31T10:56:00.000-08:00

July sort of gets a bad wrap in Chicago. It's known for being super hot and a little sticky - but I really think it's my favorite month. The spring coolness often lasts through June in our beautiful city, so July is when it really starts to feel like summer! I think it makes a beautiful setting for a wedding - you have long, sunny days, great opportunities for refreshing specialty cocktails and pristine settings for photos. We had really fun July brides last year. Michelle and Shaun at Prairie Productions....I love that venue: it's a super white blank space with a huge outdoor garden for cocktails. Candlelight and Chinese lanterns look spectacular in the space and you can dress the space with vibrant color or keep to the all-white super modern pallette and both look super sharp. For Michelle and Shaun, it was pink + green + tons of candles throughout. EVERYTHING was color-coordinated, from the bathroom baskets and soap to the cutie candy bar. It was perfect for July.... the dance floor was packed all night - I LOVE this pic that Dean Thorsen got of the bride LITERALLY pouring sugar on a guest during the Def Leppard favorite.

A Culinary Treat

2010-01-31T09:59:00.000-08:00

What a fabulous weekend! Chicago finally got its share of sunshine (despite continued freezing temps, but that is expected!), we had a weekend off with few concrete plans, (a rare treat!!) and the Grammy's are on tonight (we got to go last year and walk the red carpet, so it's now my favorite awards show!). The weekend became a food-filled vacation. Friday night friends came over for margaritas and dinner and I asked my college friend, Jenny, and owner of The Bliss List and Occasions KC for advice on an easy and crowd-pleasing recipes. She sent me a link to her blog to great ideas - I made Mexican on Friday and a quiche this morning. Her websites are filled with beautiful inspiration and super creative diy-projects. She's a wedding goddess in Kansas City and a go-to source for all things tasty for our friends. My grandmother gave me Katie Lee (ex-Joel's) cookbook for Christmas and it's filled with SUPER EASY and incredibly delicious recipes. I made a few things from it this week and last night and my husband has been raving about the results. There's a chocolate nut torte in the oven right now from the old classic: Better Homes and Garden's Cookbook, that I plan to bring to my in-law's for dinner tonight.

I mention all these culinary goodies, as I find many brides that I work with have an affinity for the kitchen (or at least Top Chef). Everyone is always looking for a way to make their wedding more personal, so why not pair the love of kitchen creations with your wedding? Perhaps you or your mother has an award-winning cookie recipe: give your caterer the recipe and ask them to make several batches to put out as guests leave your reception? Or maybe your grandfather always drinks a vodka gimlet before dinner: serve this as one of your signature drinks. Use your heritage (and your fiance's!) to bring personality to your wedding reception: in lieu of a wedding cake, a bride I'm working with is doing an Italian dessert trio for her third course, and another is serving crepes as a tribute to her French grandparents.
For the green goddesses out there, consider plotting herbs (basil works great and smells amazing!) in a miniature pots and using them as place cards. Chalk works great on those little tan pots. You could even include a favorite recipe using that herb as a takeaway, or on the back of the menu at each place-setting. The cutie picture above is a wedding that we did in August at the Peninsula. Each place card rested on top of a miniature artichoke! It was a fun way to incorporate the natural greens in the wedding color palette and the bride's love of artichokes.

Wedding Details: Christina and Nate

2010-01-20T13:07:00.000-08:00

Oh I adore the Chicago History Museum! A stunning room, huge private outdoor terrace for cocktails and a charming room that resembles as private club, all set in the museum that celebrates our fabulous city! Christina and Nate were married here this June. We used a summer palette of deep purple and fresh green and brought in fun details like a refreshing spiked cucumber lemonade welcome cocktail and Chicago-style late night hot dogs from Chicago's very own Berghoff! One of my absolute favorite photos is the one of Christine in front of the sharp Rolls Royce - that screams vintage Chicago and incredible elegance!

a look back: May details

2010-01-20T12:53:00.000-08:00

I had dreams of re-counting every wedding last year with a story, highlighted details and tons of gorgeous photos.... well, here's the abbreviated version (and let's be honest, readers want photos :) )
May is such a fabulous month in Chicago. Winter finally seems to be put to rest and stunning sunny days remind us all why we live here... hope of summer is right around the corner! It's such an exciting time to host a wedding, bringing beautiful spring hues in with very sought-after florals (peonies! tulips!!). We visited some VERY fun venues in May - including the Ravenswood Billboard Factory, Lincoln Park Zoo grounds (with dinner in the Lion House!!), Pleasant Home in Oak Park, the stylish ballroom at the Blackstone Hotel, the penthouse at the Allerton, a gorgeous golf club in Riverside, Fulton's on the River and more.

Hau'oli Makahiki Hou (Happy New Year...Hawaiian Style!)

2010-01-13T12:28:00.000-08:00

We just did a New Year's Eve wedding on the BEAUTIFUL island of Kauai, Hawaii. The story behind the wedding is actually pretty fantastic - we had planned an entire wedding for this couple in May 2010 at Millennium Park with the works. Hundreds of guests, custom water walls and a myriad of bright vibrant hues celebrating the city and the season in Chicago. In early August, the bride and groom asked me a question: "Katie, we may want to cancel our wedding here and get married in Hawaii. This New Year's. Can you do it?" We most certainly could. We got to work un-doing the wedding here and re-vamping their look and feel for an intimate sunset ceremony on the beach. The result was SO them and incredibly gorgeous. It had all of the energy and excitement of their original Chicago wedding, but really celebrated the couple and what was important to them in a wedding. I'm a total detail person and the little details that went in to this wedding were so much fun. The invitations were little boxes filled with miniature sea shells, a drink umbrella and an entire custom Wedding Invitation/Guide to the Island and Wedding. I will post photos of it soon!

The bride walked down a pineapple and ginger aisle shoeless and wearing a couture Ines Di Santo dress. As the couple's short ceremony was underway, the Hawaiian skies got darker and darker and the minute that they said "I Do," a romantic downpour toasted the couple and the guests! We quickly moved the wedding inside to an open air terrace, where the celebration lasted all night.

Happy New Year!!

2010-01-08T11:39:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! We just returned from a destination wedding in Hawaii and it was simply stunning (pics and stories to come soon!). It truly was the perfect way to kick off the new year and commemorate a wonderful year of beautiful weddings. In the coming months, I plan to share photos and trends from some of the work we did in 2009, while sharing new trends and styles for 2010!

Invitations

2010-01-08T11:32:00.001-08:00

I'm a paper gal. I love invitations, thank you notes, heck, even post-it notes. I keep every invitation, every program, every save the date from brides that I work with and from my friends and family... wedding paper (and baby paper!) are just so much fun. As a kid I used to ask for notebooks for my birthday and Christmas. I loved lists, even as a munchkin, and keeping those lists tidy in a beautiful notebook was always a vice. One of my amazing recent brides, Dee Dee, has a similar vice for paper. Her incredible invitations, done by the ladies at Bird and Banner, were recently featured on 100 Layer Cake! Amanda Yu of Made With Love Paperie, also used fabric while creating the baby announcements for our recent arrival!

quick preview - winter wedding!

2009-12-14T08:04:00.000-08:00

As I've mentioned, my plan for January is to recap weddings with photos and stories from 2009... as this year comes to an end, I have to showcase Amanda Hein's really fun detail profile of Nicole and Dan's wedding last weekend! It was magical. They were married in Naperville at the Naper Settlement Chapel, which is tiny and absolutely charming. Following a very sweet and romantic ceremony by Rev. Phil, the party moved to Meson Sabika, where we transformed the space in to a chic winter wedding lounge, complete with a candy buffet, photobooth and incredibly gorgeous flowers by Hello Darling.
Nicole and Dan were amazing and their families are so incredibly close and joyful. One of my absolute favorite moments of the entire night was with Nicole and her dad, Charlie. The wedding party was walking down the aisle from inside of the church - Nicole and her dad were going to enter from the outside. As we stood outside in the cold winter air, waiting for the church doors to open, it felt as if the entire world stood still. Charlie wrapped his arm around his daughter and they shared this moment of incredible peace and love in the still of the cold winter night. Moments later, the church doors flung open to a glowing and packed warm church and they were off. That moment, just before Nicole walked down the aisle to Dan, was one that I'll never forget as a planner. It's the reason that I do this job and love it so, so much. I can't wait to reflect on the weddings of 2009 - we wrap this year with a New Year's Eve wedding in Hawaii on the gorgeous and lush island of Kauai.

Happy Holidays!

Being Grateful

2009-11-24T15:55:00.000-08:00

The week before Thanksgiving is one of my favorites... it is filled with joy and nostalgia for the upcoming holiday, and gives us a glimmer of the Christmas holiday season which is just around the corner. Commercials turn to holiday jingles, stores smell like cinnamon and evergreen and holiday parties kick off. As we approach Turkey Day, and before the bustle of the holiday season really kicks in, I want to take a moment to give thanks. This year has been truly incredible for Dettagli and I'd like to thank our AMAZING associates for their hard work this year! We have a very talented, bridal savvy group of beautiful ladies who bring tireless energy and love to the weddings we work on and to the Dettagli family. Susan, Kate, Hillary, Lizzie and Whitney - many thanks for all that you do to help make Dettagli so special!

On a personal note, I give so many thanks for my real family. Baby Anna arrived (what a blessing!)and I started back on weddings just a few weeks later. My hubby Eric has been an absolute ROCKSTAR - taking care of her on Saturday's and being a superdad.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family! I hope it's one filled with love, happiness and peace.

XO

Wedding Whirlwind + The Knot!

2009-11-20T17:07:00.000-08:00

We have just a few more weddings left in 2009 - I look back on the past 11 months with amazement at how quickly it has gone and how many exciting things have happened! I have MAJOR work to do come January updating this blog with the many, many exciting and beautiful weddings that we were a part of this year. We also have to update our website with incredible photos from several of our weddings - it was a year filled with unique trends at weddings, stunning colors and themes and really breathtaking brides. The cake above is from Maggie and Tony's wedding... I love the stylish navy with the crisp white and bright pinks. I'm excited to reflect on 2009 and update all of Dettagli's sites with inspiration from the 50 some weddings we did this season.

In other good news, we just got word that Dettagli was named to the "The Knot Best of Weddings 2010" list!!!! We are so honored and very proud to be on this special list!!

In the midst of this amazing wedding year, my hubby and I welcomed our first babe on 8.31, Anna.

I look forward to filling this blog and our website with gorgeous photos and stories of 2009 weddings come January. Happy Holidays! (and congrats to Dee Dee tomorrow and Nicole the following week! I'm so excited for your big days!!)

May Days

2009-06-02T08:21:00.000-07:00

How May came and went so quickly is beyond me, but I can't WAIT to write about the exciting and stunning weddings that filled our month! From urban loft spaces to the Lion House at the zoo, from chic hotels to charming country clubs and even a cool, old mansion, our blog posts to follow are filled with unique ideas, stunning photos and cool twists on the classic wedding.

In between all of these fabulous weddings, my cousin Claire also said "I-Do" at St. Michael's in Old Town, followed by a stunning party in the Stock Exchange Room at the Art Institute. She's like a sister to me and I couldn't be more excited to congratulate Claire and her new hubby, Trent!! One of my favorite touches of Claire's wedding was during the prelude music when the musicians played " au clair de lune." It was such a beautiful piece and I adored the symbolism. My grandmother used to take me and my cousins every Saturday to the Art Institute when we were kids, so the meaning behind the actual reception location was just perfect. While walking into cocktail hour, we actually ran in to the woman who used to greet us each week at the ticket desk (I remember her handing us those cutie little entry shirt buttons!) every single Saturday and she remembered us... some 20 years later! It was just another moment during the special day that really brought everything together.

Stay tuned for more on May...!

Morrison - Loicano

2009-05-15T06:19:00.000-07:00

Ellen Morrison and John Loicano
April 18, 2009
St. Michael’s and Café Brauer

We adore the little details and special moments that make each wedding uniquely its own. From special touches on the brides’ attire that are family heirlooms, to guest favors that tie the day together and give guests a peek at something special to the couple – the details are truly the way to make it your own. Ellen and John’s wedding was a beautiful celebration of them, their families (Ellen’s is small and intimate and John’s is larger than life), their favorite things (Ellen loves the zoo – and it’s where John proposed!), and the things that make them who they are (incredible sense of humor, huge hearts and really great style). Little touches were incorporated throughout the day to really showcase the two of them - from the strand of pearls that Ellen’s mom graciously referenced in her toast (“Ellen, you really became a bride today when you put that strand of pearls around your neck”), to the takeaway for the guests (the most adorable and delicious cookies from The Sugar Syndicate in the shape of elephants, monkeys, ducks and lions). These sweet details in no way overshadowed the bride’s love of sweets – mini milkshakes were passed late-night to complement the towering sweets table.

Inspiration

2009-05-14T13:23:00.002-07:00

So much of why we do what we do comes from the things that we are inspired by. Weddings are, after all, a huge collection of inspiration from tradition, family, personal style and current trends. Dettagli's name was born out of the inspiration that comes from the European culture and the attention to detail that the culture pays to every day life. Here are a few pics from a recent trip to Italy and some of the beautiful ways that we were inspired while there.

Speaking of, wedding trends in 2009 are really beautiful. On January 26, we were able to celebrate many of these inspired trends at our first ever "Bridal Chic" at the James Hotel. Our partners were amazing:
Chicago Social Brides
The James Hotel
Bella Bianca Bridal Couture
Kehoe Designs
Beauty on Call
Made with Love Paperie
Gerber & Scarpelli
FROST
Toast and Jam DJ’s
Classic Party Rental
Shutterbooth
Sami Michael Films
Sephora

Sami Michael put together an incredible arrangement of the event...check it out here:
Bridal Chic

Wagley - Mazurski

2009-05-14T13:23:00.001-07:00

Jayme Wagley and Brian Mazurski
February 28, 2009
The Glen Club

What we love about winter weddings are the endless possibilities to accessorize the wedding with magical winter touches. Brides can wear little faux-fur shrugs, candles are more effective and deep, rich color palates lend themselves brilliantly – more than any other time of the year.

Jayme and Brian - an uber-sweet couple who adore each other so much – really embraced the advantages that their wedding season suggested and celebrated their marriage with winter spirit. They selected red and black as their color scheme – a combo that can be tricky to make look like a wedding, but a combo that was PERFECT for their day. Scarlet Petal draped the room with rich red flowers and accented the Glen Club with hundreds of candles. The effect was romantic, dreamy and entirely “winter wedding.”

Nerangis - Maragos

2009-03-25T06:59:00.000-07:00

Cynthia Nerangis and Stavros Maragos
February 15, 2009
Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church & The Adler Planetarium

Cynthia and I first met on a bitterly cold December day, just shy of Christmas. As we got to know each other over a deliciously warm cup of coffee, many things about Cynthia and her wedding to Stavros jumped out at me. They were incredibly proud of their rich Greek heritage, they couldn’t wait to incorporate their family and friends from across the globe into their special day and most of all, they were ready to get married! When it came time to talk about their day, I asked the newly engaged if she had a date in mind for her wedding. “Of course,” she replied. “February 15.” I opened my calendar to February 15 of 2010 and she said, “no, no, this February 15!” I grinned and immediately adored Cynthia – her ability to make decisions and just get things done (in an incredibly savvy and detailed way) was just up my alley. I simply responded with “well, then let’s get started.” In eight weeks, we visited, tasted, toured and planned our little hearts out. Invitations, attire (Pronovias: she did get to spend a week on Madison Ave in NYC to accomplish this!), décor and design (Blumen), menus (Food For Thought), cakes (Alliance), programs, photography (Amanda Hein), a stellar band (Great Life Music), transportation, traditional Greek elements (so cool) and more were all put in to place with a quick turnaround and a major holiday thrown in the mix. The end result was magical. Guests from around the world (Greece! Kobe, Japan!) gathered on a gorgeous winter day to celebrate Cynthia and Stavros’ marriage. As the end of the evening was in sight, I noticed Cynthia and Stavros away from the crowd in a tight embrace with each other. I noticed that they were taking it all in – their guests, the music, the mood, their wedding day. It’s always my biggest piece of advice to do this, to take a step back and breathe in your wedding day. Cynthia and Stavros did this so perfectly... despite a very busy and action packed wedding planning process, they sincerely looked like they were enjoying every moment of their special day and that is how it certainly should be!

Back to Blogging.... :)

2009-03-09T10:41:00.000-07:00

I adore reading blogs and I adore writing so the fact that my blog goes so many weeks without new entries is silly! I resolve to be a more on the ball blogger as the year goes on! In the coming days, I'll write about Cynthia and Stavros' dreamy winter wedding at the Adler on February 15 and Jayme and Brian's chic country club affair on February 28! I also have to share the beautiful photos and video from our Bridal Chic event at the James Hotel in January. My husband and I just returned from a week in Italy, where I was reminded of exactly why I named my company "Dettagli." The word translates to "details" in the Italian language - as I have always been inspired by the way that the Europeans pay incredible attention to every detail. Walking the streets of Florence and Rome last week reminded me of this and why I love weddings so much: so much detail goes into every bride and groom's day and making those details uniquely their own is what makes me love this job. I can't wait to share photos from the two beautiful February weddings and a few of my favorite "detail" shots from Italy. Ciao!

Klein - Wilcox

2009-01-15T07:58:00.000-08:00

Katie Klein and Jonathan Wilcox
December 20, 2008
Park Community Church & A New Leaf

How it is already the middle of January and nearly a month since Katie and Jonathan said “I-Do,” I’m not quite sure! I suppose that seeing as their charming, romantic wedding fell just shy of Christmas, the weeks that followed were filled with celebrations, family gatherings, joyful dinners, special moments with friends and loved ones and a slew of engagements, it is somehow the middle of January.

I mention the festive, memorable and sentiments that surround the Christmas holiday season because I think that all of us, no matter what we celebrate, all feel a little more festive and bright in the days leading up to the end of the year. Katie and Jonathan decided to make this special time the time for their wedding celebration and it was a smashing success.

Katie and Jonathan, a gorgeous couple who met through their church, Park, were planning a stylish, rustic and romantic celebration on the weekend that happened to snow without hesitation for nearly 24 hours straight. Their guests gave up on canceled flights and hopped in cars from across the country to be with Katie and Jonathan on their special day, a sure sign of a close and devoted family. It was worth the travel, the snow and extra layers of warm clothes.

The wedding style that Katie selected was very J.Crew (think navy, green, ivory and champagne hues, soft candle-light and playful touches). She looked like a J.Crew model in her chic wedding gown and just a moment before the doors opened for Katie and her father to walk down the aisle, the snow returned in a soft, over sized flake manor, providing the most elegant and dreamy entrance for Katie. The reception was no different…hosted at the uber rustic and elegant A New Leaf, guests were welcomed by a warm glow of up-lights and candlelight, in addition to white cranberry martinis. Special touches included a candy bar in varying shades of navy blue and apple green, Kate and Rachel from Toast and Jam behind the DJ table and Katie’s incredibly glamorous fur shrug. I can’t wait to share photos from Sarah Alair!

Knorring - Dick

2008-12-16T15:45:00.000-08:00

Kate Knorring and David Dick
December 6, 2008
Holy Name Cathedral and The Ritz-Carlton

Kate and David's winter wedding celebration could have been a magazine spread for Town and Country: everything about it was tasteful, elegant and done to the nines. Romantic snowflakes set the tone for the evening wedding ceremomy at the historic Holy Name Cathedral on State Street. Kate's attendants each wore a long black gown of their choice, which truly added a touch of personalization and glamour to each woman. After a brief but thoughtful ceremony, guests were escorted to the Ritz-Carlton for an evening of five-star cuisine, dancing and incredibly romantic floral designs by Virginia Wolff. Guests were on the dance floor all night to the tunes of The Larry King Orchestra and were treated to late-night burgers from McDonald's (the couple's favorite!).

Mohnke - Ahern

2008-11-25T06:12:00.000-08:00

Karla Mohnke and Mark Ahern
November 15, 2008
St. Clement's and The Chicago Cultural Center

I love the initial meeting with a bride and groom. I love hearing about their visions for their wedding, the special touches they hope to present on their big day. I ask questions upon questions about their tastes, style, favorites, and of course, all about them. I love hearing how they met, fell in love and became engaged. Of course, the couples always have questions for me – about the scope of work I’ve done, suggestions for their big day and the token one “have you ever done a wedding where things didn’t go as planned? If yes, what did you do?”

Any wedding planner can answer this question with a smile and say “of course I have! The beauty of the reason I’m there is so you don’t have to worry about or know about those little things!” I relay that message to the couple but always do share a few stories from weddings past – the forgotten veil, the thunderstorm the forced us to switch venues, the bride’s broken ankle during photos, and so on and so on. These little things are what makes us all real and ultimately, can make for an even more memorable day. The *key* to being successful in this industry is grace under fire. This brings me to Karla and Mark’s FABULOUS wedding at St. Clement’s and The Chicago Cultural Center.

I’ve touched on the relationship we form when we meet for the first time to chat about the wedding. Karla and I clicked from the first sip of coffee we both took that chilly day last year to talk about her wedding. We spent a cozy morning talking about all of the details of her day, about her fiancé Mark (they are beyond adorable together), and her big ideas for the big day. Over the next 10 months, a wedding was developed that was so focused on fun, family, friends and Chicago that their guests were in for a real treat.

When their day arrived, they were both cool as a cucumber. Karla was radiant in her Vera Wang gown and as she walked down the aisle of St. Clement’s with her parents on either side of her, my associate, Anne Marie, and I teared up due to the sheer romance of it all. A few hours later Karla and Mark were taking photos and I received a slightly panicked phone call from the groom: Karla’s gown had torn during a photo – the tear went from the top of the dress all the way down the side to the hip. A mental scan of my emergency bag reminded me that I had ample pins and thread but I knew this was a bigger job than fixing a bustle or sewing on a button: so I quickly called the Dress Doctor and we were on our way in no time. Karla was sewn in to her dress and not a guest could tell that shortly before the dress was split!

Karla and Mark arrived at their party just in time to hear the bagpiper magnificently guide guests from GAR to Preston Bradley at the CCC. They enjoyed their evening immensely – they danced all night to the incredible sounds of SRO (they played “jump around! Total crowd favorite), visited with all of their guests and stayed until the very end. What I love about them is that they were so graceful under fire and truly made it a priority to enjoy themselves during the evening. That in of itself is always my biggest piece of advice, as the day flies by and the memories of moments you had during your wedding day will stay with you forever.

www.dettagliweddings.com

2008-11-17T08:06:00.001-08:00

Our new website is up and running! Please check back often for additional updates, but we are very excited to introduce www.dettagliweddings.com!

Ross - McDonnell

2008-11-13T15:12:00.001-08:00

Rachel Ross & John McDonnell
November 8, 2008
Cafe Brauer

I absolutely adore fall weddings - everything about them spells romance. I love coming in out of the cold into a warm and inviting venue, dripping with candles, warm food and a hearty glass of red wine. Rachel and John's Cafe Brauer wedding was everything wonderful about a fall wedding wrapped up into one evening. Their ceremony began at 6 p.m., which gave Scarlet Petal the day to transform Cafe Brauer into a a candle-lit masterpiece. They suspended dozens and dozens of candles from the beams in the ceiling, illuminating the Great Hall and warming up the space to make it cozy and intimate. Rachel and John were married in the Great Hall: Rachel walked down a large while aisle, lined with candles and tall vases, up to a soft white chuppah. The mesh of the natural colors in Brauer, combined with the whites and candles made for an incredibly romantic ceremony. Following their vows, guests were escorted outside to the newly-tented North Loggia for cocktails, while we transformed the Great Hall into a new canvas of chocolate, green, champagne and dark purple. The transformation of the room really created the effect of two different venues and two totally different experiences. Once back inside for dinner, guests were treated to the ultimate fall dinner: harvest salad, butternut squash and pear soup to start; sea bass or fillet for dinner and a trio of wedding cake to finish. In addition to coffee service at the tables, guests were invited to a custom cappuccino bar where Rachel and John's branded cups and dessert bags were the favor for the evening. Rachel and John kicked off the dancing with their first dance to the Smashing Pumpkins "Tonight, Tonight" - which was incredibly interpreted by Stitely and a quartet orchestra. Brett and Kiri of Pen Carlson captured the details, the romance and the beauty of the evening perfectly. They managed to savor the small moments in a big, exciting wedding and commemorate all of the faces and personalities that shared in this wedding.

Dettagli Makeover

2008-10-23T15:02:00.000-07:00

We are really excited for the next couple of weeks! Not only do we have a few really special weddings lined up in some of Chicago's most glamorous venues, but Dettagli is officially launching in Chicago! I've posted our new logo as a preview, but the new website will be up by the end of next week. Elise from LeLe Designs was the creative mastermind behind the Dettagli makeover and we're so excited for it all to unveil.

Finally, we've very proud to announce our Dettagli Weddings launch party on January 26 at the James Hotel! We've partnered with Bella Bianca Bridal Couture, The James and Chicago Social Brides to a very special sneak peek at 2009's hottest bridal trends. More details to come soon!

Wright - Charchek

2008-10-22T13:06:00.000-07:00

Tina Wright & Andy Charchek
October 17, 2008
A New Leaf

So...The name of my company is "Dettagli," which translates to "details" in the Italian language. Many people have questioned my company name over the past few years and I often address the curiosity with a vast explanation. I arrived at this name based on many reasons: the most important being how inspired I was in the way that the Italian (and European, for that matter!) culture pays attention to detail in a romantic, expressive way. There were other reasons (such as I simply liked the way the word sounded and that it was pretty translation of our American word "details," which sums a big part of what I think is important about weddings and the wedding industry. A wedding celebration is, after all, a compilation of a million different details. Enter Tina + Andy. When Tina and I met several months ago she was looking for a coordinator to help her pull off all of the things she had been working on for so many months. I'm not sure if Paper Source offers a rewards program, but Tina should have stock in the company regardless. Tina, contrary to all assumptions, is not a graphic designer. She is simply the most creative and innovative little bride on the planet. She custom-created EVERYTHING for her wedding. And when I say everything, I mean it. She paid attention to every, single little last detail that could go in to a wedding and then made something cute (using resources from Paper Source!) to go along with it. Aside from the obvious -save the dates, invitation and programs (which were anything but ordinary!)- Tina created incredible out of town bags complete with "branded" guides about the weekend activities and little monogrammed stickers on everything. She had custom menu cards for the appetizers, colorful drink mixers in her gorgeous fall colors in all of the cocktails, and even a cake diagram on the cake table which allowed guests to know what each tier of the beautiful Sugar Syndicate cake was flavored. It was so custom and so special. We created a lounge space in the store front and also upstairs around the dance floor with - you guessed it - custom pillows in Tina and Andy's colors. I can't wait to share Sarah Alair's photos! Briana, from Levy Events, showcased Andy and Tina's vision for a fun dinner-style in a fabulous fashion. The couple chose to do heavy appetizers and Briana made sure that the guests were well-fed and happy. She continuously outdoes herself with treating guests to a culinary treat in a fresh and exciting way!
I will be launching a new website in November and hope to use many of Tina and Andy's detail shots on the site! Martha would have been proud of the little details that the Charchek's incorporated into their day. I was thrilled to be part of it all!

Hunt - Nicolas

2008-10-07T18:25:00.000-07:00

Kristina Hunt & Mike Nicolas
September 27, 2008
St. Michael's & Cafe Brauer

Kristina and I were first in touch late this past winter about her wedding date. We immediately bonded over the wedding weekend that she and her fiance, Mike, had chosen: it was the same weekend my husband Eric and I were married last year. I assured her she was in for a beautiful day. Wow... I'm not usually spot on with predictions like that, but her day was beautiful. The weather, of course, was spectacular. It was a stunning fall day with colorful leaves, bright blue sky and the slightest hint of a fall breeze in the air. But the real stars of the show were Kristina and Mike. Kristina was simply breathtaking in her sleek Nicole Miller gown and Mike handsome and accessorized in a tie and hanky that his father gifted him the morning of the wedding. The two of them look like they are out of a movie. Their ceremony was meaningful and personalized: Mike's childhood priest married them and Kristina's sister read a poem that was read at their parents wedding. The celebration followed at Cafe Brauer (cheers to Katy Lacio for her help at the reception!).

Pietrzak - Chacon

2008-10-07T12:59:00.000-07:00

Becky Pietrzak & Miguel Chacon
October 4, 2008
Ivy Room Chicago

I met Becky for the first time not long after she and Miguel were engaged last fall. (Their proposal story is so cute.. think helicopter ride over Lincoln Park...) She was just bursting with excitement, thoughtful questions about the process and vendors, and happiness about the year ahead. Well, the year flew by and Becky and Miguel's wedding was here in a flash and the day was bursting with everything that Becky and Miguel wanted. They chose the beautiful Ivy Room on Ohio street for their ceremony and reception - a venue that offers such a dynamite location, an outdoor space that is truly an oasis in the city, and a studio-like look and feel for the indoor space. Becky and Miguel chose pin spots for each table, which added such a level of intimacy and glamour to the space. They incorporated Miguel's Mexican heritage with a 10-piece mariachi band playing as guests entered, in addition to a beautiful Mexican-themed station during cocktail hour outside. Levy Events pulled out all the stops with the catering: steak, scallops and an ice cream sundae bar were just a few of the treats. Most importantly, Becky and Miguel enjoyed every moment of their fabulous wedding. They danced together the entire night, with all of their guests around them and were truly bursting with bliss (and Kurt Gerber from Gerber and Scarpelli Weddings captured it all! Beautiful!)

Yu - Dietrich

2008-09-15T10:53:00.000-07:00

Amanda Yu & Ben Dietrich
September 13, 2008
location... well, that's the story. :)

Chicago, like much of the rest of the country, fell prisoner to Hurricane Ike this past weekend, as torrential down pours swept through our city in a never-ending fashion. (Before I continue...I want to share my most heartfelt prayers and thoughts with the residents of Texas... while we toughed out a few continuous rain storms, and quite the wedding story to follow... the effects of the hurricane on their homes and lives remains in our thoughts). The wedding was scheduled for 6pm at Architectural Artifacts, a gem of a venue on Ravenswood. A gem of a venue that fell victim to massive flooding the morning of the wedding. So Saturday morning began with a little bit of a rocky beginning...to move the wedding or not? Amanda and Ben, the fabulous bride and groom, could not have been more cool, calm and collected about the situation. While trying to determine if we were going to move the venue down the street to the Ravenswood Billboard Factory (more on the cool spot later), Amanda calmly said, "I don't really care where I get married, I'm just excited to marry Ben." Clearly her priorities were in a row. A final decision was quickly reached.. we were moving down the street to the Billboard Factory, a swanky open warehouse space lined with incredible vintage cars. Blue Rooster, the caterer, and I worked quickly to move everything from AA to the new venue.. including all of Amanda and Ben's incredible DIY projects. A few tons of rain and a labor of love later, the wedding was completely re-set up at the new venue, vendors were called, guests were notified and we were in business!
Amanda, a graphic designer who did all of her amazing invites (and anything else you could think of that would go on paper!) herself, and Ben, a gem of a guy who was happily involved in the wedding planning, made their ceremony and reception quite personal by bringing in most of the elements themselves. From beautiful orange lanterns that suspended over the dance floor, to blue mason jars of all sizes filled with soy candles, to the herb plants on each table, and the "hangover" bags that guests received at the end of the evening, they thought of everything and truly pulled off a magnificent evening despite a few huge curveballs.

Rofalikos - Russell

2008-08-25T12:45:00.001-07:00

Melissa Rofalikos & Travis Russell
August 23, 2008
The Westin Lombard

While I always have a special place in my heart for every bride and groom I work with, Melissa and Travis have really become like family. To back up a bit, I've worked with Melissa for several years and we have become very close friends. When she met Travis, fell in love, got engaged and started planning her wedding, I was truly touched when she asked me to help her make all the pieces work on the day-of. Melissa was my coordinator last September and I was so happy to return the favor and work on her beautiful wedding. Melissa, who is opening Bella Bianca, a high-end wedding boutique in Oak Brook with her sister this fall, has been planning her wedding since she was a young girl...and all those years of thinking about it paid off because it was GORGEOUS! From the dramatic white ceremony to the glamorously decked ballroom reception (the lighting alone qualifies this wedding for magazines!), every moment of Melissa and Travis's day was perfect. Guests were on the dance floor until the wee hours of the morning, and treated to everything from a seafood buffet to a sweets table and late night mini burgers and pizza. I can't wait to see all of Dennis Lee's photos - I've attached a few!

Zifkin - Salerno

2008-08-18T08:45:00.002-07:00

Mia Zifkin & Dean Salerno
August 17, 2008
Cafe Brauer

Mia, an actress from Evanston who lives in NYC, and Dean, a New York City native and Manhattan chef, combined everything that was important to them to make for a very special and very emotional wedding day. Mia hails from a Chicago family with two sisters, an amazing set of parents, and is the exact image of glamour, romance and drama. Dean, a Bronx-bred Italian chef, Dean brought passion, humor and of course, a culinary hat to table for the wedding. The result was the most passionate celebration of love, good food, plenty of drinks, and fun, all set to the dramatic background of Lincoln Park Zoo and the most romantic wedding ceremony the south loggia has ever seen. The day was such a tribute to Mia and Dean and their love for each other, and I was thrilled to be a part of it.

Ryan - Palmer

2008-08-18T08:45:00.001-07:00

Brigid Ryan & Nate Palmer
August 16, 2008
St. Ben's & The Ivy Room

"Hi Katie,
My whole family is in love with you. Brigid and Nate especially are so grateful that you made their wedding weekend so stress free! Brigid said they talked about it alot the next morning. It was so wonderful to have you taking care of all the hundreds of details and you have such a calming effect on everyone. Every time we looked at your smiling face we felt like it would all be perfect. You are amazing at this job Katie I will recommend you to every one of my friends as a must for their daughter's weddings. You are the best there is out there not only because you are sharp about the details , but your contagious enthusiasm and gracious manners add so much to the occasion. What really won our hearts was your sweetness Katie . You brought that to our weekend as much as anything and for your presence we are grateful from the bottom of our hearts.Take care , We love you ! -All the Ryans"

Edelston-Grasso

2008-08-11T15:27:00.000-07:00

Amanda Edelston & Robert Grasso
August 9, 2008
The Peninsula Chicago

Amanda and Rob celebrated their wedding day with the most "relaxed elegance" I could ever imagine. It was perfect. Their ceremony and reception were held at the Peninsula - one of the cities most elegant and breathtaking venues. From the beautiful decor (Virginia Wolff) to the high-energy band (Chicago Catz), the evening captured everything exquisite. But despite the perfect touches on everything, it was the most relaxing and fun environment. Amanda and Rob floated through the evening with grace and flare - they spent time talking with all of their guests, ate their dinners, visited the sweets table and danced the night away with props from Photoworks' interactive photo booth. They truly enjoyed every moment of their wedding, which made it even more fun to be a part of.

Ptak - Berkson

2008-07-29T09:47:00.000-07:00

Tara Ptak and Dave Berkson
July 19, 2008
St. Matthias & The School of the Art Institute

Tara and Dave were the picture of FUN on their wedding day! The two of them were so calm and happy through a morning rain storm and afternoon heat wave... and kept the exciting activities of the day at the heart of it all. Tara and Dave look at each other and you see electricity. They are constantly laughing, stealing sweet kisses together, and encouraging each other's passions (Dave played the drums with the band - Brave Combo - during the reception!).

Ryan - Whalen

2008-06-26T09:41:00.001-07:00

Kerry Ryan and Billy Whalen
June 22, 2008
Cafe Brauer, Chicago

Kerry and Billy were married on a perfect summer day at Cafe Brauer. Kerry was a stunning bride - and their day was magical. After a brief summer shower, a brilliant rainbow appeared over Cafe Brauer during cocktail hour, blessing Kerry and Billy's beautiful new marriage and showering their day with happiness and love. Hillary was my rock-star assistant on this wedding - she managed their entire day beautifully, down to orchestrating the sparkler departure at the end of the night!

Mambu - Rasch

2008-06-17T13:36:00.000-07:00

Terry Mambu & Chris Rasch
May 24, 2008
Drake Oakbrook

Terry and Chris complement each other beautifully. They are blissfully happy when with each other, and it shows on their genuine smiles and glowing eyes. Their day was truly a family affair - Terry comes from a big, Italian family and Chris's clan was in from Iowa - making the merging of two familes and traditions a very special day.

Herron - Fuchs

2008-04-10T19:24:00.001-07:00

Stacie Herron & Andrew Fuchs
March 31, 2007
Cafe Brauer, Chicago

Stacie and Andrew have traveled the world together and they were able to share their incredible experiences with their friends and family through their wedding day. Cafe Brauer was decked in hues of gorgeous pinks, and each table was named after a unique place that the couple had visited together.

Roadruck - Merrill

2008-04-10T19:17:00.001-07:00

Briana Roadruck & Nathan Merrill
September 1, 2007
Cafe Brauer, Chicago

All brides have a "special glow" on their wedding day, but Briana (THE Briana from Levy Events.. she is a ROCK STAR catering manager) takes the cake for being the happiest and most vivacious bride on her wedding day! She bubbled down the beautiful garden aisle, and didn't stop smiling and laughing once through her fairy tale wedding day. From the fabulous Levy Events food presentation and selection, to the hilarious entertainment Wedding Banned (complete with pale blue leisure suits), Briana and Nate's guests were treated to the works.

Hepker - Sabsevitz

2008-04-10T19:09:00.000-07:00

Robyn Hepker and David Sabsevitz
October 28, 2007
Cafe Brauer, Chicago

Robyn and Dave were married on one of those perfect fall mornings that makes you wish you could live in autumn bliss every day. And the two of them showed their guests what marital bliss looks like. Robyn and Dave could not have been cuter together - they are constantly laughing and truly could not be any nicer. They put so much effort into honoring their traditions and their families during their wedding day and it made for a very memorable and special wedding.

Delaney - Berroya

2008-04-01T21:00:00.000-07:00

Meghan Delaney and Jon Berroya
November 10, 2007
Old St. Pat's / The Newberry Library

Meghan, a lawyer who was working out of New York, and Jon, a lawyer who was working out of Washington DC, came to Chicago for their wedding celebration. The two of them made for the most organized and creative team. Their day was filled with special touches, from incredible wedding programs made to look and read like small books (to coincide with their reception at the Newberry Library), to place cards in the form of bookmarks! The two of them were out of a magazine, Meghan in her breathtaking Vera Wang and Jon and his guys in their sharp tuxes. Most importantly, they had a blast at their wedding! They ate the Sweet Mandy B's cupcakes and were on the dance floor all night.

Welcome to Dettagli Weddings!

2008-04-01T20:44:00.000-07:00

The details of your wedding day are special elements that you have worked months to secure. The last thing you want to do on your special day is implement them. That’s where Dettagli comes in. We’re your personal assistant, doing everything from cuing the wedding party to walk down the aisle, to cuing the band when it’s time to announce your first dance, from running out and buying the lipstick you can’t find to confirming with vendors and caterers. We do anything that you need, so you and your family can enjoy and relish this very special time.