Vendors I Know: Cheney Mansion

Cheney Mansion, as featured on their website.

Cheney Mansion, as featured on their website.

Most of my work tends to be on the north side of the city and in the northern suburbs, so it is a real treat when I get to work in other parts of the metropolis.  This summer, I worked with a couple who wanted to get married in Oak Park (which happens to be a favorite place of mine). It was a good excuse for me to get to know better the wonderful event venues there.

The couple ended up choosing Cheney Mansion for their wedding, and I think it was an excellent choice.  The mansion is a three-storey house with extensive grounds located very near the heart of the suburb.  It is now owned by the Park District of Oak Park.

Because it is a historic home in a residential neighborhood, there are certain restrictions that come with it, but–in my opinion–it is more than worth it.  The house itself is beautiful and well maintained.  The grounds are gorgeous.  The Park District staff who run it are exceptionally helpful and welcoming.  If you’re looking for someplace to have a wedding or other special event in the western suburbs, this is definitely one location to check out.

Stress Buster: Cake Wrecks!

Photo by Carasco Photography.

Photo by Carasco Photography.

This is a photo of a beautiful, well-made wedding cake.  Most wedding cakes are gorgeous and give due credit to the arts of the baker and the decorator.  Some, however….

If you’ve never visited Cake Wrecks, save it for a day when you need a laugh.  There are a lot of cakes that are not wedding cakes, but I think the wedding cakes are my favorites.

Last-Minute Wedding

At 11:00 on a Wednesday morning, the phone rang.  A man’s voice, with a distinct Australian accent, said he and his fiance were looking for a wedding coordinator…for that Friday.  “Two days from now?” I asked.  “Yes,” he said.

The couple live in Australia but were getting married here and they had only been in town for a week.  The day before he called, they had discovered that neither the venue nor the caterer nor the decorator would be able to handle all the DIY decor they were doing and they needed a day-of coordinator.

It’s not easy to find a last-minute wedding coordinator in summer or fall.  Fortunately, the wedding was on a Friday, not a Saturday, so I was available.  Even though it’s a little crazy to take on a project like that with only 48 hours’ notice, I wanted to help them out.

And it turned out great!  Scroll down for some of my photos of the decor I put together for them along with some other shots of the room.

Ceremony and reception were at Room 1520.  Food for Thought set up the chairs. Art of Imagination did the drapery and lighting.  Ipomea was the florist.

Ceremony and reception were at Room 1520. Food for Thought set up the chairs. Art of Imagination did the drapery and lighting. Ipomea was the florist.

I set up the sweet table/candy buffet under the big world map.  (You'll notice a map theme.)

I set up the sweet table/candy buffet under the big world map. (You'll notice a map theme.)

My assistant and I also set up decor in the bar area and entryway.  Here's a taste.

My assistant and I also set up decor in the bar area and entryway. Here's a taste.

The wedding cake came from Sweet Mandy B's.  Yum!

The wedding cake came from Sweet Mandy B's. Yum!

Here's another view of the sweet table.

Here's another view of the sweet table.

After the ceremony, we turned the room over for dinner.

After the ceremony, we turned the room over for dinner.

Half the tables had globes as centerpieces.

Half the tables had globes as centerpieces.

Each one was unique.

Each one was unique.

There were also more traditional centerpieces on the other tables.  Ipomea did a nice job with them!

There were also more traditional centerpieces on the other tables. Ipomea did a nice job with them!

Announcing 2015 Price Increase

altar-flowers

Photo by Peter Coombs.

I try very hard to keep my prices reasonable, but I will be increasing my prices to keep up with inflation and increased costs starting January 1, 2015.  If you want to book me for next year at this year’s prices, be sure to get in touch with me before the end of this year.  If you hire me by the end of December, I’ll be happy to offer you current prices for any wedding or party in 2015.  Email me now!

Call Now!