Nov 17, 2014 | vendors, wedding planning
Here's one of my favorite photos from Agnes Malorny.
I haven’t featured a photographer here in quite some time. I’d like to introduce you to a terrific one: Agnes Malorny. I’ve worked with Agnes more than once and had the pleasure of having clients hire her just this past summer on my recommendation.
Naturally, I would not recommend a photographer (or any vendor) unless the quality of her work was outstanding. Agnes’ is always quite lovely. She does equally well with portraits, still shots, and action shots. But I also appreciate her work ethic and attitude. She has always been a pleasure to work with and just to be around.
Oct 27, 2014 | Parties and Special Events, vendors, wedding planning
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.
May 5, 2014 | vendors
Here's an example of the work of Mille Fiori. Photo courtesy of christytylerphotography.com.
I was fortunate enough last summer to coordinate two weddings on two consecutive weekends with Mille Fiori doing the flowers. And I hadn’t even been the one to recommend them!
It was a lucky coincidence because it gave me a chance to see the range of their design abilities. One wedding was more casual and outdoors at home; the other was more formal and indoors at a hotel. They made arrangements that were suitable for both weddings. I thought all their work was lovely.
They were also easy to work with, which is just as important in my book as doing good design work. I’m sure I’ll have a chance to recommend them sometime in the near future, and I won’t hesitate to do so.
Apr 7, 2014 | vendors, wedding planning
There are a number of good general music companies to look into if you want a band for an event. One I would not hesitate to recommend is Stitely Entertainment. They are the booking agent for a number of different bands, as well as smaller ensembles and DJs.
Jeff Stitely is a terrific drummer who also knows talent. Being a fine musician himself, I think he attracts others of the same quality. I am also impressed with the way he runs his business. Other people agree: If you look at his website, you’ll see that he has won just about every award in the wedding business.
There are a lot of excellent musicians in the Chicago area, so you have a lot of good choices. But if you don’t want to sift through all the options, you can start at Stitley Entertainment.
Mar 10, 2014 | vendors
FIG's logo, shamelessly stolen from their website.
As I think I’ve mentioned, I’m a member of the Chicago Green Wedding Alliance. In that capacity, I have had the opportunity to work with FIG Catering, a company that is right at the top of my list of caterers.
The thing that I like best about FIG is their food–which is, of course, one of the most important things anyone is looking for in a caterer. Not only do they make top-quality recipes and serve delicious dishes, they can do this with all organic, sustainable food. Not only is it delicious, it’s good for you and good for the environment.
FIG specializes in small events, hence their name: For Intimate Gatherings. They are happy to work with you on events of up to 150 people.
Justin and Molly, who are the heart of FIG, are terrific people, too. It’s always a pleasure to work with them. So, if you’re looking for a caterer for a not-too-huge event, here’s one to put on your list.
Oct 28, 2013 | vendors
Here is the Garden as it looked in September.
There is a little gem of a wedding ceremony venue tucked away on the Northwestern University campus in north Evanston. If you’ve never heard of the Shakespeare Garden, you are in very good company.
The Garden can accommodate a small group for a wedding ceremony in a beautiful, well-maintained garden setting. The Evanston Garden Club, which maintains the Garden, does not permit the use of chairs (with some exceptions), so this venue is not for everyone.
But it is as idyllic a setting as you could want. It is secluded from its surroundings by a double hedge of hawthorn bushes, and is graced with a sundial and a fountain. It is even on the National Register of Historic Places.
I have coordinated a wedding in the Garden, and I was very pleased with my experiences there. The biggest drawback is the fact that it is an unknown location and vendors (delivery drivers, bus drivers, etc.) may have trouble finding it. If you can live with that and with its other restrictions, I recommend this location highly.
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