Vendors I Know: Bittersweet Bakery

Bittersweet Bakery, as they appear on their website.

Bittersweet Bakery, as they appear on their website.

I don’t think I’ve profiled a bakery yet here.  Several of my recent clients have hired Bittersweet Bakery at 1114 W. Belmont in Chicago to make their wedding cakes.  Because most couples handle tasting and ordering their wedding cakes by themselves, I don’t usually have a lot of contact with the bakeries.  I do know that Bittersweet delivers what they promised when they promised.

Most of all, though, their cakes are delicious.  I’m a bit of a cake snob.  I like cakes with flavor and texture and personality–not just as a vehicle for frosting.  Bittersweet always comes through with these attributes.  Their frosting doesn’t come up short, either!

There are lots of good bakeries in Chicago to cater to lots of different tastes.  Here’s one that might suit you.

Vendors I Know: Magical Moments Photography

A photo by Howard Kier of Magical Moments Photography.

A photo by Howard Kier of Magical Moments Photography.

I think there are more wedding photographers in the Chicago area than any other type of wedding vendor.  One that stands out from the crowd in my book is Howard Kier of Magical Moments.

I’ve worked with Howard more than once and have been quite satisfied with the experience and with the results of his work.  His photographic style is straightforward and unpretentious.  His working style is easygoing and fun.  You can see some of his work in my photo galleries.

Vendors I Know: Kenilworth Club

The Kenilworth Club, as it appears on their website.

The Kenilworth Club, as it appears on their website.

As you may recall, I coordinated a wedding at the Kenilworth Club last spring.  I really can’t say enough good things about the club as a wedding venue.  I have been a guest there and I have worked there, and I find it to be one of the nicest halls on the North Shore.

The Kenilworth Club is located on Kenilworth Ave. just east of Green Bay Road in the heart of the North Shore.  There is easy parking at the train station opposite.  The hall is located on a large lot with areas for an outdoor wedding ceremony, if you choose.  It is also possible to have your ceremony in the main room; have cocktails in the adjoining large foyer; and return to the main room for dinner and dancing.

The building itself is a prairie-style jewel that is on the National Register of Historic Places.  It has unusually nice amenities:  a working fireplace in the foyer; a stage for your band; and some of the nicest restrooms I’ve ever seen.  The staff is extremely accommodating.  And the price is a lot less than I had expected.  This is one place I can recommend without hesitation.

Vendors I Know: Four Finches

Four Finches, as seen on their website.

Four Finches, as seen on their website.

Recently, I met the creative folks at Four Finches, a flower shop in Evanston.  Okay, to call it a flower shop is missing the point.  Sarah, the owner, has transformed a warehouse space into an alluring oasis of flowers, antiques, gifts, birds, candy, and about a thousand other beautiful items.  I could spend hours in there looking at the pretty things.

I’ve also worked with her on a wedding and loved her floral arrangements.  I think part of the reason she can do such beautiful work is because she is committed to doing only one wedding or major event per weekend.  I noticed when I first met her how focused she is on the wedding she is working on at the moment.  She did not miss a detail.  And, for all that, her prices are very competitive.

When I visited the shop, Sarah showed me some of the new flowers she is trying out, including a purple clematis and flowering amaranth.  I expect to see original arrangements out of her shop because she is always trying out new things. For those who want sustainable flowers, it’s not her primary focus, but on request she will find local and organic flowers.

If you need flowers for an occasion (or nice cards or gifts or…), take a peek at Four Finches.  Oh, and there really are finches in the shop, just usually more than four of them.

Vendors I Know: Veronica Sheaffer

Veronical's latest custom creation.  I stole this image straight from her blog.

Veronica's latest custom creation. I stole this image straight from her blog.

I met Veronica when she hired me to coordinate her wedding a couple of years ago.  She was the one with the insanely hand-made wedding.  It was beautiful.  She made her own dress.  She made her mother’s dress.  She made her bridesmaids’ dresses.  So, it was no surprise to me when she went into business making bridal gowns.

I think Veronica’s work is gorgeous.  She has seasonal collections of dresses and she also does custom work.  (Another client of mine is having Veronica make her gown even as we speak.)  She also makes and sells accessories.  And she does it all with a sassy and fun attitude.

If you can’t find the dress you are looking for in the bridal boutiques, consider looking Veronica up.  She may be able to fix you up with a dream dress.

Very Successful Wedding Show!

Committed 2012 was last Sunday, and it was a successful and very fun afternoon.  This was the first year the of the show’s existence, so the fact that a couple hundred guests showed up was very heartening.

What everyone said was that this was much nicer than most bridal shows.  It felt more like a party than a trade show.

The Stephanie Rogers Bankd.

The Stephanie Rogers Band.

Music was provided by Cage+Aquarium (doing an all-vinyl set) and the Stephanie Rogers Band.  There was food provided by several caterers, including FIG, City Provisions, and Pure Kitchen.

Setting up the truffles.

Setting up the truffles.

Katherine Anne Confections and Bleeding Heart Bakery provided delicious sweets.

Mignonette's booth.

Mignonette's booth.

Models from Mignonette showed off some gorgeous and highly unusual bridal dresses and vintage tuxes.

Collective Resource.

Collective Resource.

Collective Resource was very successful at composting the entire event.  The ratio of compostables to garbage at the end of the event was about 75 to 1, maybe more.

And here was my set-up:

My area.

My area.

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