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ChicagolandWedding VendorsReal WeddingsCongRatulations niCole & shadi

Your Wedding Resource Bridal Guide

When You Fail To Plan

Why Savvy Brides Hire A Planner

cgbridalmag.com

Spring 2015

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FeautuRed04 top 3 photogRaphy tips FoR bRides

06 When you Fail to planWhy savvy bRides hiRe a planneR

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RealWeddings

NICOLE & SHADI

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12 Real Weddings Congratulations to nicole and shadi

14 she said yes Jillian and Kevin are tying the knot!

18 diy Candy buFFet Create a beautiful candy buffet with these expert tips

20 30 guests oR less pine Manor Chicago

22 the stan Mansion

30 diReCtoRy

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for advertising info go to www.cgbridalmag.com or call 888.287.8220

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As a photographer with over 17 years in the industry... I’ve seen a lot and I’ve learned a lot. These are my top 3 tips for looking great in photographs on your big day:1. Love the way you look... If you are not happy with your hair or makeup… it’s ok to change your mind. This is your day to be a beautiful bride. This is your day to shine. You are the belle of the ball. When you feel beautiful, you will be radiant with confidence. And that confidence will shine through in your photos.2. Book an Engagement Session with the same photographer that will be shooting your wedding. This is a great opportunity to get comfortable with your photographer and feel confident in his/her work. You’ll also have your save-the-date photos and a beautiful picture you can use for your sign in board.3. Laughing Photos Rock... Don’t underestimate the beauty of laughing. It gives you that lovely approachable sweetness that is absolutely contagious! Photographers love smiling, laughing, happy brides. ~ Claudia Grace

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I truly believe, at least for most brides, that we are programmed with the genetic DNA to start planning our weddings from birth. Then, with the help of society, they start to condition us as little girls with movies like Cinderella, Snow White and Little Mermaid to start wanting to be a princess. As young women, the box office works on us with movies like My Best Friend’s Wed-ding and The Wedding Planner. It’s no wonder we are so consumed with the perfect wedding knowing exactly what we want right down to the last detail.

After all the conditioning, television then concentrates on wedding shows like My Fair Wedding -wedding makeovers showing how brides planning their own weddings are so in need of help! And let’s not forget the wedding forums that are filled with brides who were disappointed with all of the things that went wrong on their wedding day.

One of the greatest celebration of a woman’s life is her wedding. This is her opportunity to express her inner most expression of her love! The true essence of a wedding!

photo credit: Tuan H. Bui, photographer

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So many brides feel they can save money by planning their wedding them-selves because there are plenty of magazines, books, DIY websites, Martha Stewart, Church Coordinators, Moms, Aunts, well meaning “know it all” married bridesmaids, etc. to help with the execution of wedding planning. This is possible to accomplish. The question is, at what cost?So, what happens in between the engagement and the wedding? Shouldn’t the beginning process of creating this momentous day be joyful? What caus-es the average bride to become overwhelmed, extremely stressed and even disappointed with the outcome of planning her own wedding? Brides tend to devalue the need to have a good plan or shall I say… Planner.

The expression, time is money is so pertinent when it comes to hiring a planner. It is reported that it takes about 400 hours, that’s ten 40 hour work weeks, to plan a wedding. Realistically, who has that kind of time? All too often, brides find themselves in over their heads so by the time the blessed day is here, they’re just happy to have gotten through it. ~cont.

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Hiring a wedding planner is a smart investment. You hire a professional photographer because you want professional pictures to cherish for a life-time. Your cake is ordered from the best pastry shop in town because you want a cake that tastes great that you will remember forever. Why not hire a wedding planner to ensure your wedding day is elegant, well organized and executed with precision.

When you consider hiring a wedding planner, you not only hire a profes-sional; you hire an artist, a designer that can capture your vision, a personal assistant that can buffer the issues that arise, but most of all you gain a friend that wants your day to be as special as you are. ~ Sharon Ringier

Sharon Ringiér Events is a full service boutique event planning and design com-pany, which executes the perfect soiree from conceptual design to completion. Partnering with our clients, we take a creative approach of designing, planning and producing from various perspectives; the host and the guest.

When You Fail To Plan (cont.)ph

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We met at a Labor Day BBQ of mutual friends. His best friend was dating one of my best friends. I had just gotten out of a 7 yr relationship so I wasn’t looking for anything serious and wasn’t ready to move too fast. I didn’t know he was going to be the “one” and he was the first guy I dated after a long relationship. However, As I got to know him I realized that he was a really good guy.. and he was very patient with me, knowing that I was fresh out of a break up. He was also a great father, and he really impressed me because he took care of his son the majority of the time.

Around Christmas, ( a few months after we started dating) I called it quits because I wasn’t sure I wanted anything serious. But on New Years Eve I had an epiphany and realized that I really missed him and wanted to be committed to him.

And The Fairytale Unfolded...

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I thought to myself, out with the old and in with the new! I’m going to think very positive about the new year. 2008 was going to be my year! I got together with Shadi and told him how I felt and he said he felt the same. Not so long after that I got pregnant with our daughter Marlee! She was born in September of that year. I always look back and remember 2008, as the best year of my life because that’s when I got my family. I was with Shadi, gained a wonderful step son Payton and my daughter Marlee. And that’s all she wrote!

photo credit: Claudia Grace Photography location Lynfred Winery Roselle IL

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and she saidyes !!

CongRatulations Kevin & Jillian!!!

He asked...

Congratulations to baseball lovers Kevin Schipma and Jillian LaBella. Jillian is a teacher’s assistant and Kevin works for a major printing company. The couple has been dating for over 3 years and are to be wed on July 11th 2015.

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DIY CANDY BUFFETCandy Buffets are a beautiful and creative way to say thank you to your guests. Need some ideas? We’re going to take you from start to finish on how to create a fabulicious candy buffet that will bedazzle your guests.

Below are 5 steps that will help you create your perfect DIY Candy Buffet.

1) Your Budget: Candy buffets can get ex-pensive quickly. It’s important to figure out the amount of money you plan to spend before you get started. A modest buffet can cost you $200-$300 but can easily cost more depending on the treats you offer as well as your display accessories.

2) Colors & Theme – You are going to want to keep the color and theme of your candy buffet in sync with the overall theme of your wedding. For example, if you are having a beach theme wedding, incorporate

items from the sea into your table décor. If you are having a chic crystal chandelier themed wedding, be sure to incorporate plenty of crystal décor on your table.

3) The Candy – This is totally up to you. Are you an m&m girl or do champagne truffles float your boat? Be sure that the candy selection keeps with the color scheme of your day. Some ideas might be candy sticks, Hershey kisses, jelly beans, gummy bears, skittles, gum drops. This is pretty much an endless list of whatever you like.

4) Jars & Scoops – Use jars or vases in varying shapes and heights. Be creative and make it your own. Labeling your can-dy jars is cute but totally optional. Don’t forget the candy scoops.

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Be as unique and inventive as you would like to be when creating youir candy table. There is

really no wrong way to do it. The most important ingredient is FUN!

sweet n’ simple

• Add a Centerpiece. A centerpiece such as a floral arrangement, topiary will make your table even more attractive. Done forget about the edible centerpieces such as a chocolate fountain or a beautiful cupcake tower. Signage and framed pho-tos of you and your hubby can add a per-sonalized touch as well.

• Elevating various parts of the table by using books or boxes will make your table more appealing (hide the books/boxes under the table cloth) Make sure to put the highest jars in the back and the shortest in the front.

Tips For Making Your Candy Table A Crowd Pleaser

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Budget conscious, the Rev also makes the bridal flowers, handles most of the photography and provides home-cooked catering for wedding breakfast and dinner buffets, gluten-free and vegan friendly options available. The brick Manor is located in Mt. Prospect and boasts dozens of 5 Star reviews. The wildly maintained garden is filled with beautiful flowers, herbs and healing plants, a honey suckle archway, pond and outdoor fire place. Indoors, guests enjoy a wood burning fireplace, private bridal suite, and guest theatre seating for 30.A legal same-sex marriage destination, many of her couples are from out of state, so Pam has developed “Perks” strategic partnerships for exclusive discounts, like hotel, live music, even wedding rings. Log on to BudgetPricedWeddings.comRev. Pam’s was one of five officiants asked to marry same sex couples for the MCA marriage equality celebration June 2, 2014. Her “unique weddings in her home” was the featured national “wrap” for ABC News Radio airing 12-12-12. Pine Manor was the location of My Fox Chi-cago’s morning show remote on marriage equality May 30, 2014 with award winning journalist, Darlene Hill.

The Manor operates 8-8pm every day and packages start at $225. Email SayIDo@BudgetPricedWeddings.com or call 8-8pm everyday 847-873-7463 (That spells Pine) Facebook has coupons!

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ALCOHOL

Alcohol Party Cateringalcoholpartycatering.com815-873-0405

Ceremony/ReceptionVenues

Century Memorial Chapelnapersettlement.org630.420.6010

Chapel in the Pineschapelinthepines.com815/895-4797

City View Loftwww.cityviewloftchicago.com3126008439

Garden Terrace BanquetsGardenBanquets.com773-736-1385

Great Hall at Union Stationchicagounionstation.com312-655-2481

Hilton Orrington/Evanstonhotelorrington.com847.866.8700

Hoffman Househoffmanhouserockford.com815-397-5800

Hub Studio Lofthubstudioloft.com3123744013

Los Altos de Eroslosaltosdeeros.com800-391-1944

Marquette Park Gary Pavilionmarquetteparkgary.com219/938-7362

Odysse Cruisesodysse.com888.741.0282

Pine Manorpinemanorchicago.com847-873-7463

Prairie Street Brewhousepsbrewhouse.com(815) 277-9427

Radisson Hotel- Rockfordradisson.com/rockford(815) 226-2100

Royal Gardens BanquetsGardenBanquets.com773-736-1131

Sherwood RoomGardenBanquets.com773-736-1131

Stan Mansionstanmansion.com(773) 276-0099

White Eagle Golf Clubwww.whiteeaglegc.com(630) 983-0012

Cakes & Desserts

Amy Beck Cake Design, LLCamybeckcakedesign.com3125453655

BON MACARONbonmacaronchicago.com312.228.4325

Cakes xowww.cakesxo.com815-838-4145

Cybee Stix, LLCwww.cybeestix.com847-269-2283

Terry’s Toffeeterrystoffee.com773.551.3536

CateringPure Kitchenpurekitchencatering.com3122248277

Paramount Eventsparamounteventschicago.com773.880.8044

DJ’s

DJ MIKE FEVA ENTERTAINMENTdjmikefeva.com773-710-5252

Premier Entertainmentpremier-dj.net(630) 450-7106

Talent Citytalentcityartists.com312.835.7023

T.B.M. Productionstbmproductionsdj.com773-888-3548

Directory

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Florists

Juliet Tan Floral Designjuliettanfloraldesign.com773.712.1523

Of Course ‘Aisle’ Marry Youchicagoplanners.com(312) 952-0033

Gifts

Create Design Livecreatedesignlive.wordpress.com

Officiants

Gay Wedding Chicago Sitegayweddingchicagosite.com847-873-7463

Rose LifeCycle CeremoniesRoseLifeCycleCeremonies.com847-215-7715

Photo Booth

Sure Shot Photo Loungesureshotphotolounge.com(630) 904-3524

PhotographersClaudia Grace PhotographyClaudia Grace Photography.com888-520-0920

Corey Wedding Productionswww.coreywedding.com219-746-9730

Deanda Photographydeandaphotography.com708-218-5568

Ell Adele Photographyelladelephoto.com815.721.6391

K+B Photographyknbphoto.com(773)770-5562

Katherine M. Photographykatherinemphotography.com815.757.3018

LHEphotoLHEphoto.com(708) 710-2874

Salon & Spa

Epoch Studio Salonepochchicago.com3122241700

Transportation

Aries Charterariescharter.com773.826.2000

VIP Limousineviplimousineinc.com(773) 971-0215

Uplighting

Prestige Sound and Lightingprestigesoundandlighting.com219.262.2925

Videographer

Bonita Rosabonitarosa.com866-960-0992

Wedding Planner

Le Sorellehttp://lesorelleevents.com(312) 857-4811

Toopes Eventstoopesevents.com

Sharon Ringier Eventssharonringier.com847.219.1080

Jewelry

Gregg Helfer Ltdgregghelfer.com312-920-0970

Tilleyjewels Bridetilleyjewelsbride.com

Musicians

Acoustic Generationtheacousticgeneration.com847.477.5257

David Rothstein Musicdrsmusic.com773.244.1239

Pianist Kathie Nicoletknicoletpiano.com630 830 2345

Tristan String Quartettristanstringquartet.com(815)793-4901

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888.287.8220

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