Modern Luxury Brides at Chicago Athletic Association!

In celebration of their Fall/Winter 2015 issue, Modern Luxury Brides invited Soirée Weddings & Events and many other industry friends to their swanky release party at the brand new Chicago Athletic Association Hotel! What can we say but wow?!

The Chicago Athletic Association was built in 1893: the same year as the World’s Columbian Exposition. The White City Ballroom, where the event took place, is even named after Chicago’s most famous of fairs.

StemLine Creative provided the divine table arrangements as well as the floral frame for the party’s centerpiece!

What a stunning space! The new Modern Luxury Brides issue certainly fits right in with its surroundings.

Delectable sweets by Cake Sweet Food Chicago!

Our team had a smashing time! Don’t forget to pick up the gorgeous new issue of Modern Luxury Brides!

Photo strip by The Original Traveling Photo Booth!

19 East Event Gallery Open House

We had the privilege of attending the 19 East Event Gallery open house this past Wednesday. The reinvestments and updates that have been made to the space are spectacular, and the vendors all did such an amazing job of putting together this lovely event: check out that posh lounge by Bowery and Bash!

With an iPhone in one hand and a refreshing cocktail in the other, we thought we’d snap a few shots of this elegant affair in its remarkable setting.

This stunning venue was recently acquired by Food For Thought, who provided the delectable nosh for the afternoon.

The floral by Exquisite Designs had us practically swooning!

We were barely able to handle the industrial chicness of it all. The venue has three large, flexible spaces on the main floor, a mezzanine for additional seating, and a second floor ideal for preparation prior to your event. They’re able to accommodate up to 300 guests seated and 500 for receptions.

Thank you, 19 East and Food For Thought, for such a lovely afternoon!

VENDORS: Venue: 19 East Event Gallery | Event Seating & Vignettes: Bowery and Bash | Floral: Exquisite Designs | Catering: Food For Thought |

Wish Upon a Wedding Presents: All That Jazz – Blissful Wishes Ball

Tickets are on sale now for the 5th Annual Wish Upon a Wedding Blissful Wishes Ball! The event will take place on Monday, November 3rd at The Chicago History Museum.

Black tie optional or dress in your favorite Speakeasy Chicago Flapper Flair!

Click here to purchase your tickets!  Can’t wait to see you all there!

-Tiffany Munster, Chicago PR/Media Chair for Wish Upon a Wedding

Brilliant, Bold and Bright Pink!!

We are so excited to be partnering with Bright Pink for FabFest this month!

Bright Pink is an organization focused on early detection of breast and ovarian cancer in young women. They are trying to empower women to take a proactive approach to their health by having an early detection strategy while lifting up and supporting other women.

Beautiful ladies with a beautiful cause!!

This is such an important cause and such a wonderful company that is really helping to increase cancer awareness and overall self awareness. We at Soirée are proud to stand with them and their cause and we can’t wait to be a part of their mission!

This is a special year for Soirée and our support for Bright Pink!  We are thrilled to have the opportunity to be the official Event Design Planners for the “Be Bright and Beautiful Ballroom” at this year’s Fab Fest!

Soirée is teaming up with HMR Designs to bring the participants an elegant, chic and luxurious space for them to enjoy while receiving their beauty treatments!  Participants will have the opportunity to sweat it out with some of their favorite Chicago fitness instructors, enjoy some snacks and then pamper themselves with complimentary hair, make-up and skin care consultations in the “Be Bright and Beautiful Ballroom.”

The event will be held at the Westin River North on September 29th and we are expecting over 500 bright, bold and beautiful participants!

We can’t wait!  Hope to see all your bright and beautiful faces there!

xo-tm!

Champagne with Lazaro

Every girl dreams of her wedding dress and what it’s going to look like…but a chance to meet the designer of the dress you wore…that’s priceless.  I was honored to be invited to the Bella Bianca, Gold Coast, Lazaro trunk show last night.

photo courtesy of Bella Bianca

I purchased my Lazaro dress from Bella Bianca in 2009, for my May 2010 wedding.  (Yes ladies, you must give yourselves at least 6 months of lead time when ordering a wedding gown!)

Cristina G Photography

I was wooed by the Alençon lace and the silk petals that floated down the back of the strapless, sheath gown.  The wedding day came and went so fast, you really have only about (give or take) 12 hours with your gown.  Now it’s preserved and sitting in a box in my closet.  I often gaze at photos from the wedding remembering this classic, lace beauty!

Cristina G Photography

Cristina G Photography

So when I was invited to this event, I jumped at the opportunity!  Who wouldn’t want to sip on champagne among gorgeous couture gowns, while mingling with friends…and, uh, Lazaro!?

I just had to meet him and get him to sign a photo of my dress!  I couldn’t wait to chat with him and thank him for designing my perfect dress!

And of course, snap a few pics! 😉

Now it’s hanging next to my closet so I can look at it every day!

Left there feeling inspired and elevated! Such a fun night and awesome opportunity!

xo-tm

Field Museum Picnic

What a perfect day for a museum picnic! Today we were tickled to be invited to Food For Thought’s Picnic at The Field Museum. All done on the terrace, we were wined and dined with an amazing menu of Pomegranate Glazed Poussin, Grilled Soft Shell Crab, Grilled Pork Belly, Roasted Veggie Ratatouille, and for dessert: Peach Cobbler, Cherry Clafouts, and FFT Churros.  

The apple and berry pie to-go were delish!

It was a gorgeous way to spend a Thursday afternoon in the sun!

With love by Alyssa.

Breakfast and Tiffany’s…

Today, I was lucky enough to start off my day with an early morning tour of the Tiffany Exhibition at the Driehaus Museum, followed by a light breakfast at The Murphy, catered by Blue Plate.

Colorful Tiffany Lamps, a beautiful colored glass dome and lovely architecture greeted us, then we passed through the connected hallways over to the main ballroom of The Murphy.

Parfaits, french toast bites, berries and biscotti graced the beautiful spread by Blue Plate!

A great start to a gorgeous summer day!

xo-tm

Chicago Style Weddings Magazine, New Edition!

Last night we celebrated the launch of Chicago Style Weddings September/October 2013 Magazine issue! We could not be happier about our “British Invasion” Designer’s Challenge Feature! It was all about “bold colors, hard lines and the iconic Union Jack.”

The party was hosted at The Hyatt Chicago, Magnificent Mile.  All of Chicago’s best wedding vendors were there – such a treat!  Great mingling with friends and enjoying the newest edition of the magazine.  Check out pages 254 and 255! 😉

xo-tm!

Gatsby Gorgeous

Well, we don’t want to brag…but we were one of the lucky one’s that got an exclusive viewing of The Great Gatsby on Tuesday night!

The night started at the Zapwater offices with fashions straight out of the roaring 20s.  All the guests were encouraged to take inspiration from the movie and dress as their favorite Gatsby character.  We teamed up with Jilly Ink, Pistil and Vine, Private Label Linens and Re:find Joy to create a beautiful, vintage/Gatsby-esque vignette!  I love how Molly included one solo green votive – to replicate the glowing green lantern in the story.

Be U Weddings hosted the event, along music by Fig Media, photography/photobooth by Cage and Aquarium, glamorous vintage gowns by Mignonette Bridal and of course…flapper-worthy fare by Pure Kitchen Catering, and beer pairings by Goose Island Catering.  All the glitz and glamour you would expect to see and taste at a Jay Gatsby affair!

After the soiree, we headed out to the Icon Theater for an exclusive viewing of The Great Gatsby, in 3D.  A whimsical dream, that took you back in time.  You felt like you were there, and left you wanting more.

The movie officially premiers in theaters tomorrow and is sure to be the hit of the summer! So if you love glitz, glam, sequins, sparkle and fabulous parties – Gatsby is a must see!

Now go out and see it… ‘old sport’

xo-tm!

all photos by Cage and Aquarium

Design by Soirée

Linens by Private Label Linens

Calligraphy by Jilly Ink

Floral by Pistil and Vine

Rentals by Re:find Joy

Catering by Pure Kitchen Catering and Goose Island

Music by Fig Media

Hosted by Be U Weddings and Zapwater

Last Night Was Hot!

Last night our team was thrilled to attend the 3rd annual Lettuce Entertain You wedding planner dinner at Nacional 27. Hosted jointly by LEYE and Revel Decor, we welcomed in the first hot, hot, HOT day of 2013 with some true Latin flair.

The mojito bar mixed up 3 different flavors of mojito, your traditional, a spicy habanero Lillet number and a mojito made with ginger beer and whiskey (not your run of the mill cocktail options at all!), while delicious appetizers were passed. (With one hand gripping my mojito and another snagging the fabulous apps, I entirely forgot to snap a picture!)

As we took our seats we snacked on chips with salsa, guacamole and roasted corn fundido before digging into the main eats. The decor from Revel was stunning, and the conversations flowed as smoothly as the mojitos and margaritas. For dessert, the tres leches cake and chocolate mousse were truly divine.

LEYE really knows how to host a party, and this was no different. Need to host a bachelorette, shower, rehearsal dinner or even wedding anytime soon? I guarantee you they’ve got a space that’s just perfect for your needs. How do I know? Easy — because last night was absolutely the perfect way to welcome in this spring/summer hybrid that’s coming Chicago’s way.