Happy Anniversary Nicole & Jeff!

Happy One Year Anniversary Nicole & Jeff!

We had so much fun working with this amazing couple. They tied the knot in an intimate ceremony at Hotel Lincoln‘s rooftop restaurant, J. Parker last year, followed by a delicious dinner curated by Perennial’s resident chef, Paul Virant.  Carasco Photography was onsite to capture the day..

Here is a look back at some of the details!

black gucci bridal shoes

Hotel Lincoln stairwell

J Parker skyline wedding

J Parker wedding photosJ Parker Chicago wedding ceremonyJ Parker wedding ceremonyJ Parker wedding HMR DesignsJ Parker wedding HMR Designsglam farm table chicago wedding

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A total of 17 guests attended this meaningful and intimate affair.  We wanted the table to feel warm and inviting.  So we brought in two farm tables and added a glamorous element with tons of candles, glass chargers and a sequin table runner.  The farm tables complimented the rustic vibe of the restaurant, juxtaposed with the the crystal features and sequins, which represented some of Nicole’s personal style.

The gorgeous floral arrangements of blush peonies, roses and hydrangeas were designed by HMR Designs, and accented the pretty sequin runner from Nüage Designs.  All the rentals were from Halls Rentals.

Blush wedding centerpieces

A piano and string and guitar trio from Rendezvous Music provided romantic dinner music.

music trio

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Nicole’s ultra chic 2-piece bridal gown skirt and corset were Monique Lhuillier from Ultimate Bride.  Black and white color-blocked wedding gown, unintentionally appropriate for a Black Friday wedding!

black and white bridal gown

Screen Shot 2014-12-01 at 10.48.59 AMChicago wedding sweets tableChicago wedding sweets tableCustom doggie cake topperAlthough the Hotel Lincoln is a dog friendly hotel, Nicole and Jeff’s pups went off to camp that day so they could play all day.  Nicole really wanted them there with them in some way, so she had this custom cake topper created with replicas of their furry kids! (Etsy)

J Parker weddingJ Parker first dance weddingSuch a special wedding day for such a lovely couple.  Happy Anniversary, and wishing you many more happy and healthy years!

xo -tm

Meet the ladies behind Soirée: Tiffany

Ever wonder about the glamorous life of a wedding planner? Today’s and this week’s blog features are all about “Inside The Life” of the Soirée Weddings & Events team. I’m here to share with you their daily loves and activities when they aren’t busy planning a one of a kind wedding. Each day I will introduce a new lady of the team and share with you her secrets to life, style and beauty.

Tiffany Munster, Owner, Sr. Event Planner 

Picture 1

What is your signature scent? “Narcisso Rodriguez for perfume, but favorite lotion, candle and flower scent is lavender.”

Accessory/Accessories?  “I feel naked without my wedding rings.  I need to wear all 6 of them! Engagement ring, and stackable diamond bands.”

Favorite flower?  “Peony”

Your go to polish?  “I love essie polish…my colors are seasonal…reds, corals and pinks in the summer.  Taupe, wine and dark blue in the winter.”

Describe a typical- and ideal- weekend when you are not striving to put on a fabulous wedding:  “Drinks with my fabulous team at a fabulous restaurant on Friday night.  Early morning jog or yoga class, then hit the farmer’s market with Bowie and my hubs.  Then we stop for brunch at a dog friendly restaurant patio.  I go to the beach or a friend’s roof pool.  Then come home to get dressed up for a date night or night out with friends.  Sunday starts with breakfast on the balcony, park with the doggie, then ending the day vegging out on the couch with some bad reality tv, online shopping and some wine!”

Sneakers of choice? “I wear Saucony running shoes”

Favorite Brands?  “Louis Vuitton, rayban, BCBGMax Azria”

Daily Reads?  “Wedding blogs”

Beauty trick your willing to share?  “I wear tinted moisturizer (SPF 30) instead of make up and wash my face with Aveeno…Vitamin C serum for fine lines and dark circles! WEAR SUNSCREEN!”

Can’t live without?  “Chanel lip gloss, my blackberry, my Macbook, and my lululemon groove pants.”

With love by Alyssa.

Making Dollars and Sense of Your Wedding Budget

Tiffany Munster of Soirée Weddings & Events shares with you great tips on managing your wedding budget. She takes you through the step-by-step process for your ideal one of a kind wedding.

A very special and loved Thank You to Brides, Bubbles and Bliss and Carasco Photography for making this a production on BBB TV!! 

With love by Alyssa.

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.”

photo photo-1 photo-2The 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!

Happy One Year Anniversary!

Happy First Year Anniversary to our June of 2012 couples!!

SusanSusan & Frank! June 9, Morton Arborteum

0242Megan & Adam! June 23, Newberry Library

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images by Carasco Photography 


I_0317aSami & Mike! June 23, Chicago History Museum

7images by Nick Gerber

I hope all of you have a fabulous anniversary!! Here’s to many more years of love and happiness!

xo- Soirée

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you Carasco!

How am I so lucky to always be receiving so many fabulous gifts?!  Perks of my job I guess – and that I know so many amazing people!  This little gem arrived to my door this week – amazing selection of Katherine Anne Confections…a gift from our friends at Carasco Photography!!

Carasco chocolates

Katherine Anne ConfectionsThank you! Thank you! Thank you!!

these will be enjoyed!!

xo-tm

Getting ready for Mardi Gras!

I am so excited I can’t contain myself!   We are prepping for a Mardi Gras inspired brunch tomorrow at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicagojust for wedding planners!!  With and incredible menu created and perfected by none other than the amazing chefs at Wolfgang Puck Catering!

Mardi Gras Wedding Planner BrunchThe food and bevs are going to be out of this world!  We can’t wait to share the pictures- Carasco Photography will be capturing all the events of the day!

We look forward to seeing all our friends and colleagues 😀

Until then….

xo-tm

invitation by: BeUBrides

2012 In Review – a great year. (Part I)

This has been an amazing year — I was truly sad to see it go…

It started with Kelly and Jerry’s NYE wedding at Carnivale.  So incredible!

New Year's eve wedding in Chicago

New Year's Eve Wedding at Carnivale

Florals by Stemline, Creative

Chicago New Year's Eve wedding

Then a trip to New York for Fashion Week/Valentines Day..

30 rock

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david letterman nyc

a Day spent at MoMA

moma montage

moma nyc

A walk through Central ParkCentral Park

Some star sightings – Bethenny Frankel and Selita Ebanks at Philippe (thought they weren’t together).  And Justin Beiber at The London Hotel… Sorry – no pics!

St. Patricks Cathedral in New York

Harvard Club

And some drinks at The Harvard Club with my Uncle – so cool!!

We had a blast at the Sixties Social – a Mad Men themed Thursday Therapy! What do you think – did we pull off Betty and Don?

Mad Men Thursday Therapy

Then we hosted our first annual Bridal Event – this one was “Leap Into Wedding Season” and it was held at Fleur de Lis Florist.  It was a huge success – a uncharacteristically warm day (were talking 60’s) led to a great turn out of brides!

Leap Into Wedding Season event

Entertaining Company provided the food.. Cristina G took the amazing photos!

Here’s Team Soirée at the Event…

Soiree Team

Revae from Femme du Coupe provided the delicious cocktails!
femme du coupeLeap Year event

We are so excited for this year’s event – the Wedding March, being held on March 3 at Floating World Gallery! (minor plug!) 🙂 details to come!

St. Patricks day was warm…coco on St. Pattys Day

Really warm! Coco is enjoying the balcony (above).  Chicagoans are enjoying the weather (and the Bars) on Wells St.!Chicago 2012 St. Patrick's Day

We had so much fun planning and creating the 80’s styled shoot at Room 1520.  All the vendors that participated knocked it out of the park!  The creativity and fun factor was off the charts! 80 styled shoot

Room 1520 table settingcolor blocked neon wedding tables

And — It was featured in Ruffled 🙂 paint splatter backdrop photoboothMonique Lhullier bouquet gown

Check out this amazing black and white bridal bouquet from Fleur!black and white bridal bouquet

Then there was Becky and Tony’s wedding at St. Ignatius and The Rookery – And it was featured on Style Me Pretty… 😉 (click here to see it!)

St. Ignatius ChurchBecky and Tony

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Then we took a trip to New Buffalo, Mi.  We brought the pooch and it was so much fun!

Hiking with Bowie

Warren State Dunes

She’s very helpful when she wears the Dog Pack

The Sand DunesBowie on he beach

she was starting to get real tired..

view of Lake Michigan

Our view from the top of the dune of Lake Michigan.  Then we stopped at a local Winery..

Tabor Hill

vines

Bowie was excited – I am not sure why.  She’s just always happy

BowieThen we went to the beach –Lake Michigan BeachDinner at the Marina

Then we headed to the Marina – and had dinner at Brentwood Tavern

Tiff and Rick at Brentwood Tavern

It was a nice mini vacay before the start of wedding season 🙂

We started June with Susan and Frank’s wedding at Morton Arboretum..

Morton Arboretum Wedding

susanfrank_190 1Then we battled a double header!  Sami and Mike’s wedding at Chicago History Museum and Megan and Adam’s wedding at Newberry Library 🙂

Olive Park wedding Photos

Sami’s bouquet and bridesmaid’s bouquets were so lovely!  created by the Jan and Jillian of Natural Beauties.

Natural Beauties Bouquets

Sami and Mike's first dance

This wedding was featured on Style Me Pretty – click here to see it 🙂Chicago History Museum wedding ceremony

The Chicago Room at the Chicago History MuseumMegan and Adam on Chicago BridgeMegan chose a blush and slate gray color palette – it complimented The Newberry Library perfectly!  
First look wedding photos

Megan and Adam had their ceremony in Washington Square Park across the street – and then moved into the Library for cocktails and dinner.Newberry Library wedding Newberry Library wedding - blush and slate wedding

Don’t you want to smell that bouquet of peonies and ranunculus?  Fleur nailed it again!wedding toasts and first dance blush and gray Newberry Library Wedding

That’s the end of Part I – stay tuned for Part II.  I will cover the rest of 2012 – so many more adventures!

xo-tm!

Happy Halloween from the Soirée Team!

We had so much fun at the Carasco Halloween party last week!  A haunted bus tour, (tricks and) treats from Boutique Bites and Truffle Truffle, a dance floor and…of course…the Shutterbooth Photo booth!

Here are some of our favorites from that night!

Happy Halloween everyone!!

Can you tell what our costume was?

Did you dress up? if so – as what?

What was your all time favorite costume?

xo-tm!