COVER PHOTOGRAPHY BY Jess Lizette Photography

Before the walk down the aisle, before the clinking of champagne flutes and long before you’re twirling under the reception lights, there’s this soft, sacred little window of time: the wedding morning.

It’s your best friends in robes and hair rollers, the smell of fresh coffee in the air and your playlist humming in the background. Your wedding morning establishes a moment suspended between anticipation and celebration, and it deserves to feel as joyful and intentional as the day ahead.

Whether you’re going for serene and sentimental or fun and high-energy, here’s how to make the most of your wedding morning. (more…)

Led by Designed and Detailed Event Management, this Designers’ Challenge team whisked guests into a modern fairytale inside The Gwen, a Luxury Collection Hotel. Set against the backdrop of 1930s architecture, Adorable Designs by Candice, Anamaria Vieriu Photography, Atmosphere Events Group, Bittersweet Pastry Shop, Designed and Detailed Event Management, The Romel Collection and Tablescapes conjured a moss‑drizzled, whimsical tableau.

The Gwen, a downtown masterpiece, is an Art Deco Chicago gem reimagined with contemporary flair. To honor the landmark, the team took cues from the ballroom’s statement chandelier concept as their inspiration, echoing its gold tones in coordinated chairs and tabletop rentals. From there, they layered in lush, moss-filled floralscapes, unexpected punches of chartreuse and a bold juxtaposition between sleek lines and organic textures.

As if plucked from a hidden woodland glade and planted in the heart of Chicago, this Designers’ Challenge showcases that even in the city’s center, a serene escape can bloom where planted.

It was our goal to have a couple feel like they stepped into a 21st-century version of a woodland fairytale.

– Alison Grossman, Designed and Detailed Event Management

The Team

PLANNER Designed and Detailed Event Management
FLORAL Branching Out Chicago
CAKE Bittersweet Pastry Shop
STATIONERY Adorable Designs by Candice
RENTALS Tablescapes
SPECIALTY RENTALS The Romel Collection
DRAPE & LIGHTING Atmosphere Events Group
VENUE The Gwen, a Luxury Collection Hotel
PHOTOGRAPHY Anamaria Vieriu Photography

Seated (Left to Right): Samuel Bertino, Bittersweet Pastry Shop; Candice Morales, Adorable Designs by Candice; Alison Grossman, Designed and Detailed Event Management; Christina Slabik, Designed and Detailed Event Management

Standing (Left to Right): Paige Galick, Branching Out Chicago; Justin Johnson, Branching Out Chicago; Christie Lindquist Delort, Branching Out Chicago; John Strzalkowski, Atmosphere Events Group; Anamaria Vieriu, Anamaria Vieriu Photography; Ari Michaels, Bittersweet Pastry Shop; Anthony Lighthall, The Romel Collection; Heather Joslin, The Gwen, a Luxury Collection Hotel

Not Pictured: Christine Boulton, Branching Out Chicago

VOTE NOW!

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Feature photo by Bryte Media

Sometimes a dress is more than just an item of clothing, but also a vessel for memories. Whether it’s your high school prom dress, a wedding dress, the little pink number your daughter wore on her first birthday, or the vintage designer piece you inherited from your grandmother, these items represent cherished moments in time and should be protected and handled with care.

Preserving your heirloom dresses is about more than just keeping them looking nice and clean. It is about honoring them and their stories and ensuring you can continue to pass them down generation after generation. Whether you’ve just pulled a vintage dress from storage or have a dress you’ve recently worn and want to preserve, here is everything you need to know about keeping your heirloom dresses in pristine condition. (more…)

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On January 23, 2025, Chicago’s wedding industry gathered at Morgan MFG for an evening of elegance and philanthropy at the 13th annual Blissful Wishes Ball, hosted by Wish Upon A Wedding. Presented by Generation Tux, this spectacular evening welcomed over 500 industry professionals and supporters, all united by a shared mission: granting weddings and vow renewals to couples facing terminal illness. (more…)

Feature photo: CD Peacock – The Mansion

Glam Atelier

Chicago, IL | 833.552.4526 | glamatelier.com

Starting in 2025, Glam Atelier, Chicago’s premier luxury hair and makeup studio, will transition to an exclusive, referral-only business model. Known for setting trends and delivering impeccable service, Glam Atelier is limiting its bookings, enabling its elite team to create a truly bespoke experience for each client. Prospective brides who inquire will be invited to a personalized Zoom consultation, during which the Glam Atelier team assesses compatibility based on factors like style alignment and overall wedding vision. Only brides who embody Glam Atelier’s signature essence will be invited to work with the team, with priority given to referrals from trusted industry partners and past clients. This new approach allows Glam Atelier to continue elevating its quality of service and client experience, solidifying its place as Chicago’s ultimate “It Girl” glam team. (more…)

WRITTEN BY Isabel Tinajero, La Novia Creations | FEATURE PHOTO BY Tim Tab Studios

Imagine waking up the morning after your wedding, still glowing from the most magical day of your life. As you reach for your phone, a notification pops up: your wedding content creator has already delivered a gallery filled with candid clips and behind-the-scenes photos. You scroll through moments you didn’t even know were captured — the look on your partner’s face as you walked down the aisle, the laughter during toasts, and all the little interactions that made your day special. Instantly, you can start reliving the moments that defined your wedding, seeing things you might’ve missed while caught up in the excitement. (more…)

PHOTOGRAPHY BY Lexi Benjamin Photography

Floral preservation has entered a new era, where functionality and design combine to create adored keepsakes. Rachel Ramirez of Moments to Memories Floral Preservation is part of this shift, using modern techniques to offer couples unique ways to preserve their wedding flowers. Starting her company at just 21, Ramirez represents the next generation of wedding vendors who are redefining how couples can cherish their special day. (more…)

Vendors

VENUE Charcoal Factory Loft
PHOTOGRAPHY Aspen Avenue
HAIR Emily Rae Bridal Hair
MAKEUP Bry Jean Artistry
FLORAL Larkin Floral
GOWNS & STYLING Dimitra’s Bridal Couture
ACCESSORIES Aveil
SHOES Kailee P.
MODEL Willow Star

– Sponsored content brought to you by CD One Price Cleaners –
Feature Photo by Anamaria Vieriu Photography

After the wedding day celebration, many brides preserve their dresses to remember all that happened and possibly pass down this important piece to future generations. Unfortunately, wedding dress preservation in Chicago costs vary considerably. So this guide aims to inform you exactly how much this service costs. (more…)

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Feature collage photos by: Nicodem Creative, Aspen Avenue, Karlie Dru Photography, Madi Ellis Photography, Victoria C Photos, Maura Black Photography

For centuries, flowers have spoken a romantic secret language. Floriography, the practice of using flowers for coded communication, originated in ancient times and peaked in the 1800s. Also known as the “Victorian language of flowers,” this practice allowed people to communicate intimate feelings at a time when social etiquette limited direct expression of emotions.

In Victorian England, long before the advent of text messaging and FaceTime, flowers served as intimate messengers. Numerous floral dictionaries published at the time cracked the codes, detailing the meanings of blooms and enabling discreet communication. (more…)

When it comes to red-carpet events that push the boundaries of fashion, the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) have always been a playground for daring and unconventional styles. From Lady Gaga’s infamous meat dress in 2010 to Lil’ Kim’s iconic lilac pastie ensemble in 1999, the VMAs are synonymous with bold, head-turning looks. But while the focus is often on shock value, there’s no shortage of fashion moments that can inspire your wedding wardrobe.

This year’s 2024 MTV VMAs brought a mix of edgy, avant-garde, and surprisingly bridal-ready styles. Whether you’re planning your ceremony, reception, or a fun bachelorette party, the VMA’s red carpet offers plenty of ideas to incorporate a touch of music video glamour into your special day.

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Feature Photo by Maura Black Photography

No matter how wonderful your vendor team is or how thorough you’ve planned, one thing no one can control is the weather. In Chicago, where weather can be unpredictable and diverse, understanding the climate is crucial for planning a successful wedding. Based on past data, here’s what you need to know about Chicago’s weather to make the best decisions for your big day.

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