PARTY FAVORS

Where would your wedding be without your wedding party? More than likely you’d wind up with more stress with all the chaos, then time spent enjoying what the day is supposed to be all about.



What better way to give back to your party, then to make this night more memorable for them as well? Give back a little! Whether it’s photographs, trinkets, grab bags, personalized items, or fine chocolates/sweets… going that extra mile never goes without appreciation. Remember that if it weren't for your wedding party, your wedding wouldn't be all that it could be. So, why not show a little thanks for all of their hardwork? Give them something that they'll remember.


A popular way to go, and a great penny saver… is to D.I.Y. Not only does it make it more personalized and gunuine, it goes a little bit easier on your wallet, too. Decorated candy tins, baskets chalk full of homeade cookies and brownies, scented candles or tea lights, and even homeade potpourri. Also remember the season in which your getting married! If it’s around Christmas you could make tree ornaments… Valentines day could include hearts and sweetheart-esque items, etc.


Personalized gifts… such as wine corks, coasters, matchbooks, pens, or even notebooks are also cute little additions as well. The costs on things such as that run a little bit higher, but it gives the guests not only a tangible memory… but has the date/wedding on it as well.


An idea on the rise is photobooths!  Capturing the memory is not only fun, but lasts  An obvious choice is to have a professional photographer, but why not make it that much more special, by giving your guests the creative hand? Imagine the awesome candids you’ll capture taking this route! Photobooths, such a Momento Photobooth… are such an awesome idea. With booths that can fit 8-10 people… you’re pretty much guaranteed a great amount of silly and sweet captures.  Compiling all these wonderful photos to send to your guests can also be a great gift! For your entire guest list, or even just the immediate party.






Any and all of these ideas can be used as party favors, or as intimate gifts for the people who made your day possible. Show them how thankful you are! And please leave us feedback on what ideas you chose, and how they turned out!

Thank You i4 Design for allowing us to be a part of your 4th Annual Magazine Launch!

i4DESIGN MAGAZINE ANNOUNCES THEIR FOURTH ANNUAL SUITE SIXTEEN PICKS


CHICAGO (May 18th, 2010) i4design magazine launched their 4th annual Suite Sixteen issue today announcing this year’s top picks of the sixteen architects, designers and artists that are making their mark in the design world here in Chicago and beyond.

Held at theWit’s Roof in downtown Chicago, a packed house of a-list architects, designers and developers sipped on ‘Startinis’ provided by Krome Vodka and mingled among the half dozen statuesque models wearing the latest sculptural creations of famed fashion designer Dominique.

“We are very excited to recognize some of the best and brightest in the design industry with this Suite Sixteen issue,” said Mitch Obstfeld, Publisher. “In a city such as Chicago, known for its rich architectural and design legacy and its current breadth of innovative design professionals, this was not an easy task.” Some of the winners chosen this year were Jackie Koo, who has earned accolades galore for the show-stopping design of theWit Hotel and ‘Legend’ Maya Romanoff, whose wall coverings have revolutionized the industry worldwide.

This year's Suite Sixteen picks were Clare Lyster, Sharon and Peter Exley, Ugo Alfano Casati, Dina Griffin, Rick Valicenti, Jessica Turf, Pete Landon, Gregg Garmisa, Michelle Williams, Theaster Gates, Leslie Thomas, Jorge Orozco-Codero, Lisa Simeone and Gina Dreary, Marty Lescht, Jackie Koo and Maya Romanoff.

The Underwriting Sponsor of this year’s event was Thermador who announced their Star Partner Program for architects and designers.

The i4design Media headquarters are located at the
Zhou B. Center 1029 West 35th St., Chicago, IL 60609.
For more information, please call 773.523.0203.


To view photos from the event log on to http://www.mementophotobooth.com/

Engaged Couple Goes Digital

More than half of the guests invited to the wedding of Alana Dalglish and Blair Sutherland have already RSVPd without mailing in a response or receiving a mailed invitation. The couple decided to create their own personal wedding website, which allows the guests to view the invitation and RSVP for the wedding online. Dalglish and Sutherland included save-the-date magnets for the wedding with the web address, when they mailed out their Christmas cards, requesting guests to RSVP on their website since they would not be mailing out paper invitations.

Dalglish said the decision to go the digital route stemmed from a number of reasons, including wanting to keep the wedding as eco-friendly and reduce postage costs. On their website Dalglish and Sutherland have included the story on how they met, mini-biographies of members of their family and wedding party, and even a section inviting visitors to submit and share recipes.

They are also holding a fundraiser to benefit a village school in Mexico, near the eco-resort where they will be spending their honeymoon. People can donate to the cause online. There are also plans in the works to have a live feed of their nuptials. The couple stated using online tools allows them to share more information than they could in a paper invitation and helps makes communications easier in the process.

New Survey Demonstrates a Rise in DIY Brides & Pre-Wedding Parties

 

According to Shutterfly's Wedding Trends Survey administered on March 22-30th of this year, bridal showers and bachelorette parties are back in full swing. The survey polled 422 women who were married in the past 12 months, and 500 women who are engaged and will be married in the next 12 months. Results showed an anticipated 58%t increase in bachelorette parties and a 47% increase in bridal showers.

Other findings from Shutterfly's Wedding Trend Survey revealed:

~Should've spent less on the dress; more on the memories. Of survey respondents married within 12 months prior to the survey, 28% felt they didn't spend enough money on the honeymoon; 22% felt the same about the photographer. 19% of the same sample reported spending too much on the bridal gown and food.

~The old adage: "Always a bridesmaid, never a bride" might not be true. Shutterfly's survey revealed that a third of respondents had been a maid of honor at least once in the past; 37% of those brides have been a maid of honor more than once.

~Blue is the color of the season. 27% of engaged brides listed blue as their primary wedding hue. Other hot schemes were black and white (24%) purple (19%) and red (17%).

Are you a married woman or future bride? Give us your input!

Wish Upon a Wedding - Chicago Launch

"America's ORIGINAL wedding wish granting organization, grants weddings & civil union ceremonies at destinations across the US to couples facing life-threatening medical conditions, celebrating the courage & spirit of these couples." - Wish Upon A Wedding

This is a great organization and it's now spread to Chicago, thanks to Chapter President @AliPhillips.  They have locations across the United States, including California, New York, St. Louis and many more.  If you want to help out a couple with their wedding wish, check out their website to fill out an application and participate.  Chicago Chapter of Wish Upon a Wedding

We are excited to be a part of this wonderful organization.  Do you have an organization you would like to share?

Wedding Dress Guide for 2010

Flowing, romantic dresses in floor-length styles will remain the most popular. Brides today choose dresses with softer fabrics, ruffles, satin sashes and floral detailing. Most dress silhouettes usually inlcude delicate overlaying of fabrics such as lace, tulle and chiffon. Dresses with crystal and/or pearl beading are very trendy right now. We are also seeing a lot of oversized bows on the shoulder, waist or back of the dress, giving gowns a more couture-like appearance. Colored gowns are also starting to pop up, with champagne and black being the most prominently used colors (following white). The A-line skirt still dominates the runway, however many designers have included ball gowns and tea-length styles in their lines this season. One of the newest developments is the one-shoulder dress style, which seems to be taking over the halter; the strapless dress remaining the most popular of them all.

What do you think will be the next big trend in wedding dresses this year? Share with us!

Ben & Jerry's Support Gay Marriage

 

Ben & Jerry's celebrated the right of gay couples to marry in Washington, D.C., with a wedding and reception for local couple Keith Spangler and Andreas Vellios at the Georgetown Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shop.

Ben & Jerry's cofounder Jerry Greenfield, councilmember and sponsor of the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Equality Amendment Act of 2009 David Catania, Freedom to Marry director of new media Michael Crawford, and friends and family celebrated the couple's vows with a wedding ice cream cake and ceremonial traditions.

Following the symbolic renaming of Ben & Jerry's ice cream flavor "Chubby Hubby" to "Hubby Hubby" in September 2009 to celebrate the legalization of gay and lesbian marriages in its home state of Vermont, the company continues to demonstrate its commitment to social justice, including gay rights and its partnership with the nonprofit Freedom to Marry, the leading campaign to win marriage nationwide.

"Equal rights and treatment for all people was a founding principle of Ben & Jerry's when we started the company over 30 years ago," Greenfield says.