6 Holiday Wedding Tips from Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza River North

GUEST POST FROM HOLIDAY INN CHICAGO MART PLAZA RIVER NORTH

JPP Studios

It’s the most wonderful time of the year… and there’s no better time of year to host your wedding!

Whether you’re newly engaged or daydreaming of your ideal wedding day, the holidays are the perfect time of year to celebrate.  Surrounded by family, friends, and the magic of the holidays, let it transform your wedding day into an even more memorable time of year. Here are a few tips and reasons why a holiday wedding is the way to go!


1. Play up the festivity of the season and use the Holiday as the theme to your wedding celebration. An added bonus if your wedding venue already helps decorate the space!

2. You already love spending the holidays with your closest family and friends, and with a holiday wedding, your wedding party and guests won’t have to take off personal days from work if they need to travel to your nuptials.

JPP Studios

3. Make it easy on yourself and your guests by having the wedding ceremony, reception, and after-party all in one place! Hosting your wedding at a hotel not only keeps the day-of less chaotic by removing travel from the equation, but the details of your planning and wedding day will stay consistent and eliminate the need for vendor rentals ranging from chairs, china, stemware, catering, and your dance floor.  

4. A holiday wedding doesn’t fall between the peak wedding months of May thru September, meaning lower wedding minimums at many venues saving you money.

5. During the winter months, enjoy early sunsets setting the mood for a romantic evening with the sparkling city skyline as the perfect backdrop to your reception.

Angel Eyes Photography

Angel Eyes Photography

6. Best of all, you’ll be starting off the new year as a newly married couple!

If you’re ready to start planning your holiday wedding, contact the Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza River North at 312-529-1124 or email us at wedding@martplaza.com. To learn more about hosting your wedding at the Mart Plaza, please visit our website!

Special thanks to JPP Studios, Timothy Whaley & Associates, Sprung Photo, and Angel Eyes Photography.

PHOTO SHOOT: Golden Glamour -- Modern Wedding Inspiration

Vendors

Venue: The Palmer House // Photography by Lauren and Chris Studios // Hair + Makeup: Shadow Blend // Bridal Gown: Laurel Bridal Gallery // Model - Stephanie Morgan 

Tips for a Wonderful Winter Wedding

GUEST POST BY THE INTERCONTINENTAL CHICAGO MAGNIFICENT MILE

Despite what people say, winter has its perks. Warm fires, comfort food, twinkling lights, and romantic settings are some of the things we look forward to when the weather gets colder. And before you get discouraged by the thought of a winter wedding, Chris Schmidt, the director of catering at the gorgeous InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile, offers his ideas for making the most of your winter wedding, wowing guests with an amazing cold-weather fete:

• Integrate lots of candlelight into your decor for a warm ambiance
• As winter weather encroaches, consider upgrading to a more decadent red wine selection to enhance your dining experience
• Consider a venue that overlooks a beautiful street or park to take advantage of the holiday lights. We love a ballroom overlooking North Michigan Avenue, where you can see the lights twinkling down the Magnificent Mile
• Consider more unique menu options like pheasant or lamb as an cold-weather alternative
• Bring the outdoor campfire experience inside with a make-your-own S'mores bar
• Fall and winter weather brings the return of richer color palettes. Make sure to add in pin-spot lighting so that these rich colors really pop
• Consider a warm welcome beverage or after dinner drink to keep with the season

A huge thanks to Chris Schmidt and the team at the InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile, located at 505 N. Michigan Ave. Click here to request information about holding your wedding at this iconic location, or call (312)321-8735 for an appointment.


Photo courtesy of InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile.

22 Questions to Ask a Restaurant Before Booking Your Wedding

GUEST POST BY AMANDA MICHI, SALVATORE'S RISTORANTE

The city of Chicago offers so many unique locations for couples to tie the knot. You have everything from wineries to breweries, restaurants to lofts, parks to zoos, hotels, gardens, museums, and much, much more. There are so many, in fact, we are a little surprised the CTA El stops haven’t jumped on the bandwagon of the wedding industry. Next stop…Marital Bliss!

What makes it difficult for couples is that every venue seems to have their own way of doing things. There is not an industry standard when it comes to the inclusiveness of a package. This leaves room for lots of questions, lots of check lists, and lots of confusion! Don’t worry we are here to help!

As beautiful and appealing as lofts, museums, gardens, and parks tend to be, they are not exclusively a wedding venue. So, all the tables, chairs, flatware, and glassware need to be coordinated and rented by an outside vendor. When looking to have a wedding at a venue like this, it is very helpful to have an experienced planner to help coordinate everything for you! They will be able to work with the multiple vendors to make sure everything is being delivered and set up properly on the day of the event! This will take a lot of stress away from you on the big day.

On the other hand, places like wineries, breweries, and restaurants have all of that on-site already. It is easier to plan your wedding on your own at these venues because there isn’t much more for you to worry about. Plus, most of these venues have on-site coordinators to help on the day of. These are the kinds of venues we want to focus on. Mainly because many brides and grooms are planning their wedding on their own and we want you to be as prepared on possible.


Below are the top 22 questions we think you should ask when you are looking to have your wedding at a restaurant-style venue:


1. How many people can you accommodate for dinner with a dance floor?

2. Do you have a per person or overall food and beverage minimum? Do those vary based on the day?

3. Do you offer plated dinners, family style, and/or stations? Is there a price difference?

4. Are we able to bring in our own liquor?

5. Is all food and beverage done on-site?

6. Are we able to come in and sample the menu items?

7. Is the wedding cake included in our package? If so, what bakery do you use?

8. Can we bring in outside food? Such as a sweet table or a late night snack?

9. What times do you host events in the evenings?

10. Do you host afternoon events, as well?

11. What is included in the rental fee of the space, and how long will we have the space?

12. Do you include all linens and napkins for the tables?

13. Is there a sound system my DJ can use?

14. What else do I have to take care of in terms of vendors -- outside of the venue?

15. Do you have a preferred vendor list? If so, do we have to use vendors off that list or can we use whoever we like?

16. Who is responsible for tear down and set up?

17. What time are outside vendors able to come in and begin set up?

18. What happens if on the day of more people show up than the final number we give?

19. Do we need to purchase any liability insurance?

20. Do we need security for the event?

21. Is there a wedding suite or a place for the wedding party to put their belongings?

22. Are there any additional or hidden fees we could be charged closer to the event date or on the night of the event?


We hope these questions help you while you begin your search for wedding venues. Keep in mind, what may appear more affordable may not be everything you dreamed of. Keep looking until you find the space that has everything you are looking for!

Good luck with all of your planning!

Thank you so much to Amanda and the crew at Salvatore's Ristorante for all their amazing tips on what to ask your potential restaurant-style venues! Speaking of, weddings at Salvatore's are absolutely gorgeous!! Call 773-528-1200 to schedule a walk-though today!

Real Wedding: JaCee Burnes & Joe Trpik

"JaCee is a consultant with Spencer Stuart, an executive search firm. Joe is the senior vice president and chief financial officer of ComEd, an electric utility serving northern Illinois.

"Exelon is a utility company – what could possibly be exciting about a utility? But there was this one day when sparks started to fly! It was a classic office romance. It all started when our paths crossed in the Finance department. JaCee: a Southern belle with an undergraduate degree from Georgia Tech who escaped a career in investment banking to join Exelon. Joe: a Jersey boy who moved South to play football for Florida State University and happened to join PwC as an accountant, only to be recruited by his client, Exelon. One memorable day, Joe made his intentions known with hot chocolate and a doughnut, and the rest – eight years of dating, a putt-putt game to introduce Joe’s two boys to JaCee, five losing Cubs seasons, three Stanley Cups, the blending of families, a home purchase in Lincoln Park, a romantic, snowy proposal at North Pond, and finally engagement – was history.

"June 20, 2015 was a beautiful day in Chicago. We began bright and early at The Trump International Hotel & Tower with family and friends to help us get ready. Something Old: handkerchief made from JaCee’s mother’s wedding dress. Something New: Alexander McQueen lace skull clutch. Something Borrowed: diamond tennis bracelet from Teresa Doster, JaCee’s matron of honor. Something Blue: Manolo Blahnik satin pumps! And, of course, a six pence in her shoe!

"Our 'first look' occurred on The Terrace of Trump – breathtaking views of the city. It had been a roller coaster of a week and to have this quiet moment was priceless. We raised a glass to celebrate the beginning of our life together as husband and wife… and then… the festivities began. After photos in and around Trump, we joined our bridal party for pictures and videos throughout Sweet Home Chicago. It was a fun and festive excursion throughout the city. The seven bridesmaids were stunning in black – each picked her own style! The six groomsmen were handsome in classic black tuxedos from Formerly Modern Tuxedo. A dear friend, Michelle Speight, ensured flawless execution throughout the day.

"Our traditional ceremony took place at the historic and beautiful Fourth Presbyterian Church. JaCee’s younger brother, Brannon Burnes, walked her down the aisle. Sadly, JaCee’s father, Charlie Burnes, was unable to attend at the last minute due to health issues, but he was a huge part of the nuptials just the same, with a touching video’ed speech at the reception and a FaceTime session that lasted throughout the day and night. Our officiant, Layton Williams, brought humor and a personal touch to the ceremony, in addition to reminding us of the sanctity of marriage. We shed tears as Ave Maria was sung and were filled with gratitude by the amount of love that filled the sanctuary. After pronounced husband and wife, we were greeted with applause and cheers by our guests (and other onlookers) on Michigan Avenue. A white 1959 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud then whisked us away to the Trump.

  

"At the reception, our ~270 guests enjoyed custom his and hers cocktails: JaCee’s Georgia Peach (Peach Bellini) and Joe’s IronMan (Old Fashioned), while a jazz quartet from The Victorian Experience played in the background. The décor was traditional, elegant, romantic with a twist. Dramatic pops of red were seen throughout the room. After cocktails, we entered the ballroom to our school fight songs: FSU War Chant and Georgia Tech’s Ramblin’ Wreck! After all – one of our first connections was over ACC football! Our first dance occurred to Someone Like You by Van Morrison and transitioned to Sweet Home Chicago by Buddy Guy – we finally learned to swing! In between toasts, our guests were treated to a performance by a rock violin quartet – who knew violinists could capture Metallica, Michael Jackson, Snow Patrol and Iron Maiden?

"Our wedding cake was a traditional white cake with butter cream frosting and raspberry and chocolate filling. JaCee arranged for a three-tier groom’s cake which captured some of Joe’s favorite things – FSU, the IronMan and Chicago sports. 

"We also wanted our friends and family to experience Sweet Home Chicago. Out of town guests received a Welcome Box – 'JaCee & Joe: The Perfect Chicago Mix,' which included some of our favorites such as Garrett’s popcorn, an Old Style beer, Wrigley gum, Cubby Bear gummies, Fannie May chocolate and Jay’s potato chips. We gave each table a classic name rather than traditional table numbers! Some of our favorites were: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Lollapalooza, Devil in the White City, Mrs. O’Leary’s Cow, Second City and Taste of Chicago. Chicago has so much to offer that it was easy to have 23 creative table names for our guests. Lou Malnati’s and Chicago hot dogs were served late - and did not last long! We even managed to have the Stanley Cup welcome a few of our guests at the Trump on Friday – a little luck was involved!

"Our only regret is that we were not able to spend as much time with everyone as we would have liked.  Still, it was important that each guest knew how special they were to us and how thrilled we were that they were present to celebrate our marriage. At the reception, each of our guests were greeted with a seating card that included a personal, handwritten note. 

"Eddie Victorian and The Victorian Experience brought down the house and kept our guests dancing until 1am! The Trump also provided a wonderful vista for the Navy Pier fireworks and a dramatic thunder & lightening show outside. It was a night of perfection." -- JaCee Trpik

Vendors

Ceremony:  Fourth Presbyterian Church // Reception:  Trump International Hotel & Tower // Photography: Jai Girard Photography // Videography:  Evolution Films // Officiant: Layton E. Williams // Wedding Consultant: Personalized Events by Michelle // Bride's Gown: Vera Wang // Shoes: Manolo Blahnik from Neiman Marcus // Hair + Makeup: salonblonde // Bridesmaids' Dresses: Amsale from Bella Bridesmaid // Formalwear: Hugo Boss from Formally Modern Tuxedo // Stationery: Magnificent Milestones // Flowers: HMR Designs // Catering: Trump International Hotel & Tower, Lou Malnati’s // Entertainment: The Victorian Experience // Sweets: Cake Sweet Food Chicago (wedding cake), Tipsycakes and More (groom’s cake) // Transportation: Windy City Limousine, Chicago Trolley & Double Decker Co. 

All images by and courtesy of Jai Girard Photography.