This super fun yellow, pink and brown party featured the most adorable paper products from Party Plan-it Designs.  They do such an amazing job and everything comes packaged together.  I must admit, my personal favorite was the custom birthday banner.  It was not only super cute but came beautifully assembled and ready to hang! The products that Party Plan-it provided were countless but included invitations, tent cards, water bottle labels, cupcake toppers, welcome sign, stickers, favor tags and thank you notes! The yellow and white paper straws with customized pink flags came from Babs Giddy Gappers, the cupcake wrappers were from Olivia’s Paper Shoppe and the chalkboard labels (used on the bottles) came from Bugaboo Gifts. It’s worth mentioning that all of these vendors are on etsy!

The guests were treated to delicious banana cupcakes from Truffle Truffle and I think it’s fair to say the birthday girl really enjoyed them!!  Then everyone played the afternoon away on the bubble filled play floor and left with delightful gift baskets full of party favors.

Thank you to Samantha from Puddle Jumpers Photography for all of the attached images.

All and all it’s fun to be two!

Lesley & Matt Trailer from Chicago Cinematic Weddings on Vimeo.

We are so excited to see the eleven eleven WEDDING Live Reveal Party up on their site!  We are honored to be part of this amazing wedding and completely love working with Amy and Howard!

Thanks again to ZED451, Poetic Productions, Amanda Hein Photography and BKO for helping to make the live reveal party so amazing!

Jennifer was kind enough to share some engagement pictures she took of our clients Lesley and Matt.  These pictures are so much fun and just go to show that you can really get creative with your engagement shots.  Why make them borning and stuffy when you can get out and have a blast!

I cannot wait to see what Jennifer produces in September!

Kelly was featured in this weeks Time Out Chicago.  The article is below but you can check it out here as well.  Great job Kelly!!

Kelly Marie Uus, shop owner
(pictured right)
On out-of-the-ordinary requests…
“Every now and then we have that one person who wants black roses. We joke and call that ‘the bouquet for your inner vampire.’ It’s a rose called Black Baccara [which Fleur carries], and it’s like a deep burgundy. We’ll throw in white ostrich feathers.”

For the fellas…
“We just started carrying adorable cross-stitches that are handmade in Logan Square. Some have a specific Valentine’s Day theme, like the word kiss or [the phrase] ‘I left my heart in Chicago.’”

Caleb Yono, store employee
On out-of-the-ordinary requests…
“This lady asked me to make a bouquet for a guy [whose house] she’d left her panty hose at. She brought a new pair of panty hose and asked me to tie the bouquet with them.”

For the fellas…
“Woodsy things like branches and hearty things like thistle or some viney things like berries. Also tropicals like orchids.”

Caitlin Kerr, store employee
On personal favorites…
“I’m into more monotone [arrangements]. You don’t want the eye to go crazy when you’re looking at something. I [like] when they’re wildflowery, like when it’s bunched together and a Ranuncula is sticking up. More organic asymmetrical. Sometimes I like smaller vases with larger arrangements. It can look like it’s floating.”

Fleur is located at 3149 W Logan Blvd (773-395-2770).

And just for fun here are two picture of the amazing work Kelly did for Amanda and Mike, the winners of the eleven eleven WEDDING this past November!!

Photographs provided by Amanda Hein Photography.

I am so excited to see that the beautiful engagement pictures of Amanda and Mike are up on the eleven eleven WEDDING website!  Amanda Hein did an amazing job (as usual) of capturing the true spirit of this amazing couple. I cannot wait to see what the actual wedding pictures look like!

Below is a little teaser shot.  Be sure to check out the eleven eleven WEDDING site to see more, read all about the planning process and watch video’s from all our planning sessions (thanks to Poetic Productions).

A few months ago we did a While Drinking a Glass of Champagne interview with Kara Underwood Gordon from Magnificent Milestones Custom Stationery.

Since we last spoke with Kara she has been hard at work creating a fantastic new line she calls The Third Coast Collection. We think Kara has designed something really amazing.  To make it even more fantastic, the line is eco-friendly, using soy based inks and recycled paper products … If you live in Chicago it doesn’t get much better than this!

Here is what Kara has to say about her exciting new line:

“The Third Coast Collection celebrates the great city of Chicago that we call home! A place where each neighborhood, bus route and zip code has it’s own identity and flair. Each resident is proud to call it their own. The Third Coast Collection is made up of letterpress cards, reusable bags and clean designs, all done locally.”

Below are just a few examples from the line and remember, everything Kara does is completely customizable, so get those creative juices flowing and give Kara a call today!! If you shop now you can save 15% on orders of $100 or more! Enter SHOPBIG at checkout.

Each of the sponsors will be doing guest blog pieces on the eleven eleven WEDDING website so I hope you will head their often to check it out.  Diana, from Jenny Yoo is the first blogger!  In the meantime, here is a little teaser … The video from Amanda’s dress shopping experience at Jenny Yoo!!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLYWVqkMG8Q

Thanks to Ken from Poetic Productions for this fantastic montage!

Since the website recent launch they’ve offered some fantastic deals from a groom’s cake to welcome goodie bags for your guests to Wedding 101 classes. If you haven’t checked it out yet, get on over to wedobo.com!

This week’s deal – a $147 Ultimate Beach Body Makeover, a $295 value!

Get your arms ready for that wedding dress—and your body ready for the honeymoon in a bikini. With less than 6 days left for this deal, you better get it now!

I seriously loved interviewing Kara Underwood from Magnificent Milestones!!  Kara owns an amazing custom invitation shop and I am like a kid in a candy store there … Ok, I will admit it … I have a little crush on paper. Feeling really nice paper gives me a bit of a rush.  Now I know that might be a little strange for some of you but it isn’t for Kara and that is one of many reason we get along so well!!

One lucky reader will get an amazing gift provided by Kara … You will have to read through the interview to find out what and how you can win.  Yeah, I am sneaky like that!

You own a beautiful invitation company that operates out of Smitten Boutique, how did you end up sharing this space?

Kirstin Martin, the owner of Smitten Boutique, and I separately had dreams to open a wedding boutique in the West Loop. It was perfect… close to many wedding vendors and there was absolutely nothing like it in the area. The only problem was, we both had the idea at the same time.

We opened within 6 months of one another and did our best to find our niche and support one another’s businesses. Kirstin focused on day of details, such as jewelry, cake toppers and more, while I focused on custom invitations and all things paper. We were constantly sending people to one another and meeting for coffee to chat. After a year, Kirstin and I met to discuss a physical merger. We would share the amazing space at Smitten Boutique and each maintain separate businesses. Naturally, I jumped at the chance!

Seriously folks, if you live in the Chicagoland area and have not been to Smitten Boutique then run don’t walk. The store is simply amazing!!

What do you love most about the invitation business?

When the bride sees her invitations for the first time! It is very surreal to see your name next to your fiancés… very official!

You just created your own Invitation Line.  Tell me about “The Third Coast Collection”!

I started the Third Coast Collection out of my love for Chicago and a void in the marketplace. Brides & Grooms are always searching for fun and kitschy notes for thank you cards and welcome bags. They don’t always have the budget for customized notecards and these have a way of being personal to the couple and their personalities. Stay posted for a line of Chicago-centrice save the dates and invitations coming this fall!

You used to be a wedding planner, what made you decide to forego that and focus on invitations?

I love weddings (obviously), so it’s no surprise that I had my hand in several things at once. Planning was so much fun, but I truly think everyone should have a specialty. After the business started to grow, I realized that I was spreading myself to thin and needed to decide on just one focus. My love for paper prevailed!

I must admit this makes me very happy!!  Not only because Kara was some stiff competition for me but because she has truly outdone herself with the custom invitations.  I seriously love taking my brides to see her.  Not only do they love being in the shop and what she has to offer but she is just plain fun to spend an hour with … Oh and it does not hurt that if you make an appointment to look at invitations with her she gives you the most adorable “expert thank you cards” (yes, that is all you have to do … Make an appointment instead of just stopping in!).

What do you miss most about planning?

Good question! I miss the day of, hands down. It is so exciting… Seeing the bride for the first time, watching the groom when she walks down the aisle, bringing them in to see the room, everything.

What did you find the most stressful about being a wedding planner?

There were times that I felt more like a psychiatrist than a planner! There is a lot of mediating, whether it is between a client and his/her parents or the bride and groom themselves, and it is challenging.

You just got married yourself (at the Ivy Room no less).  What did you learn from “the bride’s perspective” that you did not know from the planner perspective?

All the fun details and stresses you don’t deal with as a planner…. Such as the amazing dress, the dreaded guest list.

What was your favorite part of your wedding?

Oh gosh, that is hard! I have a few… getting ready with my bridesmaids and my mom was a blast. I needed my girl time, so everyone came over in the morning for hair and makeup. After a lot of laughs (and some champagne), it was time to start the day. The ceremony was also one of my favorites. Our officiant did a great job personalizing it. Last but not least, one of my favorites was the dance party that took place that night.

What is your favorite restaurant in Chicago?

My favorite food is Mexican and I love the *new* Mercadito.

Favorite color?

Yellow

Favorite movie?

Steel Magnolias

Favorite song?

This changes all the time! Once I love something, I listen to it on repeat, literally, so it doesn’t last as a favorite for long. Sleepyhead by Passion Pit is on repeat right now.

Which living person do you most admire?

My mom, for a lot of reasons. She is one of eleven (yes, eleven!) children which made her mom-like figure to my aunts and uncles at a very young age. She had to sacrifice a lot to help out and never got to go to college. But I have never heard a complaint. She worked hard before starting her own family and still became extremely successful. In more recent years, I have thrown her several curve balls, moving to Chicago (with no job, no plan), starting my own business, opening a store and more. Everything I throw her way, I get nothing but support. I am always told that if “someone can do it, it’s me” and I truly think that is why I get to do what I love today.

What do you like best about working with Greatest Expectations?

Personally: You two are just fun! I can seriously chat with you for hours. Oh wait, we have!

Professionally: I love working with planners like you that go above and beyond for their clients. They are so lucky to have you! I know when I email them at 9:00 p.m. at night, I will get a response

Thank you Kara!!  It is so nice to get that kind of compliment from someone in the industry.

Now on to the good stuff … If you love paper the way Kara and I do then you will really enjoy these beautiful (and totally fun)  engraved note cards from Kara’s Third Coast Collection. In order to win simply post a comment here telling us about your personal secret (or not so secret) obsession (mine is clearly expensive paper). Anyone is welcome to enter!