Special thanks to Ruby the Fox and Sugar Chic Designs for helping to make everything extra beautiful!

It is always good to welcome a new year by reflecting on the previous one … So here are some of our favorite memories from 2011 including weddings we have coordinated as well as events we have participated in within the wedding industry.  It was hard to narrow them down and they appear in no particular order.  I hope you enjoy taking a walk down memory lane with us  (and you can always look back through the blog for more details about each event!).

A special thanks to the following photographers for the above images: Amanda Hein Photography, Bellissima Photography, Danielle Aquiline Photography, David Wolfe Photography, Fred Fox Photography, Gerber + Scarpelli Wedding Photography, Jennifer Kathryn Photography, Jeremy Lawson Photography, Megan W Photography, Simply Jessie Photography.

Lesley & Matt Trailer from Chicago Cinematic Weddings on Vimeo.

We are so proud of the work we have done with the eleven eleven WEDDING Giveaway.  The event is extremely near and dear to our hearts since we created it in 2010.  This year’s exceptional event took place yesterday at The Chicago History Museum and was featured on the ABC 7  News 6:00 pm broadcast and in the Chicago Sun Times.

Working with the winners, Amy and Howard, was a truly exceptional experience.  They are the kind of people you just want to be around all of the time, infectious, generous, gracious, funny, kind (I could go on and on). It was such a pleasure to introduce them to each of the sponsors and work with them throughout the planning process.

It is important to note that none of this would be possible without the constant support from the vendors in our community. We are so blessed to work with these amazing people who give of their time, talents and resources so willingly and with such grace. We are truly humbled by the experience and thank you simply does not seem to be “big enough” but we hope it will do.

Keep an eye out for some sneak peak pictures from Amanda Hein Photography.

The eleven eleven WEDDING Giveaway for 2012 will be announced sometime in February so please check back often and send in those applications, as you can see,  dream weddings really can come true!

You can find all of our sponsors listed below.  We thank them all, from the bottom of our hearts.

All images are from the Chicago Sun Times Article.

The amazing photos of this gorgeous event were captured by Eric and Melissa Snoza of SnoStudios! We simply loved working with Food for Thought, Amy Beck Cake Design, Hello Darling and the Chicago Catz!

We are so excited to be a vendor at Indie Wed next January!  This is such a be fantastic bridal show (and the only one we will be participating in all year).  We will be sharing a booth with our friends at Fleur. Kelly and I are hard at work designing the booth and cannot wait to show it off on January 28th so be sure to join us, you can buy tickets here (and you get an early bird discount if you purchase before December 17th!).

Indie Wed also has a fantastic new Blog so be sure to heck it out and learn all about the vendors that will be at the event.

Love this one of the ladies helping each other get ready!

The beautiful purple and green florals were done by Pollen Floral Design.

The wedding party strolling along the Chicago River.

The ceremony set-up was breathtaking as the sun began to set behind the Chicago History Museum!

This was a fabulous Andy-Warhol inspired poster Amanda Hein created for MegAnn and Jim using their engagement photos!

Their simple, all-white cake was created by Tipsycake.

Guests sat down to smiley-face sugar cookies from one of their favorite bakeries. Everyone was then treated to a delicious meal from Food For Thought Catering.

Hopefully we brightened your day just a bit!

It was such a pleasure working with an outstanding group of professionals on this wedding: The Newberry Library, Fleur, Berghoff Catering, Orchestra 33, A Family Affair Video, and Amy Beck Cake Design!

You can view the full post on Elizabeth Anne Designs here.

Picking the month, date and location for your wedding is an important factor in deciding how you want the rest of your wedding to look and feel.  It’s also important to consider what is going on in your city over your preferred dates.  In Chicago we find that the months of September and October are the busiest wedding months, however, planning a November wedding can offer you cost savings and a plethora of venue options. Once you enter December you will fight holiday parties for event space, so it’s best to be a little flexible on your dates.

Use your wedding date and season as inspiration for your location.  If you are planning a fall wedding look into parks, orchards, vineyards, farms or ranches. Fall seems to call for an outdoor or rustic, yet elegant, setting.

A winter themed wedding is ideal in a ski or mountain lodge or a small inn. These venues will provide the small intimate cozy setting that’s fitting for a winter wedding. If you choose to have your wedding at a lodge, you may be fortunate to have a snowy mountain as a natural back drop. There are some beautiful destination spots within a few short hours from Chicago. Or take this an entirely different direction and embrace the beauty of the city during the holidays – the sparkling lights and decorated store windows. How about transporting your guests via a carriage ride down Michigan Avenue or State Street?!

Selecting a color palette guided by the holidays is the perfect way to begin. It can be fun to get a little non-traditional! Consider, earthy green and brown in November or silver and blue in December.  You may also need to consider the type of decor your venue will have in place for the holidays.  If you are in a hotel or club they may have permanent holiday decor that could influence your own design. Take advantage of the natural beauty of the season as well and include it in your decor.

Build your menu around the season as well.  We always encourage you to use locally sourced food items and the best way to do that is to serve what is in season at the time of your wedding.  Consider the way the food will appear on the plate and how it is served.  Remember that food styling is as much a part of your overall look as anything else.  Everyone can appreciate a beautifully arranged plate! Specialty cocktails can be especially fun this time of year, consider spiced apple cider or wine (with a stick of cinnamon inside), eggnog or hot buttered rum! Give gingerbread cookies as late night snacks and hot chocolate as guest favors.

Dress the part!  Don’t forget to cover up when outside.  Beautiful faux fur shrugs or shawls can keep you warm and are beautiful in pictures.  These can also be great bridesmaids gifts for your wedding party. If you are brave enough, consider a short outside ceremony in the snow and provide blankets to warm your guests!

Lastly, remember to have some fun with your pictures!  Photographers love doing out-of-the-box shots to incorporate your personalities and the season, so get creative!

Here are a few other little details that may help inspire your holiday themed wedding.

Featured images are from the following:

Document The Day Photography

Heather Parker Photography

The Boho Wedding Blog

Ashley Bride Guide

Libby James

The Plunge Project

Visual Photo’s

NYCity Weddings

DM Wedding Rentals

Bow ties and Bliss

Beau Coup

United With Love

We are so excited to see Marta and William’s stunning winter wedding featured on Be U Weddings today. We so enjoyed working on this wedding and had a really talented group of professionals with us including Heather Parker Photography, Toast and Jam and Scarlet Petal.