This wedding was glamour on a grand scale!! We all had so much fun working with Rachel and David on their beautiful black, white and hot pink wedding!  Rachel, who is the oldest of three girls has excellent taste and we really bonded.  The planning process was like hanging out with an old friend.  I also truly enjoyed getting to know her mother!  We had a lot in common since I was pregnant with my third daughter for a majority of the process.

The setting was just right at Ivy Room at Tree Studios.  Any opportunity to work with Donna and her team at the Ivy Room is a welcome one!  I just adore this picture of Rachel and David against the “Ivy Wall”. Breathtaking!

Jewish law requires that all weddings on the Sabbath be after sundown.  That meant this Labor Day weekend wedding started after 7:30 p.m. (and lasted well into the wee hours of Sunday morning eventually moving to Pops for Champagne!)  The first event was the Ketubah signing.  I have always loved this tradition, it one of the most beautiful parts of any wedding ceremony. Once this event is over the couple is “married in the eyes of Jewish Law”.

The ceremony, which took place directly following the Ketubah signing, was in the main ballroom with the most amazing and beautiful seven layer Chuppa you can imagine with lots and lots of romantic candle light.  Ronsley Special Events really did a great job with everything.  The ceremony was a magical setting in all white (except for the beautiful black chivari chairs provided by Tablescapes).

We were blessed with perfect weather for cocktails in the courtyard (seen below light up beautifully with pink up-lights thanks to Sound Investment).

From there guests went back inside to a totally transformed space with rich pink lighting, the most luxurious black and white silhouette linens from BBJ Linens and to die for centerpieces from Ronsley Special Event.  We alternated tables with the all white tall centerpieces featuring Calla’s and Orchids and short square centerpieces of hot pink roses in an opaque black vessel … Of course there was tons of candlelight throughout the room!

The treats just kept coming as the guests were blown away by the sounds of the Larry King Orchestra, tastes from Weddings by Blue Plate and the piece de resistance, a four tiered PB&J cake, dripping in handmade silver and crystal flowers, from none other than Amy Beck Cake Design … Ok, so it was Amy’s, to-die-for, chocolate bourbon cake with peanut butter mousse and fresh raspberry filling … PB&J couture style!

All around this wedding was a blast.  It was such a pleasure working with Rachel and David (and their families!) and being surrounded by some of my favorite vendors.  That always makes events run smoothly and a lot more enjoyable!  The beautiful photography is courtesy of Matt Blum .

As a little icing on the proverbial cake … Chicago Social Brides Magazine decided to feature Rachel and David’s wedding in their December 2009 Issue.  Be sure to pick up your copy today to see it in person (you can also view the entire issue online).