Tags: Chicago Events, Happenings in Chicago

I woke up this morning and it feels like fall a little bit, but this quick cool weather will be replaced Sunday with warm and sunny yet again for the Labor Day Weekend in Chicago. Needs ideas for what to... read more »

Tags: About Ali, Chicago Weddings, Wedding Flowers, Wedding Ideas, Wedding Planning

Today is my eighth wedding anniversary with my husband.  We were married in a morning wedding ceremony at our church, Fourth Presbyterian Church, and had a luncheon reception at Salvatore's in Chicago. It was the best day of my life... read more »

Tags: Chicago Weddings, Outdoor Weddings, Wedding Ideas, Wedding Planning, Wedding Receptions

This past  year I have had a bunch of clients have outdoor ceremonies and weddings.  And as we know in Chicago, the weather can not always be so predictable.  The Weather Channel has a great little area on their website... read more »

Tags: About Ali, Wedding Planning

  I met Michelle Loretta at Eventology in Indianapolis, Indiana this past April. She writes a very insightful blog called Sage Wedding Pros and is a wise wedding-biz woman.  She also offers workshops for wedding business professionals on business plan writing,... read more »

Tags: Bridesmaids, Chicago Bachelorette Party, Chicago Spas, Chicago Weddings, Wedding Ideas

 What better way to thank your bridal party and your Mom and mother-in-law "to be" than having them to your house for a Spa Party. I ran across a company, Sparty,  at Biz Bash in Chicago yesterday and boy do... read more »

Tags: charities we support, charity, Chicago Events, Wish Upon a Wedding

  I am super excited to let everyone know that tickets are now on sale for the Blissful Wishes Ball for Wish Upon a Wedding. This Black Tie Welcome event will be held on Monday, November 1st at 6pm at the... read more »

Tags: About Ali, Press

Melissa Margarita De-Stefano of MasterPiece Weddings writes a wonderful blog, Be a Planner and also offers a course for those interested in becoming a wedding planner.  The other day she asked me to stop by the blog and offer advice... read more »

Tags: Chicago Weddings, Wedding Favors, Wedding Ideas, Wedding Photobooth, Wedding Trends

 I just love Photo Booths at weddings and events!  It allows guests the opportunity to have a fun take home from your wedding but also gives you an opportunity to have the fun memories placed in a book that your... read more »

We have been hearing A LOT about Chelsea Clinton's wedding but I saw this today and thought it was a hoot. And who does not LOVE Ozzy Osborne!! Walk down the aisle at OZZFEST in Chicago on Thursday, August 19th!From... read more »

Tags: charities we support, charity, Wish Upon a Wedding

  Six-month old nonprofit organization Wish Upon a Wedding announced last week that it will broaden its scope of services, in order to assist more couples in need. Although its primary focus continues to provide weddings for terminally ill individuals regardless... read more »

Tags: Blumgarten, Chicago Weddings, Ethnic Wedding Traditions, Fourth Presbyterian Church, Rosalind Weddings, Sofitel Chicago, Wedding Traditions, weddings

 Being a wedding consultant in Chicago brings about opportunities to work with so many wonderful wedding couples that are reflecting who they are as part of their wedding by doing ethnic traditions that involve their families, wedding party and guests.... read more »

Tags: charities we support, charity, Wish Upon a Wedding

I am the Chicago President for Wish Upon a Wedding, a non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization started last year in the San Francisco Bay Area which by January 2011 will boast 25 chapters Nationwide. Wish Upon a Wedding provides weddings... read more »

Tags: engagement pictures, photography

Margo and Skip tied the knot this weekend at The Wit Hotel in Chicago. I can not wait to share the images from their wedding with you soon. Today I wanted to share their engagement pictures they took with their... read more »

Tags: About Ali, news

As my followers of the blog know, I was in Cayman Islands two weeks ago attending (and speaking) at the Engage!10 a Luxury Wedding Business Summit. This was the fifth time I have attended the conference and would never miss this... read more »

Tags: charities we support, charity, Chicago events, events, news

We are at it again! The Midwest Wedding & Event Professionals AND their clients Second Annual Golf Outing date is announced.  Come join Chicago's wedding and event professionals as we host a fun golf outing and barbeque. Please join us on... read more »

Tags: About Ali, Events, News

  Save The Date of Monday, November 1st for the Wish Upon a Wedding Chicago Chapter Gala at the Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel.The black-tie event will be from 6pm-11pm and guests will enjoy a lovely seated dinner and a fun night of... read more »

Tags: About Ali, news

Today my husband and I are finishing packing up our house to move to a new house in the city, not too far from our current house. It is bigger, has a deck and has a big office for me... read more »

Tags: news

If you have been following the blog for some time you know that I attend many wedding and event industry conferences to continue learning about new trends but also to learn about good business practices and how to run a... read more »

Tags: About Ali, news

Most people know me as a wedding consultant in Chicago. Yes, that is for sure my career and my passion and my love. I love events, love working with brides and grooms and their family and friends and LOVE the... read more »

Tags: after party, flowers, weddings

Last week I showed some gorgeous pictures of Jessica and Ryan's wedding. Today we will look at their wonderful reception at The Palmer House Hilton.  The design and decor was so carefully created by Erin McDonald from Heffernan Morgan Designs and... read more »

Tags: Chicago Wedding Photography, Chicago Weddings, Millennium Park, Wedding Planning, weddings

 We talked about Jessica and Ryan's ceremony on Monday.  Today, we look at the gorgeous pictures they did with their wedding party around Chicago.   As a Chicago wedding planner I get asked many questions by my brides and grooms. One question... read more »

Tags: Becky Hill Photography, Chicago Social Brides, Chicago Weddings, Old St Patrick's Church, Wedding Ceremonies, Weddings

I love my job as a wedding planner in Chicago and working with clients like Jessica and Ryan make it that much better!  Jessica and Ryan were married on July 11th, 2009 at Old St Patrick's church in Chicago.  Old... read more »

Tags: news, press

Yesterday, I had a FIRST in my career as a wedding consultant in Chicago. I did my first photo shoot for a magazine. Chicago Style Weddings asked me to create two unique tablecapes for their issue coming out in July. Chicago Style Weddings... read more »

Tags: Becky Hill Photography, Chicago Social Brides, Chicago Weddings, Frost Lighting, Heffernan Morgan, Larry King Orchestra, News, Old St Patrick's Church, Palmer House Hilton, Press, Summer Weddings

 Palumbo Wedding in CS Brides Magazine.pdfI am so happy to share the wonderful feature of a Chicago Wedding we did that was just featured in Chicago Social Brides Magazine. The wedding of Jessica and Ryan was in July this past... read more »

Tags: charities we support, charity, news, weddings, Wish Upon a Wedding

Two very special people got married on Sunday, April 18th. Beth and Nick were Wish Upon a Wedding Chicago Chapter's first wedding wish recipient. Beth is currently battling urachal adenocarcinoma. But she and Nick still wanted to get married and... read more »

Tags: charities we support, charity, news, weddings, Wish Upon a Wedding

This week a wonderful wedding will happen in Chicago on Sunday, April 18th for Beth and Nick. Beth and Nick are Wish Upon a Wedding Chicago Chapter's first wedding wish recipient. Wish Upon a Wedding is America's first wedding wish... read more »

Tags: news, Press

 I was so excited when writer Natasha Gerber called me to interview me about Hotel Weddings for Special Events Magazine. I have been a long time reader of this magazine and look forward to its arrival in my mail box... read more »

Tags: News, Wedding Industry

On Sunday, March 21st, fifty event professionals gathered at the Hyatt at the Arch in St Louis, Missouri for the Association of Bridal Consultant Regional Education meeting. I was asked to speak this year and was so honored. The event... read more »

Tags: charities we support, charity, Chicago events, news, Wish Upon a Wedding

  Last week, on Wednesday, March 24th, 250 event professionals gathered together at the Ravenswood Event Center for a party to Celebrate the Launch of Wish Upon a Wedding in Chicago. Wish Upon a Wedding is America's first nonprofit wedding wish... read more »

Tags: About Ali, Aspiring Wedding Planners, weddings

I work closely with my clients on how to make their wedding original and unique and a reflection of who they are. I ask them to bring me pictures and send me websites and links to wedding blogs of things... read more »

Tags: news

 I am off to San Francisco, California this weekend to attend Wedding 360, The Academy for Planners and Designers conference at the St Regis Hotel. Created for wedding planners, weddings designers and floral designers, The Academy will provide in-depth and... read more »

Tags: charities we support, charity, Chicago events, news, Wish Upon a Wedding

Please join us at our Wish Upon a Wedding Chicago Chapter Launch Party on Wednesday, March 24th, at 6pm at Ravenswood Event Center. Chicago is fortunate to have some of the best wedding professionals in the country and some of the... read more »

Tags: news, press

  I am looking forward to being a keynote speaker at the Association of Bridal Consultants Regional meeting on March 20th and 21st in St Louis, Missouri. I will be joined by Liene Stevens of Think Splendid and Xochitl Gonzalez of... read more »

Tags: Chicago Weddings, Clementine Ink and Paper, Destination Weddings, Wedding Guests, Wedding Ideas, Wedding Invitations, Wedding Planning

 Save The Dates have become very popular for brides and grooms to communicate and create excitement for their upcoming wedding. It gives the couple a way to let their guests know their wedding date and accommodation and travel information for... read more »

Tags: Chicago events, ideas

It is four days before Valentine's Day, fresh snow on the ground in Chicago and the internet is all-abuzz with Valentine's Day tips and ideas on what do give or do with your loved one. Here are some fun ideas... read more »

Tags: charities we support, charity, news, weddings, Wish Upon a Wedding

 I am very honored to share with my loyal readers information about a new organization I have become a part of.  It is called Wish Upon a Wedding and is America's only wedding wish granting organization. Wish Upon a Wedding produces weddings and... read more »

Tags: news, press

   The Knot recently released their The Knot Best of Weddings 2010. We are proud to announce that Engaging Events by Ali, Inc has been rated by local brides and voted The Knot Best of Weddings 2010 Pick in the Wedding... read more »

Tags: news, press

I love being one of Chicago's Wedding Planners, but today, I am channeling my inner Barbara Walters and announcing the people I found the Most Fascinating in the Wedding Industry in 2009. These are the people that really raise the... read more »