As a Chicago wedding planner and designer, I love creating memorable experiences for my clients, and Easter brunch is one of my favorite holidays! Spring is around the corner and it is so fun to pull out the color for this holiday! It's a time to gather with loved ones, enjoy delicious food, and CELEBRATE the spring season. To help you host a successful Easter gathering, here are my top 4 tips:
Top Tips For When You Get Engaged
Ali's Favorite Things : January Edition
How to get your marriage license in Chicago
Hello 2022 Wedding Season! I am looking forward to the year of fun weddings in Chicago! Many of our Chicago couples are getting married in Chicago (which its Cook County) and I thought I would share how to get your marriage license in Chicago.
The two of you will go in person to any of the Cook County 6 locations to get your license and it is issued while you wait. The marriage license in Cook County becomes valid the next day and is valid for up to 60 days. You can start filling it out online here but must still appear in person and together. The license cost is $60.
A license issued in Cook County CANNOT be used in any other county or state. You MUST get married in Cook County.
Proper identification is one of the following
A valid US Drivers license
A valid US state identification card
A valid US Passport
A valid US military identification card
It is a good idea to not leave this errand to the last minute. I always recommend to go in about 3-4 weeks before your wedding.
Also, just an FYI, The person marrying you is the ONLY person signing the marriage license. There are no witnesses required in Cook County/Chicago and you do not sign this license. Only the person marrying you and officiating your wedding will sign this.
You can visit the Cook County Clerk office here for more details!
Happy Wedding Day!!
Ali's Four Favorite Things : November Edition
Winter Wedding Tips for Wedding Guests and Brides and Grooms
Chicago Fully Reopens and Weddings and Celebrations Resume
What could make you happier than a Cubs win on a Friday in Chicago at Wrigley Field? The FULL reopening of Chicago!!! Yes! We are 100% open with no capacity restrictions. Which means weddings can return to 100% capacity, dance floors and lots of laugher, smiles and celebration!
The wedding and events industry has endured a very long and hard 15 months here in Chicago. We are all so happy to be back working. But as with restaurants, catering companies and so many venues are a bit short staffed or are training new staff. There has also be increased flower costs as growers were not able to operate or plan ahead with their crops. Supply chains are also slow. So please have patience with the event industry as it returns back to work and helping you celebrate your special day!
There is a HUGE demand for venues both this year and next year in Chicago so venues and houses of worship will be hard to book a date you may want. Consider having a wedding on a Friday or a Sunday or even a weekday!
With that I say Let’s Celebrate!!!!
Dancing returns to Chicago Weddings
Dancing has returned to Chicago! I am so excited to share this news! See the announcement here from the City of Chicago! Dance on!!! Everybody Cut Footloose! Also, currently we are in the Bridge Phase which means you can have 250 guests inside and 500 outside and vaccinated individuals do no count towards capacity limits.
Bridge Phase for Wedding Guest Counts in Chicago and Illinois and the State Reopening Plan
This week Governor Pritzker announced the new guidelines for reopening of Illinois and Chicago. This is very welcome news as we safely move out to the pandemic and get back to business in Chicago for weddings and events. As a Chicago wedding planner it has been quite a hard year for my clients and a busy year for me of rescheduling my client’s weddings and cancelling of weddings due the the coronavirus pandemic. This year I also co-founded the Illinois Events Coalition with industry friends Michelle Durpetti and Collin Pierson. We created the coalition to advocate for those struggling at this hard time in Illinois, and to help educate and support our fellow event professionals.
How Many Wedding Guests are Allowed in Illinois?
How many guests can I have at my wedding in Chicago, Illinois?
Illinois Events Coalition
The events industry consists of thousands of small businesses, gig economy workers and solopreneurs . We’re family. We’re livelihoods. We are 5.9 million jobs and 105 BILLION to the economy. We want nothing more than to create events again, and get back to work. Until we can, we desperately need Congress’ help to do it. #SaveIllinoisEvents
Happiness Tips During COVID-19
I made a little list of things I am doing during this hard time that bring me a little Happiness. I hope this can possibly give someone here some inspiration that needs it! Be Well!!
What are you currently doing to bring you and others around you a little happiness? Please share with me below in the comments section and we can all inspire each other.
Some Thoughts on The Tough Times We Face in the Wedding and Event Industry During COVID-19 Pandemic
I have not posed on Instagram here in over two weeks. To be honest, I did not know what to say. I have been scared, stressed and worried for everyone. I was saying to a friend yesterday I was not sure how I felt about posting. Do I post photos of past couples in love and enjoying their day to bring happiness to my followers? Or is that insensitive to my couples and followers now facing postponements and stress? Do I share uplifting messages from people sharing the most positive things? Or does that make me look like I am avoiding the obvious that it is tough and bleak right now.
My Word for the Year, Fearless!
When Should I Mail My Wedding Invitations Out?
Quick Tips for Maid of Honor: Fixing the Wedding Dress Train
Fiji Wedding Featured in The Knot Magazine
Cue the confetti canons and the champagne! I am excited to share that Sarah and Euri's Adventure of a Lifetime wedding in Fiji was featured in The Knot's National magazine.
Ali Phillips, Chicago and Destination Wedding Planner to Speak in Goa, India
As a wedding planner who plans a lot of South Asian and Indian weddings, I have always dreamed of traveling to India. Well, dreams do come true! I am honored to have been asked to speak in Goa, India on August 13th and 14th!
Sarah and Euri's Fiji Wedding: Adventure of a Lifetime
This past summer I had the pleasure of working in Fiji for Sarah and Euri's greatest adventure of a wedding!! With seven events in five days, guests were able to experience so many different sides of Fijian culture, food and hospitality! The incredible international team worked so well together. It took a village for sure! Pease enjoy this epic wedding video by Nick and Colin at Blue Kite Cinema!