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Ali Phillips
Ali Phillips Chats Spring Wedding To Do's on ...

So fun to be a part of the Martha Stewart Spring Wedding To Do's article today! Read all the tips here on Martha Stewart Weddings! 

Ali Phillips Chats Spring Wedding To Do's on Martha Stewart
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Ali Phillips
Ali featured on The Estate Blog

I had so much fun writing about my business for The Estate Blog and being asked to contribute as one of their preferred creative partners. I got to answer some fun questions for them about me, my business and my love of the City of Chicago! Here are some excerpts below of that article. You can read the full article on The Estate Blog. 

Ali featured on The Estate Blog
date ideas
Ali Phillips
Valentine's Weekend in Chicago

Get out the heart sweater and chill the champagne, it is Valentine's Weekend!! A chilly weekend is predicted in Chicago and here are my top picks for having a wonderful Valentine's weekend with your loved one!

Valentine's Weekend in Chicago
event space
Ali Phillips
Camp Wedding Retreat at Camp Wandewega

In September, I was honored to be asked to speak by Sarah and Andrea from Cherry Berry Events at Camp Wedding at the Camp Wandewega, located in Wisconsin. This was their inaugural wedding retreat and I was looking forward to meeting some new friends in the wedding industry. I attend a couple of event conferences a year and I was intrigued by the concept of Camp Wedding, with wedding professionals being in a camp environment. 

Camp Wedding Retreat at Camp Wandewega
internship
Ali Phillips
Chicago Wedding Planner Internship Available

Want to learn about the event industry from one of the best wedding planners in Chicago? Ali Phillips of Engaging Events is looking for a great intern for the winter season. Intern should be available one business day a week and available on some weekends. Please send resume, 2 references and cover letter to info@engagingeventsbyali.com. 

Chicago Wedding Planner Internship Available

top wedding planner chicago

Photo Booths At Weddings

Photo Booths At Weddings

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 guests can sign.  I use a couple of different companies in Chicago. One is called ShutterBooth and the other is Photo Booth Express. Package times can range from 4 to 6 hours and you can chose to include the guest book and materials that your guests can write in or provide them yourself. In a ShutterBooth photo booth your guests can even select if they want color or black and white prints. With both companies you can have a cute wedding logo and your wedding date on the last picture in the photo strips. Also, you can ask them to bring props that your guests can use to make it even more fun for them. Make sure when you are booking your photo booth that you get two copies of the photo; one for you and your spouse and the other for your guests to take home with them. Also, many companies offer the high resolution CD of all the images and easy posting to facebook. Photo Booth Express also offers one of the old school photo booths you would see at fairs and restaurants from your childhood.  Don't want the 2 x 6 photo strips? That is okay, each company offers the 4 x 6 grid choice. 

Chicago Magazine Names Ali one of the Top Wedding Planners in Chicago

Chicago Magazine Names Ali one of the Top Wedding Planners in Chicago

Run, don't walk to the newstands and you will see me listed as one of the top wedding consultants in Chicago by Chicago Magazine in their March issue!  What an honor!  I am so excited to report this to everyone!  I was so excited when they called to interview me and am over the moon about being listed in the magazine!

I am on my way to Barnes & Noble to buy up their stock and will scan and post to the blog soon!

Toppers with Glitz

Looking for a fun idea to add some "bling" to your wedding cake and customize it with a monogram? Toppers with Glitz is a great website to check out! They create custom designed cake topper initials for your wedding cake. You can even supply the font from your wedding program to be created into your new monogram! Or, you can even have your wedding date on the top of your cake. There are a variety of colored crystals to chose from!

Maricay and James Gorgeous May Wedding

Becky Hill (one of my favorite photographers in Chicago) posted some pictures of a wedding we recently did together on May 10th, 2009. The ceremony was at Holy Family in Chicago followed by a "rocking" reception at Maggiano's which was DJ'ed by the 'oh so fabulous' DJ Toad. 

Fine Living Article

I was recently interviewed for Fine Living online's article about pairing wine with your wedding meal. Wine is one of my favorite things to talk about (other than weddings that is). But what better than talking about wine AND weddings!!!!

The Daily Bride

The Daily Bride is a new wedding TV show that was recently launched in Chicago. And, I am so excited as I have been asked to be the "resident" expert on the new and amazing wedding tv show, "The Daily Bride":http://thedailybride.com. It is Chicago's first online wedding show and a great place for new brides and grooms to look for vendors and get some great wedding tips. There is also a forum section where you can chat with other brides in Chicago! 

Featured Wedding in The Knot Magazine

I am so proud to announce that Eric and Dawn's wedding was recently featured in the Spring 2008 wedding magazine, The Knot Chicago. I am flattered to have this wedding featured in such a prestigious magazine. 
Click here to see the wedding details

Wedding Hair up-do's that I LOVE

There are so many fun new ideas on how to wear your hair on your wedding day. Here are some of my favorites from Theknot.com! Brides are opting to add "bling" to their traditional up do's by adding a brooch, feathers, a pretty flower or even pretty rhinestones. Talk with your hair stylist on ideas for your updo. It is a good idea to try and schedule your hair trial the same day you do a dress fitting so that you can see how the hair style looks with your dress on!! Make sure to bring your camera to your hair trial to take pictures so that on the wedding day you have those pictures of what you did to refer to!

A New Leaf Chicago Wedding: Shelby and Doug

Shelby and Doug were married on October 20th, 2008, at Parkview Lutheran church, an adorable little church which is actually in my own neighborhood! Their reception at A New Leaf was a blast for their guests! Their guests enjoyed a wonderful dinner upstairs in the apartment and danced until the wee hours of the morning.

Grand Cayman Destination Wedding

I am off to Grand Cayman for the wedding of Janie and Kevin! They are getting married at the Ritz Carlton on December 1st in Grand Cayman. Check out their website for details on their amazing wedding. They are a special couple and looks like the weather is going to be perfect for their outdoor wedding and events!

David Tutera at Association of Bridal Consultants

I was recently 1 of 450 wedding consultants from around the globe that got to see David Tutera from Get Married TV speak at the Assocation of Bridal Consultants Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida last week. 

Bridesmaids Totes

A get a lot of requests from my brides asking for ideas for bridesmaids gifts! I LOVE Lands End's Lighthouse Bag which comes in 7 different colors and could be custom monogrammed with your bridemsaids initials! And make it even more special by including monogrammed towels for their trips to the beach!

Click here to shop Lands End

Wedding Pashmina's For Your Bridesmaids

With the onset of winter arriving this week in Chicago, your lovely ladies may need a little pashmina wrap to keep them warm on your wedding day. I recently found this GREAT website for "Pashminas":http://amazingcollections.com that you can search for colors that match of complement your bridesmaids dresses. They are offered in cashmere and viscose ranging in price from $18 to $40 and is a great present (and also useful) for your bridesmaids! 
They also offer white and white pashminas which will match your dress and can be used for a little added warmth while you exit your limousine! 

Cutting the Cupcake?

Not every bride and groom wants to have an elaborate wedding cake. Andrea and Vallen chose to have wedding cupcakes for their guests. They still kept with tradition and shared a wedding cupcake on their wedding day!