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!
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
I am so proud of my friend Stephanie Frazier Grimm of Couture Parties in Newport, Rhode Island, who launched a non profit, the Confetti Foundation. The Confetti Foundation mission is to supply party starter kits to children who have to spend their birthday in the hospital. I am so flattered to be asked to be on her advisory board. I find that even though event planners are some of the busiest people I know, they are not busy enough to help out and give back and help various charities. I am so proud of Stephanie for starting this organization and can't wait to see it grow into all 50 states in the United States.
Monday, November 4th was the 4th annual Blissful Wishes Ball benefitting the Wish Upon a Wedding Chicago Chapter at The Sculpture Garden at Bridgeport Art Center. Two hundred fifty wedding and event professionals in Chicago gathered, celebrated and also supported Wish Upon a Wedding. Often called the "prom" of the Chicago wedding industry, this year was just an amazing night to remember. I am the Founding President of the Chicago Chapter and also the National President and this cause is so close to my heart. In four years we have granted seven weddings in Chicago and sixty weddings nationally for deserving couples facing terminal illness or life-altering circumstances. With the attendees support in the silent and live auctions, the Chicago Chapter was able to raise $29,600 for the charity.
Pinch me! I am so excited to be a blogger for Huffington Post Weddings this week. I wrote an article about "When the Unexpected Happens on Your Wedding Day". You can read the article here. I have always been a fan of Huffington Post and when they launched their wedding blog I had in my mind I wanted to some day write for them. Well YAY my dream came true. Be on the lookout for more blogs to come. As a Chicago wedding planner and destination wedding planner for the past ten years I have a lot to share with their readers.
This Sunday, the Martha Stewart Wedding Magazine is hosting their Wedding Party event in Chicago and Editor, Darcy Miller, will be here to speak. I have seen Darcy speak many times at the Engage Conference and it is not to be missed. The event will be hosted at the gorgeous Radisson Blu Aqua in Chicago from 10am-3pm. You will be able to meet the finest vendors and see the top bridal fashions, visit the destination and honeymoon lounge and enjoy speakers to help you plan the perfect wedding and honeymoon.
I got an early Christmas gift last week, it was the gift from Rebecca Grinnals and Kathryn Arce of Engage!12. It was the most wonderful gift they have given of spending four powerful days with the best and the most inspiring people in the wedding industry. Engage!12, a luxury wedding business summit, has changed my business for the better, helped me develop friendships all over the world and has opened doors for me that have changed my life as a wedding planner, a wife, a daughter, a friend, and a sister and aunt.
If you do not already have it marked as a favorite read every week, Glossed and Found is a must to read for all things fashion, beauty and fun in Chicago. The beautiful and always smiling Stacey Roney founded Glossed and Found and her editor and creative director (and oh so dashing), Graham Kostic and Emily Hard produce a weekly on-line video magazine and blog that I can't wait to receive every week. They are also known as planning and producing the most fun and wonderful events in Chicago of which I have attended many and can't wait to attend the next one!
I am so honored to be nominated with an amazing group of other Chicago social event planners for Biz Bash Social Event Planner of the Year in their Reader's Choice Awards. It is an annual award they give away in conjunction with their Biz Bash Idea Fest that is in Chicago next week on November 14th at the Chicago Merchandise Mart. It is such an honor to be even just nominated. It is a power group of planners that are nominated and I feel so blessed to stand beside them as a nominee.
So excited that Sarah Alair was able to do my new head shots on a gorgeous day in Chicago (albeit windy). She is such an amazing photographer and good friend! And she is available to shoot your wedding, engagement pictures or even your kids and dog pictures! She has photographed some incredible weddings for me. She has a calming effect on nervous brides and grooms and really is able to capture their love in their engagement pictures or on the wedding day! Thank you Sarah for taking me out in Chicago and having some fun for my new head shots!
Hello there! It is Wednesday, also known as "hump day" or half way thru the work week. We are bringing back Bouquet Wednesday on our blog and sharing a gorgeous bouquet with you on every Wednesday! This week's bouquet was from a summer wedding The bouquet features gorgeous fuchsia vanda and dendrobium orchids with a little mix of calla lilly.
I am so excited to introduce you to Kate Molter, Engaging Events new wedding planning assistant. I receive lots of resumes and emails from people inquiring about jobs but something really stood out in Kate's resume and her emails to me. Once I met her, I knew instantly I wanted this amazing woman on my team. I can go on an on about her and how great she is, but will let Kate tell you a little bit more about herself!
2011 was a wonderful year! We thank the wonderful couples who welcomed us into their lives as we helped them plan their weddings. Thank you to all those brides and grooms who selected Engaging Events by Ali as their wedding planner. Here is just a tiny little peek into our amazing 2011 year! And thank you to all the amazing photographers who provide the beautiful moments from the wedding days for our clients.
I am so excited for one of my client's weddings to be featured on Style Me Pretty Blog today! And the bride is Chicago photographer celebrity, Belen Aquino, from Gerber Scarpelli. Belen and Drew had the most wonderful wedding that I was honored to be a part of. It was at her parent's home in McLean, Virginia and was a magical night.
