media feature
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
media feature
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

wedding trends

How to spell Honor on Wedding Invitation

How to spell Honor on Wedding Invitation

I have been busy writing up my client's wedding invitation wording for my fall Chicago wedding clients and one question that keeps coming up is how to spell honor on a wedding invitation. The question I hear a lot is, do you write honor (the American English way) or honour (the old English spelling) on the wedding invitation? And the answers is that you can do either one. Both ways to spell it are correct. I always recommend if brides and grooms are trying to evoke a formal and traditional feeling to their wedding invitation, that they use honour. But really the decision is up to you and would come down to your personal preference. So pick which one you prefer and know that either way you go you are doing it correctly. 

App for Wedding Photo Sharing

App for Wedding Photo Sharing

I am in LOVE with this cool new app for weddings! The Wedding Party Appis an easy way for all of your guests to share the photos of your wedding and wedding events! We have had our clients use it at the last two weddings (see a recent wedding I had in Turks and Caicos)  and guests just loved it! It was a fun way to see photos of the weekend and the bride and groom loved being able to look back after the wedding to see the photos. It is very simply to set up! You register online at their website or download the app at itunes. Then your guests can instantly start snapping pictures and upload them. And guess what? It is free for you and all your guests to use! 

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Martha Stewart Magazine Wedding Party in Chicago

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Martha Stewart Magazine Wedding Party in Chicago

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. 

Chicago Wedding Cake Bakers at The Special Event Show in Chicago

Chicago Wedding Cake Bakers at The Special Event Show in Chicago

On January 17th, seven hundred event professionals attended The Wedding Event for The Special Event Show in Chicago that I Co-Chaired/Produced with Anthony Gowder of Gowder Designs. We featured all of the company names of the amazing sponsors on the blog last week and today I am sharing the wonderful wedding cakes that were baked by local Chicago wedding cake bakers. We told them we wanted them to do whatever they wanted for the design and to show off their amazing talents and that they did!! Not only were the cakes gorgeous to look at in the cocktail hour but also delicious to eat for dessert. Thank you to the amazing Chicago wedding cake bakers for their participation in the incredible  Wedding Event in Chicago. 

The Wedding Event Sponsors in Chicago at The Special Event Show

The Wedding Event Sponsors in Chicago at The Special Event Show

Last week I co-chaired with Anthony Gowder of Anthony Gowder Designs, The Wedding Event for The Special Event Show which was in Chicago for the first time in 25 years. I was flattered to be asked to chair this event and represent the city of Chicago and all that we have to offer for weddings and events. The evening seated dinner was for a sold out crowd of 700 and the guests were treated to a delight of design, awesome music by The Becca Kaufman Orchestraand Sasha Souza's Favorite Things presentation at the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile. 

Volunteers Needed For Special Event Show Wedding Event January 17th

Volunteers Needed For Special Event Show Wedding Event January 17th

On Thursday, January 17th in Chicago, I am co-chairing The Wedding Event at Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile for The Special Event Show that is coming to town from January 15th-18th. Seven hundred event professionals from all over the world will be attending to enjoy inspiration, amazing design and hear the always amazing Sasha Souza showcase her "Sahsa's Favorite Things". 

How to write Junior and Senior on your Wedding Invitation

How to write Junior and Senior on your Wedding Invitation

This question came up this week when we were working on writing up the wording for a Chicago wedding I have in April. The father of the bride is a Junior, so the question came up on how this is properly done on the wedding invitation and I thought I would share this common question with my readers. 

Chicago Winter Wedding Engagement Pictures

Chicago Winter Wedding Engagement Pictures

Jennifer and Eric will say I do in just two weeks from today at Cafe Brauer in Chicago. We planned the wedding in record time (eight weeks) and are putting the finishing touches on the wedding next week! The wedding will be a gorgeous celebration with a winter theme. 

Pantone Color of the Year announced for 2013

Pantone Color of the Year announced for 2013

We were tickled, um, GREEN, when Pantone announced their color of 2013 as Emerald Green. I love the color green and am so excited to see this appear in Chicago weddings and all things fashion, weddings, beauty and home. So today I pay homage to Emerald Green with some great finds! 

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Glossed and Found announces Glossed and Gowned Wedding Guide

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Glossed and Found announces Glossed and Gowned Wedding Guide

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! 

Pumpkins and your Fall Chicago Wedding

Pumpkins and your Fall Chicago Wedding

It is Halloween week! That exciting time when we get to give out candy to little kids in our neighborhood (we get like 400 trick or treaters) and also carve pumpkins. Pumpkin is a "hot" topic right now. I see just about everywhere ads for pumpkin lattes. At restaurants I see pumpkin soups on the menu and at the grocery store I see lots of mini pumpkins  for your mantle or table. 

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Hot Chocolate for Winter Month

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Brrrrr, it is cold out there in Chicago today. I went out for a dog walk this morning and found myself running back into the house for a heavier jacket. Even Grohe our dog, looked at me with that, oh no, "another 6 months of this?" look?! But, once I get the heat rolling in the house (which I put on for the first time in six months last night) and get used to the cold again, I have to admit I do love winter. Today I find myself working from the home office and craving something hot and sweet and found this amazing recipe online for Mexican Hot Chocolate. What a perfect afternoon I have planned of sipping yummy hot chocolate and dreaming about snow falling and the holidays approaching. 

Guest Book Idea Birthday Calendar as Guest Book

I love this idea I saw on Martha Stewart and had to share it with my readers. For your wedding guest book you can place an annual calendar and guests would sign on their birthday date. That way you always have a record of when their birthday is and you can send all of your wedding guests a card in the coming year wishing them a Happy Birthday! 

Save the Dates, Chicago Style

Save the Dates, Chicago Style

We LOVE, love, love working with Jenna from Clementine Ink on our client's Save the Dates for their wedding. She works one on one with clients to customize their save the dates for the couple's style and personality and colors of their weddings. I recommend Save the Dates are sent out 6-8 months in advance of the wedding. I also recommend clients include the information for booking hotels for the wedding as well as the couple's wedding website where guests can get all travel details and read about the couple and their wedding party. Below are some of my favorites.

Bouquet Wednesday, Calla Lillies

Bouquet Wednesday, Calla Lillies

LOVING Calla Lilly bouquets lately! Calla lilies represent elegance, charm, beauty and grace and are perfect for a bride to carry on her wedding day. Today we are featuring the gorgeous calla bouquet of a wedding we did in the winter. We accented the bouquet with lilly grass to give it some height and structure.

Bouquet Wednesday, Spring Flowers

Bouquet Wednesday, Spring Flowers

We love Wednesdays! Half way thru the week and it is Bouquet Wednesday where we feature a wedding bouquet every week. It is hot in Chicago and I am dreaming of those cooler spring days that we had just weeks ago. Today I bring to you a gorgeous spring bouquet full of tulips, peonies, various orchids and grasses,  and mini succulence. 

Montrose Harbor Engagement Pictures by Jaclyn Simpson

Montrose Harbor Engagement Pictures by Jaclyn Simpson

Today we are LOVING these pictures by Jaclyn Simpson of Emily and Maurico's engagement session at Montrose Harbor. Emily and Mauricio will say "I Do" in September. These high school sweethearts are the kindest couple and have been so much fun to work with. Can't wait for their wedding at South Shore Cultural Center! 

Bouquet Wednesday, Pink Peony Bouquets

Bouquet Wednesday, Pink Peony Bouquets

It's Wednesday and I am bringing you a bouquet to enjoy today on Bouquet Wednesday! Today we see big full bouquets of  pink peonies. Peonies are available in the springtime and early summer and are my FAVORITE flower! I LOVE the look of the pink with the bridesmaids dresses. Gorgeous and dreamy and smell so wonderful! Perfect for yourself or your bridesmaids if you are getting married in May or June when they are in season.