Ali Phillips, Chicago and Destination Wedding Planner

Ali Phillips, Chicago and Destination Wedding Planner

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!

Mint Julep for your Kentucky Derby Party

It is May, and along with May flowers, May brings the running of the Kentucky Derby. What an exciting time of the year to don a big hat and head to Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. With the derby brings the thoughts of Mint Juleps to mind and what better place to find THE best mint julep recipe but on the Kentucky Derby Website. 

Bouquet Wednesday

Bouquet Wednesday

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.

April Showers Bring May Flowers

April Showers Bring May Flowers

Ah it is April, that time of year where in Chicago and all across the Midwest we see crocuses, daffodils and tulips blooming. The leaves are beginning to come out and spring is in the air. What do all those pretty things need to be able to bloom? Sunshine and well, rain. But don't let rain spoil your wedding day. Tradition says it is good luck to rain on your wedding day. The old folklore says that it is a belief is that a wet knot is harder to untie (thus the term "ting the knot"). If showers are forecasted on your wedding day, don't let it get you down. Embrace the rain with umbrellas and boots for your wedding look. 

Uber in Chicago for your Wedding

There is a new car company in town and it is making lives way easier! Uber was launched six months ago in Chicago and people are loving using it. It will be great on the weekend of your wedding if you need a quick pick up for one to four people when leaving your hair salon and going back to the hotel or for parent’s who rode with you to the ceremony site but now need a ride back to the hotel or reception. Or use it for your bachelorette party as you zip around to different spots in Chicago. Have to move your groom to the church and don't want his tuxedo to get dirty and to have him arrive in style? Uber is your choice for all of your wedding VIP's. 

Meet Kate Molter, Engaging Events New Wedding Planner Assistant

Meet Kate Molter, Engaging Events New Wedding Planner Assistant

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! 

Chicago Wedding Planner, Engaging Events by Ali, Announces New Website

Chicago Wedding Planner, Engaging Events by Ali, Announces New Website

We are so excited to share with the world the new look and website for Engaging Events. We would like to thank the team at Neoteric Design for their hard work and amazing talent in working on the redesign of the website. I have worked with Neoteric Design for years and their team always perfectly portrays what I want to convey to my potential clients and vendor team.

Vera Wang Arrives at David's Bridal

Great News for those in wedding dress shopping mode! Vera Wang has arrived at David's Bridal allowing more brides the luxury of wearing a dress designed by a couture designer. With five locations in the Chicago area, the White Line by Vera Wang has dresses ranging in price from $600 to $1400 and are featured in white, ivory, blush and chamgagne. In June, your bridesmaids will also be able to select Vera Wang dresses when she releases a line just for bridesmaids. 

The Vow Movie, Filmed in Chicago Premieres February 10th

We love movies about love! The new movie, premiering this week is The Vow. Filmed in Chicago, this movie with Chatum Tanning and Rachel McAdams is a story of a newlywed couple who is recovering from a car accident that puts the wife in a coma. Waking up with severe memory loss, her husband endeavors to win her heart again.

BHLDN Opens in Chicago on Valentine's Da

We are less than two weeks away from the much anticipated February 14th opening of the BHLDN Store in Chicago, Anthropologie's answer to all things bridal. We fell in love with BHLDN when they launched last year on Valentine's Day online and how appropriate that the Windy City gets their own store for brides, grooms and party planners alike one year later on the same holiday, (one that celebrates love); Valentine's Day. 

Speaking at Event Solutions Idea Factory in February

Speaking at Event Solutions Idea Factory in February

I am looking forward to speaking at Event Solutions Idea Factory this year in Las Vegas that takes place from Feb 26th thru the 29th. I will be speaking on Destination Weddings on Monday at 7:30am. Please add this to your calendar if you are attending and come and see me speak about all things destination weddings and how to create a Sense of Place. Having planned weddings as far away as South Africa and as close as Lake Geneva, Wisconin and Iowa, we will have an honest discussion about embracing your locale and working best with vendors you may not have worked with before. And how do you market to the destination wedding market? Come and hear at my session and come away with some new ideas and tactics in your tool kit of knowledge. 

A Look Back at 2011 Chicago Weddings

A Look Back at 2011 Chicago Weddings

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. 

How to Clean your Diamond Engagement Ring

How to Clean your Diamond Engagement Ring

It is "engagement season"! That time of year where many couple are getting engaged while they celebrate the holidays with their family and friends. For many people, this may be the first time they have worn diamonds or a fine gemstone. Their ring is all sparkly, new and gorgeous. But as time goes on, your ring needs to be cleaned. What is the best way to clean a diamond? Diamond experts agree that running a little warm water in a small bowl with a little mild liquid detergent and allowing your diamond engagement ring to soak for three to four minutes and using a soft brush will get lose debris and oils off your diamonds. And it is a good idea every year to get your rings polished and cleaned and for your jeweler to check for any lose prongs.

Holiday Candle- Ali's Favorite Things

I love the Holidays! And one of my favorite things is taking out the Frasier Fir scented candle from Thymes and listening to the music of the season while I work. I originally posted about this last year but have to include it this year in my favorite finds!

Ali Phillips Named Junebug's World's Best Wedding Planners & Designers

Ali Phillips Named Junebug's World's Best Wedding Planners & Designers

I was SO excited when Blair and Christy called me from Junebug Weddings to tell me I had been selected to be a part of their World's Best Wedding Planners & Designers they unveiled last week and I am so thankful to be included. The best of the best are on this list and I am flattered to be a part of it. 

Breaking Dawn Part I Wedding Details

I am an admitted Twilight fan! I was so excited to see the new Breaking Dawn Part I movie this past weekend. Not only because I love the books, but also the first twenty minutes of the movie focused on the wedding of Bella Swan and Edward Cullen. Below are some beautiful details and information about the wedding and how you can get Bella and Edward's wedding look.