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 am so excited today to introduce Engaging Events By Ali's new intern, Miss Chelsey Boggs, who started working today at the Engaging Events studio. We are so excited to introduce her to Chicago weddings and the Chicago wedding planning world. Below is a little information about Chelsey in her own words and how found her way to the Engaging Events Team. Welcome Chelsey!
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!
Chicago wedding photographer and a good friend of mine, Kevin Weinstein,jetted down to Mexico this past weekend to photograph Courtney Mazza and Mario Lopez of Extra TV and The X Factor's wedding. Armed with lots of cameras and two assistants, he photographed the Friday and Saturday night celebration in Punta Mita, Mexico. Kevin was one of the first photographers in Chicago that I met with when I started my business over ten years ago and we have been working together since. He is one of the most kind, funny and creative photographers that I know. Kevin, we can't wait to see the pictures of the wedding! And make sure to watch the wedding, which will air on TLC Network on Saturday, December 8th at 7pm. See all the details here!
Happy Thanksgiving to you all! I am attempting to make it to the grocery store today and to beat the crowds that I am sure will be large on Wednesday. I am so excited about doing my favorite recipes for our Thanksgiving feast. My husband was looking over my shoulder last night as I was making my shopping list and asked, "You are making those awesome brussel sprouts, right?". Of course! (oh, add butter to the grocery list)!
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.
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.
I am a member of the Step Up Women's Network and we are needing about 20 more mentors this Saturday at a great event! Would you please consider coming to be a mentor for the day? Please give one day to make a difference in the life of a college-bound teen girl. Please email me at ali@engagingeventsbyali.com and I can get you all signed up. To read more about Step Up visit their website of their Facebook page.
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.
Wish Upon a Wedding granted the 50th wedding wish in Chicago last night. This was a big milestone for the newer nonprofit that provides wedding and vow renewals for couples facing terminal illness and serious life-altering circumstances, regardless of sexual orientation. I am the founding president of the Chicago Chapter for this organization and also sit on the national board as vice-president and it is near and dear to my heart. Ashley and Brian said their vows in front of fifty of their family members and close friends at the Chicago Marriott O'Hare. This was the second wish a Marriott property has hosted and we thank them for their continued support of the organization.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
