To start off, don’t sweat the small stuff – you can almost always turn something small into a positive.  If a bridesmaid is a little late, use it as extra time for you to get the attention of hair and makeup!  If guests are late to arrive to the ceremony, use those few precious minutes to have quiet time to yourself so that you can reflect on your day!  And, if your future parents-in-law are taking you to whit’s-end, understand that they are just as excited and emotional as your family is about the momentous occasion!

However, if something bigger should occur, like rain or a dress rips, turn to the professionals you hired and let them work their magic!  Chances are likely they are already working on the solution and its just a matter of some flexibility on your part and creativity on theirs. For every outdoor wedding venue location, there is always a “Plan B” indoor site. Stay calm, understand that things may change from the original vision but they may turn out even better than you had imagined. So its raining, pshhh not going to get you down! Just bring all the florals and lights from the outdoors in and create your own garden, beach or forest oasis inside! How cozy and creative! Guests will surely love it! And it will be a fun story to tell for years to come! There is always a silver lining!

The way you handle a wedding crisis is extremely important as is how you treat those family, friends and vendors that are working hard to make everything perfect again!   Class, poise, and a little bit of humor can go a long way to make the unplanned – a fabulous, spontaneous success! Remember, whether its just how you planned it or strayed a bit off course - this day is for you and the love of your life to commit to one another and celebrate that committment with your very favorite people! ENJOY IT!

xoxo,

The Ladies of Intertwined Events & Becky Hill Photography

If you are new to being a bridesmaid, or if you are not confident you have been the best you can be Intertwined Events and Becky Hill Photography have some tips and tricks to help you become an all-star bridesmaid!

Golden Rule: Shut up, smile, and wear whatever dress the bride’s heart desires! We’re kidding…but only partially!  The trick to being an amazing bridesmaid is to acknowledge what an honor it is to be chosen to be by the side of the bride-to-be in the biggest time in her life.  Being a great bridesmaid may be a daunting task, but the bride will never forget that you were there in her time of need to help sooth her nerves and stresses and celebrate the joy and love!

Powerhouse bridesmaids have to be VERY flexible with their schedules; whether the bride wants your input on flowers, décor, dresses, makeup, hair, or shoes you should be available for various appointments and shopping trips.  As bridesmaid, if you can offer to take over even one planning aspect of the wedding it can be extremely helpful, but once you take it on, you must see it all the way to completion and respect the wants and tastes of the bride (which may not be your own!).  Assisting in the little stuff can make a huge difference, too; ask the bride when the wedding invitations are arriving, and plan an addressing and stamping ‘party’ to get the job done in an efficient and fun manner!  Also, picking up some last minute errands can be a nice way to relieve the bride’s stress.

The day of the wedding, be sure to offer the bride staples throughout the event, snacks, beverages, lip gloss, a chance to escape to the bathroom for a minute to laugh and breathe! This will ensure a relaxed and happy bride (and friend!).  Also, if you see something that needs to be done, ask and then handle; this shows the bride she can count on you to honor her wishes and to help make it come true!

A killer bridesmaid will make sure that the bride is able to have a second alone before she takes her trip down the aisle so that she is able to calm down and de-stress!  During the wedding, know what the bride is drinking, and replenish her glass, because it is very rare that she will be able to make it all the way to the bar!  Also, have fun and be social during the reception; that way the bride does not have to worry that you are having a good time! (Yes, we are giving you permission to dance with the cute groomsmen you have been eyeing since the engagement party!!)

After the wedding, make last minute checks to ensure that the bride and bridal party did not leave anything behind or under a table!

Lastly, have fun! Enjoy and celebrate in your friend’s happiness – that is all she wants and more!

Through being a supportive and helpful bridesmaid, you are honoring your friendship with the bride – the entire reason she chose you to be one of the women that stood by her as witness to her most important commitment and milestone in life thus far! WOW!

Let us know if you have questions or concerns – we are here to help and know you will be great!

xoxo,

The Ladies of Intertwined Events & Becky Hill Photography

Planning a Bridal Shower on top of a wedding can be a daunting task.  But fear not, Intertwined Events and Becky Hill Photography have some tips and tricks to help you plan the perfect Bridal Shower!

The Bridal Shower should be one to two months prior to the wedding and should be planned well before that to allow for adequate preparation and minimum stress.  The Shower is typically planned by the maid of honor or a bridesmaid, and the bride is typically called upon to help secure details.  The bride-to-be should have input on the location or venue of her shower.  She may have a special place that she would like it such as a hotel, gallery, or picnic area!  She should also assist with the guest list. Beyond that, the bridal party is responsible for treating her to a wonderful day!

One of the first steps to take is establishing a budget.  The budget will set the boundaries for the entire event given that the host typically covers the expenses with a little help from the bride’s family for invitations.

Second, you must decide who to invite, whether it be a ‘girls only,’ family or couple’s shower (tip: Let the bride choose!). Remember that anyone who is invited to the Shower should be invited to the wedding! And keep the activities appropriate if grandma and mother-in-law are present! (Hint: Save the lingerie and penis straws for the bachelorette party!)

The third step is deciding on a theme and decorations.  The theme should speak to the couple; if they are laid back, do a casual beach theme, or if they enjoy the finer things in life, plan a Hollywood Glam day!  After determining the theme, you can decide on invitations, sweets and treats that fit the overall feel for the Bridal Shower!

Fourth, you will need to decide on a menu.  The menu should reflect the theme, location, time of day, and people who will be attending.  The menu does not need to include a full meal, but it can include appetizers and desserts! We think a signature drink is always a fun addition!

Lastly, you should decide on what the guests will do at the Shower.  Whether it is a simple get together or a game-filled event; choose something that the bride and her guests will love! Be creative in your activities, make them interesting, enjoyable and personal. And don’t forget you can always bring in professional help – a mobile spa, photo booth or street artist can definitely add colorful entertainment- if games aren’t on the agenda.

When it comes down to it, if you have any questions while planning the Bridal Shower, you should simply ask the bride.  Chances are that she has been looking forward to her Shower for a while now and has a lot of ideas that can direct you to plan an event she will truly love and cherish!

The Bridal Shower is meant to be a joyous and relaxing time for the bride-to-be and her friends and family.  With that in mind, the main goal for a Bridal Shower should be to get the group excited with anticipation for the up coming Big Day!

Happy Planning!

The Ladies of Intertwined Events and Becky Hill Photography

Meg at La Partie flawlessly combined red, pink, and orange flowers to create this ecelctic wedding bouquet. Colorful wedding flowers are a gorgeous way to frame the details of a white wedding dress.  Designer Alisa Benay chiffon and lace dresses are always an elegant choice regardless if you choose a long or short wedding dress.

Handmade details are a wonderful way to personalize your wedding.  Cortnie from Canvas and Canopy hand dyed the napkins and tablecloth for this stunning table setting.  She also braided these customized menu and napkin details.  Cortnie highlights her exceptional design sensibilities by combining these bohemian yet elegant decorative elements.

The lace envelop liner is an unexpected detail that really highlights the intricate menu and invitations by Zenadia Design.

Thank you to all of the amazing, talented, and truly inspiring women who collaborated on this shoot. It was an honor to be featured on Green Wedding Shoes!

DESIGN: Canvas and Canopy

FLORALS: La Partie

DRESSES: Alisa Benay

HAIR & MAKEUP: Kacee Geoffroy

STATIONARY: Zenadia Designs

PRODUCTION: Be Inspired PR

VENUE: Private Estate

Chicago is emerging as a national wedding destination because of the many stylish, dedicated, and committed wedding industry professionals who call this city home.  Emily and Patrick hired the some of the best including Vwidon who designed her elegant dress, and Fleur who created the exquisite bouquets.

I love this photo of the happy groom taken by my amazing second photographer, Brianne.

Emily is obviously gorgeous.  Her natural beauty combined with the expertise of makeup artist Rebecca Males (represented by Sonia Roselli Weddings) made creating beautiful portraits effortless.

One of my favorite parts of the wedding day was taking portraits near The Wrigley Building.  I walk across the Michigan Avenue a few times a week so to say that I take it for granted is an understatement.  Emily and Patrick wanted a very “Chicago” background for their photos so I suggested this area.  I just assumed they were familiar with it.  However, when I saw the reaction of the couple and the bridal party upon our arrival, I knew it was a new and exciting experience for them.  Everyone was taken by the beauty of the river and the vintage facades.  Adding to the experience was palpable energy of downtown Chicago on a Saturday afternoon.  Everyone gets excited when they see a bride and groom.  Tourists stop to take photos, send well wishes, and kids always think they are looking at royalty.  Simply put, it is a joyful once in a lifetime experience.  This day made me remember how lucky I am that this beautiful city has always been a part of my daily life.

This perfect wedding day flawlessly turned into an exuberant evening.  The cuisine at Galleria Marchetti and the music by Toast and Jam combined to create a simply fantastic party.  Emily and Patrick, thank you for allowing us to be a part of your Chicago wedding day.

The above photo is a fashion image I shot ten years ago.  It was featured on the Eliza Magazine Blog over a year ago.  Every month I continue to receive emails from brides wanting to know who the designer is and where they can buy it.  The “dress” in this photo is actually the combination of a vintage top and 1/2 of a 1980′s prom dress from the thrift store.  The “bride” is my friend Meredith who is sitting in an abandoned city lot.  Her hair style is made from $1.00 pack of synthetic hair from one of the wig stores on Milwaukee Ave.  This photo resonates with people because so much of Meredith’s spirit comes through in this image.  If you express your personal style and enjoy your day the photographs will be amazing. Regardless if you are wearing a $10,000 dress or a $10 dress your enegry is the most important element of your day.  Remember that it is not the dress that makes the woman, but the woman who makes the dress.

Megan chose my favorite flowers for her wedding bouquet.  Peonies are only available in the spring making their rare beauty even more spectacular.

Peonies are a gorgeous choice for wedding bouquets and are also a pretty and fresh option for spring wedding showers.

The reception flowed flawlessly thanks to one of my favorite Chicago wedding DJ’s, Okyne Media Lab .You cannot ask for a better backdrop for your Chicago wedding photos. I love this view, and I am so excited for another Chicago summer.

Thank you Megan and Tom for a wonderful day and a great start to the season.