Tom proposed at the Chicago Zoo and they strolled through exhibits for their engagement pictures along with some more shots around the Windy City. How can you go wrong when a gorilla makes an appearance in your engagement pics?  I love each and every photo by Milwaukee’s talented Heather Cook Elliott. Shay and Tom look so in love and so natural.

Their Lake Geneva wedding at the beautiful Rivera is tomorrow and I am bursting at the seams to show you all the amazing DIY details and cheery décor. Let’s just say POPPIES!!! Need I say more? Didn’t think so!

Congrats to the happy couple!!  I am sure tomorrow will be an amazing day!

We are looking for a Proactive, energetic and positive intern to assist with a variety of duties including social networking, event preparation, client intake and other various marketing duties. A qualified candidate will be pursuing experience in the events industry and must be receiving school credit for this unpaid internship. Interest in the wedding industry is a plus and experience with social networking is desired. Candidates must be comfortable working on their own, be detail oriented and resourceful.

Internship responsibilities will include:

• Managing content for social networking sites.

• Interacting with vendors and clients.

• Inventory preparation for weddings.

• Office organizational tasks.

• Marketing in various forums.

Candidates must receive college credits for the internship. Resumes can be sent to Amanda Felsman at info@tailoredengagements.com. This is an ideal position for someone looking to gain experience in the growing events industry.

But that’s not what our styling packages typically entail.  Most of our couples want help pulling together the look of their day.  We assist with all of the details that will impact the feel and look of the space.  This includes everything from programs to lighting, linens, and centerpieces.

The process is different for each bride, sometimes they need help finding their theme and picking colors. Other times they have a very clear idea or vision but want our help adding personal touches and making sure they have a cohesive look.

Since styling is such a huge passion of ours and a major part of what we do, it will now become a featured section of the blog.  So check back for styling tips, trends, and ideas.

Photo Credits:
1) Style Me Pretty
2) Inspired By This
3)Style Me Pretty
4) Style Me Pretty
5) Elizabeth Anne Designs

The tasting I enjoyed was at Gracious Catering and they have a Passion Fruit Pavlova that is as beautiful as it is tasty.  The soft white pillows of meringue are drizzled in passion fruit syrup and it is surrounded by colorful fresh fruit.  And the flavors … it is seriously to die for!!!

The dessert is not only a great place to serve your guests amazing food, it is a wonderful way to personalize your wedding.  What was the dessert you shared on your first date or at the proposal?  Serve that.  Did you get to know each other while taking walks and licking ice cream cones?  Serve ice cream.  Did he study abroad and after returning taught you to love a new and interesting dessert?  Give your guests a chance to try it.  Do you love to be adventurous and try new foods together?  Let your friends and family try something new too.

I have seen desserts ranging from cake to lemonade cupcakes, cheesecake, bread pudding pared with a cream puff, and even ice cream drizzled with orange purée and garnished with white chocolate infused with orange pop rocks (yes, I said pop rocks and if you want to try this little beauty just ask me where, amazing!!) so grab a fork, dig in, and serve something fun at your wedding!

Photo Credits:
Photo 1) Style Me Pretty
Photo 2) Gracious Catering
Photo 3) Sweet and Saucy Shop
Photo 4) Taste Spotting
Photo 5) The Knot
Photo 6) !00 Layer Cake

Shannon and John are two of the nicest people you will ever meet (so naturally they are my clients). Shannon is bubbly and always seems to be bursting with energy and laughter. John is quiet and always seems to be carefully thinking about things. He is always super supportive of Shannon and Shannon always carefully weighs John’s opinion when making wedding decisions.

I am SO ready for their big day to be here already! I can almost taste the food they carefully selected and I can see the shades of purple and sparkling crystals as I write this. I can hear the laughter from their guests in the smile booth and smell the sweet little cupcakes, Yum!!

They are one of my few couples to include an engagement video with their picture and it is adorable!!! Check it out here (the third video down)

So to Shannon and John, enjoy your last few weeks before the big day and since the wedding will be at Cuvee I think it is only fitting to end with, Cheers!!!!

Photo Credits:

Champagne Studios

Alright, so I told you here not to listen to me or David Tutera or Marth Stewart (wow, that sentence left me in good company).  But what I have to say next might shock you even more.  Don’t listen to anyone, I mean it!  Nana, your mom, sister, cousin, aunt, co-worker, best friend, soon to be mother in law … don’t listen to any of them.  This may sound harsh, and yes I agree that they are all important people but it’s not their wedding!!

Alright, so you may not want to leave Mom or Nana out of the planning and I know all of my brides want to make everyone feel special but that doesn’t mean that you have to take every bit of advice they give you.  If you know something is very important to your mom then try to work it into your vision.  Include family and close friends in ways that are right for you.  If a co-worker who just got married has some good advice then by all means take it.  I am not suggesting you shut everyone out of the planning process and start screaming “MINE!” when they bring up the wedding.  That wouldn’t work, but so many of my couples are bombarded with opinions (and sometimes demands) regarding their wedding day from the people around them.  It is stressful and awkward, and hard to manage if those ideas do not fit in with your vision for the day.

I am here to tell you, it’s ok.  You don’t have to listen to every bit of advice.  You don’t have to toss the bouquet if you don’t want to even if mom thinks it’s a must.  There is no need to cut the cake just because your Maid of Honor said it wouldn’t be a wedding with out shoving cake in each others faces.  You don’t have to do any of it, and here’s why …. It’s your wedding!!

Photo Credits:
1) Daniel Stark Photography
2) LEO DJ Photography
3) J. Scott Photography
4) Kara Pearson Photography

This is one of the perks of working with a decor stylist: they have tons and tons of things you won’t need to search for, buy, store, haul to the venue, set up, clean up, or sell when you have no need for 100 votives. When you work with a wedding stylist, they do all of this for you. So not only will a stylist help you pull together an amazing look for your wedding, they will also save you time and money trying to find every detail you need for the big day.

 So no need to run to every Michael’s within fifty miles, I have almost anything you could need. And the coolest part…I have things you can’t buy, things you can’t rent, things you see on blogs and have to have but have no idea where to find them! Many of my items are custom made for a wedding. They are special pieces you can’t buy and because of this they make my clients’ weddings extra special. So if you are pining over lounge seating, a ceremony arch, or a rustic wood farm table you saw on a blog and can’t find anywhere, ask and I just might have what you need. And in the case of the lounge furniture, ceremony arch, and wood tables, I do. You won’t find wood tables for rent anywhere in the Midwest but you can get them here. And yes, you can rent them even if I am not your stylist but my clients do get to call first dibs (I know we aren’t in first grade but that’s just how I do things around here). So if there is something you have your little heart set on, shoot me an email, leave a post, or give me a call and I will let you know if I can help you out. Alright, enough procrastination, I should really finish my spring cleaning.

Photo’s are all of Tailored Engagements Rental Items ~ Photo Credits:
1) Sarah Immel
2) David Orndorf
3) Woodnote Photography

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a sixpence in her shoe. Everyone knows the saying and although the sixpence is sometimes left out, it is a universal tradition here. Many brides put a lot of thought and care into selecting the perfect items to represent each part of the rhyme. The items typically hold a lot of meaning for the bride and her family. But where did the tradition come from and what does it symbolize? We all know it is for good luck … almost all wedding rituals are thought to be good luck though so what specifically does each part of the saying symbolize? Well, the old item signifies the bride’s ties to her past and her family. It shows that although she may be moving into the future with her new husband and family she never has to leave her past behind.

The borrowed item is most likely from a family member or friend with good fortune in their own marriage. This piece is carried in the hopes that the good luck will pass along to the bride carrying it with her down the aisle.
Something blue could have originated in ancient Rome where blue was thought to symbolize love, modesty and fidelity. It may also have come from Christianity where the Virgin Mary is typically seen in blue which represents purity. This tradition may also come from before the late 19th century when blue was a popular color for wedding gowns.

Although many modern brides no longer heed this part of the rhyme, the sixpence represents wealth and financial security (surprise, surprise). This tradition may have began in Scotland when grooms used to put a coin under their foot for good luck.

 
So if you believe in luck, good fortune, or tradition you may take stock in this ritual. Or you may just use it as a fun excuse to wear blue shoes!

It’s a question often asked – What should we wear for our engagement photos?  The answer is, wear whatever is going to represent YOU! An engagement session should depict your personality and your style. The focus is on you and your fiance, so wear something that reflects who you are and what you love. Whether you want to rock out to your favorite punk music or have a picnic on the beach because that is where your first date took place, it’s important you coordinate your outfit with the location of your session. At the end of your session, you’re not only going to have pictures that represent the two of you as a couple, you’re photos are going to unveil a story.

It’s very important you feel good in what you are wearing and feel comfortable, too. If you feel uncomfortable, you’re probably going to show in your photos. It’s time to have fun, relax, and to give your photographer a chance to capture the emotion between the two of you. You’re not going to want to spend time worrying about the placement of your belt, or clothing that may reveal areas of your body that you aren’t proud of.

It’s always a great idea to bring along more than one outfit. Often times, a couple will choose a casual outfit and a classy outfit. If you can’t decide on wearing the boots or heels, bring both – options are always good! Once you get to the location, maybe you’ll be inspired by one or the other or you may decide you’d like to pull off both looks. Accessories can really make a difference -whether it’s a few pairs of shoes, jewelry, scarves, or a favorite broach. Depending on your location, you’re probably going to be walking around, which may not be comfortable wearing heels. It’s always a good idea to bring a pair of comfort shoes you can slip on and off.

Most importantly, be yourself and have fun with it.

I am loving the new trend that allows grooms to stand out in the crowd! With traditional weddings, the entire wedding party dresses exactly alike including the groom, groomsmen, and ushers. Heck even the dads sometimes get in on the action and sport the same wedding day duds as the groom. Lately though, grooms have been taking a stand and infusing their personality into their wedding day garb and I think it’s fabulous! It’s their day too ladies, so let them help you steal the show.

 Your groom doesn’t have to dress obnoxiously to stand out. It could be as simple as changing up his tie, pocket square, and boutonnière. Your groom could also rock a bow tie while the other guys wear long ties. Or, if your man really likes to live on the wild side he can wear a completely different suit than the rest of the wedding party. You’re in a white show stopper so he should look just as dapper as his future wife. After all he is your leading man, so have him look the part!