Christy and Jesse had an old hollywood wedding at The Palmer House. Their intimate affair included black and white decor including a fabulous wedding cake. They added plenty of personal touches to add to the glam of the evening, the brides’ bother and sister event sang for the newlyweds personally. Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Jesse B.

Photos submitted by Kara Pearson Photography.

It’s here…time to finalize the dreaded guest list. We got engaged in February and as soon as we announced it, people started to inbox me on Facebook. I had one person try to apologize for not keeping in touch over the years. I’m thinking…if we haven’t spoken to you in over five years, why would I invite you to my wedding. Unfortunately, wedding’s have become a spectator sport. People want to come to take pictures with their phones and post my personal photos on Facebook. I’m thinking about having my guests sign a Confidentially Agreement. I wonder how well that would go over. LOL!!

It’s just that I would like to enjoy my wedding weekend before I start getting tagged in my own wedding photos. Can I post my own photos first? Do people understand that this is our once in a lifetime event?

So, as we finalize our guest list, we are only inviting friends that we’ve actually spoken to within the last couple of years. We’re also inviting some older people who may not have acquired a smart phone as of yet. Then, we’re inviting family and friends who are genuinely interested in our happiness as well as our well-being and would come to the wedding even if it was in a barn in the middle of December.

Our goal is to narrow down our list by this weekend. Wish us luck!!

That’s right! It’s National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day! I wish I knew sooner. I guess I will have to go out to the store later and get some flour, sugar, and, of course, chocolate chips. In honor of this very special holiday. I thought I would share with you my new favorite cookie recipe. I actually got my hands on this recipe through Pinterest, so I’ll throw in a couple more cookie pins that I love!

Oreo Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies
Makes 24 gigantic cookies
Prep: 25 minutes
Cook: 13 minutes

Ingredients
• 1 cup (2 sticks) softened butter
• 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 3 1/2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 package Double Stuff Oreo cookies

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, cream butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together with a mixer until well combined.  Beat in eggs and vanilla.

In medium bowl mix the flour, salt, and baking soda.  Slowly add to wet ingredients along with chocolate chips until just combined.

With a cookie scoop, form balls with the dough.

Place one ball on top of an Oreo cookie, and another ball on the bottom. Seal edges together by pressing and cupping in hand until Oreo cookie is fully enclosed with dough.

Place onto parchment or silpat lined baking sheets and bake cookies for approximately 13 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool for 5 minutes before transferring to cooling rack.

Print this recipe courtesy of Very Culinary!
(from Amandeleine, originally from Picky Palate)

Trust me, they are so easy to make and sooooo good. It’s a truly pleasant surprise when you take your first bite, because we all know Oreos to be a harder cookie, not so chewy and soft. But when placed INSIDE a chocolate chip cookie, you are in for a shock! They are delicious!!!

As promised, here are some of my other favorite cookie pins that would be a suitable choice of dessert on this honory Chocolate Chip Cookie Day!

Milk Shooters garnished with Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes

I know its not a cookie, but seriously, it's a Mint Chocolate Chip Cake!

Chocolate Chip Cookies in mason jars makes great wedding favors for your guests.

Alright, you have waited long enough, let’s talk wedding details. This week let’s talk about our wedding colors…which will be announced right after this special message…

A year ago today I meet the man who will one day be my husband. I am sure you fellow brides will understand that finding ‘the one’ feels just like a fairy tale. I have kissed a lot of frogs and a few too many toads. So I want to publicly thank him for loving and supporting me. This is just the first of countless many years to come.

 I Love You Andy aka Baby Love

Ok back to it..

The first question after you announce your engagement is “when is the date?” The second, “what are your colors?” Imagine my chagrin when I had to say I don’t know to both questions. I still don’t have a wedding date, but I do have the colors…our wedding colors are silver, pewter and gunmetal with fuchsia accents.

I have not fantasized about my wedding since I was a little girl. I did not have Brides magazines stashed under my bed. I discovered that picking out colors is a lot harder then it seems.

First I looked at all the standard color combinations pink and brown, hot pink and brown, brown and green, brown and turquoise, then I moved on to black and every color combination you could think of, nothing stuck. When planning the wedding we did not want this to be a surprise party for Andy, but a partnership. Our colors are a symbol of that partnership. Andy lives in Wisconsin, but his favorite NFL team is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers whose team colors are red and pewter. My favorite color has always been pink. I like all shades, but my favorites has been fuchsia.

I had initially considered pewter with shades of pink, after all ombre is hot. Then I read that silver is the new black and mixing it with pale pink is on trend.  Then I realized I did not care what is on trend or hot. Pick colors that suite you and your partner. Consider your bridal party as well, tangerine tango may be the 2012 hot color, but very  few people are going to look good in it, maybe use it as an accent color. I also know none of my bridesmaids are likely to ever wear a fuchsia dress again, which is why their dresses will be in the grey family.

If you are like me your wedding maybe a year or more away, pick something you can live with for a long time, and make sure it will not be hard to find in apparel, accessories, shoes, favor bags, etc.  My last tip is don’t wait until the last minute to pick your colors. The sooner you know, the soon you can start to pick up deals along the way. Right now, it is graduation and prom season, the colors are the same no matter where you buy it, plan ahead save some money and some stress later.

Pewter Flats for the bride ( I know the heels will not last all day) $49 at Nordstrom Rack.

Fuchsia Purse for my bridesmaids Hautelook.com I think $18 a piece. I also picked up one for my Mom and Mom in Law to be.

Engagement Photo look. Gun Metal dress 19.99 and Fuchsia tie 7.99 Ross Dress for Less

Fuchsia Scarf $2.25 a little store on Clark St.,  can’t remember the name.

Ivory, Gunmetal and Pewter dress 14.99 Ross Dress for less. I am thinking Bridal shower or Rehearsal Dinner.

Pick colors that will make you smile and your groom will not hate.

Hello My Fellow Brides,

I am so excited about my upcoming wedding in November of this year. With only six months ago, time is ticking away.

I met Nigel, my Fiance, when I was at a barbershop passing out Scentsy catalogs. I had no idea that this man would be everything that I’ve ever hoped and dreamed of. I gave him a catalog and he sounded very interested in purchasing a warmer so I followed up with him three days later.  He purchased a warmer and said that he would buy another one. After two warmers, he finally asked me out.

Our first date was amazing. He showed up with flowers and was the perfect gentleman. He had the whole evening planned out and it was just wonderful. After only a month of dating, I knew that he wass going to be in my life for a long time. He had all of the qualities that I had been looking for.

Nigel planned a weekend away for my birthday and he proposed at a romantic restaurant. He then planned for my family, who lives in Chicago, to come to Missouri and be at my house when we returned from our getaway. It was the best weekend ever!!

I look forward to sharing as well as learning from all of you!!

Dee

Last night, I had the pleasure of attending the groundbreaking ceremony for the newest Pinstripes in Oak Brook. I’ve already been wowed by their Northbrook and South Barrington locations and am so excited that they are bringing their expertise to the western suburbs.

Bocce for cocktail hour? Bowling for afterparty? Exceptional food and wine in between? Like its predecessors, this newest 32,000 sq. ft. venue will feature 6 indoor and 4 outdoor bocce courts, 16 bowling lanes, smaller private rooms, and an outdoor firepit. 4 weddings and 15 events have already been booked well before the establishment is set to open in 5 months. The elegant event space will accommodate 20-600 people. Their event planners specialize in creating weddings that have not been seen or done before. Guests will be talking about them for years to come. I can tell you, first hand, that the Italian  and American cuisine is beyond delicious.

I can’t wait for the grand opening!!!

So first off let me tell you my skin is not perfect. I break out worse now than I did back in high school. Recently I started going through my wedding planner and I noticed I didn’t check off some important items.

First one on my list was start your beauty regimen. Well that is a post for another day. The one after that was schedule your hair and make up trials.

Well a couple of months ago one of my maids (we’ll call her J) and I went to a bridal sampler event. They had lots of different vendors and different things going on there but the one thing that stuck out was a woman from Mario Tricoci doing airbrushed make up. There was a little line but we decided to wait and check it out. When it was my turn, I had make up on my face but it was just a demo so she didn’t do the full-blown job you would pay for.  She told me to face the crowd and maid J’s jaw dropped! My face looked flawless, even skin tone it covered up the couple of pimples you still saw with the make up I had on and the redness that you could still see GONE! So I grabbed her card and I was going to think about it. On our way home, we talked about how great it looked. So at home, I started doing some research. My biggest concern was looking fake and over done. Not all make up artists are the same and they are priced all over the place. Your budget will play a very important part of your decisions. Me tight budget = best price I can find!

Well turns out Tricoci has a very good price for this service.  The next day I found that card and made my appointment.

My appointment was Saturday and guess what? I’m doing airbrushed make up. As I sat in the chair Carol told me that airbrush last over 18 hours without fading or smudging so I didn’t have to worry that it would melt off in the heat or when I am dancing the night away.  The make up felt very light and it did last for hours. I felt very natural with it on and it did not feel over done what so ever. In the end, the cost isn’t so bad if you do your homework. I think it’s totally worth it because your wedding is one of the most important days of your life. Here are a couple of pictures I took after I got home.

Corey and Mike’s black & white theme shows off the elegance in their romance. The gorgeous dress from A L’Amour, fabulous floral arrangements by Mann’s Greenhouse & Flower Shoppe, and lovely Senica’s Oak Ridge ballroom all offer very understated timelessness.  The couple stopped at Reddick Mansion to enjoy some fabulous photo-time, I love the detail within the place. The Romona Keveza gown complements the brides figure and offers a hint of flirty-ness to the occasion, alongside her lovely bridesmaids doning J.Crew dresses. Cheers to the bride and groom!

Photos submitted by GrAy Photography.

Corey & Mike’s vendors include:

Reception Venue: Senica’s Oak Ridge
Photo-Opp Venue: Reddick Mansion
Florist: Mann’s Greenhouse & Flower Shoppe
Music: Sounds Abound Entertainment
Dress Designer:Romona Keveza
Bridal Boutique: A L’Amour in Barrington, IL
Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew
Photographer: GrAy Photography

Can you just imagine winning a wedding in beautiful Geneva, Illinois? Well now it can come true! All it takes is the desire to get married in Geneva, IL, and the making of a fun and creative video to tell and show why. Check out their website for complete information.

Geneva Wedding 12, a group of dedicated wedding vendors based out of Geneva Il., is thrilled to announce they are celebrating 12-12-12 with a Luxury Wedding Giveaway! Everything from invitations to party favors, the wedding dress to a complete reception including a chef’s collaborative gourmet dinner is included. The lucky winning couple will receive a beautifully adorned ceremony serenaded by the music of a classical harpist.  A cocktail reception will follow at the Herrington Inn’s Pump Room, accompanied by a live jazz trio, delicious hors D’oeuvres, and tempting libations.  Riverside Receptions will host the formal dinner prepared by Geneva’s most renowned chefs, followed by dancing and celebrating through the night to one of Geneva’s most highly rated DJs.  To top it off, the bride and groom will be dressed from head to toe, and then some, as Geneva’s generous vendors supply them with lavish gifts and the wedding of their dreams.  Live the dream and have your wedding in Geneva on a date you will never forget 12-12-12!

Here’s a list of many of their great sponsors:
Invitations: Invitations by Design
Bridal Gown & Accessories: The Crystal Bride & Veiled in Elegance
 Wedding Bands: State Street Jewelers & SRNTY by Jamie Bellandi
Ring Bearer’s Pillow & Toasting Goblets: State Street Jewelers  
Couture individually Deigned Dress for the Mother of the Bride: Out of the Mainstream Designs
Brides Maid Jewelry: SRNTY by Jamie Bellandi
Hair & Make Up: Montage Salon
Nails: Well Polished
Ceremony & Reception: Herrington Inn & Spa, Gracious Hall Catering, Elizabeth Wray Designs,
Simply Elegant Harp, and Back Third Entertainment
Dinner and Dancing: Riverside Receptions, Eagle Brook C.C., Mill Creek GC, Wildwood Restaurant
Town and Country Gardens, and Music by Design
Wedding Cake: Cocoa Bean
Party favors and Sweets Table: Grahams Chocolates and The Sugar Path
Hotel Accommodations: Herrington Inn & Spa
Photography: Hazelton Photography and Tom Nicol Photography
Illustrator: Rosemary Fanti
Dance Lessons and Choreography: Vargo’s Dance Studio
Planning and Client Coordination: You Name It Events
Transportation: Spare Wheels
Gifts: Carlson Flooring
Program Support: City of Geneva, Geneva Chamber of Commerce, and Wedding Guide Chicago

Can you just imagine winning a wedding for 125 guests and having all these great companies providing the services? What more could you ask! So go make your videos and have a chance to win this fabulous giveaway. Click here for details.

We made it back…our first vacation seven days, three of which included my Mom and Aunt, and we are still speaking to each other. This picture is from the last day of the trip and we were still smiling. Exhausted, but smiling.

Staying true to my word we did not really talk about wedding plans at all except to say…”you know we really do need to find a venue soon”. Three blog post later and I am sure you are wondering exactly what decision have you made…Well we have decided on colors (we will talk about that next week), location (somewhere in the Chicago area), guest list and budget.  Between what we plan to save and what both of our families have been so gracious to offer us we have determined a figure around $12,000 for one hundred guests in Chicago and $2,000 for a cocktail reception in Minneapolis. 

Having just read in Reuters that the average Chicago wedding cost is $53,069, my budget is actually more on par with West Virginia…I think we will still have an amazing event.  Andy and I reviewed the budget worksheet, and decided what are our must haves and what we can live without. (This is a great resource for you and your fiancé to start the discussion and track your goals http://www.weddingguidechicago.com/worksheets-and-tools/3-download-archive-dp1 ).

I am including below some of our thoughts on the big ticket items:

Must haves:

Ceremony/Reception Site:  Although we would love to rent a loft space, bring in lights and tons of rentals.  We have decided to have the ceremony and reception in the same venue. We are looking for a venue that will need limited additional décor (like a restaurant) or a banquet facility that includes the basics, with good food and great drinks. This will also limit the need for a coordinator.

Transportation: Andy’s family lives in WI and we will have 4 attendants apiece so we are leaning towards a trolley or party bus, so no one gets lost and everyone has fun.

DJ: It must be a dance party…one of my soon to be in laws has a dance already for the Commodores’ song Brick house, and I think we all need to see it.

Photography: This is one day, but we will have to look at these pictures forever, although I am really good with the hold your arm out and smile (see sample below) not sure that will work for our wedding pictures.

 Things we can save on:

Flowers: One of my bridesmaids and best friends is a florist and will be doing the flowers.If you are not that lucky I have seen plenty of websites offering advice on creating your own flowers. Mason Jars are hot this year.

Gifts: I found a great deal on handbags for my attendants on one of the national daily sale sites.  I will also be making them additional gifts.

Décor: Can you say acrylic paint and glue gun? I can, and so can a number of my friends, I will bring the wine and the supplies.  I can see the possibilities.

Wedding Dress: I actually got my dress on sale for a steal (more on that later).

Stationery: Paper save the dates will only be sent to out of town guest, bridal party and family. We will post as much information as we can on our wedding website and keep the invites simple. Still debating programs and the RSVP cards, I am leaning towards including them only for people unlikely to reply via the web. I am going to make my own table numbers and receptions cards.

We set our budget based on how much we can save before the wedding, what resources we have available, and what is really important to us. First we decided it is important to us to not create additional debt as we start our married life. We are not trying to match or beat any reality television wedding. What we want is a fabulous party that represents who we are, and celebrates our love, our family and our friends.

If you would like any ideas or feedback feel free to leave a comment below.

 Also I am thinking about organizing a couple bridal support groups. One for planning because I am sure my friends are sick of hearing that there are actually what feel like 100 of shades of pink and none of them are perfect, your friends maybe tired too, or maybe you want someone to hit the bridal fairs with you. As well as, a group for working out occasionally, I need the motivation. The freshman 15 exists in the first year of dating as well as college. Anyone interested??