It’s the year of sisters! My first of 3 clients that are sisters of past brides was this last weekend. Kristyn wore a lovely Christos gown as she and Chris exchanged vows in a traditional Greek Orthodox ceremony.
The reception at the Drake’s Gold Coast Room featured entree of Fish and Filet. The square wedding cake was done in lilac and gunmetal grey.
I am thrilled and honored to be nominated for an Esprit Award from the International Special Events Society in the Category, Best Wedding Budget over $200,000.00 Award Ceremony is on August 6th, so stay tuned! Whether I win or not, it truly is an honor to be recognized.
I love when clients take my suggestion to think outside the box, and give their guests something unexpected, and not the usual wedding meal. My next three upcoming weddings all loved doing a chilled (or cold) soup. I’ve done all kinds of the years; my favs would have to be yellow tomato gazapacho (a switch from red), pear, cucumber and of course, the classic, vichyssoise.
Here is an interesting index I found to assist you with maybe incorporating a cold soup to your next event or at home dinner party.
Some soups are served only cold, while other soups can optionally be served cold or hot. Here is a listing of chilled soups:
•Cold borscht – There are two borscht, hot and cold. Both are based on beets, but are otherwise prepared and served differently.
• Cucumber soup is a soup based on cucumbers, known in various cuisines.
• Dashi soup (Japanese) fish stock soup, with seasonal vegetables.
• Gazpacho – (Spanish) pureed tomato and vegetable soup.
• Naengmyeon – (Korean) buckwheat noodles in a tangy iced beef broth, raw julienned vegetables, a slice of a Korean pear, and often a boiled egg and/or cold beef
• Okroshka – (Russian) kvass- or kefir-based vegetable and ham soup.
• Salmorejo – (Spanish) Tomato soup with garlic and bread crumbs.
• Sayur Asem – An Indonesian soup that tastes sour and spicy.
• Sour cherry soup – A cream-based Hungarian soup.
• Tarator – A Bulgarian cold soup made from yogurt and cucumbers.
• Vichyssoise – (French-American) creamy potato and leek soup, served with chives.
Same sex couples in Illinois may now enjoy many (but sadly not all) the benefits afforded by married couples. Even though this is not 100% full equality, it is a step toward acceptance.
Our Sheridan Road window celebrates this momentous occasion!
I was thrilled to be part of career day at my nephews Austin and Judson’s school yesterday. Was pleasantly surprised how much these kids knew about weddings, and were excited to talk about it and ask really good questions.
On Wednesday, our beloved Fenwick was invited as one of Chicago’s Top Dogs to attend the annual Empire Room Dog Tea Party. One long table, set complete with the Palmer House fine china and Linen, ran the entire length of the room. The table was about 12 inches tall, perfect for the Doggie Dining. However, most of the pooches took this a a buffet.. not fine dining. The menu was prepared by Urban Outfitters Joe Giannini. and featured a all natural food prepped menu. This included: Carob Squares with Strawberry Whip, Cream Cheese Squares with infused with Carrot, Candied Apple with Carob and Peanut Crunch, Croissant with Carob and Yogurt Drizzle, Traditional Doggie Doughnuts, Carob Crumble Squares ala Mode, Cream cup with Strawberries and Carob Drizzle and Puppy Pizza with Mozzarella and Tomato (in which Fenwick give me “the look of , hmmm they give the whole pizza, NOT just crust–I think I will have 2″) It was enjoyable afternoon, complete with live piano and Sax. Adults enjoyed champagne and mimosas and traditional tea Sandwiches.
At Mark and Lisa’s Wedding Celebration this past weekend, 2 firsts happened in my 19 years of planning and designing weddings. I brought in a stand up comic for the Rehearsal Dinner. Sonja White who has been featured on numerous TV shows, including Last Comic Standing, did a wonderful personalized routine for the Rehearsal Dinner. It was great as she hit alot of jokes on love and marriage, as well as the couple’s personalities and their nationalities. Guests LOL’d for over 30 minutes. It was a great twist and totally unexpected (my favorite word). Sonja then peformed at Zanie’s the next evening. The other first was, since all the guests arrived on a bus, and they were ALL their on time to board as requested (a first) we started the ceremony 10 minutes early… I figured why wait? Let’s get this party started!
Comedian Sonja White
I had the pleasure of working with Lisa and Mark this past weekend. Lisa from Boston and Mark from Buffalo NY met on the internet. Following many telephone calls and emails, they decided to meet in person. So, they decided to pick a neutral ground, and Chicago was selected. The couple hired me prior to their engagement. They decided on a small intimate “destination” wedding for 40 guests to Chicago, since they love the Windy City and had their first date here. When they announced their engagment, they wanted to follow it with “And it’s all planned” . I only met with them for 2 1/2 days prior to wedding weekend. It shows how much can be done long distance. They wanted a more mature, but fun event created. So, off to work I went. Following a Tradtional Catholic Mass, Lisa and Mark’s Guests (all from out of town pretty much) enjoyed a tour of the city. (too bad it was raining). Then an incredible reception at the Private Dining Rooms of Spiaggia was the location of the celebration We started out with incredible passed HD’s and a flaming shrimp and brushetta station. Dinner was an amazing 9 course meal. One long table for all the guests done in black and apple green, with multi colored primary colored flowers in black vases graced the table. Personalized menus doubled as place cards: Menu included:N.V. SPARKLING PROSECCO, Santa Chiara, Veneto
Dinner is served……………..
2009 SANGIOVESE, Gran Sasso, Abruzzo
2009 PINOT GRIGIO Torre di Luna, Trentino Alto-Adige
Assagino
A SPECIAL SURPRISE FROM THE CHEF
Insalata
FINOCCHIO
Roasted fennel, Parmigiano Reggiano, almonds, pesto, balsamic vinegar
Pane
Assorted Italian breads and rolls
Zuppe
GRAN FARRO
Cannellini bean soup, with faro and pancetta
Pasta
GNOCCHI AL RAGU DI CINGHIALE
Hand crafted potato gnocchi with wild boar ragu and
Parmigiano Reggiano
Intermezzo
SORBETTI
Lemon Sorbetto
Piatti Pesce
TROTA AL FORNO
Wood roasted golden trout with artichokes,
Tuscan beans, roasted shallots and potatoes
2008 VALPOLICELLA, CORTE, SANT’ALDA
Piatti Principale
Wood roasted Becker Lane pork loin with potato puree,
English peas,balsamic onions and whipped lardo
2005 BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO, Casanova di Neri
Cheese Course
SELEZIONE DI FORMAGGI
A selection of imported Italian Cheese from the Spiaggia Cheese Cave
TORTA MATRIMONIALE
Wedding Cake
Coconut Cake with Passion Fruit filling and
Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Mousse
Dessert Station
GELATO BAR
Chef’s Selection of Homemade Gelatos
BISCOTTI
Assorted Italian cookies
SEASONAL BERRIES
TIRAMISU
ITALIAN DOUGHNUTS
Cappuccino and Espresso
Late Night Pizza Bar
FOCACCIA RIPIENI: Stuffed foccacia style pizza
MARGHERITA – Mozzarella, San Marzano tomatoes, and basil
QUATTRO FORMAGGI – Mozzarella, fontina, ricotta, and gorgonzola
D’ANITRA – Housemade duck sausage, goat cheese, and Calabrian peppers
Guests were blown away with this over the top celebration I created for my awesome clients. Congrats again Lisa and Mark! 
The view from the Signature Room was great, depsite the cold weather. To kick off Lisa and Mark’s Wedding Weekend Guests enjoyed a wonderful Rehearsal Dinner at the 95th. Buffets celebrated their ethnic Heritages. Lisa’s Lithuanian featured meat filled dumplings, Stuffed Cabbage, potato Pancakes and Dark Rye Bread and her English Buffet featured Prime Rib, Buttered Peas and Scalloped Potatoes. Mark’s Italian Buffet featured a Pasta Station, Garlic Bread and Antipasto. Dessert combined all three with English Trifle, Cannolli and Italian Cookies and Lithuanian Wedding Cake. Buffets featured wedding photos of the couples parents and flags of the respective countries. Guests enjoyed a surprise performance from Stand up Comic Sonja White. You might recognize her from many TV apprearances including Last Comic Standing. Sonja’s routine was personalized to talk about weddings, marriage and Mark and Lisa. Was the perfect way to start the weekend. 
