Five Grain Events http://fivegrainevents.com Collaborating with our clients to create events brimming with personalization, vibrancy, and panache! Wed, 16 May 2012 23:22:45 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 Sarah and Jeff, Chicago, IL http://fivegrainevents.com/applause/sarah-and-jeff-chicago-il http://fivegrainevents.com/applause/sarah-and-jeff-chicago-il#comments Tue, 01 May 2012 23:16:26 +0000 joan http://fivegrainevents.com/?p=2801

“Joan,

Thank you for helping to make our wedding day so perfect and special–we couldn’t have pulled it off without you!  It was so great to work with you throughout the planning process.  We will definitely pass your information along to all of our friends + family getting married in the coming year.  Thanks so much!

Sarah + Jeff Sinitean”

]]> http://fivegrainevents.com/applause/sarah-and-jeff-chicago-il/feed 0 Happy Anniversary, Elizabeth and Alex! http://fivegrainevents.com/blog/happy-anniversary-elizabeth-and-alex http://fivegrainevents.com/blog/happy-anniversary-elizabeth-and-alex#comments Tue, 01 May 2012 14:00:37 +0000 joan http://fivegrainevents.com/?p=1791 Elizabeth and Alex, I can hardly believe it has been a full year since your lovely morning wedding which marked the beginning of your lives together.  There were so many ways in which you made sure your day truly represented the two of you from the homey brunch meal, to the hand made chuppah embroidered with the names of your family members, to the Blue Grass trio during cocktails.

I feel so honored to have gotten to know the two of you and your wonderful families.  Mazel Tov on the first of many years as husband and wife!

Joan

 

]]> http://fivegrainevents.com/blog/happy-anniversary-elizabeth-and-alex/feed 0 Emily and Cameron’s Unforgettable Wedding at Salvage One 09.16.11 http://fivegrainevents.com/blog/emily-and-camerons-unforgettable-wedding-at-salvage-one-09-16-11 http://fivegrainevents.com/blog/emily-and-camerons-unforgettable-wedding-at-salvage-one-09-16-11#comments Tue, 24 Apr 2012 14:00:02 +0000 joan http://fivegrainevents.com/?p=2641 Ok, so I admit that I’ve been putting off the writing of this post a little bit.  You see, Emily and Cameron were some of my favorite clients of 2011.  I worked with them for more than a year to put together their amazing wedding day start to finish…helping reassure them that, yes, Salvage One WAS the perfect venue…meeting with many different vendors until we found just the right fit…adding in all the little details to make their day the perfect reflection of their relationship.  Somehow I feel like this is my last and final tie to their wedding day last September.  But, I know that it’s time to pick myself up by the bootstraps and let the world in on this stunning event!  So here we go…

The ladies got dressed at the Crowne Plaza and the suite was abuzz with excitement as they primped and preened.  Hair and makeup were provided by Amanda and Orlando from Salon 1800. I absolutely adored the peacock blue bridesmaid dresses that Emily selected (by Amsale).  Her color scheme was so chic:  gray accented with pops of bright magenta, peacock blue, and mustard yellow!  Emily’s Vera Wang dress came from White Chicago…I’m so sad they are no longer.

Meanwhile Cameron and his groomsmen were at Cameron’s parents’ home in Evanston.  Hanging out and getting dapper.  There MAY have been a stop for some adult beverages before the ceremony began {shh!}.

Emily and Cam were married at St. Mike’s in Old Town.  It is a stunning and grand church, but despite the size, the ceremony felt very intimate.

What a way to go…the recessional was played by a bagpiper!  Such a cool addition.

After the ceremony, the bridal party hopped on their limo bus, provided by Exquisite Limo, for some photos at the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pond with Anna Guziak Photography.  I don’t know about you, but I feel like I’m looking at a magazine spread when I see these images!

The crew headed to Salvage One where the party was just beginning.  After a festive cocktail hour, guests headed upstairs.  There were too many wonderful elements at this wedding to count:  from the gorgeous collection centerpieces designed by Caleb at Fleur, to the ruffled wedding cake created by Flour Cake & Pastry, to the delicious station-style dinner prepared by Blue Plate: the room absolutely glowed!

Em and Cam have been together since high school, and have lots and lots of friends and family who have watched their love grow from the beginning.  I adored listening to those closest to them give their heartfelt toasts (luckily they had their day filmed by the supremely talented Tom of XO Pictures so you can hear snippets of those speeches here:  http://www.xopictures.com/films/emilyandcameron/).  Break out the tissues!

The rest of the evening was spent getting down on the dance floor to the tunes of DJ Zebo of Style Matters. Emily and Cameron hand-selected Zebo after hearing him spin at Evil Olive, one of their favorite late night hangouts!  Fate?  I think yes.  Oh, and there may have been a few mini cheeseburgers, shakes, and cheese fries passed around by Blue Plate to round out the evening.

Thus ends my recap.  It’s hard to say goodbye, but hopefully all this means is a farewell to the wedding portion of our relationship and a “hello” to a friendship on a different level.  I feel lucky to have gotten to know you over the past (almost) 2 years now, and wish you much happiness as you celebrate every new adventure in your lives!

]]> http://fivegrainevents.com/blog/emily-and-camerons-unforgettable-wedding-at-salvage-one-09-16-11/feed 0 Happy Anniversary, Brooke & Jesse and Wendy & Rob! http://fivegrainevents.com/blog/happy-anniversary-brooke-jesse-and-wendy-rob http://fivegrainevents.com/blog/happy-anniversary-brooke-jesse-and-wendy-rob#comments Mon, 23 Apr 2012 14:00:43 +0000 joan http://fivegrainevents.com/?p=1772 We are celebrating two fantastic couples today!  Over Easter weekend of last year, Brooke and Jesse tied the knot in the barn at Heritage Prairie Farm in Elburn, IL and Wendy and Rob were married under a chuppah at Danada House in Wheaton.

We were worried about forecast rain, but Mother Nature smiled down on us that day, providing clear skies and a perfect spring day to kick start their lives as newly married couples.

A toast to the four of you as you celebrate your first anniversary!

Here’s to many more,

Joan & Sara

]]> http://fivegrainevents.com/blog/happy-anniversary-brooke-jesse-and-wendy-rob/feed 0 Lauren and Stu’s Sky High Wedding at The Metropolitan Club 09.04.11 http://fivegrainevents.com/blog/lauren-and-stus-sky-high-wedding-at-the-metropolitan-club-09-04-11 http://fivegrainevents.com/blog/lauren-and-stus-sky-high-wedding-at-the-metropolitan-club-09-04-11#comments Tue, 10 Apr 2012 14:00:27 +0000 joan http://fivegrainevents.com/?p=2557 Lauren and Stu were an absolute blast to work with–they were both super excited about every element of the planning process, and their joy was infectious!  I so enjoyed celebrating their union with their families over Labor Day weekend last year.

The couple got dressed and ready at the stunning JW Marriott Hotel in the loop.  Lauren and her bridesmaids were in one of the most beautiful suites I’ve ever seen which overlooked the Chicago Board of Trade.  Dawn Norman of edit Faces did her makeup magic on Lauren and the girls while Paula Cutri styled hair.

Once they were dressed, Lauren and Stu shared their first look in the lobby of the JW Marriott. They were so excited to see one another!  I feel lucky to be able to present for so many of these special moments between a bride and groom on wedding day–you can just feel the incredible love they have for each other.

After the big reveal, Lauren, Stu, and their bridal party loaded on to their Windy City Limo bus to drive down to the museum campus for photos with Peter of Thompson Wedding Photography. The sky was blue and the lake calm:  the perfect backdrop for photographs that will grace the bride and groom’s walls for a lifetime!

Lauren and Stu were married in a traditional Jewish ceremony with a few personal elements added in.  I loved the touch of signing the ketubah during the ceremony in the presence of all of their guests!  The Wishing Well put together the stunning purple bouquets which Lauren chose to forgo during pre-ceremony photos to make sure they were as fresh as possible for the ceremony. 

The Metropolitan Club has a lovely room for a reception, but the “wow factor” came into play as the sun was setting during cocktail hour.  The views from the 67th floor of the Sears Tower (as a lifelong Chicagoan I can’t bring myself to call it by its new name…) are absolutely breathtaking, and really set a beautiful backdrop for Lauren and Stu’s big celebration!

The reception got started with a bang as Orchestra 33 started off with a big dance set before speeches and dinner.  I always enjoy when couples choose to dance between courses.  It makes timing the meal a bit trickier, but pays off when energy remains high for the entire length of the reception.

As the bride and groom relaxed at their sweetheart table, the couple was celebrated by their loved ones with adoring speeches.  A delicious meal was served by the Metropolitan Club amidst breaks for hitting the dance floor.

Dessert was a delicious cake created by Sarah’s Pastries. The bride was determined to serve a chocolate Sears Tower along with each slice, but the cost was prohibitive.  Lauren and her mom came up with the amazing idea of purchasing the chocolate mold from Sarah’s and making the treats themselves!  Now that’s impressive!

As an added benefit to their guests, ShutterBooth was set up just outside of the main room.  The group had a lot of fun jumping in and out of the booth in various arrangements and costume pieces.  Lauren and Stu ended up with a fantastic guest book cataloging how much everyone enjoyed their wedding!

What a fun group!  Lauren and Stu, by your wedding day I truly felt like “one of the gang”.  It was so wonderful working with you and I wish you all the best as you enjoy the remainder of your first year of marriage–and beyond!

 

]]> http://fivegrainevents.com/blog/lauren-and-stus-sky-high-wedding-at-the-metropolitan-club-09-04-11/feed 1 Baby Five Grain http://fivegrainevents.com/blog/baby-five-grain http://fivegrainevents.com/blog/baby-five-grain#comments Wed, 04 Apr 2012 19:54:55 +0000 joan http://fivegrainevents.com/?p=2685 I’m sure you’ve noticed my absence around here–at least I hope so!  It’s been a whirlwind four weeks, but today marks the one-month birthday of our baby girl born March 4th.  I just wanted to take a moment to thank my clients and colleagues for being so understanding as I took some time away to get to know our precious new addition.

We still have several more 2011 weddings to blog, so stay tuned.  In the meantime, in her blog debut…

]]> http://fivegrainevents.com/blog/baby-five-grain/feed 0 Modern Jewish Wedding at Chicago’s Hyatt http://fivegrainevents.com/applause/modern-jewish-wedding-at-chicagos-hyatt http://fivegrainevents.com/applause/modern-jewish-wedding-at-chicagos-hyatt#comments Wed, 21 Mar 2012 20:47:37 +0000 joan http://fivegrainevents.com/?p=2679 With the recent surge of warm weather across the country we thought today would be the perfect time to feature a wonderful summer wedding. Today we’re in Chicago with a modern Jewish wedding that we absolutely adore. We love the splashes of color in the flowers against the black tuxedo and white dress, but one of our favorite details about the wedding is one that cannot be seen…

To view the rest of the feature, click here to go to A City Wedding.

]]> http://fivegrainevents.com/applause/modern-jewish-wedding-at-chicagos-hyatt/feed 0 Happy Anniversary, Emily and Tom! http://fivegrainevents.com/blog/happy-anniversary-emily-and-tom http://fivegrainevents.com/blog/happy-anniversary-emily-and-tom#comments Mon, 19 Mar 2012 14:00:42 +0000 joan http://fivegrainevents.com/?p=1765 Your gorgeous wedding was held on an unseasonably warm day one year ago today (though not quite as warm as the weather we’ve been experiencing!).  I still remember enjoying the first spring breezes through the open doors of the Galleria Marchetti tent as we set up!

I loved the countless details you put into your big day–and hope you have been able savor every moment of your first year of married life as well.

Best wishes to you both,

Joan

]]> http://fivegrainevents.com/blog/happy-anniversary-emily-and-tom/feed 0 Happy Anniversary Paula and Clayton! http://fivegrainevents.com/blog/happy-anniversary-paula-and-clayton http://fivegrainevents.com/blog/happy-anniversary-paula-and-clayton#comments Mon, 27 Feb 2012 15:30:25 +0000 joan http://fivegrainevents.com/?p=1449 One year ago yesterday you were saying “I do” on a blustery Saturday in February (and your Five Grain Events team was kicking off the 2011 wedding season!).  I hope the first year of marriage has been everything  you hoped.  Best wishes to you both!

 

Much love,

Joan

]]> http://fivegrainevents.com/blog/happy-anniversary-paula-and-clayton/feed 0 Liz and Hank’s Musical Wedding at Galleria Marchetti 08.27.11 http://fivegrainevents.com/blog/liz-and-hanks-musical-wedding-at-galleria-marchetti-08-27-11 http://fivegrainevents.com/blog/liz-and-hanks-musical-wedding-at-galleria-marchetti-08-27-11#comments Thu, 23 Feb 2012 14:30:44 +0000 joan http://fivegrainevents.com/?p=2508 In some ways I felt like my involvement in Liz and Hank’s wedding was pure fate!  The day that Liz reached out to see if I was available, I had just had a meeting with another potential client for their wedding date.  The other couple seemed nice, but I just didn’t feel that connection.  When Liz emailed she mentioned that she had been referred by Emily and Cameron (some of my favorite clients), that the reception would be at Galleria Marchetti (where my reception was) and that her ceremony would include a 10-piece brass ensemble .  I knew this would be the perfect fit–and within 5 minutes of back and forth communication I was on board!  I couldn’t wait to see what else they had planned for their big day.

Liz and her bridesmaids spent the morning at Liz’s parents’ home in Evanston being primped and preened by makeup artist, Coral Gable, and hairstylist, Julie, from Salon U.

Hank and the gents were at Liz and Hank’s apartment in Wrigleyville awaiting the start of their grand ceremony.  Windy City Trolley collected the guys from their hang-out to bring them to St. Josaphat as Jill Brazel was snapping away.  For August 27th, the weather was breezy and pleasant–quite the contrast from what was going on on the East Coast that weekend with Hurricane Irene!

Their Catholic Ceremony was so beautiful.  Liz’s parents are both retired members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra so the bar was set high for the music that day–and boy did they hit the mark!  The processional and recesssional were performed by a brass ensemble–all Liz’s mom’s colleagues and friends, and there was a performance by a solo violinist during the lighting of the Unity Candle.  The bridal party processional piece, Highland Cathedral, was incredibly moving.  When the bagpipe started playing I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who got chills!

My clients are always perplexed by what to do about the “Catholic Wedding Gap”.  You have an afternoon ceremony, but want to have an evening reception–what are your guests supposed to do with that extra 1-2 hours?  Liz and Hank had a great idea:  offer their out-of-town guests a guided tour of the city!  While the bridal party was off taking photos, Pontarelli Companies provided a bus to drive guests around to some famous areas of the city and the couple assigned a native Chicagoan family member to narrate the landmarks they were passing.

At Galleria Marchetti, we were getting everything ready for guests to arrive.  Flowers Flowers put together beautifully simple green and white arrangements to compliment the white pintuck linens.  Liz created an escort board instead of a traditional table display–each of the tables was named after a favorite place or event Liz and Hank visited together.

Cocktail hour was so lovely out in Galleria Marchetti’s courtyard.  Music was a huge priority for the reception as well, and Stitely Entertainment was there to fill the void with a jazz trio while the attendees mixed and mingled in the evening air.

Liz’s Maid of Honor was her soon-to-be sister-in-law, Christine.  No matter how hard I tried, I could not get her to go off-duty!  Now that’s a person you want around on wedding day!

As guests were invited inside for the reception they were greeted by this display of cupcakes from Molly’s.  Isn’t that the hardest part?  Seeing the delicious dessert displayed and knowing you have to wait for it??

Speeches soon followed by Christine and Hank’s brother, Nick.  Christine and Nick toasted the completion of their public speaking obligations with a shot!

All that was left on the schedule for the evening was party time!  The dance floor was hopping thanks to the musical stylings of Stitely Entertainment.

When it came time for the bouquet and garter toss we had a little snafu.  Hank and Liz thought they had given me Liz’s garter, and since I didn’t have it I’d assumed she was going to be wearing it on wedding day (you know what they say about assuming…).  With no option of running out to grab one, the lovely Shannon actually SEWED a garter for Hank to toss out of some ribbon and a rubber band.  Ha!  It wasn’t perfect but did the job.  Obviously since that day, we’ve added a garter to our emergency kit.

Personal Photo

What a fantastic wedding!  I am so glad that fate brought us together and that we get to celebrate together again in a few months with yet another of your friends’ weddings.

Liz and Hank’s wedding day was filmed by Poetic Productions.  Check out their fantastic film short on Poetic’s website here:  Combs-Thompson.mov.

Stitely Entertainment also wrote a post about Liz and Hank’s wedding.  Check that out here:

http://stitelyentertainment.wordpress.com/2012/02/22/guest-star-stitelys-real-weddings-liz-and-hanks-heck-of-a-party/

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