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Wedding Fashion Inspiration: Reese Witherspoon

Inspiration, Wedding IdeasWedding Creativo Photography

While we predicted seeing a lot of pinks in 2011 wedding trends, we were pleasantly surprised to see actress Reese Witherspoon choose a pink wedding dress by designer Monique Lhuiller for her wedding on March 26.  Known for elegant lacey gowns, Lhuillier has rivaled Vera Wang as a designer-of-choice among celebrity brides including Alicia Silverstone, Britney Spears, Pink, Jewel, Carrie Underwood and many others.  And, this isn't the first time Lhuillier has raised eyebrows with pink and pastel hues:

Here are some of Wedding Creativo's brides pink inspirations at Chicago weddings:

Alternative Wedding Registries for Modern Newlyweds

Wedding Ideas, Wedding PlanningWedding Creativo Photography

Many couples already have their domestic essentials, but still need the support of family and friends after the wedding.  Here are several suggestions for alternative registries and gift ideas for modern newlyweds that don't need another toaster or crock pot.

Cultural / Entertainment:

Chicago Art Institute of Chicago Gift Membership

Steppenwolf Theater Gift Certificate

Chicago Theater / Broadway in Chicago Gift Certificate

AMC Movie Theater Gift Cards

iTunes gift certificates

  Apple iTunes

Food and Drink:

Chicago's own Foodie Registry

Mr. Beer Brewing Kit

Wine Enthusiast Gift Registry

Honeymoon: 

Honeyfund Registry

Honeymoon Wishes Registry

Charitable Giving:

I Do Foundation

Changing the Present

Green / Environmental / Sustainable / Free Trade Registries:

Alternative Gift Registry

Living Green Wedding Registry

Green Feet

Uncommon Goods Gift Registry icon

   

The Other Green -- Cash:

Deposit A Gift 

Our Wishing Well

Real Estate:

Down Payment Dreams Registry

Feather Our Nest

 

Wellness / Health / Sports:

REI Registry

Time To Spa Gift Card icon

Gaiam.com Gift Certificate icon

Home Improvement / Gadgets:

Organize.com Registry

Home Depot Gift Card

Sharper Image Gift Certificate icon

 Books:

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Sweet Ways to Say Thank You

Inspiration, Wedding Ideas, Wedding PlanningWedding Creativo Photography

Guests often appreciate a special treat waiting for them on reception dinner tables. There are many kinds of favors that can be given to guests, but here are a few sweet ideas to also say "thank you" with your guest gifts. 

These chocolate chip cookies have golden thanks across the bottom side layer of chocolate.  If you prefer something a little more formal, the message can be in the form of a chocolate greeting card.

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A personalized message is always a nice touch, and here are a couple ways to incorporate your thank you message, along with your names and wedding date with fortune cookies, personalized M&Ms or other chocolate candies.

iconClear Favor Bag of Personalized M&M'S with Ribbon Elegant Lace Favor Bag of Personalized M&M'S

Five trend predictions for 2011 weddings

Wedding Fashion, Wedding Ideas, Wedding PlanningWedding Creativo Photography

While we always encourage couples to follow their hearts over trends when it comes to making wedding planning decisions, it doesn't hurt to see if some of the popular trends offer something to compliment your own great ideas.

Here is the buzz on five trends we think will be spotted at weddings in 2011.

1. Hot pink hues in honeysuckle, hibiscus, and fuchsia will keep fashions and themes flushed with bold and bright color.

2. Along with the fashion colors, it is likely that actual honeysuckle, hibiscus and peony flowers will also be prevalent in bouquets and decor.

 

3. Large flowers are making more appearances as single-flower "bouquets."   Big blooms such as a stargazer lily or sunflower can take the starring role as a single flower, but also crafty artisans have been making single-flower fabric inspirations for brides to carry, such as this one on the right from Petal and Print.

 

4. Grays have been making a strong appearance in bridesmaid dresses, shoes, grooms suits and wedding decor for about two years now, and since it works great as a base to make other more subtle colors stand out like lavender, pale yellow and light pink, we're sure to continue to see hues of pewter, slate and smoky grays in 2011.

 

5. With the entire last century as inspiration, it is no wonder that vintage wedding styles have been so strong over the last few years.  With the popularity of the hit TV show Boardwalk Empire, it seems the roaring 1920s and 1930s of the Prohibition era may have a turn at bringing vintage weddings under the influence in 2011. Look for fellas with Fedora hatsjewlery with Art Deco flair, and possibly even separate vice lounges at receptions where some guests may partake in poker games, cigar smoking, glasses of whiskey and other decadent indulgences. Hopefully guests won't forget that the bride and groom's parents will be in the next room.

    

Wedding Fashion Inspiration: Audrey Hepburn

Inspiration, Wedding Fashion, Wedding IdeasWedding Creativo Photography

Fashion icon Audrey Hepburn loved a clean style that emphasized her tall and slim figure.  She could wear anything and make it stylish and classy. 

While most women know the value of having at least one "little black dress" in their closet, the one made famous by Hepburn's Holly Golightly character in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” sold at Christie's London for a record-breaking $923,187.  It was the highest selling auction ever for a movie dress.

Don’t have that kind of cash lying around?  Etsy.com has dozens of Audrey Hepburn inspired items for any bride's budget including vintage style "little black" dress, pearl neclaces and wedding details styled after Hepburns famous movies such as Breakfast at Tiffany's and Sabrina.  Decades after her heyday, Hepburn still inspires fashion today, from independent and big name designers to Hollywood's current generation of starlets. Natalie Portman payed homage to Hepburn on the cover of the November 2006 issue of Harper’s Bazaar.  

We collected these Audrey Hepburn wedding finds on Etsy.com:

When it came to wedding dresses, Hepburn was equally inspirational in white as she was in black.  Whether in film or real life, Hepburn always looked smashing as a bride. The wedding dress below to the left was when Audrey Hepburn was only 23.  The next two images are from her marriage to Mel Ferrer, and the last one from her marriage to Andrea Dotti.

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the silver screen, she wore dresses made by fashion royalty such as French designer Givenchy, in films including Roman Holiday (1953), Sabrina (1954), Funny Face (1957), and My Fair Lady (1964).

 

 Audrey Hepburn defines classic style and beauty that is forever timeless.  In life she was a beautiful person on the inside too, known for her generous work as an International Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF, a job she did for the salary of $1 a year.  She will always be a favorite inspiration for style and humanity.

Audrey Hepburn Inspired Finds:

  

 

Wedding Creativo Daily Photo: 07.16.2010

Inspiration, Wedding Ideas, Wedding PicturesWedding Creativo Photography

Some couples have personalized labels made for the wine bottles placed on the tables.  In this case, the bride was lucky enough to find wine with her family name already on the label.  I suppose that might be easier to do if your heritage is Italian or French, but having your names on the wine bottle can be a nice touch, whether you have personalized labels or happen to have a distant relative somewhere who owns a vineyard.

© Wedding Creativo Photography

Wedding Creativo Daily Photo: 07.12.2010

Inspiration, Wedding Ideas, Wedding PicturesWedding Creativo Photography

When Italian-American bride Catherine wed her groom Nick, she borrowed a tradition from his English family and carried a lucky horseshoe down the isle.  Take note that the horseshoe is carried with the ends facing up to be sure the luck never runs out of their marriage! 

While Americans share many wedding traditions with the British, there are some things, like the horseshoe, that have yet to generally catch on in the states, and there are plenty more great ideas to borrow from wedding customs in Great Britain.

© Wedding Creativo Photography

Wedding Creativo Daily Photo: 06.17.2010

Inspiration, Wedding Ideas, Wedding PicturesWedding Creativo Photography

If you're not exactly a big fan of cake, you may want to consider having a wedding pie!  Down the street from our studio is the wonderful Hoosier Mama Pie Company, and we recently had the pleasure of seeing them serve up delicious dishes of apple, banana cream, French silk, strawberry rhubarb and other wonderful pies at Steve and Elaine's wedding.  The bride and groom even had an elaborate double-decker banana cream wedding pie instead of cake. The creative couple made the cake toppers themselves out of clothes pins.  So cute.

© Wedding Creativo Photography

Wedding Creativo Daily Photo: 05.31.2010

Wedding Ideas, Wedding Pictures, WeddingsWedding Creativo Photography

Jeannie and Nick actually met at a Halloween party, and wanted to somehow incorporate that significance into their wedding.  They had the brilliant idea to transform their reception at the Knickerbocker Hotel into a masquerade ball, which was a big hit with their guests.  They hid Venetian masks under the chairs and about midway through the reception the groom announced the surprise theme during his thank you speech.  It was certainly a night everyone will remember.

© Wedding Creativo Photography

 Creative bride Jeannie found inspiration for her reception in writer Truman Capote's masquerade parties from the 1950s and 1960s:

Mia Farrow and Frank Sinatra - from For Those About To Shop

A masked Truman Capote, from Apartment TherapyCapote's 1966 Masquerade Ball at the Plaza Hotel, NYC, (that's Candice Bergen behind the bunny mask) - from Apartment Therapy

Wedding Creativo Daily Photo: 05.26.2010

Wedding Fashion, Wedding Ideas, Wedding Pictures, WeddingsWedding Creativo Photography

Today we feature another necklace, but this one comes from ancient times. The Greek and Egyptian wedding of Anna and Rami combined their rich heritage and wedding traditions from both sides.  The ceremony was performed in three languages and the reception was filled with lots of dancing and historic customs, including this beautiful coin necklace worn by the bride.

All this month we're taking a walk down memory lane to feature some favorite pictures from past weddings in celebration of our studio's 30th anniversary.  

© Wedding Creativo Photography

Wedding Creativo Daily Photo: 05.25.2010

Inspiration, Wedding Fashion, Wedding Ideas, Wedding PicturesWedding Creativo Photography

Very shiny. Very sparkly.  Like Rainman, we're drawn to take pictures of the the lovely sparkly and shiny details of our brides' dresses and accessories.  Many visitors to our studio comment on this beautiful necklace that bride Anne wore on her wedding day.  It is unique, yet a classic, and one of our favorites as well. 

All this month we're taking a look back at some favorite pictures from past weddings in celebration of our studio's 30th anniversary. 

© Wedding Creativo / Giorgio Ventola Inc.

 

 

Wedding Creativo Daily Photo: 05.23.2010

Wedding Ideas, Wedding PicturesWedding Creativo Photography

For years I had no idea what a Vegemite sandwich was (thanks Men at Work), until we were lucky enough to photograph the Australian + American wedding of Jeremy and Michelle at the Adler Planetarium.

All this month we are taking a look back at some favorites from the past for our studio's 30th anniversary. 

© Wedding Creativo / Giorgio Ventola Inc.

I guess I missed this episode of Pop Up Video, which explains the mystery that is Vegemite.

Elaine and Steve's Wedding

Inspiration, Wedding Ideas, Wedding Pictures, WeddingsWedding Creativo Photography


Offbeat Wedding at A New Leaf - Images by Giorgio Ventola

Creativity was set for warp speed for Elaine and Steve's wedding! We started out the day with a first see at the Belden-Stratford, followed by a fun walk through the zoo where we were lucky enough to have the carousel all to ourselves, before dashing off to A New Leaf for their cocktail-style wedding and reception.  With a the groom's binary code ring, brides antique-styled green gemstone ring, totally awesome wedding sneakers, the ceremonial handcufs, wedding pies (instead of cake) by Hoosier Mama Pie Company, with pie topper made by the bride and groom, reception farmer-style auction, rad tunes by Toast and Jam DJs, and so much more....it was a blast!

© Wedding Creativo / Giorgio Ventola Inc.