Unique Wedding Registry Ideas

Wedding registries are not all created equal!

First of all, what is its purpose? And who started the now ubiquitous wedding registry? Well, apparently the concept was dreamed up by Chicago’s (now defunct) Marshall Field’s flagship store back in 1924 as a means for the engaged couple to indicate chosen china, silver and crystal patterns to family and friends (source).

Wedding registries have come a LONG way since 1924! There are now so many options for the bride and groom who may not want (or need) the traditional household items. Of course there is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting that KitchenAid stand mixer in Martha Stewart Blue, or those shiiiiny All Clad posts and pans… believe me, I went nuts with that scanner thingamajig at Macy’s and Crate & Barrel! By the way, if you need a good checklist of what items to register for, Real Simple has a good one for your reference.

But more and more often as couples get married a little bit older, they may have all the household items they need. So here are some great ideas for untraditional registries:

The Wishpot Registry
This fabulous site lets you add products from anywhere on the web with the easy to install Wishpot Button. You can share items and lists with friends and family and they can reserve items for purchase. Once an item on your list is reserved Wishpot re directs whoever is purchasing the item to the site the item was added from or the site with the most competitive price for the transaction.

Amazon Registry
Yes, you can you register with your favorite online superstore! Anything from flatscreen tvs, Blueray players, DSLR cameras, a Kindle, to books, to anything you can imagine can probably be registered for via Amazon!

Foodie Registry
I just learned about the Foodie Registry not too long ago when I met the founders at a networking event! This is currently still a Chicago-specific site which allows couples to register for gift cards to their favorite Chicago restaurants. Imagine that, date-night every week of your first year of married life at a different restaurant!

I DO Foundation
Charity registries are gaining popularity! This one allows your guests to make secure online donations in support of the organization of your choice as their wedding gift to you.

Honeyfund and  Honeymoon Wishes
Two different companies that allow your guests to contribute towards various honeymoon activities (e.g. airfare, hotel nights, car rentals, golfing, spa treatments, room service, etc.)

Bridal Mortgage Registry
An online bridal registry service for couples wishing to receive monetary wedding contributions that can be applied towards a home down payment.

Upon Our Star
”A wedding registry for wishes, not stuff”. Wishes can be anything – dream kitchen, a piano, artwork for the new home, future education, etc.

{Please note that Sweetchic has not personally tried all of these services! This is for information purposes only, please be sure to read the fine print when you start your registry!}

Venue Spotlight: The Elysian

The other day, I visited Chicago’s newest luxury hotel: The Elysian. This amazing property is probably one of the most elegant and sophisticated hotels I have seen to date. Not flashy or trendy… simply understated elegance.

During my tour, I was told about the many fashion influences that are subtly incorporated into the design and decor; for example, the enormous, sparkly chandelier that greets you as you enter the front door (see below) is inspired by a Chanel brooch.

The Elysian boasts two restaurants, Balsan, for more casual dining:

and Ria, the fine dining establishment:

Oh, and we can’t forget to Spaaaaa:

What I especially love about their event space is that they only host one event per night, so you have the entire fifth floor at your disposal.

The Hemmingway room can be used for cocktails (and is also perfect for smaller weddings or rehearsal dinners)

The Sinclair Ballroom: I adore the gorgeous dove gray walls and white trim, natural light and unique crystal chandeliers! And yes, the chiavari chairs are included, along with the beautiful place settings you see below, which are their “standard”.  Not so standard if you ask me!

The room all dressed up. The room is already so elegant that it hardly needs any help!

Nearly all of their guestrooms are suites, and they are stunning!

{Most images via the Elysian Gallery, others are taken by my camera, as marked}

Capacity for seated dinner: Ideally 100 – 130 (although up to 180 if dancing is moved to the Hemmingway room)
Ceremony space: Yes
Package starting price: $205 (pre-tax & gratuity)
Food & Beverage minimum: $20,000

The Elysian
11 E. Walton St.
Chicago, IL 60611
312-880-4400

Tuesday’s Tablescape

This beautiful orange and chartreuse wedding just oozes vibrant, citrusy charm! The amazing tablescapes feature the use of the rustic wooden boxes, glass cylinders with floating candles, paired with tropical mokara and cymbidum orchids, dahlias and succulents (my favorite!). And notice how they used the green satin linens topped with another orange pintuck linen…something you don’t typically see! You could definitely double up on some table runners in the contrasting color to create the wider, more luxurious look. 

 

Via Inspired by This

Wedding by The Special Day
Photographed by Ira Lippke
Floral by Nisies Enchanted Florists

{Every Tuesday, Sweetchic Events will feature a fabulous tablescape from around the blogosphere for your viewing pleasure!}

The Importance of Determining Your Wedding Priorities

I recently came across this post by OneWed with their Question of the Week: “What are your wedding priorities?”

This is a something I ask every single potential client at our first meeting, coupled with the additional question, “What are the things that you just have to have?” And it’s surprising how often they are stumped by this, and so it gets their wheels turning. This is important because I think every couple should really figure out their wedding priorities in order to effectively plan a wedding that truly reflects them, and not just resemble what a “traditional wedding” should look and feel like (and cost). After some more reflection and discussion between the couple, here are some of the responses that I have heard:

- The best photographer we can afford
- Great food, we are foodies
- Top shelf liquor flowing all night long
- A view of the city (Chicago’s skyline is famous afterall)
- Music that will keep the guests on the dance floor
- My dress, I’ve always dreamed of a Vera Wang
- That “WOW” factor when guests walk into the reception room
- Flowers, lots and lots of flowers
- Amazing honeymoon

Why is this question so important? Because it helps you determine where and how to allocate the bulk of your budget, instead of simply following the basic wedding budget calculators that you find everywhere. The thing is, this is also a highly personal question that no one else can answer for you. Of course it would be ideal to be able to have ALL of the above, but these days, rare is the couple with the unlimited budget (golly, wouldn’t that be FAB!) So instead of trying to fairly allocate your budget in the typical manner, put your money where it matters the most… TO YOU!

For my own wedding back in 2007, they were:

1. Best photographer in our budget
2. Venue that could accommodate ceremony AND reception, plus an outdoor ceremony space
3. Floral and Details, details, details (the invitations, ceremony programs, guestbook table, escort cards, menus, drink menus, flip flop basket… you get the idea!)
4. Draping the one unattractive wall in the reception room with fabric (the rest of the room had floor-to-ceiling windows)

What are/were your wedding priorities?

Tuesday’s Tablescape

One of my favorite design elements in a wedding is the Tablescape. (Random fact: the first time I ever heard the term “tablescape” was on cheesy Sandra Lee’s FoodNetwork show, Semi Homemade).

I love this glamorous pink, fuchsia and chocolate brown tablescape and the deconstructed arrangements of peonies, roses and gerbera daisies (typically not amongst my favorite flowers, but I like them here in small doses). I especially love the use of all that glass, which gives the table a lovely reflective quality, and just positively glows! And surprise, surprise, this is not a wedding… this is a charity event at the St. Regis Atlanta planned by A Legendary Event and photographed by Artstar Photography.

Via elly b Events

{Every Tuesday, Sweetchic Events will feature a fabulous tablescape from around the blogosphere for your viewing pleasure!}

Setting the Proper Place Setting

As a wedding planner, setting a proper place setting is something that I have to know… but it’s also a great tidbit of knowledge for everyone! So when one of my favorite Chicago bloggers, Jen from Second City Soirees launched her Video Series today, I was thrilled to see that one of her first topics was the Proper Place Setting! Check it out and you’ll learn how and why everything has its place:

Love it, thanks Jen!

Indie Wed: A Unique Wedding Show

Are you going?

I am so looking forward to Indie Wed on January 30th! According to their site:

“On January 30th 2010, Chicago will be the location for a unique wedding event. The event, called Indie Wed will be the first of its kind in the Midwest, bringing together local vendors with a twist. Indie Wed caters to unconventional couples who are taking a more modern, edgy, or eco-friendly approach to their special day as well as the more conservative couples who simply want to add some special touches. The event will highlight the work of local independent designers specializing in various wedding related fields including stationery, cakes & pastries, fashion, catering, floral design and photography”

Saturday, January 30th, 2010
from 11am-5pm
at the Showroom at the Ravenswood Event Center
4025 N. Ravenswood Ave
Chicago Illinois

Click HERE to pre-order tickets, and HERE for the list of participating vendors! Hope to see you there…