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Lighting is an important piece of any event. Not only can it create a glowing, warm space, it can really enhance the theme of your wedding. For Brides, Bubbles and Bliss, held at the Bridgeport Arts Center, Automated Lighting Design transformed a raw space into a radiant runway show by utilizing pink up lighting and patterned lights.
Brides Bubbles & Bliss Runway Show (Photo by Carasco Photography)
We are looking forward to our St. Patrick’s day wedding and wanted to share some different ideas on how to incorporate this holiday in YOUR special day in a fun and elegant way!
Go For Green! (Photo from www.mywedding.com)
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Happy New Year! (Photo from www.edreach.us)
Dear Readers ~
Every Tuesday it is TIP TUESDAY at theBrideScoop and we are sharing helpful suggestions from our collective experience - for wedding and in life!
theBrideScoop TIP TUESDAY Editor's Choice Best of 2011
To me, weddings are one of the most interesting traditions worldwide. The word “wed” is actually derived from the ancient Greek word for “pledge” and that’s exactly what a wedding is – no matter what country it takes place in, no matter what culture it’s part of! To wed is to pledge your self to another. The practice of marriage is something we ALL have in common; something that unites all of humanity when you think about it. Every culture, religion and ethnicity all over the world celebrates the right of marriage.
The wedding ceremony of the Eastern Orthodox Church is an ancient service that has been celebrated in its present form for centuries. The service is steeped in ritual and symbolism. Each of the acts observed have special meaning and significance, with many symbols reflecting marriage itself: love, mutual respect, equality and sacrifice. Last weekend, we had the pleasure of having an Eastern Orthodox bride (of Romanian heritage) and loved learning about all of the traditions… I included a few below that we especially loved!
Ceremonial Crowns (Photo by Carasco Photography)
Romanian rituals are performed in order to bring about happiness, longevity and prosperity to couples. During the planning process, I became especially interested when my bride made the request that all of the floral arrangements have odd numbers of flowers in them. When I asked why, I actually LOVED the answer: “Because in Orthodox wedding tradition, nothing should be divisible by two to symbolize that the couple are in fact joining together in marriage and thus ‘indivisible’”.
WEDDING GODPARENTS
Another key element at Romanian weddings are the godparents – not your “birth” godparents but a couple specially chosen to be your wedding godparents - the “nasii”. Often, the godparents make many of the key decisions about the wedding including the menu for the reception, outfits, church, etc. They are a key part of the ceremony and even sit with the bride and groom during the reception.
THE CROWNING
The crowning is the high point of the service, the ultimate expression of the spiritual reality of the sacrament. The crowns are signs of the glory and honor with which God crowns them during the sacrament of marriage. The wedding crowns are joined by a ribbon, which again symbolizes the unity of the couple.
The Bride and Groom are honored and glorified as Husband and Wife, and the Naşul (Godfather) then steps behind the Bride and Groom and interchanges their crowns three times as a witness to the sealing of the union.
The Crowning (Photo by Carasco Photography)
THE CEREMONIAL WALK
The husband and wife take their first steps as a married couple in a procession around the table bearing a candle, the cross and the Gospel, expressing the commitment to always walk together in faithful obedience to God. Circles are signs of eternity and the three circles formed in the procession represent the eternal path of the marriage.
DURING THE RECEPTION
At every Romanian wedding, there is A LOT of food, dancing and celebrating… in addition, there is ALSO the tradition of kidnapping the bride! A small group of male guests “kidnap” the bride and take her someplace else. They take one of her shoes and one of the “kidnappers” remains behind to negotiate with the Godfather for the return of the bride. The “ransom” is usually a variety of alcoholic beverages. During this time, the bride gets to do something fun with the groomsmen. Our bride was “taken” from her reception at The Rookery and brought to the W Hotel bar for some fun and dancing! Once it is paid, the bride returns to the reception and the partying continues!
All in all, it was a great experience helping these two bring all of these lovely familial and ethnic traditions to life!
Michelle Durpetti is Owner of Michelle Durpetti Events. To read more about what Michelle has to say, read her blog or follow her on twitter or friend her on facebook or give her a call at (312) 988-9900.
Fall is my favorite time of year for many reasons - cooler weather, beautiful fashions and premieres of my favorite (and new!) tv shows!
We at Michelle Durpetti Events currently LOVE the steady influence of 1960’s inspiration hitting the small screen. Madmen, Pan Am and The Playboy Club among others are bringing the diverse trends of the 1960’s front and center and, personally, we could not be more excited. After many years of ball gown design commanding bridal trends, we have been longing for days of demure bombshells and polished, meticulously tailored, put together women both in every day life and on the bridal fashion runways.
MDE 1960's Inspired Wedding Design Board
We are waiting with baited breath as the return of big hair, fabulously smokey eyes, ridiculously tall heels (actually some of us never really left any of those behind!) and beautiful subtle femininity come back into vogue and permeate fashion everywhere.
The 1960’s are the perfect place for inspiration! This tumultuous, fabulous, groovy decade broke many fashion traditions with many of the trends mirroring social movements during the period. Everything from the mini skirt, pillbox hats, culottes, go-go boots and the bikini came into fashion in the 1960’s. Women like Jackie Kennedy, Grace Kelly, Sofia Loren and Elizabeth Taylor defined fashion and beauty, and we could not help but be inspired as hopeful that all of this will start to influence bridal trends and fashion! We are certainly staying tuned to see where this could lead!
Michelle Durpetti is Owner of Michelle Durpetti Events. To read more about what Michelle has to say, read her blog or follow her on twitter or friend her on facebook or give her a call at (312) 988-9900.
One of my favorites things is the rush I get when I feel inspired! I like to consider myself a creative, passionate person and LOVE finding inspiration any and everywhere I can… often in my very own every day life! I have been a horse lover since I was a child and I spend an exorbitant amount of time out at the farm where I board my horses. It is a really beautiful facility with acres of lush green fields that I often get lost in for hours with just my horses, my thoughts and myself. So, it is only natural that something would pique my interest, get the wheels turning and my creative thoughts churning!
As I was riding the other day, I noticed a cool breeze that I hadn’t felt in quite a while. And I remembered that every year at around this time, when the hot, lazy days of summer slowly ease into the cool, crisp days of fall I love seeing all of the equestrian inspired fashion hit the fall runways. It seems to permeate the entire season, bringing tall shiny black boots and fitted pants back into vogue paired with gorgeous sweaters, beautiful models and, of course, horses in photo shoots! For the most part, riding really does not allow for me to be fashionable as much as it demands practicality but I love the mix of deep colors and textures and seeing the chic, fashion forward women pulling this look off effortlessly as the walk through the city on gorgeous fall days.
So, I started thinking about doing a bridal photo shoot at the farm, maybe to use for our next series of ads for the company and as one thought lead to another I started thinking about actually creating a wedding in a barn. I began dreaming of utilizing the unique charm and rustic atmosphere that these kinds of venues can offer a bride and groom (and their team of wedding professionals!). And, coincidentally, two things happened. The first was that my life long friend (and fellow rider) became engaged and the second was a dear friend, fellow colleague and amazingly talented floral designer had a wedding just like this over the weekend in Michigan.
Brannon & Michael (Photo by Carasco Photography)
Although my friend Brannon is not getting married in a barn setting, she and her fiancé Michael chose to have their engagement session done out at the farm where she rides in Battavia, IL, and I LOVED the way Chicago-based Carasco Photography captured the character of the farm, the love between these two people, and the spirit and personality of Brannon’s two horses!
Exquisite Designs Chicago brought her client’s Michigan barn wedding I referred to earlier to life with a beautiful, relaxed rustic feel, utilizing tons of votive candles wrapped in vintage lace to give the place a warm, intimate glow, along with mason jars containing wild flowers including queen anne’s lace, astrantia, dahlias and geranium leaves. For the ceremony, she even hung small mason jars filled with chamomile flowers at the altar! I just loved soaking up every detail and visual as she gave them to me and dreamt of one day having a similar opportunity!
White Dhalias Privet Berries Olive Leaf & Astrantia (Photo by Exquisite Designs Chicago)
If you’re looking to create an intimate and romantic wedding then why not consider holding your event at a place like this? Initially, it may not sound like a perfect venue but when you consider the unique atmosphere, charm and possibility for a truly intimate, memorable evening for your guests, the possibilities are endless! And, if rustic barns are not your thing, consider alternative venues that stem from passions, past times and elements of the life that you and your fiancé have!
I have provided a list of places that offer just this kind of venue in Illinois. I hope you find your own inspiration from them!
Arabian Knights Farm in Willowbrook, IL is a ten acre equestrian educational and training facility and has a banquet room that can accommodate over 500 country wedding guests. Contact Michael Vena at (630) 325-3482.
The Barn of Barrington in Barrington, IL can accommodates 20-225 guests and they have 30 years experience. Contact (847) 381-8585.
The Big Red Barn in Maple Park, IL is a picturesque 32-acre horse farm that can accommodate up to 300 guests. Contact Ginna Frantz at (312) 593-4466.
The Byron Colby Barn in Grayslake, IL is a restored 1885 barn that accommodates 175+. Contact Stan Rosenberg at (847) 489-5077.
Carpenter‘s Country Barn in Illinois City, IL (Quad City area) is a newly renovated barn which is heated, has a kitchen, bar and restrooms. Contact (309) 791-9712.
The Concorde Centre in Woodstock, IL has dining and accommodations on 800 acres. Contact (815) 337-3500.
The Hoosier Grove Barn in Streamwood Park, IL is set on 19 acres. The Barn dates back to 1888 and has been completely restored to accommodate up to 130 guests for weddings and other special events. Contact Louisa Walsh at (630) 483-3092.
The Illinois Centennial Farm at Deer Creek in Lake County, IL features the 19th century restored Vehe Barn surrounded by 14 acres of prairie, wetlands, a butterfly garden and walking paths. The timber frame barn has been transformed into a stunning setting for such events as weddings, corporate functions, private parties and outdoor celebrations. Contact Yvoone Keith at (847) 438-0764,
Historic Walnut Grove Farm in Knox County, IL was first homesteaded in 1835 and the farm features a National Register restored barn dating back to 1860. Contact Janis King at (309) 289-4770.
Michelle Durpetti is Owner of Michelle Durpetti Events. To read more about what Michelle has to say, read her blog or follow her on twitter or friend her on facebook or give her a call at (312) 988-9900.
As you may know, I am of Italian descent and grew up in a family steeped in tradition. When coupled with my love of travel and learning new things, planning weddings really is my dream job! It takes me many places and introduces me to traditions and customs that have been passed down in families for generations and I see this an a fantastic opportunity to learn something new.
This past weekend, Michelle Durpetti Events worked with a bride and groom who were very dedicated to bringing the groom’s Persian culture and traditions into their wedding day. Phyllis, my bride, is actually not of Persian descent but fell in love not only with her groom but his culture and tradition as well. So, it was decided that they would have the traditional Persian ceremony known as the Sofreh Aghd the evening before their wedding (which includes a Persian feast and the bride reciting verses from the Holy Koran).
Persian Knife Dance (Photo by Carasco Photography)
On their actual wedding day, the cake cutting (which is a standard moment at most every wedding) became an opportunity to learn something new, for in Persian tradition, the cake cutting begins with a knife dance or Raghseh Chagoo. I decided to dig a little deeper and find out the story behind the tradition. For Iranians (people of Persian descent), marriage is to be considered an event, which must be celebrated with glory and distinction and is the most conspicuous of all the rituals - with the hope of representing health, wealth, long life, fertility and happiness.
Weapon dances are a common practice all over the world. Many different cultures use knives, spears and even daggers to reflect a multitude of things ranging from a show of strength to a heady celebration (much like this knife dance). The purpose of the Persian Knife Dance is for the couple to retrieve the knife that they will need to cut their wedding cake.
It was such fun to learn about this tradition and how so much of Persian weddings are all about the ladies! They are the stars of this traditional dance. The women start the dance when the bride and groom arrive at their cake, look for the knife and cannot find it, only to see moments later that a female (family member or close friend) is dancing a typical Persian dance with the knife. The couple is then expected to give money to the dancer in exchange for the knife. But she may be quite wiley, take the money and pass the knife onto another female to begin the dance all over again! This little game can actually go on for some time, allowing the guests the opportunity to enjoy the music (usually something traditionally Persian) and celebrate. Finally, the couple is given the knife and they can cut their cake – after which more dancing and celebrating ensues! I really enjoyed the celebration myself!
Michelle Durpetti is Owner of Michelle Durpetti Events. To read more about what Michelle has to say, read her blog or follow her on twitter or friend her on facebook or give her a call at (312) 988-9900.
One of my favorite moments at a wedding is right after the last bridesmaid has walked down the aisle and I am standing with my bride and whomever she has chosen to walk her down the aisle. It is a moment that can be quiet, emotional, exciting and full of expectation all at once and gives me chills each and every time I am in it. What I have noticed is that almost all of my brides ask me the very same question. They all of the sudden look right at me, eyes wide and in that very moment all they can think of is – “How should I hold my bouquet?!?! Does this look ok?!”
How To Hold a Bouquet (Photo by Carasco Photograph)
When you think about it, this is a very valid question! No one ever really tells you how to do this - and if you hold it too high you run the risk of eclipsing the gown… hold it too low and no one will be able to fully appreciate the gorgeous blooms you so carefully chose!
My advice to my brides is always to do what feels naturally. Carrying a bouquet obviously is not something we do often, so as with everything – practice can make perfect, or in this case, considerably more comfortable. Most likely someone will be escorting you down the aisle (possibly even two people), so it is a good idea to practice linking arms with them while holding your bouquet (and for the really image conscious bride, you may even want to check out that silhouette in a mirror to see what it looks like).
If you have a hand held bouquet, it is a good idea to allow your wrists to fall right about your hipbones and you can use both hands to hold it. A good point of reference is actually your belly button! If it is at or around that you are holding it just right. Of course, if you are carrying something like a presentation bouquet, it is a good idea to just rest it on the lower part of your arm softly. If you hold it too tightly or too closely, you may accidentally crush the blooms.
The most important thing to remember is that it is your wedding day and you look beautiful and at the end of that aisle is the man of your dreams waiting to marry you – who is as eager, nervous and excited as you are! How to hold your flowers and all of the other 9,000 things that you will stress about will all work themselves out naturally!
Michelle Durpetti is Owner of Michelle Durpetti Events. To read more about what Michelle has to say, read her blog or follow her on twitter or friend her on facebook or give her a call at (312) 988-9900.
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