2010 Blissful Wishes Ball in Chicago

Last Monday, I had the privilege of attending the Blissful Wishes Ball here in Chicago, a benefit for Wish Upon A Wedding - a non-profit organization that funds and arranges weddings for couples affected by terminal illness.

I attended with the always fabulous and fun Brittany of Hanle Productions, and it was an absolutely amazing experience. Two couples who were granted weddings from Wish Upon A Wedding were present that night, and it was so incredibly heart-warming to see, in person, their love for each other, which helps them to conquer each and every day. One of the couples was recently featured in Parade Magazine, and I'll give you 10 bucks if you don't shed even a small tear after reading it.

I couldn't have been more impressed with the evening as a whole. Hosted at the Millenium Knickerbocker hotel, the decor was beautiful, the food was uh-mazing and the entertainment was awesome. Produced by Ali Phillips, owner of Engaging Events by Ali, and President of the Chicago chapter of Wish Upon A Wedding, I have to say, the evening went off without a hitch. Everyone was in great spirits and the dance floor was crowded the whole night. I mean, with a bunch of wedding industry professionals, you have to expect it to be great, yeah? I took a few photos, but I'm no professional, so you'll have to bare with me.



As you entered the reception area, you walked along the balcony, and the first thing you saw as you entered was this. Gorgeous!



Waiting for us at our tables were chocolates and a mini bottle of champagne to take home. How sweet!


The rest of the photos are from ShutterBooth, which was an absolute blast.


Brittany and I striking a pose.



Brittany, myself and Stevi, photographer an co-owner (along with her husband) of AveryHouse Creative.



Thank you to the Wish Upon A Wedding foundation for everything you do, and to Brittany for being my date :)

Rustic Inspiration Photo Shoot by SH Weddings and Hanle Productions

What happens when I join forces with the fabulous Brittany at Hanle Productions? Well, a super fun day at an amazing location with beautiful fall weather and treats a plenty! Oh yeah, and a pretty sweet inspiration photo shoot that kind of looks like this:





















For local Illinois brides, we cannot recommend this venue, Oak Hill, enough. The 170-acre property is family owned, and everyone who assisted couldn't have been more accommodating and friendly. Oak Hill has everything a bride and groom could need for their wedding day including a beautiful chapel to get married in, an adorable schoolhouse for a great photo opportunity, an old-fashioned country store, a gorgeous barn for an intimate reception, plenty of grounds for a larger tented wedding, two beautiful rooms and a bathroom to get ready in, several barns, home to the property's horses, more scenery that's perfect for photos than you could have ever imagined and many, many vintage props scattered around that make for the perfect photo.

The Team
Photography by Hanle Productions
Florals, cake, cupcakes, cider stand, table and dessert buffet designs by Samantha at SH Weddings
Bride's dress and hair accessories provided by Miss Ruby Boutique


The Details
Table linen and flatware from World Market
Water and wine glasses from Anthropologie
Yellow cake stand from Crate and Barrel (Spring 2010)
Small cupcake stands from Homegoods
Flower vases and mason jars collected from local antique stores
Place settings from Crate and Barrel
Bistro chairs provided by Oak Hill

Bride's Night Out at Miss Ruby Boutique

You girls don't want to miss this one!

Miss Ruby Boutique is home to seriously chic and adorably modern dresses for bridesmaids, classic bridal as well as alternative, flower girls and guests. And they're hosting an event just for you! Local Milwaukee brides, be there or miss out on all the fun! Brittany at Hanle Productions will even be there with her giddy booth!

And the winner is ...

It's time we announce the winner of our giveaway with Hanle Productions and SH Weddings! Are you ready for this? And the lucky couple is ...


Dana and Shane!



Dana's best friend of 12 years nominated this adorable couple for the giveaway, and we couldn't resist their story. Dana's father passed away in 2001, and he grew up in Hungary until he escaped communism and came to the U.S. Shane knew how important Dana's heritage was to her, and he proposed on Margaret Island in Budapest, Hungary. They snuck away one morning and went to the market to get food for a picnic. Shane said he wanted to take Dana on “a date” to the island. Right after they unwrapped their food, Shane told Dana that he had something for her that she should have before she got her fingers greasy. So cute! The trip extra special because Shane also got to meet her dad’s side of the family, since they all still live in Hungary.

Dana and Shane are full-time students and also work full-time jobs. I simply don't know how they do it. Dana's best friend told us that professional photography just wasn't in their budget, and that broke our hearts! They're planning a great barn wedding with a vintage picnic feel, and we couldn't be happier to offer our services to such a great couple.

Congratulations Dana and Shane!

Don't forget to enter the SH Weddings and Hanle Productions giveaway!

Time's a tickin'! If you're in the Chicago area and getting married next year, please click here for more information!

2011 Photography and Wedding Coordination Giveaway!

To enter, a friend or family member must nominate the bride- and groom-to-be by e-mailing the following information to both sam@shweddings.com and brittany@hanle-productions.com:

1. The bride’s name, groom’s name and wedding date.
2. Engagement story (under 500 words, please).
3. Feel/style of the wedding (include planned personal touches and details, if available)
4. A description of why you think the couple deserves to win, including any struggles or hardships they've faced recently (under 500 words, please).
5. 1-3 photos of the bride and groom.


The winning contestant will receive:

Photography Package by Hanle Productions:
Eight hours of continuous coverage
Online gallery of photos
All hi-res photos on CD for printing
Engagement session*
Upgrades such as a photobooth and albums can be purchased for an additional charge. *No substitutions allowed; engagement session must take place prior to the wedding.

Wedding Coordination Package by SH Weddings:
One lead coordinator, and one assistant for the entire day of the wedding
All-day wedding coordination, including set-up and tear-down of decor
Customized timelines
One venue walkthrough prior to the wedding
Unlimited e-mail/phone communication



Rules for entering:

a) Your wedding date must be in 2011.
b) Both Hanle Productions and SH Weddings must be available on your date.
c) The wedding must take place in the Chicagoland area.
d) You must not yet have booked your photographer or wedding planner/coordinator.
e) Any entries without the listed information will not be considered.
f) This must be the first time the couple/couple's family and friends are inquiring about services from SH Weddings and Hanle Productions. This is not valid for current clients.
g) Contest winners must sign contracts with both vendors. In other words, contestant winners cannot accept one vendor, and not the other.

Real Day-After Session: Hannah and Adam

Hello, everyone! I'm so thrilled to feature this beautiful and adorable day-after session. I hope you remember Hannah and Adam's wedding, photographed by the absolutely lovely and talented Brittany at Hanle Productions. Today, we're posting their equally lovely day-after session, also photographed by Hanle Productions. Hannah is in the education field, and they incorporated some teacher props is the cutest way! We're so excited to show you Hannah and Adam again.

















































So many happy thank you's to Brittany at Hanle Productions for sharing these photos with us today! Please, please be sure to visit her blog for more beautiful inspiration for all things vintage! I was lucky enough to coordinate Hannah and Adam's wedding in April, and they are truly some of the most wonderful people, and so in love. These photos reflect them perfectly. I'm wishing you all the best, you guys!

Real Illinois Wedding: Hannah and Adam

I'm tickled pink about today's real wedding feature! I had the absolute honor of coordinating Hannah and Adam's Naperville, IL wedding back in April, and I can't say enough amazing things about these two. They are so madly in love, bring out the best in each other, and had absolutely lovely families to share their day with. I will not lie, parts of their celebration made me a little teary!

At this wedding, I met a wonderful, kind and amazingly talented photographer Brittany Parker of Hanle Productions. I must admit, when I found out she was photographing Hannah and Adam, I was giddy because her artistic style is just beautiful.

So, without further ado, let's shake our tail feathers for Hannah and Adam!





















































































So many sincere thanks to Brittany at Hanle Productions for sharing these photos with us today! Brittany has her own blog, which is a must-see, so be sure to pop on over and visit. Hannah and Adam, I had the most wonderful time taking part in your wedding, and I'm wishing you all the best as you start your new lives together in New York City!

Vendors for Hannah and Adam's Wedding:

Photography and photobooth: Hanle Productions
Wedding coordinator: SH Weddings
Bridal gown: Mori Lee
Bridesmaids dresses: Mori Lee and Dessy
Church: Wesley United Methodist Church in Naperville, IL
Reception Venue and cake: Signature Events
Floral design: Mi Kim
Stationary design: Hannah's cousin, Julie Jennings
Videography: Ben Nissen & Brandon Hauer
DJ: Sundeep Entertainment