He Finally Popped the Question....Now What?

He Finally Popped the Question….Now What?

By Victoria Thanoukos

Kensington Florals and Events

He Finally Popped the Question…Now What?

            Where to begin? Most brides want to run to the nearest bridal shop and “Say Yes to the Dress,” but that would actually be the wrong way to begin your wedding/marriage. Planning to find your wedding dress prior to doing anything else can seem like a daunting task that can make you uncomfortable [if you don’t find it right away] and it can eat up a great deal of your budget without you even knowing it.  Helpful hint…begin with the following: set your budget, size of guest list, location and style of your wedding, along with the season and time of day you would like your wedding to take place.

            Setting your budget is one of the most crucial parts of your wedding day and often overlooked and not discussed. When not discussing a budget with your fiancé and family, it can lead to tension and arguments followed by hard feelings and animosity. By setting a budget you can start prioritizing what the most important things are to both you and your fiancé to make your special day perfect!

___ Bridal Gown

___ Cake

___ Venue

___ Photographer

___ DJ/Band/Orchestra

___ Flowers & Decor

___ Event Planner

___ Videographer

___ Invitations & Stamps

___ Catering

___ Linens

___ Ceremony

___ Honeymoon

___ Transportation

___ Hair & Makeup

___ Etc.

Sit down with your fiancé and on separate sheets list what is most important to you, and then see where your lists match and where they don’t.  This is the time when you will need to start to compromise. Yes, the wedding day is considered the “Bride’s” day but it is also the first day of the rest of your married lives together and a good time to start meeting each other in the middle. If this becomes overwhelming or your lists are far too different from each other’s, it may be a good time to meet with an Event Planner and see if he/she has any ideas on how to help.

           

            Next is the size of your guest list. Remember if you have a budget of 20k or less, having 800 guests is going to be difficult to accomplish. Even the savviest Event Planner will find that a bit difficult and try to steer you towards cutting your guest list or raising your budget. This is also a great time to figure out where you would like to get married. If you have fallen in love with a specific venue location make sure that their space can hold your guests comfortably.  If you have a 300 person guest list but your venue has a maximum capacity of  150 people, you either need to cut your guest list or find a new venue to fall in love with. (hint: small ways to save on budget… create a smaller guest list…more guests equals more invitations and stamps…those add up!)

            Following your guest list and venue is your wedding style. Are you modern chic? Vintage? Romantic and whimsical? Eco-friendly? Etc. Sit down with your fiancé and ask him how he pictures your big day together. Does he see waterfalls, a wooded location, a marble museum, a hotel in a major metropolis? All these questions contribute to the style the two of you want to encompass in the theme of your wedding day! Make sure it fits both of your personalities otherwise it can feel forced and phony.  Example: If you two are all about the country and that is how your family and friends always see you [surrounded by hay barrels and sunflowers] it would be a bit out of character to have your wedding set at the Art Institute of Chicago. Now if you have always dreamed of that, by all means, fulfill your wish but if it seems a bit uncomfortable then go with your gut!

            Lastly, the most magical element… the season! Do you love the colors of the leaves changing in the fall? Could you just picture that breathtaking backdrop behind you and the love of your life? Do you love how the snow falls and how everything is covered in white with bare trees all around and glistening lights? Or the new blooms of spring popping up everywhere. Or even the warmth of the sun hitting your face in mid-summer and water all around? What do you picture when you think of your big day?

Planning the time you would like your wedding to take place depends on the season you choose. Winter months have less day light to work with and will need to have an earlier planned weddings if you plan to take great snowy pictures outside.  Summer weddings can begin much later since the day light lasts so much longer but be very careful if you are planning a sunset wedding. Make should you time it correctly if you would like to capture the most perfect backdrop for your photographs.

            No matter what you decide, remember this is your special day and it should be as you have always dreamed but ….it is just one day or at times a weekend (depending on culture and tradition). Make sure that you make the right decisions for the both of you and your futures together.  This should be a joyous time and not one of worry or doubt. Prioritizing from the beginning keeps you focused on the goal without letting the wedding get bigger than the two of you!

Have fun! Fall in love with each other every day! Happy Wedding!

http://www.pinterest.com/explore/heart-weddings/

The Healthy Bride

The Healthy Bride

By Victoria Thanoukos

Kensington Florals & Events

The Healthy Bride

The man of your dreams just popped the question and instead of thinking about the flowers and cake, you are stuck on “How will I look?” “The dress…can’t be in black, can it?” “Black always makes me look thinner!” You aren’t alone in this and many brides wonder how they will look in their wedding dress and what impression they will make.

Photo by: http://hotmessprincess.com/2012/04/the-bag-boy-from-hell/scared-woman-retro/ 

This is not the time to consider a crash diet or strategize some outlandish goal of losing 300lbs by your big day. Instead, think of how to implement “healthy” into this new chapter in your life and make sure to get your fiancé on board. Remember...the little things go a long way!

Start by walking in the mornings before work or evenings after dinner. This can be a “no wedding talk” zone for both you and your fiancé to just enjoy each other on a stroll together. Walking for a minimum of 30 minutes provides amazing benefits[1] that enhance mental well being, improves blood pressure and blood sugar levels, walking reduces the risk of coronary heart disease, osteoporosis, breast and colon cancer, promotes weight loss and it gives you the chance to just connect with your fiancé in another way. Perfect time to ask each other what you are looking forward to most in your day or how the day’s events went!

Photo by: http://www.desktopwallpapers4.me/photography/couple-walking-in-the-snowy-park-12524/ 

Begin your day on a great note, replace your cup o’joe with a warm cup of water with lemon[2].  Lemon is a great source of vitamin C, citric acid, potassium, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium. It balances your pH levels, helps to flush toxins from your body and reduces pain and inflammation from joints and knees. Not only do lemons help clear your complexion, but they help you lose weight and freshen your breath to make it more kissable. Adding lemon to your morning routine may seem too easy and simple to be true but over time you will experience all the rewards that this little magical fruit has to offer!

Photo by: http://www.foodmatters.tv/articles-1/cheers-to-drinking-warm-lemon-water

Feeling a bit more motivated and want to tone and tighten? Try our favorites: Windsor Pilates, Ballet Beautiful and Yoga Meltdown.

We love these workout routines because they not only produce the BEST results out there, you can buy them in dvd form and workout in the comfort of your home at your leisure.  Whether you decide to buy all three and rotate or just follow one workout, you won’t be disappointed! Start with three times a week and try to build up to six days a week. Working out helps you focus and allows your brain to dispel any stress or tension that has accumulated during your day. Just remember to speak with your doctor prior to starting any workout and stretch before and after to avoid any injury!

Try to apply these simple but effective methods to your daily routine and start to experience all the benefits that each has to offer! Remember that it’s not about the finish line but the journey. Get your fiancé, family and wedding party involved. Don’t worry about the actual pounds but focus more on how you feel. The better you feel the more confident and sexy you will look!

Here’s to your health!  Happy Wedding!!

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[1] http://www.startwalkingnow.org/whystart_benefits_walking.jsp

[2] http://www.foodmatters.tv/articles-1/cheers-to-drinking-warm-lemon-water

An Afternoon of Luxury ...

An Afternoon of Bridal Luxury: The Wedding Walk

by Franklin J.
Kensington Florals & Events

One of the most wonderful things about living in one of the greatest cities in the world (Chicago, of course!) is being able to get married in a town with so much history, culture and diversity. The home of the Blackhawks, deep dish pizza and Cloud Gate has become an epicenter for Midwest brides and grooms, becoming a source of inspiration and a leader in modern luxury.  As a Chicago bride or groom, there are so many resources here in the city and surrounding suburbs that are available to you to make your wedding day as special and as magical as you dreamed it to be. 

On Sunday, October 26^th, I had the pleasure to experience a bridal expo like no other: Oak Street’s 8th Annual Charitable Wedding Walk sponsored by Modern Luxury Brides. Now when I first heard of the event, I had no idea what to expect. Was this a standard wedding expo but disguised the name to make it more appealing?  Was this a walkathon on Lake Shore Drive? Am I wearing the right shoes to be doing all of this walking? Nothing could have prepared me for what I was about to experience…

I hopped in a cab and arrived at 980 N Michigan Ave, arriving at Spiaggia Private Events. When we arrived (I dragged a skeptical friend along for the mysterious ride, why go down the rabbit hole alone?) the CS team checked us in, and from the next room over we could hear a string quartet still playing as other staff members began to tear down the space. We arrived a little late for the festivities there, but the CS team assured us we still have plenty of time to see and experience the rest of the Wedding Walk. We were handed a “treasure map” with stores and businesses along Oak Street and the surrounding streets that were participating, what we were to see and experience before our final destination. We grabbed our complimentary tote and off on our journey down Oak Street; Chicago’s own 5^th Avenue, we went.

We arrived at our first destination, Lanvin, and as soon as we walked in, we were greeted by the wonderful Lanvin team as well as treats from Vanille Patisserie. We blinked and next thing we knew we were on an elevator to the 3^rd floor to see the spring 2015 bridal couture collection by the brand. And that’s when it hit me… I am experiencing Chicago bridal luxury at its very finest! (Eat your heart out Carrie Bradshaw!!) From there we continued on our journey, enjoying the Indian summer weather, skipping from Jewelry stores Lester Lampert and Buccellati, stopping by the Perfect Setting for some entertaining ideas, and peeking at the stylish collections of Carolina Herrera and Kate Spade. Each stop we were greeted by brand experts who provided extraordinary service, providing a one on one experience like no other.  Each retail store had some of Chicago’s top bakeries providing samples of their work, including Elysia Root Cakes and Toni Patisserie and Café. Other locations provided champagne and hors d’oeuvres to the guests journeying on this wedding walk. We were running out of time so we did skip a few spots, however we made sure to stop by The Thompson Hotel and Gibson’s Steakhouse, checking out spaces to host smaller, intimate functions such as a rehearsal dinner or bridal shower.

And of course they save the best stop for last. We arrived at a modern luxury hotel like no other… The Waldorf Astoria Chicago. As we turned the corner, we knew we were exactly where thousands of other brides dreamed of being. We arrived to the 3^rd floor ballrooms where we met with other vendors Elizabeth Grace (one of my favorites!), David Rothstein Music, Bella Bridesmaids, Spin-Spun and BBJ Linens. And we received our “Swag Bag”, which officially puts any other bag that I have ever received in the past to shame. From treats to discounts to special offers this bag had EXACTLY everything a Chicago luxury bride or groom needed to plan and execute their perfect day.

As an up-and-coming Wedding and Event Planner here in the city with Kensington Florals & Events, I highly recommend this experience to any Bride or Groom looking for a different experience. You get exposed to the higher end of the wedding industry, get one-on-one service at your own pace, and really control who and what you want to see! This is also great for brides who might not have a luxury budget, but can come to this event for inspiration, and really see what the city of Chicago has to offer. Would I go next year? Of course! Maybe I can bring a few more of you brides and grooms down the rabbit hole with me…

 

Photos by: CS Brides

https://www.facebook.com/csbrides

Fresh Flower Care

Fresh Flower Care:

 

Did you recently receive flowers for Valentine’s Day, a Birthday, your Anniversary, or just because?  If you would like to keep your blooms in tip top shape and extend their life follow any one of these steps:

 

 

• Every 3-4 days make sure to take the flowers out of the vase/container they are in. Wash the stems with slightly cold water and cut 1-2 inches, preferably on a 45° angle so that the floral stems can soak up water easier and faster than a straight across cut.  Wash the vase entirely. This will guarantee that any bacteria that could be forming from the stems or from the leaves is completely gone and giving the flowers a fresh start.
• Pick 1 of the following options to put into your new clean vase and fresh cut flowers:
  • It may sound crazy but 3-4 drops of bleach in fresh clean water will help keep the bacteria away and your blooms thriving.
  • A ¼ cup of soda water in fresh water will also help with your flowers longevity
  • A cube of sugar with a 1 copper penny can be a safe and fun trick to use
  • 2 tbsp of sugar and 2 tbsp of apple cider vinegar also keep the elasticity of your fresh cut blooms
     
    All of these options are great ways to improve the life of your flowers and make them last as long as possible. Pick the option you feel most comfortable and make that every 3-4 days you upkeep the task J