2010 Networking Events::Who said the Wedding Season is Over...

This week has been a busy Networking week for wedding pros in Chicago.  Technically, the wedding season has ended but industry and wedding professionals have been busy putting together some fabulous events this month for us to network and relax after a long 2010 season.

 Scott and Cara Nava, Owners of Carasco Photography

On October 20, Scott and Cara Nava a/k/a "Power Couple," owners of Carasco Photography, hosted 8 til 8, an exclusive planner event, to benefit Wish Upon Wedding.  I had a great time meeting new friends and networking with some I already know at this event that was held at The Underground.  Sushi, wine and sake was provided by Sunda.  Delicious sweets provided by my girl, Naomi of TipsyCake and beautiful floral by Topiarius.


I met three wonderful individuals at the 8 til 8 event that I would like to mention:


Ben Reid of Foodie Registry (just recently wrote about on my blog, Daily Inspiration 2011::FoodieRegistry.com); Sharon Patrice of Simply Perfect Peace Events who also wrote a great blog regarding these events as well, Networking Chicago Style - 8 til 8 and TheKnot.com.  Check it out! and Susan Metropoulos of The Left Bank.

I would like to share a few pictures (courtesy of Carasco Photography) from this event...

 

Ben Reid & I

Beautiful floral arrangement by Topiarius, Inc.

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On October 20, The Knot hosted a night of Glitz and Glam for wedding pros at the Chicago History Museum.  This event was fabulous.  I met some great people and ran into some industry friends.  Loved the Ice Sculptures by Nadeau's Ice Sculptures, Inc., enjoyed the food from Parties & Special Events by Lettuce Entertain You and the beautiful florals by Dilly Lilly.  My business associate, Bryant Johnson of Steelelife Gallery and I had a great time networking and meeting peeps...we even took some time out to take some "silly" photos at the Shutterbooth booth.  Kudos again to The Knot and founder of The Knot, Carley Roney for hosting such a fabulous event.  *The Knot is hosting a virtual food drive to benefit Feeding America.  Click here to participate. 

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On October 21, M&M The Special Events Company hosted their merger with True Cuisine Catering at Danada House in Wheaton.  I was not able to attend this event due to client meetings but I do appreciate the invite because M&M is one of my preferred vendors who has done work for me and they are GREAT!

Networking is so important.  I talk about it more in a previous blog entry, Why Networking is Important.  The month is not over and I still have a few networking events to attend this month, as well as November and December.  I love this time of year because it gives all of us a chance to meet, talk, share, etc., without all the pressure of work (though in a sense we are still working)...

Ciao for now,

To be continued...

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Photos courtesy of Carasco Photography

CSW Mag's Fall Issue Launch Party

Germania Place

July 7, 2009. I was invited to Chicago Style Weddings Magazine Fall Issue Launch Party that was held at Germania Place, a national historic registry landmark building, located in the heart of Chicago’s Gold Coast. Boasting two cavernous ballrooms with 30ft gilded dome ceilings. Their venue is decorated with crystal chandeliers, ornate Victorian architecture, and a loft stained glass masterpiece exhibited at the 1893 world’s fair. The party was a very nice networking event with many of Chicago's best wedding industry vendors.

One of my favorite invitation designers, Peggy Lambert of Erickson Designs said it best in describing Germania Place, "the venue is stunning and has ton of character and charm." Germania Place offers the finest combination of old world ambiance and warm amenities. They remain one of the only area venues to allow religious ceremonies on-site. Guests are surrounded by awe-inspiring architecture as the couple exchanges vows. Germania Place is a very elegant and sophisticated venue. They can hold up to 300 guests, this would be an excellent choice for the couple who has a large guest list and also for Asian and Indian Weddings. Kenmare Catering and Events provided the cuisine. Kenmare Catering and Events is a large, upscale Chicagoland caterer that places the greatest value on attention to the clients desires.

We had great cuisine and drinks. Chicago Style Weddings Magazine is a very informative and resourceful magazine. I was honored to be a part of their fabulous party and look forward to the next one, but for now...

Happy Planning!

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Lunch at Smith & Wollensky

May 21, 2009. I was invited for lunch at Smith & Wollensky by Kelly McGrath (Director of Sales) and Irene Kourletakis (Private Dining Sales Manager). What an honor to be invited for such a lovely lunch. I of course indulged and had filet mignon (and I was not disappointed). But enough about food. The purpose of this lunch was for me, as well as a few others in the industry to view their space. I was really impressed. Despite the awesome view of the Chicago River, hidden below downstairs are some awesome rooms to host a reception, rehearsal dinner, private dining, birthday celebration, bar/bat mitzvah, or corporate event. The food is good, great service, huge wine selection, you can't go wrong.

Private Dining Rooms

Largest Event Space

The website says it best in describing Smith & Wollensky, "The forest green painted wood exterior of our Chicago steakhouse contrasts with the sparkling white trim and latticework. Inside find a "turn of the century" casual elegance, with shining brass, polished wood floors and dark wood accents. The location offers intimate views of the Chicago River and Chicago's famous loop. Adjacent to the Chicago landmark twin towers of Marina City and the House of Blues, Smith & Wollensky is a major player in the revival of the River North area."


During my lunch at Smith & Wollensky, I had the pleasure of meeting Naomi from TipsyCake located in Chicago. Naomi specializes in making custom celebration cakes. Below are some pictures of her fabulous cakes. TipsyCakes' cakes are unique, fun and are completely edible. {I also had the pleasure to indulge in a few of her wonderful cupcakes...shh...please don't tell anyone}. TipsyCakes makes cupcakes, birthday cakes, 3D cakes (my personal fav), wedding and exotic cakes. WHATEVER you have in mind for a cake, Naomi can make it happen for you. She is awesome!

What I am learning through my journey of wedding planning is that most couples are not aware that restaurants have enough space to host their reception and it is not as expensive as having the reception at a hotel or banquet facility. That's why as a consultant, the first questions I ask is what is your budget, how many guests are you expecting and what do you envision your wedding/reception to look like. This is important for me to know in the beginning because it will help me to determine the best venue to host their wedding and/or reception and I determine this based on their budget and their style. I enjoy helping couples find the perfect venue and assist them with the wedding of their dreams, but for now...

Happy Planning!

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Photo credit: Smith & Wollensky and TipsyCake

Chicago's Hidden Gem

Steps from the Magnificent Mile, the Affinia Chicago features a prime location at the windy City's epicenter of shopping, entertainment, culture and business.

Feature of the Month (May 2009). I was invited recently by Christina Denihan (Affinia’s catering and conference services manager) for an intimate dinner and tour of Affinia Chicago - A Cityscape Hotel, which is right next to one of my favorite stores in the City the wonderful Neiman Marcus on East Superior Street. Honestly, I never heard of the Affinia Hotel until I received the phone call. After entering this chic & modern Hotel, I was very impressed. I immediately thought this is “Chicago’s Hidden Gem.” After my tour of the large guest rooms and banquet facilities, we were taken to the top floor to the C-View rooftop bar and lounge. I fell in love. CS Magazine’s Dec 2008 issue recognizes C-View rooftop lounge as their pick for the hottest bars of ’09. The C-View rooftop lounge has views of the entire city. This is a must see before the summer ends….totally breathtaking.

The Delicious Fish Tacos

After my breathtaking view of the C-View rooftop lounge, we were then graced with dinner at C-House {Fish and Chops) Restaurant by Executive Chef Marcus Samuelsson, which is located on the lower level of the Hotel. We had an array of entrees. My favorites were the chorizo mac & cheese, salmon, fish tacos, and the rolls (which were totally awesome with melted cheese in the center). For dessert we were given small wedding cakes & cookies to take home by flour {cake and pastry} a new cake & pastry boutique created by Janet Lee and Nicole Chibnik who will be the main source of pastries for Affinia’s Hotel weddings. I would like to share what is written on the website about C-House (and very well put I may add). It reads, “C-House, Marcus Samuelsson’s Fish and Chophouse offers a personal touch of refinement, sophistication and simplicity. C-House features C-Bar, a large, prominent raw bar at which guests can sit and view the preparation of their menu choices. The open kitchen, located just beyond C-Bar, can be viewed from various points throughout the restaurant.” C-House’s exceptional food and service can also be enjoyed for social or corporate occasions. C-House and C-View are both available for larger parties.

There are 215 guest rooms and suites which feature a bi-level entry that creates a residential feeling (one of the highlights for me is the 6 choice pillow menu). The Affinia Chicago also has SPAfinnia, which is in-room massage therapy. The Affinia Chicago has different names or whatever type of meeting you want, one of my favorites is the Green Meetings (eco-friendly). If you are thinking about having your wedding here, there are a few options, you can use the entire floor where the banquet room is located or if you do not need all that space, you can use other sections of the banquet rooms.

I could go on and on about what I view as “Chicago’s Hidden Gem,” and I invite you to visit this Hotel, have your wedding/reception there or next corporate or social event. If you would like more information, please email me at info@eventsbycandace.net. I would love to introduce you to the wonderful catering manager, set up a tour, etc., etc. Trust me you will not be disappointed, this is truly Chicago’s Hidden Gem.

I am here to assist you with all of your planning needs, but for now...

Happy Planning!


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Feature of the Month (April 2009)

Photos courtesy of the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago

Each month I will be featuring one of my favorite venues, restaurants, hotels, florists, etc., in the Chicagoland area. This month I am featuring the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago located 120 E. Delaware, Chicago, IL. Recently, I attended CS Brides Magazine's "An Evening of Luxury" event at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago (a more in depth description of that event is below). I was intrigued by the Hotel's elegance and decor and decided to go back for a visit. I was not disappointed. I was treated like royalty as any guest would who is a guest at the hotel, as well as the wedding party and their guests. What stands out at this hotel is that the staff is very personable and like I said above, you are treated like royalty.

In the Four Seasons Hotel brochure it states, "Four Seasons Hotel Chicago exudes the spirit of serenity that has made it one of America's finest hotels. An atmosphere of freshness and light is complemented by bird's-eye views of the lake and the city. Above all, intuitive Four Seasons service ensures peace of mind for business or for leisure. The perfect balance of contemporary comforts and the glow of tradition - accented by fresh floral creations and warm, impeccable, never obtrusive service - makes every visit to Four Seasons truly unforgettable."

On the Four Seasons Hotel website it reads, "A pre-eminent address at 900 North Michigan Avenue, and reflecting the comfort and decorum of a gracious skytop mansion, Four Seasons is the award-winning site of the city's most extraordinary weddings, perfected in every detail." So true, so true.

The Four Seasons Hotel offers a variety of ideal settings that are available for every part of your celebration whether it's a wedding or a corporate event. The Grand Ballroom is located on a private floor. Their Grand Staircase becomes a beautiful backdrop for both formal and informal photography of your event. They will also gladly accommodate your rehearsal dinner and post-wedding brunch. And, the Spa is conveniently located within their Hotel to offer its service to your wedding party and guests either before or after your event.

The Four Seasons Hotel will exude your expectations. I personally LOVE this hotel and the people who work here. If you would like more information about this Hotel and what it has to offer or you would like to host your next event or have your wedding and/or reception here, please email me direct at info@eventsbycandace.net. I am here to assist you with all of your planning needs, but for now...

Happy Planning!


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Stuart-Rodgers Women in Catering

Blackstone Hotel Ballroom

On April 6, 2009, I attended the Women in Catering 2009 event that Stuart-Rodgers Photography hosted. This event was held this year at the Blackstone Hotel, 636 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL. This year's theme was Elegant & Simple, Local & Green. It was really nice interacting with all the different vendors, caterers and planners in Chicago.

What is Women in Catering ? 500 – 700 women in the hospitality industry in Chicago attend catered events at interesting and new venues in the city. These “by invitation” events are designed to create networking opportunities for professionals in the field.

This years sponsors were ADH Events, Affy Tapple & Mrs. Prindable's, A La Carte, Artists, Events & Entertainment, Inc., Asili Chi Salon & Spa, Bopntanicals~a branch of HM Designs, Eden Music Group, Halls Rental, Heffernan Morgan Designs, Jazz Couture, Mercat a la Planxa, Palmer House Hilton Lockwood Restaurant, Sam's Wines and Spirits, Spirit Phoenix Entertainment, Botanicals, Calihan Catering, Carmel Music & Entertainment, LLC, Carousel Linens, Centered Chef, Chocolatines, City Provisions, CS Brides, Silver Phoenix Entertainment, Spa Chakra, Take the Cake, The Pies the Limit, Thunk, Vosges Haut Chocolat, Whole Food Catering, CTPA, Desiree Chocolates, & Wolfgang Puck Catering. For detailed information regarding these sponsors, visit http://www.srphoto.com/WIC_sponsors.htm.

Interested in having an event or wedding at the Blackstone Hotel and/or interested in using any of the above vendors for your next event, email me directly at info@eventsbycandace.net and I will assist you with all of your planning needs. :o)

Happy Planning!


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Sullivan's Steakhouse Open House

On April 2, 2009, I attended Sullivan's Steakhouse (415 N. Dearborn, Chicago, IL) for an open house & Knockout Martini's for Wedding and Event Planners of Chicago. I was invited by Private Dining & Events Manager Erica Poppe of Sullivan's Steakhouse. This was such a cozy and intimate open house.

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Guests were graced with various hor dourves, cocktails (of course I had a knockout martini), cupcakes from Swirlz Cupcakes and each table was designed by different florists: Amoda Flowers, Fleur du Jour and Flowerlife, Inc. I also had the pleasure of meeting master bridal consultant and event expert Frank Andonoplas of Frank Event Design. What a delight that was meeting and talking with him.

This fine establishment can accomodate groups from 6 to 120 people in their private dining rooms and their Cigar Lounge can accomodate groups of up to 300 for cocktail and buffet receptions. There are no room charges on food and beverage minimums. Sullivan's offers four different price tiered menus. They range from $52.95 to $92.95 per person for dinner. If you are interested in hosting your next event at Sullivan's Steakhouse or would like more info, please contact me directly at info@eventsbycandace.net. But for now...

Happy Planning!

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CS Brides "Evening of Bridal Luxury"

Photo courtesy of Dennis Lee Photography
www.dennisleephoto.com

March 26, 2009. I was invited by Chicago Social Brides Magazine's "An Evening of Bridal Luxury" at the Four Seasons Hotel in Chicago. This was such a fabulous event. The ambience...breathtaking, the food...delicious, and the Vera Wang Chicago Fall/Winter 2009 collection fashion show...magnificent!

The Four Seasons Hotel ballroom is elegant and the décor is traditional and charming.

What made this event extra special was that the proceeds benefited the Breast Cancer Network of Strength Illinois Charity.

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Chicago Marriott Oak Brook Hotel

March 26, 2009. After completing a $1.7 million renovation, the Chicago Marriott Oak Brook is thrilled to unveil its new, trendsetting Grand Ballroom … an innovative space unlike any other in Oak Brook. I was invited for a celebratory luncheon and experience firsthand the newest and largest ballroom in the area, featuring:

• 11,040 square feet of versatile space


• High-tech lighting and sound systems


• Custom-designed wall coverings carpeting and artwork


• High-speed WiFi

I enjoyed delicious cuisine prepared by their Executive Chef. It was a pleasure and honor to be invited for a wonderful lunch at this elegant hotel.

Happy Planning!



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Lettuce Entertain You 1st Annual Bridal Fair

"TO HAVE & TO HUB "

On February 15, 2009, I had the pleasure of attending Lettuce Entertain You 1st Annual Bridal Fair at HUB 51 (51 W. Hubbard, Chicago) {A BIG thanks to Chicago Social Brides Magazine for inviting me to another FAB event}. There were 20 different Lettuce Entertain You restaurants who were stationed so that the guests could sample food and cocktails, which was awesome. Honestly, out of ALL the bridal fairs that I have attended, this by far has been the best so far.

So many great restaurants were there with samples of hor dourves. Some of the vendors whose tables I visited (on more than one occassion) while I was there was of course HUB 51 (fabulous grilled cheese sandwiches), Joe's Seafood (well we all know by now how I feel about this restaurant!), Wildfire, Ben Pao (yummy), Shaw's Crab House, Maggiano's and Petterino's. Some other vendors that I had the pleasure of meeting were The Cake Girls (you can catch them on WE with their AWESOME cakes) and Artisan Events (photographer).

The highlight for me was having the pleasure of meeting Alpana Singh (Master Sommelier and Lettuce Entertain You Beverage Director and the host of Ch. 11's Check Please) with advice about different wines. She gave me some good insights and advice. Thanks Alpana!

Big kudos to HUB 51 for hosting such a great event! Check out the video that the awesome videographer Sami Michael of Sami Michael Films did, http://vimeo.com/3300789 . Enjoy!

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Grand Canyon University Event

On February 10, 2009, I had the pleasure of attending an event that my client, Dr. Kimberly Muhammad-Earl (Marketing Consultant for Grand Canyon University) was hosting for Grand Canyon University. The reception/dinner was at Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab, 60 E. Grand Ave., Chicago, IL.

The service and food was exceptional! This is a great restaurant to host a rehearsal dinner or any client event...they have a private area and the food/drinks/dessert...well I'm just speechless about it...that's how wonderful it is.

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Ritz-Carlton Chicago's Bridal Luncheon

Candace standing next to Kehoe Designs Table

Bridal Fashion Show presented
by Belle Vie Bridal Couture (The Look of Love)

On January 18, 2009, I had the pleasure of attending the Ritz-Carlton Chicago's Bridal Luncheon. I am so thankful that CS Brides Magazine invited me to this fabulous event.

There was a preview of current collections presented by Belle Vie Bridal Couture including Christian LaCroix, Christos, Amsale and others. (The pics above are what I took with my camera phone).

The brides-to-be and their guests (and of course me) enjoyed an elegant three-course lunch. The service was exceptional, very elegant atmosphere and the food was great. I had saute of rock shrimp served with parmesan gnocchi, yukon gold potato & black truffle emulsion and roasted four story hill farm chicken served with braised kale and cippolini onions, wild mushrooms & red wine chicken jus.

One lucky bride won a five-night honeymoon stay at the Four Seasons Resort Lana's at Manele Bay.

Some of my favorite vendors were there...Take the Cake, BBJ Linen, MAC on Oak Street and the decor was done by one of my absolute favorite designers in the world...Kehoe Designs (The pic above is of me standing in front of their awesome design!). Check out the video that the awesome videographer Sami Michael of Sami Michael Films did, http://vimeo.com/2968628. Enjoy!

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