Planning a beautiful wedding can be easy when you know where to go, and Kane County residents are fortunate to have some of the Chicago area’s top wedding service providers close to home.
What’s new for Bridal Season 2013 and beyond?
A few local wedding pros weigh in.
A Formal Invitation
Old world, upscale, crisp and classic are all ways to describe wedding invitations for 2013.
“They’re very formal, and there are multiple designs with lots of custom work going into them,” says Steve Almy, who owns Invitations, Etc. of Batavia with his wife, Michele. “The personality of the bride and groom come through in each ensemble.”
Pocket invitations, which keep direction cards, itineraries and other essentials organized, are huge, Almy says. Popular colors include browns, light purples and blues.
Destination weddings call for less formal invitations in festive shades of orange and green, with beach and palm tree graphics. But Almy says that recently, he’s seen fewer destination weddings.
“Three years ago, they were all the rage, but I think a lot of people can’t afford to take the time off or can’t afford to go, so we’re seeing more weddings locally,” he says.
While online extras like Facebook response pages and guest list management services appeal to some couples, Almy says low response rates are making these new options slow to catch on.
“I had one couple try it and found that the invitations got lost in junk mail, so they ended up having to call everyone,” he says. “It turned an elegant occasion into a big headache.”
But one high tech service has proven extremely popular — digital calligraphy. Almy says the service is a lower-cost alternative to hand calligraphy, with a faster turnaround.
“We can match any invitation font and color and turn it around in about a day,” he says. “We offer it when couples order their invitations, and when they pick them up, they’re ready to mail.”
Invitations, Etc. • 24 N. Batavia, Suite 200 • Batavia • 630-326-9546 • www.invetc.com/home
Additional places to look in Kane County
*Please note this is not a comprehensive list
The Paper Merchant • 328 S. Third St. • Geneva • 630-232-1880 • papermerchantgeneva.com
Invitations by Design • 1 W. State St., Suite 103 • Geneva • 630-403-8272 • invitationsbydesign.com
Gracious Gifts
The bride and groom aren’t the only ones receiving gifts. From flasks to flip flops, wedding couples have plenty of creative options when it comes to choosing gifts for their attendants.
“For the guys, flasks, tankards, pocket watches and money clips are probably the most popular; for the girls, it’s charm bracelets, jewelry boxes, wine glasses and picture frames,” says Patty Donahue, owner of Image Awards, Engraving and Creative Keepsakes in Geneva. “People also like flash drives, and for destination weddings, flip flops.”
While engraving remains the most popular way to personalize a gift, more couples are opting for photo scanning.
“People still have more traditional weddings and tend to go with engraved gifts, but I think we’ll see more people start to choose to personalize with a photo,” Donahue says.
Couples also order additional engraved items such as toasting glasses, cake knives and serving sets. Donahue says knives and servers often become family heirlooms.
“People bring in a set that their parents or grandparents used to have their names added,” she says.
Another trend is a shift away from traditional champagne toasts.
“We now see more beer glasses, which I think is cool,” Donahue says.
But even couples who prefer Bud Light to Dom Perignon are still willing to spend money to celebrate their weddings in style.
“People may start out asking about prices, but if they see something they like, they’ll buy it,” Donahue says.
Image Awards, Engraving and Creative Keepsakes • 622 W State St, Geneva, IL 60134, (630) 232-1313, www.imageawards.net
Additional places to look in Kane County
*Please note this is not a comprehensive list
State Street Jewelers • 214 W. State St. • Geneva • 630-232-2085 • statestreetjewelers.com
Invitations, Etc. • 24 N. Batavia, Suite 200 • Batavia • 630-326-9546 • invetc.com/home
Here Comes the Bride
Kathy Lager, owner of Veiled in Elegance in Geneva, says romantic, lacey gowns and vintage styles are becoming increasingly popular as brides look for alternatives to the perennially popular strapless wedding gown.
“We’re seeing more embellishment at the necklines, beading and illusion looks, which gives brides a few more choices beyond the strapless that’s been so popular,” Lager says.
Lace has been popular for several years, and Lager says 2013 promises a greater variety of lace styles and weights.
“There are more lighter-weight laces such as organza and more Chantilly lace,” she says.
Vintage is influencing accessories as well. Post earrings are returning, as are belts embellished with crystal beads, lace, flowers and feathers.
“These are timeless looks,” Lager says. “I feel like brides want to look back in 20 years and see classic, simple lines.”
Blushers — over-the-face veils in various lengths — are seeing resurgence, inspired by British royal bride Kate Middleton, now Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge.
“These can be added to any length veil including the cathedral length, which is still very popular,” Lager says.
For bridesmaids, purple, coral, brown and champagne are popular choices, and Lager says that a few bridal parties for next year have put bridesmaids in different colors or chosen a print for the maid of honor, with coordinating solids for the bridesmaids.
“These can be deep shades or pastels that all coordinate,” she says.
Veiled in Elegance • 15 W. State St. • Geneva • 630-208-7133 • www.veiledinelegance.com
Additional places to look in Kane County
*Please note this is not a comprehensive list
Bella Bridal and Formal Wear • 2000 W. Main St., Suite HI • St. Charles • 630-443-9226 • bellabridalandformal.com
The Crystal Bride • 207 W. State St. • Geneva • 630-397-5040 • crystalbride.com
Music From The Heart
St. Charles resident Maureen Christine, a vocalist specializing in pop standards and the Great American Songbook, says the wedding couples she works with frequently have musical selections in mind ahead of time.
Sometimes, those selections are surprising, such as the couple who wanted “O Canada,” sung in tribute to the groom’s native country, or John Denver’s “Calypso,” a favorite song of the bride’s father.
“People are asking for songs that have personal meaning, so it’s very eclectic,” Christine says.
Still, perennial wedding favorites such as “Ave Maria,” “Amazing Grace,” Etta James’ “At Last” and Shania Twain’s “From This Moment On” continue to be popular choices.
Frequently, couples find Christine online and listen to her audio samples for additional ideas. At the initial meeting, she discusses musical selections with the couple and may recommend additional songs or even musicians to round out the performance.
“We can give a mini concert so they get to hear all the songs they’ve chosen,” Christine says.
A return to formal weddings has spurred another trend. Even couples who hire a deejay for the reception are starting to add live music during cocktails and dinner.
“It’s the best of both worlds,” Christine says. “You still have the deejay for dancing, but live music really adds a touch of elegance, and it’s a way to include music that may not have fit into the church ceremony.”
Maureen Christine • 630-945-3455 • 815-477-7664 • maureenchristine.com
Additional places to look in Kane County
*Please note this is not a comprehensive list
Backthird Entertainment • Aurora • 630-264-2366 • backthird.com
Hooked On Sonics • South Elgin • hookedonsonicsband.com
Fresh, Natural … And Fabulous
The British royal wedding and the popular British TV series “Downton Abbey” have helped to push the trend of romantic, vintage looks to the forefront, says floral designer Elizabeth Wray, owner of Elizabeth Wray Design in Geneva.
Wray says that brides tend to fall into one of three categories: those who want modern takes on classic vintage looks, those who like soft, romantic garden looks and those who prefer edgier, contemporary styles.
Vintage brides may veer toward the Hollywood glamour looks of the 1940s and choose roses or calla lilies embellished with crystals, lace or brooches.
Others take a Victorian approach with roses, peonies tied with lace or containers in muted silver or gold.
“It’s very classic and elegant,” Wray says.
Another twist on vintage is a more rustic approach incorporating lace into bouquets, burlap and wood and found objects into decorative flowers.
With garden looks, the focus is on soft lines and lots of color.
“They’re using delphinium, lilies, snap dragons, wildflowers,” Wray says. “The flowers really are the star.”
The contemporary look takes the opposite approach.
“Usually, it’s one type of flower or maybe several kinds but all in the same color,” Wray says. “Orchids are a popular choice. Table decorations use glass, submerged flowers. It’s simple, pared down, with very clean lines.”
For groomsmen, Wray suggests a single bloom dressed up with twigs or berries. Wedding mothers have traded pinned corsages for bracelet style corsages. And one recent bride traded a tradition bouquet for wearable flowers.
“We did a garland of stephanotis wrapped around the brides arm and the bridesmaids carried branches with flowers,” Wray says. “It was very unique and beautiful.”
Elizabeth Wray Design • Geneva • 630-232-1975 • www.elizabethwraydesign.com
Additional places to look in Kane County
*Please note this is not a comprehensive list
Town and Country Florist • 216 W. State St. • Geneva • 630-232-6685 OR 936 E. Chicago St. • Elgin • 847-742-1135 • towncountrygardens.com or eventsbytcg.com
Batavia Floral and Design Inc. • 109 S. Batavia Avenue • Batavia • 888-679-1446 • bataviafloralandgift.com kc
