guest star: Stitely’s Real Weddings- Liz and Hank’s “heck of a party”

Liz and Hank's First Dance

Liz Combs and Hank Thompson were married on August 27, 2011 at St. Josaphat in Chicago followed by a rocking reception at Galleria Marchetti. Now these two are a couple who know quality music. In fact, Liz’s father, Larry Combs, was the principal clarinetist for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for 30 years, from 1978-2008! Fortunately, we had the opportunity to talk with Liz about her and Hank’s super shindig.

Stitely Entertainment: What kind of style or vibe did you want for your wedding? What role did music play in your vision?

Liz Thompson: Given that my parents are both professional musicians, music played a very important role at both the ceremony and at the reception.  We wanted the music to set the tone for the entire day from start to finish.  Hank and I wanted a clean, modern feel to our wedding with some traditional elements tied in.  Our musical choices followed suit perfectly from the classical brass ensemble during the ceremony, to the jazz trio which provided a swanky modern feel which paired perfectly with our garden cocktail hour in the city, to a full on dance band that embodied the celebratory feel to our reception.

The Stitely Orchestra

Liz and Hank’s cocktail hour began with a jazz trio of piano, drums and saxophone. Stitely added bass guitar and vocalist Bruce Henry for dinner, playing jazz standards such as “My Kind of Town” by Frank Sinatra. A 10-piece Stitely Orchestra, including trumpet, trombone and three vocalists, kept the dance floor packed all night.

SE: What kind of music or which bands do you and your partner enjoy?
LT: We enjoy everything and anything… from classic rock, to hip-hop to country – literally we like it all.  The bands currently playing on our iPods the most are Mumford & Sons, Foster the People, Widespread Panic, Bon Iver, Coldplay and David Guetta.

SE: What were your special dances? Why did you choose them?
LT: We both love a good classic – so most of our songs we fell into that category.  Our first dance was to “Your Song” by Elton John.  A few years back we went to the Elton John concert at Wrigley Field and had such an amazing time at the concert.  So when the time came to pick a song – we thought it was perfect classic song that we would always look back on fondly.

•  First Dance- “Your Song” by Elton John
•  Cake Cutting- “Dock of the Bay” by Otis Redding
•  Father/daughter Dance- “You Make Me Feel So Young” by Frank Sinatra
•  Mother/son Dance- “Long As I See the Light” by Creedence Clearwater Revival
•  Bouquet Toss- “Single Ladies” by Beyonce
• Garter Toss- “Cissy Strut” by The Meters
• Last Dance- “Dancing in the Moonlight” by King Harvest

SE: What was your favorite wedding memory?
LT: It’s hard to pick one favorite memory but we would say that dancing to our first dance together was incredibly special.  It was amazing to have the moment to share with your new husband/wife and be surrounded by all of your family and friends.  But we certainly can’t overlook the hours that everyone spent on the dance floor together – it was one heck of a party.

The Stitely Orchestra will be working with the Combs family again in April with the marriage of Mike, Liz’s brother, to her maid of honor Christine. We’re all really excited to work with such a fun group again!

Many thanks to all of the fantastic vendors who helped make the Combs-Thompson weddingsuch a success! Joan Cinquegrani at Five Grain Events did a fabulous job of planning and coordinating the wedding, and the beautiful centerpieces were provided by Flowers-Flowers. Jill Brazel Photography shot Hank & Liz’s great photos, and Keith at Poetic Productions filmed their special day. Well done everyone, and congrats again to Hank & Liz!

Official opinions: Stitely Office Love Songs

We’re keeping this week of love rolling with an office love playlist.  Enjoy the Stitely staff members’ favorite love songs.

Jeff:

• My One and Only Love performed by Johnny Hartman & John Coltrane (This was Jeff’s first dance at his wedding!)

Rachel:

• In the Aeroplane Over the Sea by Neutral Milk Hotel
• Range Life by Pavement
• Don’t Let Me Down by The Beatles
• First Day of My Life by Bright Eyes
• Anthems For a 17 Year Old Girl by Broken Social Scene

Peggy:

• You’re My Best Friend – Queen
• Maybe I’m Amazed – Paul McCartney (One of her husband Russ’ all-time faves)
• Cowgirl in the Sand by Neil Young

Shana:

• Tree by Sebadoh
• Hearts & Bones by Paul Simon

Carly:

• And I Love Her – Beatles
• Everlasting Light – Black Keys
• Let My Love Open the Door – Pete Townsend
• Words of Love – Buddy Holly
• Oh My Love – John Lennon
• Can’t Help Falling in Love – Ingrid Michaelson cover

Ed:

• If I Were the Hero by Kitty Devine (This is Ed’s band in which he plays guitar. He wrote this song three years ago for his daughter!)

Listen to Hero by Kitty Devine

• Here and Now by Delamitri
• No Se Tu by Luis Miguel

And of course, the ultimate love song by The Flight of the Conchords:

Guest Star: Amber and Dillon’s Adorable Valentine’s Day Proposal

Valentine’s Day is one of the most popular day for couples to get engaged. According to an article with stats from the Diamond Information Center, approximately 10% of all wedding proposals will happen on Valentine’s Day. So we reached out to our loyal Stitely fans for their own proposal stories. The entire office was gushing when we read Amber Hall’s story about how her fiance, Dillon, popped the big question. Go grab the tissues and read on!

Dillon & Amber

“It was Valentine’s Day weekend and Dillon was out of town working at an event at Navy Pier from Thursday 2/10 – Sunday, 2/13 (his birthday). In hopes that it would help to pass the time without him at home, I had planned to stay the long weekend over at his parent’s house spending time with his sister, Ashley. We had made all sorts of girly plans to do while he was away; wine and dinner at home on Friday, a birthday party on Saturday night, and a whole lot of catching up and shopping in between!

Dillon’s parents had told us that they made reservations at Francesca’s Passaggio in Naperville for Valentine’s Day dinner on Monday, but because they were going out in the city over the weekend instead, they decided not to keep them. I was told they were offering the reservations to us to go in their place, in hopes that Dillon and I could enjoy a nice night out when he got home. They even had a nice bottle of champagne reserved that we could help ourselves to. We jumped all over the nice gesture!

I woke up on Monday morning with butterflies in my stomach. We generally try to go out as often as possible on special dates but something about this morning was different. I chalked it up to Dillon being gone all weekend and my anxiousness to enjoy having his company once again.

Our reservations were at 7:30pm. We walked into Francesca’s and the mouth-watering smell of Italian food (my favorite!) overwhelmed us. We were taken to a nice quiet booth in the back corner. Our waitress Joanna greeted us with excitement, “expecting it to be Dillon’s parents.” She went over the menu including the nightly specials and gave us a few minutes to look over the drink menu. We had planned to start off with a nice beer and a glass of wine, but decided to jump right into the champagne that was reserved for us.

Joanna came back with the bottle and two beautiful champagne flutes. She presented the bottle to Dillon and asked if it looked good; who shrugged that he didn’t really know much about champagne to begin with. She then came to my side of the table and stepped back a bit. I turned to her presenting the bottle to me and found myself re-reading the label at least three times in shock. Placed before me was a gorgeous bottle of champagne, with a custom made label and the words “Will You Marry Me?”

Before I could even grasp what was happening, Dillon had gotten out from behind his side of the booth and knelt down on one knee before me with a ring in hand. I was still in shock; “Wait, what? For real? Are you serious?” muttered quickly out of my mouth followed up by “yes, will you marry me?” It was the longest, but most emotionally overwhelming, moment I have ever experienced in my life!

I said “YES!” with all the excitement within me shaking as the words left my mouth and he placed the ring on my finger. It was perfect! The moment was perfect. He is perfect.

We kissed and hugged and then sat there both shaken to the core. Words cannot describe the vast emotions of happiness that flooded us at that moment. A restaurant full of people, and at that very moment the only thing around me was the two of us. I felt lost on cloud nine and nothing could take that away from me.

We must have sat in that booth for another 45minutes before remembering that we were there to have a nice dinner! Dillon went on to explain to me how he had planned everything out; I was amazed at how well it was all kept from me!

He custom made the label on the champagne bottle himself. Everything about it is perfect. I was already water-eyed from all of the love and joy I was feeling, only to then break down even more when I found out that the little paw print at the very bottom of the label was none-other than our very own Buddy’s.

We talked the rest of the evening over our dinner. The food was to die for, not to mention that my ravioli was dyed red and shaped in hearts. Neither one of us could stop smiling. I don’t think I’ve stopped smiling since that moment! We left the restaurant arm-in-arm ecstatic at the night we just had. Upon getting into the car, we contacted our families and friends (and the wonderful world of Facebook!) to share in our joy.”

Thank you for your story Amber! Everyone at Stitely can’t wait to be a part of your special day!

Featured News: Best and Worst of the 2012 Grammys

Hey, Stitely fans, did you catch the Grammys last night? The 54th Annual Grammy Awards were on CBS and let’s just say they were…interesting. Despite the huge ratings, the so-called “biggest night in music” was far from outstanding and there were too many ups and downs that made the 3 and ½ hour long special almost unbearable. Below are the best and worst features that I thought made the night memorable…whether that’s a bad or good thing!

Best:

1) The Whitney Houston Tributes. The death of one of music’s legends was shocking to say the least and the Grammys did a great job of honoring her. With less than a day to prepare, Jennifer Hudson stole the show with her rendition of Houston’s hit “I Will Always Love You.”

2) Bon Iver winning Best New Artist. Before the Grammys started, Bon Iver (real name Justin Vernon) criticized the awards for not including some great, deserving talent…but that didn’t stop him from leaving with two Grammys himself.

3) Adele winning everything else! The “Rolling in the Deep” artist swept the board and was even seen crying so much that she shouted, “Oh, I have snot!” during one of her many acceptance speeches. Too cute!

Worst:

1) LL Cool J as host. Sorry, LL but it might not be appropriate to call Sir Paul McCartney your “homie.”

2) Dubstep artist, Skrillex was nominated 5 times and WON a Grammy?! Did that really happen?! Well if you want to congratulate him, you can simply give him a call. deadmau5, another artist in the same category, wore a t-shirt on the red carpet displaying Skrillex’s phone number along with the text “u mad bro?”

3) Nicki Minaj’s risky Roman Holiday performance. The “Super Bass” star went all out during her performance, which included a Pope look-a-like, dancing monks and a weird take on 1973’s The Exorcist. Unfortunately, the elaborate spectacle (see below) overshadows Minaj’s true rapping talent.

There were many surprises during the night, including Chris Brown’s infamous and risky return to the Grammys stage and the odd Beach Boys reunion/tribute with Maroon 5 and Foster the People, but all of these weird touches definitely made the night one to remember!

Official opinions: Carly’s Popular Pulled Pork and Polenta

In case you didn’t already know, Carly, Stitely‘s Event Planning Guru, is also a kick-ass cook. Here’s a recipe for BBQ Pulled Pork with Soft Polenta she tried for the first time last week and it was delicious! Invite a friend over or enlist your significant other to stir the polenta while you shred the pork and cook the BBQ sauce. Timing is important here – the polenta should be served immediately so it maintains its smooth texture.

Ingredients:

Pulled Pork:
• Pork spare rib
• Beer

BBQ Sauce:
• Ketchup
• Brown Sugar
• Mustard
• Worcestershire Sauce

Polenta:
• 4 cups water
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 cup polenta cornmeal
• 2 tbsp butter

Pork: Get a large stove top pot that will fit all of the pork spare rib. Place the pork in the pot and fill with beer until pork is fully submerged. Simmer for about 2 hours until the pork is cooked through and your kitchen smells like heaven. Remove the pork from the pot and let cool for a few minutes, then pull the meat from the bones and shred using your fingers.

BBQ Sauce: In a separate stove top pot, add about 2 parts ketchup to 1.5 parts brown sugar (more or less to taste) – enough to cover all of your shredded pork. Mix in 1-2 tbsp. mustard and a splash of Worcestershire sauce (to taste). Stir until all ingredients are mixed together and do a taste-test. Continue to add more of these ingredients until you get the flavor you prefer. When you’re done adding ingredients, bring to a simmer until the grainy mixture becomes smooth. Place the shredded pork in the pan and stir until the BBQ sauce covers all of the pork. Once you start you can’t stop, so try not to steal too much of the BBQ pork from the pan before serving!

Polenta: In another separate stove top pot, add the water and salt. Bring to a boil, then add the olive oil and gradually whisk in the polenta cornmeal. Reduce to medium heat, stirring constantly for about 10-15 minutes until the polenta is fully cooked and soft. Add the butter and stir until melted.

Scoop the polenta immediately onto a warm plate and spoon the BBQ pork on top. Enjoy!

Guest Star: Relax, Big City Bride has you covered

This month Stitely Entertainment is showing off the amazing event planners at Big City Bride! It takes a great team of event planners to put on the wedding of your dreams and make it the best (and stress-free) day for the bride and groom, as well as their guests. We talked with Susan Cordogan and the rest of the Big City Bride team to learn more about how their company stands out from the rest.

Stitely Entertainment (SE): How does your company differ from its competitors?

Susan Cordogan (SC): Big City Bride is a team of talented, experienced, and very different event planners. As a team of five planners we have combined experience, connections, styles, and ideas so we can truly do it all! There will always be someone to answer the phone and answer an urgent question and there will always be back up on event day if needed.

Our cozy Lincoln Park office also sets us apart. With regular office hours everyday and flexibility for late night meetings we offer our clients a fun planning process. With endless inspiration our clients have a world of possibilities at their fingertips.

SE: How did you get started in event planning?

SC: With a background in TV production I began with corporate and social event planning.  My heart was always in events and since I was little I wanted to do weddings. I started Big City Bride ten years ago and we’ve since grown into a team excited to push the limits of weddings in Chicago.

Gerber + Scarpelli Photography

SE: What part of your job do you find the most satisfying and the most challenging?

SC: Event day is a dream come true. It is why we do what we do! All of our hard work: the research, inspiration, meetings, conference calls, decisions, discussions, and timelines come together. Nothing is better than allowing a bride and groom to completely enjoy their wedding week with family and friends, stress free, and living in the moment of their wedding.  Their “I Do’s,” the toasts from people they love, their first dance till the last song… that is what event planning is all about!

Most challenging? Making it happen. Every event has its challenges but that is why the client hires us! Problem solving is what we do best and we’re happy to use our resources to fix anything that pops up.

SE: What is the key to a successful event?

SC: Understanding your clients’ priorities and personalities is crucial. It is not my event… it is theirs. My job is to help them figure out exactly what it is that they want, mix that with who they are and what they love, and create an event that embodies them.

SE: What is the craziest event story you can share?

SC: We had a bride hand her maid of honor her 5-karat diamond engagement ring to wear during the wedding ceremony so she could pass it to her during the ceremony. Sadly, when it was time to pass on the ring the maid of honor realized it was no longer on her finger! The ring was lost and never recovered. Luckily Big City Bride was on sight to fill out police reports and deal with the stressful situation.

Robyn Rachel Photography

SE: Any tips you can give to our engaged clients?

SC: Hire great vendors because they drive your wedding day.

We know that Stitely will rock the music and you’re in good hands there…but make sure your photographer, caterer, florist and planner are all people you can trust. On the wedding day you are at the mercy of their skills. Choose people you want around you on your wedding day who will be fun, reliable, and make it the day you’ve always dreamed of.

official opinions: start your day with a little lisztomania

The Stitely Music Monday pick this week is Lisztomania by French band Phoenix—one of my favorite songs to get the day going. The title refers to Hungarian composer and pianist Franz Liszt who had quite the fan base back in the 1800s!

The song became a hit after it was shown with clips from the classic ’80s Brat Pack, which later sparked a trend of YouTube users replicating the video, only in different cities around the world. Check out this version from my hometown of Houston, TX! Enjoy this song; it’ll definitely get your day going too!

-Asia

guest star: Stitely’s newest addition – Asia Elsner

We are happy to introduce our newest intern to the Stitely team, Asia Elsner! Asia is passionate about event planning, web marketing and LGBTQ rights, just to name a few of her many interests. We sat down with the new Marketing and Multimedia Intern to get to know her a little bit better:

Stitely Entertainment (SE): Tell us about yourself.

Asia Elsner (AE): My name is Asia and I’m the new intern here at Stitely…a.k.a. I’m the voice behind some of the recent blog posts! I am a senior at Loyola University Chicago majoring in Advertising & Public Relations with a minor in Sociology. I’m originally from Houston, Texas but I am here in Chicago for life; I’m in love with this city! But overall, I’m basically just a girl who likes cats and old-lady glitter tops.

SE: What is the last book you read?

AE: Do graphic novels count? If not, they should! I just read Persepolis for one of my classes, which is about a young Iranian girl’s experience during the Islamic Revolution of 1979. Graphic novels and comics are my favorite…as a kid, I was a fan of Archie Comics and my most recent favorite is the Scott Pilgrim series.

I am currently reading Margaret Atwood’s Oryx and Crake.

SE: What kind of music do you listen to?

AE: I’m a fan of mostly everything—except most country music. I tend to listen to either indie music or rap (basically complete opposites, but true.) Discovering new music is one of my favorite hobbies! I find myself using the Shazam app on my iPhone frequently, which listens to the song playing anywhere and tells me the title and artist so I can go download it when I get home.

SE: What are some other hobbies you have?

AE: Well, I am online A LOT. I like to entertain my Facebook friends with ridiculous pictures from the “interwebs.” I can’t remember the last time my Profile Picture on Facebook was actually of me and not of something absolutely random. I also have my Tumblr, which is my guilty pleasure. When I finally step away from the computer screen though, I really love to dance and explore different parts of the city. I also Skype a lot with my 6-year-old sister, Adelaide, and my 5-year-old brother, Basil, who are both home in Houston.

My little brother Basil

On our Disney World vacation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

SE: Who are your favorite musicians? Groups? CD’s?

AE: I love all six of the Tegan and Sara albums but I am especially in love with Metric’s album Fantasies which has my favorite songs “Help, I’m Alive,” “Gold Guns Girls,” and “Sick Muse.” I’ve also been listening to a lot of Jay-Z and Kanye West’s new album Watch The Throne, as my previous Top Songs of 2011 blog post shows. Oh, and The Backstreet Boys. The early Backstreet Boys. 90’s music is the way to my heart.

SE: Are you musically-inclined?

AE: I really wish I was (and I try) but alas no. I got a guitar for my 18^th birthday and occasionally pick it up and strum a few chords. I can learn songs pretty well and play them but I don’t have the ability to bring it out and jam with someone. I also have a secret dream of being a DJ. We’ll see how that plays out…

SE: Do you have any pets?

AE: After failing to keep my two Betta fish alive more than 6 months (R.I.P. Scarlett Johansson and Debbie Peggy,) I opted for the first real pet in my life! My 10-month kitten, Trevor, is a dreamboat and the perfect boyfriend. I adopted him from a friend who rescued him but couldn’t take care of him and he is probably the sweetest cat I have ever met. And what is Trevor’s best trick? HE PLAYS FETCH. Hardcore fetch. He’s the coolest cat ever!

SE: What’s the best part about working at Stitely?

AE: Everyone has been so sweet and welcoming! They have a really great core team of people who truly care about giving their clients the best musical experience. I am really excited to dive into my projects and bring my own craziness to the team!

guest star: Chicago Mart Plaza – not your typical Holiday Inn

Stitely Entertainment is proud to host our 5th Annual Valentine’s Dance on February 11 at the Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza.  This year’s party is sure to be a great success with live music provided by the Stitely Orchestra from 8-11 p.m. in the Wolf Point Ballroom. A special prix fixe dinner menu is available for only $35 per person from 5-8 p.m. at Chicago Mart Plaza’s in-house restaurant, ItaliAsia.  Or make it an extra special evening by booking an overnight stay at a low $99 rate. Bring your sweetie or your friends and celebrate Valentine’s Day with us at this free event. Click here for more information about the dance and read on to hear more from Barbara Martin, Director of Catering Sales for the fabulous Chicago Mart Plaza.

Stitely Entertainment (SE): What makes the Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza different from other hotels? 
Barbara Martin (BM): The Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza is located in the historic River North area of downtown Chicago known as “Wolf Point” with spectacular views of the city. Regardless of the direction you look at from our hotel, we feature the best of Chicago’s architecture. Over the last 4 years, the hotel has undergone a $26 million renovation and has been updated with contemporary furnishings and décor. The Mart Plaza also became the first LEED certified hotel in North America due to the energy saving features that were added during the renovations. We provide the best value for a downtown hotel and especially for weddings, social events, charity events, proms, celebrations of any type. Our hotel is special not only for its ambiance and warmth, but for its staff who each add a special touch to make every guest feel welcome from the moment they step into our atrium lobby. We are not your typical “Holiday Inn” and I personally get so much satisfaction from changing our clients’ preconceived notions.

SE: Why should people choose Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza for their events?
BM: Our staff takes great pride in all of the services we offer. Catering is top notch; the cuisine is outstanding and our award-winning chef and his staff continually exceed our clients’ expectations, especially when it comes to the the food’s quality and abundance. Every event held here is handled with white glove service and attention to detail. We really do care for our clients. I work with the couples from the moment they request information through the planning process, and I get so much joy to see it all come together the day of their wedding. My favorite comment that I hear from couples all the time is “this is more than I ever imagined it would be!” I couldn’t ask for a better compliment and our staff works very hard to make it a reality for every client. It’s a great privilege for us to be a part of a couple’s once in a lifetime day and we take our responsibility very seriously; we provide them with all they expect and so much more.

SE: Can you please describe the different rooms and/or services?
BM: We have four different event rooms, as well as an in-house restaurant and bar.

Wolf Point Banquet Hall

Our Wolf Point Ballroom is on the 15th floor of the hotel and is our most requested event space. It has spectacular views and is ideal for 300 or so guests for a sit down dinner. This event room is where a majority of our wedding receptions take place.

Our largest space is the Sauganash Grand Ballroom on the 14th floor. It can easily hold over 600 guests for a seated dinner, 800 for a cocktail reception, and over 900 for a meeting.

Our LaSalle room on the 15th floor has beautiful city views facing west and north, and is perfect for smaller, intimate weddings or social events for 100 to 110 guests.

Sauganash Ballroom

While the Wolf Point Ballroom is our most requested event space, this past year we hosted about 20 of our 79 weddings in the LaSalle room or the Grand Ballroom since we offer additional discounts on these rooms.

Our Edgewater room on the 15th floor is a small room ideal for 40 – 50 for a sit down dinner and up to 80 for a cocktail party with a breathtaking view of the Merchandise Mart and views facing the John Hancock Tower.

Our Cityscape Bar on the 15th floor is ideal spot if you want to sit and appreciate our beautiful city while enjoying one of our many signature cocktails and appetizers. It’s open until 1:00 am on Fridays and Saturdays for the “after wedding reception” crowd.

Cityscape Bar

Also on the 15th floor is our in-house restaurant, ItaliAsia. It offers a kaleidoscope of Italian and Asian cuisine as well as a morning breakfast buffet. It’s the perfect gathering place for guests the day after a wedding before everyone goes their separate ways.

SE: Any interesting events that happened or cool organizations that have stayed at the Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza this year?
BM: One of our October weddings was recorded for the “Four Weddings” cable TV show and the episode will be airing in February. We are excited to see if the couple that had their wedding here actually wins, and we’re looking forward to viewing the end result of all of our event preparation. One of my favorite events this past year was the Marine Corps Birthday Ball in November. There is no other event that compares to this celebration of 300 uniformed marines. Watching them process into the room with their swords and flags then standing at attention is so moving; it makes you feel very proud of this country and the young men and women who have put their lives on the line for us.

SE: What do the wedding packages include?
BM: We have three wedding packages that can be customized by deleting and interchanging items. This allows couples to save money while retaining variety. This flexibility is pretty unique since other venues often do not allow couples to change their packages. Our packages include an open bar for four hours, a champagne toast for all guests, wine service with dinner, appetizers during cocktails and options of after dinner stations of coffee & pastries or late night food, which has become very popular. Choices such as a Chicago “dawg” station, mini cheeseburgers, mini Italian beef sandwiches, or mini milkshakes and sundaes are always a big hit! We also include a complimentary hotel stay on the wedding night for the bride and groom as well as their parents, along with breakfast the following morning.

SE: How does the Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza staff work with other vendors, such as Stitely Entertainment?
BM: We make it a priority to work well with all vendors. They’re here to provide the couple with the best possible service, just as we are, so we work together to make sure the event runs seamlessly. I’ve heard from countless vendors that our hotel is exceptional in the way we treat them, and it is very important to us to have good relationships with everyone who comes to our hotel.

SE: What are some of your favorite ideas from recent weddings?
BM: After 20 years of weddings, it is always interesting to see the different ideas for decorations, flowers, etc. and I have had some couples who were very creative.

Wedding in LaSalle Room

Many of our couples choose to have a “Chicago theme,” meaning they take pictures around the city and use them as table “names” instead of numbers. Since I am an animal lover as well, I really enjoyed one couple’s way of including their dog into the wedding. They took pictures of their dog in different parts of the city and placed a posterboard next to the dog with the table number. This was such a cute idea and all the guests talked about the pictures at their tables when they sat down.

Couples who have their weddings here don’t need a large decoration budget because the city provides them with all the decoration they need. Another great addition to any event space is up lighting, which can be done in any color and adds ambiance very inexpensively.

SE: Anything else you would like to include?
BM: Our wedding business has grown significantly over the last few years since I came to this hotel. Seven years ago, we had 43 weddings and 2011 finished the year with 79. We are on track for 2012 and already booking events for 2013. Couples love to have a downtown Chicago wedding so their guests coming from all over the country can have an opportunity to go out and enjoy this beautiful city of ours! A city wedding is actually a destination wedding and our hotel pricing is impossible to beat. These photos are just a very small piece of what we have to offer at the Chicago Mart Plaza. If you want to host an event that has excellent food, outstanding service and that special, personal touch, then you need to have your event here. We deliver superior results!

official opinions: a Ray of sunshine on Monday

Today’s an oldie but a goodie with Ray Charles‘ 1959 hit “What’d I Say”. One of the most influential songs in R&B and rock and roll history, “What’d I Say” was the song that finally broke Charles into mainstream pop music and started the new sub-genre of R&B called soul. It earned Charles his first gold record and ranked at number 10 in Rolling Stone‘s “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time“. We learned from Jeff that one of the Stitely trumpeters used to tour with Ray back in the day- how cool!