Chicago Wedding Times – December, 2023

Our Pop Culture Quiz — Famous Last Words

Can you name the movies that ended with these famous words?

1. “If I’d have known there was going to be a nude scene, I’d have asked for another million.”
2. “Where we go from there is a choice I leave up to you.”
3. “I’m having an old friend for dinner.”
4. “Kevin, what did you do to my room?”
5. “I’m getting too old for this.”
6. “I’ll be right here.”
7. “Yo, Adrian, we did it! We did it!”
8. “It was beauty killed the beast.”
9. “Aruba, perhaps?”
10. “We’re all gonna get laid!”

The answers are at the end of this newsletter. 5 out of 10 makes you about average.  

Eight “Must-Do’s” for the Day/Night Before Your Wedding

You’ve planned the perfect wedding. Now you’re 24 hours from the finish line. Here’s how to use that last day to ensure the perfect celebration.

Check in with your vendors. One last check with your photographer, DJ, florist, baker, stylist and so forth will put your mind at ease that everyone will arrive at the proper time and be ready when it matters.

Pamper yourself. Go to the spa and get the works – massage, wrap, manicure, pedicure, facial, and whatever else will relax you for your big day. But DON’T try any new treatments you’ve never tried before. You don’t want to wake up on your wedding day with a raging rash.
 
Make sure your gadgets work. Charge your camera. Pack an extra charger and memory card. Make sure you have all your power cords and patch cables. 
 
Pack your emergency kit. By now you should know what you’ll need at each of the day’s venues. Itemize your list, and have a separate bag for each venue – church/temple, reception hall, hotel, etc. If you need help, check this master list.
 
Practice your vows. Your officiant should have provided you the actual words you’ll be asked to repeat. It’s a good idea to rehearse, just in case there’s a phrase that gives you trouble. If you wrote your own vows, a little rehearsal is even more important. 
 
Reminisce. Spend some quiet time looking back on your courtship. Open up your photo album (or computer file) and let the memories wash over you. Quietly contemplate how wonderful it is that you’ve found your perfect mate.
 
Share time with those closest to you. Remember, everyone at your wedding reception will want “face time” with you. The day before your wedding is the perfect opportunity to spend quality time with your family and closest friends, whether it’s over the phone, across the table at Starbucks or Denny’s, or just at home. Let them know how special they are to you.

Sleep. You’ve done everything you needed to do. Now it’s time to relax and trust that you’ve chosen good people to help you put on the wedding of your dreams. Don’t stay out all night. Find your quiet space, whether it’s in front of a book, in front of the TV, or in a relaxing bath. Get plenty of sleep.
 
If you follow these tips, you’ll arrive at your wedding relaxed, confident, and ready for whatever the day throws at you. Remember, in 24 hours you’re going to be married to your favorite person in the whole wide world. Enjoy your final victory lap!

Real Chicago Wedding – Oct. 13, 2023

Grace and Spencer Althoff were married in a heartwarming, intimate ceremony at Chicago’s Colvin House. From there, it was on to an evening of dining and lots of dancing to a well-selected list of their favorite songs. And they turned to the Chicago wedding DJ pros of Fourth Estate Audio

Advice from Chicago Wedding Pros #6

Not a celebrity or rolling in the dough? You’re not alone. Weddings can be extremely expensive and stressful on your newly cemented relationship. Here are some things you can do yourself without hiring any outside vendors to cut the mounting costs of your big day.

Flowers. Flowers can be over the top expensive especially if you are using fresh flowers for the entire wedding. A way to cut this expense is by buying flowers yourself at the grocery store instead of going through a florist. You can create your own corsages, bouquets and centerpieces. Another tip is to use fake flowers for all your décor including table centerpieces and various arrangements around the church or reception room. It’s also a nice touch to do mini centerpieces that guests can take home with them as a little reminder of your wedding.

Place Cards/Chair Seating Cards. While you can order this online, place cards and/or chair seating cards for an outdoor wedding can be done at home. You can easily buy thicker paper, pull up a neat little design program on your computer and print them out yourself. Just cut, fold and write the guests name on them with a calligraphy pen. Voila! Easy peasy. For an added touch, glue on a Swarovski crystal to add a little glam or wax stamp of the initial of your last name. You can use these for dinner seating and even drape over a chair with organza for any outdoor seating. Another easy DIY idea is to do place card lanterns. You can do these with simple brown/white lunch bags. Buy a stamp that comes with all the letters of the alphabet, cut the bag in a cute way and stamp each with your guests’ name. Stick a tea light or LED candle inside and add a few small stones/rocks to each so they don’t fall over.

Wedding Favors. Wedding favors are simple little items a guest can take home with them. It’s not necessary to buy 150 candles with personalized labels which adds a tremendous expense. You can go to your local craft store and buy little organza bags that tie at the top. These even typically will come in the color of your choice to match your wedding. Fill each with a little trinket or goodie and that’s it! You can also do this with simple cardboard pop up boxes which you can also find at the store or even order online in bulk. Tie the box with a little ribbon that says LOVE and fill with mints or chocolates. Another very personalized idea is to fill mason jars with a family recipe inside with a printout of the recipe on top tied with a ribbon. Depending on how much time you have to devote to these favors, the ideas are limitless.

Reception Hall/Church Décor. A plain room is exactly that. Plain. Add special touches to your wedding by personalizing any space. If it’s an outdoor wedding, create luminarias. These are basic white paper bags, each with an LED votive inside. You can even write on them, paint any design or leave as is. Line a path leading to your reception area or place all over for added romantic lighting. You can also use basic white Christmas lights to string in any trees or plants indoors and outdoors to further accentuate any room. Another simple décor idea is to use fruit arranged in metal baskets or large glass vases you either have already or can borrow from friends and family. Is red your color? Fill these with red apples, cherries or pomegranates.

Even those on a budget can create the wedding of their dreams. Not only do ‘DIY’ projects keep your costs down but also add that personal touch. Now get out there, grab your fiancé, some friends and family and create the most memorable day of your lives!

Thanks to Dane Kolbaba of Chicago Party Bus.

Here are the answers to our movie quiz.

1. “I think this is the beginning of a beautiul friendship.” – Casablanca
2. “Where we’re going we don’t need roads.” – Back to the Future
3. “Where we go from here is a choice I leave up to you.” – The Matrix
4. “Damn you all to hell!” – Planet of the Apes
5. “I’m having an old friend for dinner.” – Silence of the Lambs
6. “Kevin, what did you do to my room?” – Home Alone
7. “I’ll be right here.” – ET
8. “It was beauty killed the beast.” – King Kong
9. “Naah, I’d only blow it.” – The Sting
10. “… a man who was killed because he had lousy ratings.” – Network

To learn more about professional Chicago DJ entertainment and lighting by Fourth Estate Audio:

Jay Congdon, President