Weddings by Yours Truly

29/01/2025

While it may seem like a simple tradition, a guestbook is a personal keepsake and heartfelt memory that you can look back on in the years to come to remind you of the people who celebrated your union and shared in your joy. There are endless ways to capture these sentiments:

𝑃ℎ𝑜𝑡𝑜 𝐹𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑒: showcase your favorite engagement photo and have your guests sign around the mat. You can frame it afterwards and display it in your home

𝑀𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑎 𝐵𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑙𝑒: ask guests to write messages on small pieces of paper and place them in a bottle to be read on future anniversaries. If you’re a wine lover- make it a wine bottle

𝑉𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑜 𝑀𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑎𝑔𝑒: this modern take on a guestbook is a fun, interactive way for guests to leave a short clip for you to watch later on.

𝑃𝑜𝑠𝑡𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛: guests can leave their messages on postcards that represent places you love or have traveled to as a couple. You can display them in a frame or keep them in a keepsake box

24/01/2025

While the big moments like your ceremony and reception are memorable...you never want to overlook capturing all of the small details. The wedding rings, the shoes, the flowers, the dress, and even the table settings- these are all the small, meaningful elements that tell the complete story of your beautiful day 🤍

Venue: Allegra Banquets & Catering
Photographer: Karen Shoufler Photography
Florist: The Jade Vine
DJ: MDM Entertainment
Hair: UpDo's by Aga
Makeup: Aleigh Beauty
Bridal Gown: Diana's Bridal
Hotel + Transportation: Hyatt Rosemont Near O'Hare

05/01/2025

As we settle into 2025, the trend of choosing non-traditional wedding venues will continue to grow. From repurposed industrial warehouses and rooftop gardens to art galleries, historical landmarks, and private homes. While these venues offer incredible one-of-a-kind experiences, they also come with their own set of challenges. Keep these things in mind when choosing your unique location:

𝐿𝑜𝑔𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑠; make sure the space is equipped with standard amenities like parking, catering/bathroom facilities, and built-in AV hook-ups. Renting these additional services can become costly if the location is not easily accessible.

𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑖𝑡𝑠 & 𝑅𝑒𝑔𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠; unconventional spaces might require additional permits or be subject to strict regulations including fire/safety codes and noise restrictions. Do your research on these legalities and any additional insurance requirements to avoid surprises down the road.

𝐿𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝐶𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦; venues that are non-traditional in design can lead to limitations in your capacity. Make sure the location can accommodate your full estimated count even if you know not everyone will attend. You don’t want to end up sacrificing the overall experience and comfort because you have to squeeze in additional furniture or décor in areas that are not fully functional.

25/12/2024

Wishing all of my wonderful couples- past, present, and future, a very Merry Christmas!🎄

23/12/2024

Wishing Adam and Danielle the absolute best as they begin their new chapter in life together! From the first meeting to the final dance, watching a years worth of planning come to life was both incredible and bittersweet as they said their final goodbyes. Cheers to these sweethearts 🤍

Venue: Butterfield Country Club
Florist: Phillip's Flowers & Gifts
Photography & Videography: GReyes Photography
DJ: Entourage Mobile Entertainment
Ceremony Musicians: Cagen Music
Transportation: Windy City Limousine & Bus Worldwide
Décor Rentals: SATIN CHAIR Event Design & Decor Rental
Décor Rentals: Hyacinth Events
HMU: Windy City Glam - Chicago Wedding Makeup & Hair
Pet Attendants: Wags of Love
Stationary: Quintessence Papers
Audio Guestbook: LifeOnRecord
Officiant: The Wedding Rev.

12/12/2024

Creating a guest list can be one of the more challenging aspects of wedding planning, especially when family dynamics and traditions come into play. Here are some tips to help you navigate your vision with family expectations:

𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑙𝑦 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑐𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑙𝑦: from the moment you start planning, it’s important to have clear conversations with both sets of parents (if they’re involved) about your goals and priorities. This will set expectations early and avoid surprises and conflicts later down the road.

𝐵𝑒 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑏𝑢𝑑𝑔𝑒𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑠: the size of your guest list will directly impact your budget so it’s important to be open about financials. Families will often understand when they know the reason behind your decisions.

𝐶𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑎 𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑧𝑒𝑑 𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑡: start with close family, best friends, and anyone else you feel is essential. Once you’ve established your ‘must have’ list, you can move on to others who may be more flexible such as distant relatives, coworkers, or acquaintances if there’s room in your budget and venue’s capacity.

𝐼𝑛𝑐𝑙𝑢𝑑𝑒 𝑏𝑜𝑡ℎ 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑦 𝑓𝑎𝑖𝑟𝑙𝑦: your wedding should feel inclusive, so try to divide the guest list evenly between both sides. If one family has a much larger guest list, it’s worth discussing the situation openly (and sometimes separately) so everyone feels respected and valued in the planning process.

𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑝𝑙𝑢𝑠-𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑠 𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑢𝑙𝑙𝑦: while it’s traditional to offer a plus-one to anyone who is married or in a serious relationship, be mindful of your overall guest count. If it starts to exceed your budget or venue’s capacity then you should prioritize couples who are long-term or most important to you.

Always remember that your wedding is not a social obligation. It can be tough to say ‘no’ to family member requests but you have the right to focus on people who will add to your celebration and whom you genuinely want to share the day with. By communicating openly and being transparent you’ll be able to stay true to your vision and feel more comfortable in the end!

30/11/2024

The morning of your wedding can be a whirlwind of activities. Between getting ready, ensuring everyone is where they need to be, and dealing with last minute details, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. With the right preparation and of course coordinator, you can handle the morning rush and focus on enjoying all of the moments leading up to your special day!

Visit www.weddingsbyyourstruly.com to learn more about package options and to inquire about date availability🤍

Photography: Matt Warren Photography

23/11/2024

These photos truly speak for themselves- no caption can do justice to the most incredible and unforgettable day that was shared between Ashley & Doug.
Part 1 🖤

Venue: Providence Vineyard
Catering: MISSION BBQ
Bar: Open Bar Catering
Florist: Town & Country Gardens
Photo & Video: Matt Warren Photography
DJ: Moving N Grooving DJs
Hair: .styles
Makeup: Taylor Nicole Concepts

18/11/2024

13/11/2024

It was an honor to coordinate Atalie & Joe's wedding day! The weather was nothing short of perfect, the venue setting was beautiful, and the love between these two was evident in every moment. Not to mention, they had the sweetest moments with their fur babies Emi and Chip 🖤

Venue: Itasca Country Club
Bakery: Delish Cakes, Bloomingdale
Florist: www.fabflowers.com
Photo & Video: IG Photo Video Inc.
DJ: Music By Design, Ltd.
Ceremony Musicians: www.bellemusicchicago.com
Dog Assistants: Wags of Love
Hair & Makeup: Refined Beauty

11/11/2024

These bridesmaid dresses are proof that a bridesmaid's dress can actually be worn again after a wedding day.

29/10/2024

One of the benefits of hiring a quality coordinator means you're receiving a more personalized and superior service, including a detailed timeline! Our experience allows us to foresee potential issues and build in extra time for each task which minimizes time constraints, maximizes enjoyable moments, and ensures a smoother flow throughout the day. A well-structured and DETAILED timeline serves as the backbone of your wedding day so you can relax knowing these key components are always included and managed when working with Yours Truly:

1. Arrivals & Set Up: vendor arrivals with contracted hours are listed and confirmed prior to the wedding day, including shuttle pick up and drop off times. Personalized inventory of DIY décor, floorplan locations, and setup responsibilities are noted

2. Pre-Ceremony Activities: schedule of preparations including hair, makeup, timing for detail photos and getting dressed. First looks, private vow exchanges, and individual bridal party photos are coordinated with photographers timeline including pre/post ceremony portraits

3. Ceremony Timing: clear outline of the start time and how long it will last. Includes time for guests to arrive, get seated, as well as your processional order with coordinating song selections

4. Reception Flow: planned sequence of events at the reception; grand entrance, speeches, first dances, cake cutting, special traditions, dinner service, and venue inclusions reflecting your venues banquet event order

5. Contingency Plans: backup plans are always put in place for unexpected delays and/or ceremony and photo locations. Whether it's bad weather or late arrivals, we'll already be prepared ahead of time to make those last minute changes

To learn more about this service and the other benefits of hiring a Day-of Coordinator visit www.weddingsbyyourstruly.com or send a message today 🖤

Weddings by Yours Truly was created and launched out of the Chicagoland suburbs with the sole purpose to unite couples in need with a beautiful and flawless wedding day. My service is so much more than assembling vendors and greeting guests. It is an investment intended to reduce the stress with you...

24/10/2024

Ryan and Dawn's wedding was nothing but 𝔢𝔫𝔠𝔥𝔞𝔫𝔱𝔦𝔫𝔤 ✨
It was a beautiful blend of celestial elements and the magic of tarot!

Venue: Paramount Theatre
Photo & Video: TWA Photographic Artists
Décor: SATIN CHAIR Event Design & Decor Rental

17/10/2024

The cutest recap from Atalie & Joe's wedding with Emi & Chip by their side. Here's to more love stories that include EVERY member of the family 🐾🤍

Dog Wedding Attendant: Wags of Love

Send a message to learn more

14/10/2024

Another successful weekend celebrating these two lovebirds 💍🖤

11/10/2024

Fate always has a way of weaving people together in unexpected ways. When I first met Heather & Jonah we both had no idea that we lived in the same neighborhood.. on the same street.. and that our daughters would come to be in the same homeroom class at school! It's not very often you get to stay in touch with clients after their wedding is through but I am so happy I get to keep this bond close and that we can celebrate their future milestones together 🖤

Venue: Bolingbrook Golf Club
Photography: XCITEphoto.com Photography & Videography

04/10/2024

Choosing the perfect venue is one of the most crucial steps in wedding planning. It's where you'll create lasting memories so it's essential to go into each tour prepared with a list of questions to help narrow down the best option that fits your needs! Below is a list of things often forgot about:

𝐴𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒: you'll need to know this for both you and your vendors. If you want to do hair & makeup on-site you'll want to negotiate early access to the bridal suite which often comes with an additional charge. You may also have this grand vision of the décor you plan to incorporate and your eventual florist/designer may need all-day setup. If the venue only allows a few hours prior to start time, you may end up paying a hefty labor fee for the additional staff needed to complete the décor on time.

𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠: aside from the typical confetti, glitter, and open flames which are prohibited at most venues, ask about noise restrictions. This could determine the option of a DJ vs. a live band. Are you allowed to bring in outside food for late night snacks, or a specific type of alcohol that is special to your traditions? Are you allowed to throw rose petals down the aisle or have complete access to the property for photos? It's better to know these things ahead of time rather than halfway through the planning journey.

𝑊𝑒𝑎𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑠: this one seems obvious but it's easy to forget when you're wrapped up in the excitement of the tour. If the venue has a separate indoor backup space make sure to get it reserved on your contract. Don't forget to look at alternative options for covered spaces outdoors for photos as well.

𝑃𝑎𝑦𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑇𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑠: discussing the terms such as deposits, payment schedules, cancellation policies, and guest count/food & beverage minimums will help you budget accordingly and understand your financial commitments throughout the year.

Don't forget to take lots of notes and photos during your tour. It always worth it to ask for a complimentary hold on your date until you have time to make the last of your venue visits and come to a decision!🖤

26/09/2024

This year's Fall festivities have arrived! Yours Truly is competing in downtown Yorkville's Scarecrow Walk and these 𝑺𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒘 𝑺𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒔 would LOVE your vote!

Click the link below or take a stroll along the river to vote for them in person, and don't forget to tag me in your photos if you do👰🤵‍♂️🍁💍🤎

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdGjuKKFCu2B8zX21Lfq0Vx5UufKJatfrZ2tmSu7QkaUK8kmA/viewform