Bittersweet Wedding Cake

As I mentioned last week was a whirlwind of wedding planning. This planning included meeting with 4 different local bakeries in Chicago to taste some wedding cakes. What could be better than that? We met with two bakeries in the suburbs and two in the city. The city bakeries were clear winners not only in presentation and cake testing atmosphere but also in the modern designs that they had available.

We ended up deciding between Bittersweet Pastry Shop and Alliance Bakery. I recommend checking out both shops if you are a Chicago bride. The staff are fantastic at both and they really make the cake testing an experience! There were dishes of delicious fillings such as mocha creme and salted caramel buttercream that we lavishly spread on deliciously spongey mini-cakes such as banana, red velvet, and dark chocolate fudge.

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Both experiences were truly decadent but Bittersweet Pastry Shop really took the cake (no pun intended). Sue Ann led us through our cake testing with such ease and fun. The flavors were delicious and most of all the cake designs that they had in their portfolio were modern and glam at the same time.

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Our cake design is simple - 3 tiers with white on white flourish design and topped with a few peonies to tie in with the color scheme of the wedding. We have alternating layers of cake, one will be almond cake with vanilla creme brulee filling and fresh strawberris and the other will be almond cake with dark chocolate mousse. I'm salivating just thinking about them. Bittersweet offers a great option of side tiers so that we were able to have a smaller decorated cake that would feed approximately 100 guests out for cutting and 2 side tiers (undecorated by the same height and flavors) that will be in the kitchen to feed the remaining guests. Oh and they also will send a freshly baked top tier of our cake to enjoy on our first wedding anniversary...so we can avoid the freezer burn experience.

Wedding Week Whirlwind

I hope all you dearies had a fabulous Thanksgiving weekend filled with fun, laughter, and loved ones. I had a delicious time in Chicago with my entire family for the whole week.

We had a whirlwind of a wedding week as well. My mom and I spent most of the week going from appointment to appointment downtown, we met with florists, cake vendors, and stationers. M and I decided to postpone our engagement session as the weather was so not enjoyable on Tuesday (rain and cold) so we'll probably end up doing them in the Spring.

I have many stories to tell and I cannot wait to talk about the fabulous vendors we met with this week but that will all have to wait until I head back to Boston. I'm off to enjoy the last few hours in Chicago with Mamacita!

Save the Date!

Yay! Our Save the Dates arrived on Saturday. Our designer had dropped them off at my parents house last week and my mama was so kind as to send an extra in the mail to me. I'm sad to have to "erase" some of the text.

Photo by Moi

I had last seen the mock up over email and could not get a true sense of the colors but loved the design. We worked with one of my dad's former colleagues to design and print our Save the Dates. I wanted something organic and light with a pop of color. I adore flourishes, clearly as they were all over my inspiration pictures for the paper suite.

How did you choose your Save the Dates?

Ceremony Refreshments

Our plan for an outdoor ceremony on the plaza of the Chicago History Museum sounds perfect...in principle. Yet Chicago weather is so unpredictable - especially in June, it is just as likely to be 50 degrees and raining as it is to be a sweltering 90 degrees. Selfishly I'm holding my breath for a hotter day because than it will hopefully be sunny and beautiful. So I've been brainstorming ideas for cool refreshments that our guests could enjoy on the plaza as they wait for the ceremony to begin.

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I love these Izze Sodas. They are so cute and could provide a fantastic pop of color, when held at the end of the aisles in large silver buckets filled with ice. Or we could go really crazy and have servers pass them around on trays with bright straws. M is wary of both ideas and thinks that our guests can wait until cocktails after the ceremony. But I've become a bit obsessed with how cute it could look.

What do you think?

Wedding Sign Me Up

I'm obsessed with the idea of hanging custom signs on the back of our chairs during the reception. I love these from thebackporchshoppe.

So help me dear readers...which sign should we choose?

Aisle Decor

As I mentioned before, we'll hopefully have our ceremony on the plaza out front of the CHM which overlooks the park. I had initially been thinking that we could simply hang silver buckets filled with fluffy hydrangeas on the chairs that lined the aisle. Until I saw this on Elizabeth Anne Designs from Divine Light Photography

How perfect? Colors et al!

Rainy Day Wedding

This summer has been so strange in Boston. It rains several times a week. There have only been a handful of 80 degree sunny days. And it has me thinking about our wedding. We have planned for our ceremony to be outside on the patio of the museum that overlooks the park. I have tried to gauge how upset I will be about rain that day. And honestly, as long as we can get some fabulous rainy day pictures...I think I would be okay with it. After all...that is the day that I will become M's wife...and that is truly what matters.

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Wedding Planning Envy

So, lately I've been feeling that pesky little green monster tapping on my shoulder

I'll admit it...I'm a bit jealous! Of all of you lucky brides who are getting married in the next few months. You are entrenched in the heart of planning. With the big day well within sight, you are crossing things off your list and DIY-ing your butts off.

Yet with our wedding almost 11 months away and many of our big decisions already made...I'm feeling stuck. While I feel past the point of gathering inspiration (I know what I'm looking for now) it feels way too early to begin all of my projects and securing all of the details.

After all, I don't want to do all of the fun stuff too early and then question my decisions over the next year. That being said, I realize that next Spring, I will be kicking myself for this very post.

Did any of have similar longing due to a longer engagement? When did you get started on your "fun" projects?

Location Envy

I always dreamt of a city wedding. I love the idea of a chic downtown ceremony in the city that I adore.

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But every once in a while (re: everyday) I secretly envy the lucky ladies going a bit more rustic.