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DIY bachelorette party

There are times in life when things line up.  When what’s meant to be is.  When magic happens.  My sisters’ bachelorette party was one of these times.  There were times during her planning where I had to put a lot of thought into things: writing a toast for the reception, how was I going to be a maid-of-honor AND wedding coordinator, if I should get chicken or fish, but choosing a theme for her bachelorette party was not one of those times.  Hence, Saradashian’s Last Stand was born.DIY bachelorette party

I designed and printed the invites (front to back) complete with photshopping my sister in with the Kardashians, tied them up with ribbon and stuffed each envelope with feathers and sequins.  The liners were custom made because really, when other time am I going to get to do something like this?  When you’re talking about the Kardashian’s, it’s got to be over the top.  Bible.

I didn’t tell her anything about the party other than what the invitation gave away which was to meet at a hotel downtown at 5:30.  At 4:30 I had an SUV (just like Kim Kardashian gets driven around in) pick Sarah and her bridesmaid Shannon up at her house and when they got in the car Shannon gave her a card I had had my parents write her (likely ending with, “be safe!”)  Then they stopped to pick up two more bridesmaids and she got a card that I had my brother write (surprisingly sentimental).  One final stop to pick up the last bridesmaid Molly, and Molly gave her a card I had written her (recounting some of our drunken escapades together to ger her in the mood to party!)  I was so happy Shannon send me these pictures as a play-by-play!DIY bachelorette party

So in this case, I had the party in a hotel room.  This makes things difficult for a myriad of reasons: no access to your dishes, kitchen utensils or dishwasher, having just a tiny fridge and a microwave etc.  Even though we used a lot of things that could be thrown away at the end of the party, I still wanted to make it special.  Everyone got two glasses, one for champagne and one for kahlua and creams (my sister’s favorite) adorned with the Kardashian of their choice.

DIY bachelorette partyDIY bachelorette party

I made the kahlua and creams by freezing the cream in ice cube trays and pouring kahlua over them.  A bathtub full of beer, and the party was on!  As for food, choose lots of things that are easy to eat on your lap and don’t take a lot of prep.  I did sushi, chips and dips, fruit and dip in individual cups and individual popcorn boxes.  Mini cheesecakes and cupcakes for desserts, topped with engagement rings, perfect for taking to the bar afterwards to fend off any unwanted advances.  Oh and candy.  I just filled a bunch of patterened cupcake liners with all of Sarah’s favorite candy.  She is ridiculous and eats it for nearly every meal yet still somehow manages to be as thin as a rail and never has any cavities.

DIY bachelorette partyDIY bachelorette partyDIY bachelorette party

You know I splurged and bought a life-size cardboard cutout of Kim, Kourtney and Khloe to greet guests.  Much to her fiance’s chagrin, the girls are living in their basement, watching over the laundry pile, naturally.

DIY bachelorette party

Goody bags for the girls were in little felt buckets I found at Target and I created tags for each using a heart-shaped punch and ribbon.  Easy-peasy.  Included in each was a mini can of Sophia champagne (mini, pink straw included!), a mini-bottle of Kim Kardashian’s perfume, individual packs of Advil, a couple of blow-pops and a ring pop, a pack of Starburst and a pack of Skittles (see: candy obsession above) and then a few things to take to the bar: a stick on mustache, glow-stick jewelry, pixie sticks and mardi-gras beads.  Sarah got a homemade veil and light up diamond to ensure everyone knew who the star of the party was.  Classy, simple and accentuated her outfit.  Seriously, how long did your sister/best friend/future-in-law spend picking out an outfit for her bachelorette party?  Don’t ruin it!

DIY bachelorette party

Timeline wise, for a shower or bachelorette party I like to welcome guests with a drink as they are arriving, let them eat and chat for a bit, play a game, open gifts and call it a day.  At a shower, people can stay and mingle, at the bachelorette party we keep drinking and told some hilarious Sarah stories.  I really hate forced bachelorette party games, but think they can be a good ice-breaker when people don’t know each other well.  I created a “Kardashian Kuiz” full of questions about the infamous family (which my sister promptly won) and then took a bag full of props out to the bar with us. And obviously the penis straws and Scott Disick.  Did you think he was going to let us go without him?  Not a chance, doll.

anticipation events destination weddings

Hello, hello.  Remember when I used to blog here?  So do I.  It’s been an amazing, whirlwind of a crazy year for Anticipation Events.  So much travel, so many beautiful destination weddings and so much fantastic news to share.  As wedding season 3.0 winds down, I promise I’m back and ready to catch you up on all of the beautiful things I have to share.

    • Weddings galore: from a lakeside in Wisconsin, a cotton field in Arkansas, an art museum in Omaha and a chic boutique hotel in Chicago, we’ve been trucking around the country bringing a little love to brides and grooms anywhere we can find them.
    • My little sister gets married. Holy crap.  I pull double duty as coordinator and maid-of-honor.
    • We hire another fantastic coordinator to join the team.  I know you can’t wait to meet her…
    • We’re currently working on a complete website makeover.  In the meantime, you’ll notice our little blog has had a little makeover herself.  We hope you like.
    • And this just in, we’ll be spending the winter prepping for Indie Wed 2013.  We’re so thrilled to be accepted as a vendor for this fantastic show and hope to see all of your smiling faces there!

 

Let’s get ready to rumble….

destination barn wedding at three sisters park

So I’ve been anxiously awaiting the arrival of these photos in my inbox.  Ryanne + Kevin were married in May at Three Sisters Park in Chillicothe, Illinois.  It was a party of epic proportions that was preceded by a bit of chaos.  The park was exactly their vision: a totally rustic barn surrounded with wide open space.  Kevin + Ryanne did so much themselves: sweeping out the barn, hanging lights and they really rolled with the punches when it rained all week and we had to move the ceremony inside at the last minute.  Also, they were totally cool when the sheep crashed the party and ordered gin and tonics.  And then there’s this picture with this horse, which I think tends to make up for most of the pre-wedding chaos.  I’m pretty sure the only thing that could have made this photo better is if that horse were a magic wedding unicorn. I almost wouldn’t have been surprised.

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Not bad for a makeshift ceremony site 30 minutes before the wedding?  Thank God for amazing vendors like Heather at Events By Bloom and the indelible Ronald Roberts for jumping in and putting this together with me so that we could wait until the very last second in hopes that the rain would clear.

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Truly an unforgettable wedding day and a fabulous story for the Anticipation Events archives.  I could not have more fun with you two and I hope your happily ever after is filled with as many outrageously funny stories and adventures as your wedding day was.

*all eye-candy courtesy of Deidre Lynn Photography

Ryanne + Kevin’s Vendors
Ceremony + Reception: Three Sisters Park
Day-of Coordination: Anticipation Events
DJ: Ronald Roberts
Catering + Cake: Cracked Pepper
Photography: Deidre Lynn Photography
Videography: ZNeff Weddings
Florist: Events By Bloom
Make-up: B. Loved Stylists
Hair: Melissa Bakel
Photo Booth: PeekABooth
Guest Hotel: Windgate by Wyndham

rustic barn wedding at byron colby barn

Ali & Matt got married in June at the Byron Colby Barn in Grayslake and their rustic barn wedding was pure perfection. Take a look at them getting all dolled up.

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Ali’s dress and hairpiece were amazing.  She was so effortlessly beautiful.chicago wedding planner

A glowing mom and a dapper dad (love the hat, right?) escort Ali to her waiting groom.chicago wedding planner

Poor groomsman on crutches in a suit in the June heat.  What a trooper he was and still smiling the entire way down the aisle.chicago wedding planner

Waiting…

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Walking…

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Kissing!

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This picture is amazing.  So happy to be married were these two!chicago wedding planner

After, the crew headed into the party.

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 Meanwhile, the dudes took some glamour shots of their own.chicago wedding plannerchicago wedding planner

The barn was ready for revelry.chicago wedding planner

Wine bottle table numbers and mis-matched vessels made for a cozy and eclectic atmosphere.chicago wedding planner

Then Matt decided it was time for everyone to get down…chicago wedding plannerchicago wedding plannerchicago wedding planner

…and then their friends decided it was time to put them up, high up in the air.chicago wedding planner Matt and Ali were just so lovely to work with and they made my day week when they called me (on their way to Hawaii no less) to tell me what a great day it was and say thanks one more time before they jetted off.  Such class acts and it was my pleasure to be a part of it all.

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Ali + Matt’s Vendors

Ceremony + Reception Venue: Byron Colby Barn
Planning + Styling: Anticipation Events
Photography: Victoria Sprung Photography
Florals: Nancy Rolison
DJ: Toast + Jam
Catering: Dave’s Specialty Food
Cupcakes: 
Bleeding Heart Bakery
Custom Hairpiece: Love, LuLu Mae

outdoor barn wedding at byron colby barn

Stephanie and Brian’s wedding at Byron Colby Barn in Grayslake in August was the outdoor barn wedding of our dreams.  Both Brian and Stephanie are super creative and artistic and put a ton of effort into making their day unique to them. Which is my MOST FAVORITE thing.  Brian’s hat and bowtie were so dapper and Stephanie rocked an amazing dress and killer shoes:

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Stephanie’s dad has passed away but Stephanie kept him close by all day long on her bouquet.day of coordination

Stephanie and Brian were super troopers trucking through the fields surrounding the barn with Jeremy Lawson to get these shots.  Stephanie even brought some little insect friends back with her trapped in the layers of her wedding dress!  And yes, that was just after they shook hands with Mr. Ed.day of coordinationday of coordination

Then it was time to get married!

So I rallied the troops: Stephanie’s brother escorted her down the aisle, they exchanged rings,  shared a smootch.

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Brian just could not help himself: a fist pump on the way out of the ceremony.

I mean, when you are marrying this girl, who wouldn’t be?day of coordination

Fabulous details from the party follow.  By now you know this is my absolute favorite part, right? Right.day of coordinationday of coordination

Stephanie collected doilies that we fashioned into table runners and blue mason jars that Nancy filled with gorgeous wildflowers.

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Stephanie and her family made these magical magic wands for their guests to shake and wave as Stephanie and Brian walked back down the aisle as a married couple.  Then they shook them when the bridal party was announced, and when they shook their booties on the dance floor and I’m hopeful they shook them back at the hotel and at brunch the next morning as well!day of coordinationday of coordination

A lot of laughing, singing, drinking and dancing capped off an incredible day celebrating two incredible people.  S & B: It was so much fun to be a part of your day and may you always be able to laugh off the bugs that fly up your dress!

Stephanie & Brian’s Vendors
Venue: Byron Colby Barn
Photography: Jeremy Lawson Photography
Planning: Anticipation Events
Florals: Nancy Rolison Designs
DJ: Stax-O-Wax
Catering: Catered Productions

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