Chicago Restaurant Week 2018

It’s Restaurant Week in Chicago! As a fellow foodie,  I just know that Chicago has a ton of delicious food and drinks. With set menus that offer tastings, Restauarant Week is definitely

More than that, however, it’s a great way to find out your next wedding venue. Enjoy the restaurant’s highlights as you scope out a venue for your big day, whether it’s for the engagement party, the reception, or everything in between.

Here are some of my favorite restaurants that double as beautiful venues that have offerings during Restaurant Week:

Booth One – Used to be called the Pump Room, Booth One has been reinvented to feature new decor, lighting, and a revamped menu. With a dining area and a bar area, emphasized by neutral colors and tones, this place would be a wonderful place for a small, intimate gathering.

Booth One’s renovated bar area

Cafe des Architectes – While the food is devine, Cafe des Architectes doesn’t necessarily host receptions. It is, however, located in Hotel Sofitel, a hotel right of the Magnificent Mile that has a great view of the skyline. Mariana and Matt held their reception in the Sofitel Hotel and they came with gorgeous photos.

Sofitel Hotel

Carnivale – A bright, fun spot in West Loop, Carnivale can host anything from the bachelorette party to the reception. With a rather large space, colorful wall decorations, and a staircase for the perfect dramatic entrance, Carnivale could be a perfect backdrop for a classic or a uniquely extraordinary wedding venue for dancing the night away.

Carnivale 

The Lobby at the Peninsula Hotel: While the restaurant itself doesn’t necessarily act as venue, The Lobby is situated right within the Peninsula Hotel, a venue that I’ve frequented many times myself. Enjoy yourself a nice lunch, then walk through the hotel to find the gorgeous spots perfect for formal photos, ceremonies, and receptions. Check out Kathy and Jason’s wedding that was held at the Peninsula Hotel.

The Lobby at Peninsula Hotel

Quartino’s – A classic Italian restaurant with two-stories, Quartino’s is a Chicago favorite located right off Michigan Avenue. While the space not quite large enough for a full reception, Quartino’s can provide the meeting area for the smaller, more intimate wedding-related events, from the engagement party to the welcome dinner to the bachelorette party.

Quartino’s Dining Hall

ZED 451 – With a sophisticated atmosphere and nearly 18,000 square feet to offer, ZED 451 can accommodate up to 500 seated guests for any type of intimate affair. The private dining room comes with a round table bar and modern decor for the loveliest wedding receptions and events. Susan and Conrad held their reception here and the photos are stunning.

Happy eating and venue hunting!

Jessica + J.T.: The Reception at Galleria Marchetti

Yesterday, I posted the first part of Jessica and J.T.’s wedding.  Today’s post is dedicated to their beautiful reception at Galleria Marchetti.

All photo by Redwall Photography.

Galleria Marchetti is a hidden gem in the city.

The room looked stunning with the dramatic centerpieces by Scarlet Petal.


The first centerpiece was a round and lush sphere of flowers that included hydrangea, roses, cushion poms, and hypericum berries held in a tall and slender hourglass vase with a few hanging crystals as accent.

The second centerpiece was a trio of mercury glass pedastals that displayed pillar candles encased in glass hurricanes.  Surrounding the trio of candles was three mint julep cups containing more green hydrangeas, roses, and tulips.


The escort card table was simply beautiful.  There was a series of five cylinder vessels in varying heights that displayed groupings of blush pink and celadon hydrangeas with the prettiest pink escort cards that I have ever see!

Can we take one more look at those escort cards?  I love the POP of pink!

One very delicious cake by Amy Beck that included devil’s food chocolate and vanilla cake on alternating layers.

Scarlet Petal accented the cake with fresh flowers.


The ladies put their bouquets in vases on the head table.

Both Jessica and J.T. loved the Devil’s Food cake!

As the evening continued, there were a few toasts.

And then the dancing began courtesy of Dan Hayes Orchestra!


Congratulations to a very fun couple!  I wish all of the best in your future together.


Mariana + Matt – The Ceremony and Reception

Mariana and I met over lunch almost a year before her wedding. Like many of my brides, she was in control of all the planning, but wanted to be able to hand everything off for the day of the wedding and just enjoy being a bride. Perfect!

Cake Take the Cake
Ceremony Christ the Savior Church
Ceremony Chairs Classic Party Rentals
Cocktail and Reception Music Style Matters
Florist Golden Leaf
Hair and Makeup Mario Tricoci
Photographer Rachel Owen of Modern Image Studios
Reception Sofitel Hotel
Videographer Multihead Productions

All images by Rachel Owen of Modern Image Studios.

Mariana and her bridesmaids got ready in adjoining suites at the Sofitel. She left this note so the girls would know which door to use!


Putting the finishing touches on her ensemble. (I needed to get up on a chair for some height!)


Mariana was escorted down the aisle by her dad. The light in the church was so pretty.


Their sponsors took part in the Orthodox ceremony.


Chicago bridges are always popular photo locations.


I love the vibrant purples in Mariana’s bouquet.



The couple opted to sit with their immediate families at dinner.


They chose a classic song for their first dance: “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis.


Everyone loved posing in front of this great skyline painting.


In our next post, we’ll highlight some details from their wedding.

DIY Flowers + Pastries

Planning to arrange your own flowers?  Or, maybe you need to make dessert for a friend’s shower. Head to Hotel Sofitel for a class to learn how to out-Martha everyone else.


Flower Arranging + Pastry Class

Saturday, April 25th

10 – 2:30PM

Hotel Sofitel

$60

To RSVP, call 312.324.4000

 

Allow Sofitel’s resident floral designer, Colin Collette, to walk you through the methods and techniques that consistently help him create the renowned arrangements that adorn the hotel’s lobby.  After a delectable lunch in Le Bar, the afternoon will include a hands-on experience with Executive Pastry Chef Suzanne Imaz as you learn how to create pastries that thrill the taste buds.  She will demonstrate how to create her famous chocolate ginger soufflé with lemongrass ice cream.

 

10:00 am       Flower Arranging Class with Colin Collette

11:30 am       Prix fixe lunch

1:00 pm         Pastry class with Executive Pastry Chef Suzanne Imaz