Tag: Tipsy Cake

Tipsy Cake Grand Opening Party

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Cake: Tipsy Cake
Food: Slide Ride
Ice Sculpture: Art Below Zero
Paper Goods: Pulp and Ink
Decor: Pistil and Vine
Videographer: Dan the Video Man


All Photos By: Rick Aguilar Photography 

Although Honey Bee Weddings does weddings (it’s in our name!), we do have the occasion to host an event.  The owner of TipsyCake, Naomi Levine, asked us to plan her grand opening party.  It was so fun to plan a party full of the industry professionals that we know and love.

Naomi before the guests arrived at the event!


The entrance showcases her gorgeous cakes in the window.

As guests entered the space, we had a table set for afternoon tea.  In the background, there was the cake made for the grand opening.  

The cake had edible figurines of all of the vendors: Naomi, Misse, Meg, Rick, and Colin.  


The table is set with scrumptious cupcakes, cookies, and cake pops.


The gorgeous built-ins highlight the fantastic cakes that has made TipsyCake famous!


North Shore Distillery was on hand making some fantastic drinks

Pistil & Vine created lovely arrangements for the event.

TipsyCake Blue was everywhere!

TipsyCake also had gorgeous mini-cakes.  These always make great favors.


The whimsically chic invitation that guests received.  Or didn’t.   We had an unfortunate situation with the Chicago Post Office.
We had many delicious treats on hand for guests to nibble on throughout the evening.


Cake Pops are always a huge hit among guests!


TipsyCake Grand Opening Party: Guests Arrive

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Yesterday’s photos featured the set-up for the grand opening of TipsyCake.  Today’s post will feature the actual party!

All Photos by: Rick Aguilar Photography.


At dusk, the guests started to arrive!


Art Below Zero made a cake ice sculpture as thank you.

There were a few fun signature drink cocktails like Grapefruit Basil Fizz.  


Part of the Honey Bee Weddings Team!



Naomi’s husband and friends spun all night long!


I love this photo because there is an adorable photo of Naomi’s son, Mikey, in the background.


Delicious treats were passed around as the night went on…


Scones with clotted cream and jam were my favorites.  Well, one of them!

Australian Meat Pies were one of the savory options that were offered to guests.


More desserts!

Naomi thanked everyone for coming! Her lovely Mum is in the background.

As guests left, they could grab a burger to go from the Slide Ride!


Thank you to everyone that came out to support TipsyCake!

Christine and Marc Part II: Ceremony and Reception

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Yesterday, I blogged about Christine and Marc getting ready.  Today’s post focused on the ceremony and reception.  If you haven’t been to the W City Center,  the W is very unique compared to other hotel ballrooms.  There is a smaller ballroom for the ceremony and a large ballroom for the reception.  Both ballrooms are on the same floor on the mezzanine level, overlooking the gorgeous lobby.  It was a perfect fit for Christine and Marc!

All Photos by Dennis Lee Photography.


The aisle had bright flowers, which was exactly what the bubbly Bride wanted.




The aisle was lined with tall arrangements


Christine had a custom unity candle made for their ceremony.

The monogram on the programs was designed by Christine’s Mother.

Marc walking up the aisle with his parents. Both families were involved in the family.  It is so wonderful when everyone participates in the planning.


Marc waiting for Christine.




Christine walking down the aisle with both of her parents.

The very chic bridesmaids all lined up.

I love a photo that catches a moment like this, during the ceremony.

Mazel tov!

The escort cards were also the favors!


A little special something for one of the guests?

Is this not the most amazing cake?  Yes, it is a cake.  Christine really wanted their dog to be apart of the wedding day but realized that it wouldn’t work out.  So, to surprise Marc, she had TipsyCake make a cake to look just like him!

The room set-up for the reception.

The room was decorated with two different centerpieces.  

Christine wanted pops of color with black and white.  The colorful centerpieces were so vibrant in the grand ballroom.

The cake was decorated with skylines of Chicago and Cleveland as well as swirls.  Christine came up with the clever design herself!

The hora is always my favorite part of the evening.

Congratulations Christine and Marc!  I had such a wonderful time being apart of your wedding day.

Christine and Marc: Getting Ready

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It didn’t take long after meeting Christine and Marc to figure out that they are a fun couple.  In fact, their social life was probably the only “problem” during their wedding planning: they were always busy!

All joking aside, we had so much fun planning this wedding.  Christine and Marc really put a lot of thought into their wedding.  They combined many traditions (Christine is Catholic and Marc is Jewish) to create a distinctive wedding.  

Band: Chicago Groove Collective
Cake: Alliance Bakery
Grooms Cake: TipsyCake
Florist: Tina and Dollie
Reception: W Hotel
Make-Up Artist: Andie Cumber
Hair Stylist: Livia Caporale


All Photos by Dennis Lee Photography


Christine’s gorgeous ring!

Marc puts on his custom tie.

Can I tell you how much I adore this gown? 

It’s the fun details that make the day.  Christine in her Bride robe.

Can we say gorgeous?  I love the lushness of these flowers!

The finishing touches before the first look!

Having someone else put on your shoes always causes a few laughs!

The gents.

Christine heading out to the First Look.  (And, can I tell you that Christine looks like this almost every time I see her?  Christine is truly radiant!)  PS.  Do you see the flash of color on her fabulous shoes?

All tulle and silk.



I think everyone should do a First Look.  Seriously, take a look at these photos.


It’s so nice to have a few minutes alone in the middle of such a meaningful day.


…but it doesn’t last long!




After the first look, the bridal party went out to take photos around the city.








There will be a second post tomorrow of Christine and Marc’s ceremony and reception.

TipsyCake: Tea, Tipples, and Tasting

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We were so excited to help our friends at TipsyCake launch their new location in Bucktown. TipsyCake makes cakes that are both delicious and visually stunning! 

All Photos by Rick Aguilar Studios. 

Whether you’re looking for a gorgeous specialty cake, an afternoon tea with friends, or a quick sugary pick-me-up TipsyCake’s new Bucktown location is perfect for all three!

The event was called an evening of Tea, Tipples, and Tasting.  The definition of tipples was included on the invitation: “to drink alcoholic liquor or engage in such social drinking, especially during the context of celebration”.

Pulp and Ink created these fun invitations for the night. 

Guests were invited to taste some of the delicious food  available at TipsyCake. Cakes were displayed and everyone went home with a slice of cake.


The cake below was designed for the party. Everyone involved with the event was represented on the cake! 

Pistil and Vine provided all the wonderful floral for the evening. I love how they incorporated TipsyCake blue with pops of fuchsia!

Art Below Zero are the masterminds behind this amazing ice sculpture. It was a striking image from the moment you entered the space!

Two speciality cocktails were created in honor of each of Tipsycake’s locations, and both were extremely yummy!

For owner Naomi Levine it was a family affair. She celebrated with her mother, who flew in from Australia, and her adorable son!

Later in the evening, The Slide Ride rolled in to provide a late night snack for guests. The burgers were a huge hit!

What a crowd! Everyone came out to support the TipsyCake team!

We are so thrilled that we could help the entire TipsyCake team celebrate the opening of their new location!

Susan + Conrad: Part Two

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My last post shared Susan and Conrad’s ceremony. Now I’m excited to share their fun pictures around the city and their reception at Zed 451!

All photos by Maggie Rife Photography.

With how rainy the day started out, we were all happily surprised to see how sunny the rest of the day was!



The couple and their wedding party stopped by the Bean for a fun shot…I love that the bridesmaids chose dresses that fit their personalities and style!




I love this shot of Susan and Conrad – so pretty!



Roscoe Blooms featured sunflowers in the centerpieces so beautifully!



Susan and Conrad opted for a sweetheart table that was conveniently located right in front of a fireplace – perfect for a crisp fall evening!



Susan and Conrad hosted 50 guests, and the private room at Zed 451 was perfect for their guests.



And, of course, the best part was the food! Servers come around with every type of meat you could possibly want – the guests were happily full by the end of the evening.



Susan’s dad gave a heartfelt toast.



I love this sweet shot!


Susan’s mom spent hours putting together a slide show for Susan and Conrad. After working through some technology roadblocks, we were able to share it with the guests.



Susan and Conrad opted for a simple, elegant (and tasty!) cake from Tipsy Cake.


My favorite part of the reception is always when the couple cuts the cake – it’s the first thing they do together as a married couple!



Susan and Conrad shared their first dance…



…and then their guests joined them on the dance floor!



Congratulations, Susan and Conrad! I had so much fun working with you both – thank you for letting me be a part of your day!

Meredith + Jeremy: The Details

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My previous posts featured Meredith and Jeremy’s ceremony and reception. Today, some of the special details.


All photos by Joy Marie Photography.



I love the buckle on Meredith’s heels.


Here’s a close up of the bride’s beautiful, vintage lace veil.


Meredith pinned a photo of her grandmother to her bouquet.


You normally don’t see shots of the groom’s shoes, but I think this photo is so cool. The carpet is in the couple’s home, which is also pretty cool!


Meredith collected colorful handkerchiefs for the ceremony. She used the A-Z motif as a play off of their respective last names.


Meredith made the escort cards using a variety of patterned papers. I like how nothing about this wedding was too matchy, yet all looked great together.


This may be my favorite guest book yet. Guests signed pages of this Snow and Graham calendar. I would have definitely signed my birthday month, August!


Mason jar vases were scattered throughout the cocktail hour. The labels showcased different quotes and lines of poetry.


Meredith and Jeremy opted for a classic cake with a vintage topper.


Centerpieces included low clusters of different flowers. Meredith and her bridesmaids hand painted these canvases for the tables.


The steps were lined with these glowing lanterns.

Congratulations, Meredith and Jeremy!

Meredith + Jeremy: Part Two

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Yesterday I posted about Meredith and Jeremy’s wedding ceremony. Here are some more great photos from their celebration.


All photos by Joy Marie Photography.



The best way to keep the rain away? Buy a big umbrella!
We watched the skies closely and were lucky enough to have a dry day.


Meredith and Jeremy took some photos at the lakefront and around Lincoln Park. Here are a few of my favorites.


The girls carried pale bouquets. I like the contrast against the bold color of the dresses.


The cocktail hour was held outside on the patio at the Chicago History Museum.


Meredith and Jeremy made their grand entrance down the museum steps and had their first dance outside.

Meredith’s sister and maid of honor, Cara, was so sweet. Here she is toasting the bride and groom.

This picture is so fun and colorful. Doesn’t this look like a great party?

The party is a huge success when the bride and her mother lead the conga line!

Tomorrow, I’ll showcase some of the details from this wedding.

Meredith + Jeremy: Part One

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Meredith and I met over coffee and chatted about all things bridal. She asked if she could speak to some of my previous brides, and I referred her to Megan, whose wedding I coordinated at Holy Name Cathedral and the Murphy Auditorium. Turns out they were friends from the same gym! Thankfully, Megan must have had some nice things to say because Meredith booked soon after.

Meredith really pulled together some chic and unexpected items for her wedding. I loved how nothing was perfectly matched yet it all looked cohesive. Mason jars full of flowers on the cocktails tables, a basket of vintage handkerchiefs at church, votives wrapped in colorful paper – everything had a casual elegance.

Band: Standing Room Only
Cake: Tipsy Cake
Caterer: Food for Thought
Ceremony: Saint Michael’s in Old Town
Cocktail Music: Jackson Rohm
Florist: Flora
Hair and Makeup: Rachel Reiman
Photographer: Joy Marie Photography
Reception: Chicago History Museum
Videographer: Well Spun Wedding Films

All photos by Joy Marie Photography.

Meredith’s mom brought her dog help celebrate. She even wore a special bow for the occasion. She seems to approve of the bride’s bouquet!

Putting the finishing touches on her look.


Meredith seeing her dad for the first time. She wore a dramatic, unique gown by Angel Sanchez.


The girls got ready at the Ambassador East hotel.


I think this is a gorgeous photo. I loved Meredith’s veil.


The ladies stopped in the historic Pump Room before heading to Church.
Frank Sinatra’s booth is just around the corner!


A shot of the beautiful church.


The inside of the church is also quite elaborate.


Meredith is all smiles. I am happy when my bride is happy!


Walking down the aisle as husband and wife.


Such a great photo! (You can see the detail on the back of Meredith’s dress here.)

Tomorrow: city photos and the reception!