Chicago - October 23, 2007

Mate Watchers

Fall 2007 Wedding Guide

Welcome to Mate Watchers and congratulations on taking the plunge. By now you’re stressed and crabby and in freak-out mode. Here are tasty expert tidbits that are easy to swallow.

Save Room
Literally. Be one of the first to book the spanking new Ivy Room at Tree Studios (12 East Ohio Street, at State Street; 312-645-7760). Built in 1894, the studios have housed artist workshops for more than a century. Exchange vows in the lush, tucked-away garden courtyard, then party it up in the elegant ballroom.

Recipe for a Dress
1 glowing bride
4 lovely bridesmaids
1 new shop, Bella Bridesmaid (8 East Chestnut Street, at State Street, suite 3; 312-943-0344)
100s of gowns
5 c. tea
1 pencil

Pencil in appointment. Look around store in wonder. Gaze at Priscilla of Boston, Melissa Sweet, Coren Moore, and other designers. Sip tea. Mix four bridesmaids with hundreds of gowns until satisfied. Garnish and serve.

Flour Power
Bukiety specializes in custom blooms, stellar arrangements, and sculptural centerpieces. Their modern-meets-classic style is unmatched. They’ll even tie up your bridal bouquet with pearls.

Don’t Fast; You’ll Be Furious
Caterer Greg Christian’s locally farmed, organic ingredients bring you back to your roots. Think vodka-marinated salmon gravlax atop homemade potato chips and cardamom-carrot griddle cakes. Chew on that.

Splurge 
Crash your diet at Lily’s Cake Studio. Pick a flavor (chocolate, almond, lemon, coconut) and a filling (mocha buttercream, passion fruit mousse, apricots). Mix and match or go sweet and simple.

Go Easy on Cheese
Becky Hill’s photojournalism-meets-portraiture captures your love story frame by frame. Hill designs a detailed event plan one month prior to the event, and when you’re busy remembering how to spell your new last name, she does the album. Too bad she won’t give you a pre-aisle Xanax (we asked).

Well, Maybe Just One Invite
For ultimate indulgence, sink your teeth into Heather Jeany’s custom invites, which are screen-printed with butterflies, fishies, and bicycles built for two. (Flickr has more of her ideas.)

Enough on Your Plate
You’ve worked your tail off, and now you can reap the benefits. Gift givers, check out Fontaine Maury’s monogrammed plates, available at Paper Doll. Pick pattern, color, and artwork, and the dishware will arrive chez Mr. and Mrs., ready to be licked clean.

Leave room for the groom. Then you can really eat your heart out.

To gain some more perspective on wedded bliss, check out our spring 2007 wedding guide.

Photo Credit (Ivy Room): Chris Guillen