Your Chicago wedding is going to be a significant chapter in your personal history. It’s easy to think that such a momentous occasion requires outlandish statement pieces in the wedding décor and planning. Photo booths. Fully programmed lighting. A 10-piece band and master of ceremonies. Delectable dessert stations that are interactive and irresistibly ready for sharing on social media. Completely bespoke designer wedding attire. And so on.
But are these all must-haves to make your Chicago wedding stand out? At Chez it’s our firm belief that your wedding will be significant because it’s all about you. A few modest and elegant touches can do just as much to elevate a wedding as some over-the-top designs. And chances are that your guests (and your bank account) will appreciate a touch of restraint in the event planning. Let your love story take center stage with these timeless tips for creating a sophisticated Chicago wedding on a budget.
Let the Lighting Do the Work
Lighting is one of the most important considerations for choosing the perfect wedding venue. It will pay dividends if you consider how the space can be transformed with lighting. One of the advantages of choosing a neutral location that resembles the look of a blank canvas is that it presents infinite possibilities to completely transform the space with simple lighting touches. And a little bit goes a long way. Take down the lighting with dimmers to create a serene and reflective tone that’s perfect for the ceremony or speeches. Time for everybody to get up and hit the dance floor? Simply switch the lighting to a more energetic tone that pops against the backdrop and voila — it’s party time.
Re-purpose and Reuse Design Elements
Finding ways to re-purpose floral pieces and event décor is another easy and eco-conscious move to make the most of your wedding design choices. For example, if you have an arch for the ceremony that’s made from greenery or another cool material then place it behind the head table once the ceremony finishes. Or use it as a photo backdrop for guests to pose and share their memories from your wedding. Looking for more creative ways to re-purpose wedding décor? Combining the bridesmaid bouquets into a floral centerpiece for the head table is another nifty way to extend the use of florals throughout the wedding.
Get Creative with the Cocktail Menu
One area of wedding planning that may induce headaches — both in the present and future tense — is the bar selection. It’s much easier to control costs while providing a rich experience for your guests in a venue that’s also completely BYOB. Consider planning a cocktail menu that incorporates a few basic ingredients, including the spirit(s) of your choice, and one signature element such as a mixer, a colorful garnish, fresh seasonal ingredients or a clever name that evokes an element of your love story. There are plenty of wedding caterers that work extensively with Chez and are ready to dream up creative custom cocktails for your Chicago wedding.
Get Extra Help on Your Wedding Day
If you don’t expect to have the finances for a full suite of wedding planner services, then you can still recruit a seasoned veteran wedding planner to help out on the day of your actual wedding. Hiring an experience planner to serve as the coordinator for all things related to the venue will save tons of stress and make the wedding more seamless in its execution. You can’t be everywhere at once, and who better to trust with minutiae such as escort cards, table numbers, gifts, etc., than a professional wedding planner? Plus it’s always useful to have an extra set of hands. Only booking their services on the actual day of your wedding is an affordable way to incorporate years of wedding planning into a smaller package.
Hire an Honest-to-Goodness Wedding Photographer
Lastly, and this may be the one clear standout in a crowded field of ways to elevate your wedding on a budget, is hiring a wedding photographer. It’s the one expense that you can almost always justify down the road. Why? Because hiring a photographer guarantees someone is there to capture the moments from your wedding that you don’t always see in the moment. And it creates a treasured set of mementos that can be passed down to future generations. It’s so vital; honestly if there were one must-have in the list of simple ways to elevate your Chicago wedding it would be hiring a wedding photographer. Besides, it never hurts to forge a working relationship with a photographer whom you trust to capture important moments and tell your life’s story. Think they did a stellar job on your wedding photos? Hire them back to cover maternity shoots, anniversary photos or family portraits down the road.
