Indie Wed - Wedding Planning Redefined

For those of you who haven’t gotten your fill of wedding shows yet this season, one show we are excited about is the upcoming Martha Stewart’s Wedding Party.  When the folks at Martha Stewart contacted me asking if I’d like to host a giveaway for tickets, I didn’t hesitate.  (I also have a special freebie for everyone at the bottom of this post).

Love her or hate her, Martha Stewart has helped to shape the way we view crafts, our home, our businesses and even weddings.  When planning my wedding back in 2004, before the height of the wedding blog boom, Martha Stewart Weddings was the closest thing I could find that focused on a more creative approach to weddings.  Several years ago while in NYC, I even had the chance to meet Martha Stewart… okay, actually she was walking into the David Letterman studios to tape an appearance and I was outside waiting for tickets to a later show and I started screaming “I Love You” like a giddy school girl.  I’m sure she heard me though!  Even now, when I have a tough business decision to make my husband often says… “What would Martha do?” (do they make a little bracelet for that? WWMD).

I’ve known about the annual MS Wedding Party event in NYC for a while because Indie Wed alum, The Blooming Quill is their go-to calligraphy vendor.  This year they are bringing the show to Chicago featuring 60 vendors with about 10 or so of them, being Indie Wed vendors.  However this event is very different than Indie Wed.  They have limited the vendors in each category to just a few making it more intimate. It is also a “luxury” bridal show so you can cross off the more budget friendly options.  Does this mean you shouldn’t go?  Heck no.  Just because you might have a more DIY or budget-conscious event doesn’t mean you can’t splurge in one or two areas.  Sometimes it is good to attend different events because you never know what you’ll find.  The show is on Sunday, March 10th from 10am – 3pm.  Basic tickets are $65 / single and $110 / couple which includes a swag bag.  There is also a VIP option too.  Don’t have $110 to shell out for an afternoon of wedding planning with your sweetie?  Don’t worry… I have some tickets to giveaway!

In addition to all the vendors there will be a roster of presenters with various breakout sessions including Martha’s right hand gal Darcey Miller and Indie Wed’s fave friend, Ami Price from Elizabeth Anne Designs.  There is a destination and honeymoon lounge too.  Plus I’ll be there taking tons of photos (and notes) – Say hi if you see me!

Panel of Event Experts
Darcy Miller, Editorial Director, Martha Stewart Weddings, and Celebrations Expert
Ami Price, Executive Editor & Publisher, Elizabeth Anne Designs
Meghan Andalman, Lovebird Events, Event Planning
Rishi Patel, HMR Design Group, Floral Design
Sarah Levy, Pastry Chef & Food Consultant, S. Levy Foods
Sacha Krasney, Be U Brides Stationery Design

Intimate Break-Out Sessions with your Favorite Vendors
Claudia Hanlin, Wedding Library “Throwing a Million Dollar Wedding”
Sarah Levy, S. Levy Foods “The Dish on Wedding Food”
Ami Price, Elizabeth Anne Designs “Inspiration to Implementation”
Richi Patel, HMR Design Group “Wedding Floral Design”
Elena Grapsas, Ultimate Bride “Trends in Bridal Fashion”

The best part… I have enough tickets for FIVE lucky couples.  That is $550 in free tickets. How awesome.  To be considered, just post a comment below by Wednesday at noon.  A that point, I’ll select 5 people at random who will each win a pair of tickets to Sunday’s show.  Please include your email address so I can reach you.

If you aren’t one of the lucky ones to win free tickets, I do have a special little freebie for everyone.  Starting tonight you can download a FREE digital version for the iPad of the spring edition of Martha Stewart Weddings (which doesn’t even hit the stands till March 4th).  This offer will be active for 1 month.  Just follow this link and use the code GCmCDN.  Just look at that cake!

Now that Indie Wed is over and you narrowed down your list of potential vendors, perhaps you are looking for some more advice….

A group of Indie Wed alums along with some other local vendors are participating in a Bridal Bootcamp.  The day is chock full of great advice and tips for the bride to be, in a more intimate setting.  Space is limited so sign up soon.  Tickets are $25 per person.

Here’s the day…

11:00am-11:20am
Bananas, Apples and Pears, Oh No!
Finding the Best Fit for Your Shape

11:20am-11:40am
Those Mason Jars Cost HOW MUCH?!
Planning a Realistic Budget for YOUR Wedding

11:40am-12:00pm
But I Look Funny When I Smile!
Working With Your Photographer To Look Picture Perfect

12:00pm-12:30pm
A Foodie’s Dilemma
Using Your Personal Taste To Create A Unique Wedding Menu

12:30pm-12:50pm
Story & Imagination
Planning the Wedding of Your Dreams

12:50pm-1:10pm
Please Don’t Stop The Music
How To Pick The Right DJ and Honor Your Musical Tastes At The Same Time!

1:10pm-1:30pm
Blossoming Possibilities
Why Picking Seasonal, Local Flora is the Smart
and GREEN Way To Go

1:30pm-1:50pm
Orange You Glad I Said Hello
Save the Dates and Invitation Etiquette, simplified

1:50pm-3:00pm
Meet & Greet with Vendors

 There are some wonderful local vendors participating so please check out this event.  It is organized by Mignonette Bridal & Citygirl Weddings & Events.

As we continue to entice you with all the fun things going on at this year’s Indie Wed, here is a list of the scheduled performances for the day.

On the First Floor Main Stage there will be a variety of great musical performances mixed in between live DJ’s on both the first and second floors. As you go about your day, make sure you stop by to listen to these great acts.

• 10:30 – 11:00     Fumee Gypsy Project
• 11:15 – 11:30        Hector Fernandez Music
• 11:45 – 12:15        We, Unity Candle
• 12:30 – 12:45      Neil Dixon Smith
•   1:00  -  1:30      Yazz Jazz
•   2:00  - 2:15       Hector Fernandez Music
•   3:00  - 3:15       Neil Dixon Smith

I’ve mentioned before about our new partnership with Design Bureau magazine.  They are a national magazine focusing on all aspects of design from fashion to industrial design.  They have been working hard on a special wedding issue that will hit newsstands any day now.  I squealed with delight when a few days ago, an advanced copy showed up in my mailbox.  Here are a few sneak peeks for you.

Here is the cover.  I think what surprised me the most was the paper stock they used.  It felt thick and sturdy.  Overall the whole magazine felt much more substantial than a lot of the wedding mags on the market.  Besides… look at some of those names on the cover. There are a lot of interesting interviews and articles with some established wedding pros as well as some up and comers…..

See that little blue box up there.  Um, yeah… that is me in there.  I am pretty excited though I feel a little embarrassed too.  I get self-conscious and don’t want to seem like I’m bragging so I feel weird sharing.  I guess I try to look at it as an endorsement for Indie Wed rather than a blurb about just me.  Here is a closer look.  (I’m blowing bubbles if you can’t tell)

Indie wed is mentioned in a few other places in the magazine including a little resources section in the back but then there is this little gem….BAM!

We have a full page ad on the inside cover!  While it mentions our upcoming show, it really is an ad for Indie Wed in general and hope it will be a big boost for us in general as well as our future shows.  Any excuse to bring more attention to all the wonderful vendors we work with is good  news in my book.

If you want to see more, check out newsstands or you can just hop on over to Indie Wed 2 weeks from today.  Design Bureau will be at the show with a big table and some free magazines to give out!

We have mentioned the Belles & Gents Lounge before briefly but now that Indie Wed is 2 weeks away, I wanted to share all the wonderful goodness that will be at the event.  I asked the fabulous Beth Bernstein of SQN Events to coordinate the lounge for me and boy does she have some tricks up her sleeve!

photos by Simply Jessie Photography

Inspired by whiskey bars from days of old, the lounge will be the perfect mix of feminine and masculine, comfortable enough for any guest.  Think rustic whiskey barrels softened by wispy floral arrangements.  Can you picture it?  Well to entice you just a bit more, here is a list of the fab vendors who will be participating in the lounge.  Many of them also have booths on the first and second floors as well (denoted by *).

Doesn’t this sound like the prefect way to spend an afternoon?  We think so.  But you can’t enjoy the party if you don’t have tickets.  They are going fast, with just 2 weeks left.  Reserve yours today.  

If you attended the winter Indie Wed event last winter, you may recall as sweet little display on the second floor.  Dubbed the “Belles & Gents Bar“, the installation was for our Inspired Creations contest.  Well we loved it so much that we are teaming up with Beth from SQN Events to essentially “blow out” this concept into a full fledged lounge on the third floor.  Imagine a relaxed, old-fashioned styled, co-ed bar where guests can chat it up while sipping on some refreshing libations.  A rustic wood bar holds a bevy of sweets &  handcrafted beers just for starters.    Relax on a comfortable worn-in leather sofa while mingling with other guests….

This is the type of space we are aiming to create.  It will be a retreat for attendees who need a break from chatting with vendor after vendor and just want to relax.  Beth is working hard to make it a really special space so I don’t want to spill all the beans just yet.  I can say that there will be some wonderful displays and treats from the likes of Fleur, Courtney Callahan Paper, & Truffle Truffle.  Everything else is still under wraps.

Not only will this be a wonderful place for the gals to relax but Beth has got some special things up her sleeves for the guys too.  We can’t wait!

If this wasn’t reason enough to attend, I don’t know what is.  Tickets are now on sale.  Don’t miss out!