We love when we get to plan and design birthday parties! This birthday was for a 1 year old, and we didn’t hold back! The theme was Theopalooza—a Lollapalooza themed birthday event. You bet we had tons of colors, ballooons, and sequins. To make this a music festival to remember, all guests were highly encouraged to wear colorful attire, and received VIP lanyards for entry. We had a variety of children performers and puppets entertain all age groups by singing songs, dancing, being silly, and interacting with all the guests. After the performances, we had a live DJ kick off the dance floor. It was a wonderful celebration for all ages!
As Non-traditional Chicago Wedding Planners, we have designed many unique weddings. Many of our clients have desired out-of-the-box ways to make their wedding different, and memorable. A simple way to elevate your event, is by having some sort of “fierce” moment during your cocktail hour. Cocktail hours are the perfect time to get a bit creative, as guests wait between ceremony and reception. You truly can be as tame or wild as you please, but below are a few ways you can enhance your cocktail hour.
When booking your wedding photographer, you may think “oh it’s just photos, it doesn’t matter who we book it will all be the same”. Well…there’s actually quite an art to photography, and you want to make sure you find the perfect match to your vision. Some photographers excel with the dark and dramatic, some excel with the bright and colorful. Especially if you do first looks, you will be with your photographer for most of the day, so you want to make sure it’s someone you’ll get along with. As skilled wedding planners based in Chicago, we are match makers with photographers and clients. That being said, here are a few questions you should ask your photographer before booking them:
As expert Wedding Planners in Chicago, we know how to structure out a wedding day. Truthfully, there are a lot of nitty-gritty details you need to think about when constructing your timeline. Sometimes, it can feel a little bit like piecing a puzzle together. When you book our event planning services, we make sure to create an ideal wedding timeline together; we make sure it’s something you approve of, so we can handle all the logistics. That being said, you might be wondering why we time things out a specific way, or you’re attempting to structure your own. Which ever option, here are a few important things to think about when forming a solid Wedding Timeline:
Christine and Mike eloped in March of 2023, but decided to finally celebrate with loved ones by hosting a joint anniversary, and wedding reception party at Bridge410. The overall atmosphere was a laid back family styled event, but with loads of color, moments of play, and karaoke! The couple wanted the celebration to be more about the experience, so they wanted to make sure there were many unique elements to keep guests entertained.
As Chicago based wedding planners, we love when we get to support our couples from the very beginning of the wedding planning process. Believe it or not, one of the first things you must do is create a guest list. You might be a bit surprised, but you need to know how many people you want to invite before you select your venue—otherwise you might find yourself in a bit of a sticky situation with the venue not being able to host all your planned guests. We understand the stress that can come from selecting who to invite! You’re probably thinking “Should I invite my childhood friends? Do I really have to invite great-uncle George? What about my newest friend from work?”
If you are struggling to decide who to invite, here are 3 questions to ask yourself:
We get it, the Chicago Skyline is gorgeous! As Chicago Wedding Planners, we always love those sunny clear blue sky days. It’s truly the most iconic way to say “Chicago Wedding.” We have designed, and coordinated tons of weddings in the city, and we never get tired of it. From our experience, here are personal 5 favorite venues with views of the skyline.
Beyond a wedding planner, your venue is the first vendor you should book. Maybe you have your dream venue. Maybe you have no idea what your want. That’s ok. Just keep in mind, no matter how you feel towards a venue, there are a lot of small details, and things you should consider before booking the venue. As expert wedding planners, we have supported clients from the very beginning, and have toured many venues with them. Here are a few questions you should ask your venue before 100% committing (even if it is your dream venue):
Are you not the biggest fan of floral arrangements for your wedding tables? Are you looking for more sustainable options? Are you trying to find creative ways of lowering your budget? As Chicago based wedding planners, we have designed many non-traditional weddings, and have guided many clients towards creative tablescapes. Please know, your tables can be just as beautiful, personal, and decorated without flowers. There really are no limits to what you can use to decorate your tables! If it falls into your design or theme, then use them! That being said, here are a few creative floral alternatives we recommend, and have used with past weddings:
Emily and Alex had a gorgeous wedding at Cafe Brauer in Lincoln Park. The vibes were chill, bougie, garden celebration, and family. When they inquired, they discussed their vision to be “Backyard wedding vibes, casual and easy going; a boozy and bougie backyard celebration.”
To have a wedding party, or to not have a wedding party, that is the question. As a Wedding Production company based in Chicago we have designed weddings with none, to tons! In the end, it’s all up to you if you want a wedding party. We are pro party, and pro just couple. If you are on the fence, here are some things to consider:
At Fierce Productions, we believe that your wedding menu should be as unique and memorable as your love story. As seasoned wedding planners based in Chicago, we’ve seen firsthand how the right culinary choices can transform an event. Here are some innovative ideas to elevate your food and bar menu that will leave your guests raving for years to come:
Fierce Productions had the privilege of creating a unique and memorable wedding wedding for Alex and Cameron at The School House Chicago. The wedding’s theme, “Romantic Parisian School Drop Out,” set the stage for an extraordinary affair. Guests were whisked away into a chic, scholarly realm, complete with actors, personal flags, and captivating digital presentations.
The ambiance of a Parisian soirée was brought to life with a candlelit dinner amidst a library of dreams, adorned with astrology motifs and shimmering tinsel, creating a “magical starlight dinner” atmosphere. This wedding was not just an event; it was a journey into a world of romance and whimsy, meticulously designed by to be a cherished memory for all.
Would you incorporate any of these non-traditional elements into your wedding?
Weddings are stressful and tend to be more on the expensive side. We get it. We always say a “wedding is a luxury.” The actual legal paperwork is what makes a marriage official. If you are planning a wedding, it’s always necessary to create a budget to make sure you know your priorities, and don’t over spend. Sometimes there are those “hidden fees” that can increase your budget unknowingly. When you work with Fierce Productions, we use a wedding planning system that helps track your budget, and avoid those fees from creeping up. That being said, here are a few “hidden fees” you should be aware of:
You've likely encountered the term "room block" before, but you may be wondering, "What exactly is that?" Or you may be feeling apprehensive about the process. Fear not! Hotel room blocks are more straightforward than they seem. Drawing from our expertise as wedding planners in Chicago, the Fierce Productions team has navigated countless couples through the process of securing room blocks. Here's a glimpse into what you need to know:
When Connar got hired us for her wedding, we were ecstatic! Connar met Mike back in college when they were in a theatre show together. As theatrical artists, we knew their wedding was going to be unique. When they reached out to us, they had a limited vision, but knew they wanted it to be a perfect combination of the two of them.
Throwing a successful fundraising event is an incredibly important part for your non-profit. This is the time to show your donors where their money is going to, and how they are helping your company. As event planners, we have planned many amazing fundraisers that have raised a-lot of money for their non-profits. Here are a few steps we’d love to share to make your fundraiser successful.
Olivia and Austin met in college, where Olivia’s roommate set them up on a date. We were thrilled when they reached out to us to help design their wedding. They knew they wanted a non-traditional wedding. In their inquiry, they shared how they wanted to have an elevated, and interactive experience during their wedding. To achieve their vision, we elevated the design to create a "tasteful way” of being “over the top". Through our various meetings, we came up with the idea of basing the reception on a romantic, and playful carnival.
Stephanie and RJ, who are New York residents, reached out to us with a special request. Despite living hundreds of miles away, they knew they wanted to bring the wedding celebration back to Chicago - where their love story began - and they needed our help to plan the wedding of their dreams from afar.
Who said your 50th birthday had to be dull and boring? Well certainly no one shared that with Bill, as he wanted to celebrate his exciting years through an event that would be memorable, unique, filled with Divas, and even include a flashmob.
