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Ali Phillips
Ali Phillips Chats Spring Wedding To Do's on ...

So fun to be a part of the Martha Stewart Spring Wedding To Do's article today! Read all the tips here on Martha Stewart Weddings! 

Ali Phillips Chats Spring Wedding To Do's on Martha Stewart
media feature
Ali Phillips
Ali featured on The Estate Blog

I had so much fun writing about my business for The Estate Blog and being asked to contribute as one of their preferred creative partners. I got to answer some fun questions for them about me, my business and my love of the City of Chicago! Here are some excerpts below of that article. You can read the full article on The Estate Blog. 

Ali featured on The Estate Blog
date ideas
Ali Phillips
Valentine's Weekend in Chicago

Get out the heart sweater and chill the champagne, it is Valentine's Weekend!! A chilly weekend is predicted in Chicago and here are my top picks for having a wonderful Valentine's weekend with your loved one!

Valentine's Weekend in Chicago
event space
Ali Phillips
Camp Wedding Retreat at Camp Wandewega

In September, I was honored to be asked to speak by Sarah and Andrea from Cherry Berry Events at Camp Wedding at the Camp Wandewega, located in Wisconsin. This was their inaugural wedding retreat and I was looking forward to meeting some new friends in the wedding industry. I attend a couple of event conferences a year and I was intrigued by the concept of Camp Wedding, with wedding professionals being in a camp environment. 

Camp Wedding Retreat at Camp Wandewega
internship
Ali Phillips
Chicago Wedding Planner Internship Available

Want to learn about the event industry from one of the best wedding planners in Chicago? Ali Phillips of Engaging Events is looking for a great intern for the winter season. Intern should be available one business day a week and available on some weekends. Please send resume, 2 references and cover letter to info@engagingeventsbyali.com. 

Chicago Wedding Planner Internship Available
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The Knot Chicago Party

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The Knot Chicago Party

The Knot.com invited Chicago wedding industry consultants and professionals to gather together on Wednesday night at the cool event location, Salvage One, to celebrate. I have not done an event at Salvage One, but what a unique location to host a corporate event or a wedding. It is a two floor raw and lofty space with an outdoor garden that could be used for cocktails or even a ceremony. Located in West Town, parking should be easy for your guests on the night of your event. Not to worry though at this event, VIP Valet was a sponsor at the event and quickly whisked my car away. The ladies at Big City Bride and Botanicals Chicago really did a great job creating a fun and gorgeous event for industry professionals. We sampled great food from Berghoff Catering, danced to the tunes spun by Delta Disc Jockeys, and visited the fun photo booth by Shutterbooth. 

Engagement Pictures

Engagement Pictures

I posted this last June but with engagement picture season upon us with the gorgeous leaves changing in Chicago, I thought I would post it again for all my new clients planing on their engagement pictures this fall. Thank you Glen Abog for this lovely picture of Lori and Todd.

Ali Phillips Speaks at Purdue University About Wedding Planning in Chicago

Ali Phillips Speaks at Purdue University About Wedding Planning in Chicago

Last week my assistant, Kristin Weis, and I traveled to her hometown and alma mater, West Lafayette, Indiana to Purdue University. I was asked to present at the Purdue Event Planning Society which is an organization that students started two years ago. There were fifty people in attendance and I had a great time sharing stories about Engaging Events weddings, my background and how to succeed in the event planning world.

Sixtieth Birthday Party Chicago Style

As a wedding consultant in Chicago, I often get asked to plan the birthdays and anniversaries of past clients of parents of past clients. The sixtieth birthday party that I was asked to plan was absolutely one of my favorite parties to plan. The party was a total surprise to the birthday girl. At the same time we were planning their daughter's wedding so the father of the bride and I would have secret meetings to talk about decor and the entertainment. Brian Culbertson, a famous jazz musician from Chicago, was one of the birthday girl's favorite performers. The father of the bride tasked me with planning an amazing party and booking Brian Culberston and his band for a snowy evening in February.  We called the event "Club Joy', the birthday girl's nickname and boy was there a lot of joy in the room.

Happy Anniversary

As a wedding planner in Chicago, my job is to plan the most magical, wonderful and organized wedding day for my clients. Well, when the client is yourself the same things happen. Today I want to wish my husband a Happy 7th Anniversary. Seven years ago today I stood in a church with my husband and said our wedding vows.  Afterwards we celebrated our love with family and friends. Five years later we renewed our vows (just the two of us) in Healsburg, California.

Midwest Wedding & Event Professionals First Annual Charity Golf Outing, Swing for a cure!

Midwest Wedding & Event Professionals First Annual Charity Golf Outing, Swing for a cure!

Please join us on Monday, August 17th, 2009 at Crane's Landing Golf Course in Lincolnshire, Illinois at our Midwest Wedding & Event Professionals First Annual Charity Golf Outing. Register here NOW and join in the FUN! 

Filene's Basement HUGE Bridal Gown Sale

This Friday at Filene’s Basement is the annual Running of the Bride’s from 8am-9pm at the Chicago Store at The Finlene’s Basement at One North State Street. Filene’s Basement is known for its bargains on everything from fashions to luggage, but perhaps the store is most famous for its annual Bridal Gown Events when brides-to-be can save hundreds, even thousands of dollars on designer wedding gowns.

Dennis Lee Click to Cure Photo Day

It's that time of the year again! Come on out to support Dennis Lee’s Annual Click to Cure event for cancer research! This year, he is raising money for the Cancer Research Foundation in Chicago. It was started by the Goldblatt family of the Goldblatt stores. They support new and innovative research that often large organizations or governments overlook. Yet it's often this new research that leads to great leaps in science.

Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July!!  This is one of my favorite times of the year. I will probably spend it out on the lake with good friends, good food and a good bottle of wine.   I was looking for some fun party favors and snacks when I came across these really cool patriotic cupcakes on Martha Stewart! What a cute and adorable centerpiece. Enjoy the wonderful festivities, be safe and god bless America.

Hitched or Ditched Chicago Wedding at The Drake Hotel

As one of Chicago's top wedding consultants, I get asked to plan many amazing and interesting events. This was hands down the most "different" Chicago wedding planning experience I have ever had!

Grand Cayman Luxury Wedding Business Summit

Grand Cayman Luxury Wedding Business Summit

I am so excited to be at the Engage 09 Luxury Wedding Business Summit in Grand Cayman from Sunday to Wednesday. Rebecca Grinnals of Engaging Concepts is bringing together many of the 'best of the best' in the wedding industry - from speakers to attendees - engage seeks to offer something not found in other conferences.  Careful attention is paid to creating an atmosphere of effortless networking allowing for an open exchange of ideas, information, inspiration and candid discussions of the issues and opportunities facing everyone in today's luxury wedding industry.

Museum of Contemporary Art Wedding of Emily and Ben

Museum of Contemporary Art Wedding of Emily and Ben

What incredible pictures by Jeremy Bustos at Studio This Is. Here is a sneak peak he sent from from last Saturday's wedding at the Museum of Contemporary Art and Fourth Presbyterian Church. More to come! Enjoy

Hollywood fashion Tape

Hollywood fashion Tape

Many of my readers know me well and know I am not a "dress wearer". I am most times found in either a suit on a wedding day, a cute sweater set with slacks or a skirt during the week, or a golf skirt and spikes on the days I can play golf.  Recently, I was invited to an industry dinner (more on that later next week in a blog) and wore a pretty black dress I own. The v-shape of the neckline makes it a bit tricky in covering everything up. Not that I was pulling out the famous J-Lo green cascading dress neckline, but I needed a little help and did not want a safety pin showing.

Ultimate Bride Sample Sale

Ultimate Bride Sample Sale

The wonderful wedding dress shop, Ultimate Bride is hosting a sample sale on Thursday, June 4th from 12pm-8pm for sizes 8,10 and 12. Receive up to 70% off at this amazing sale. No appointments are necessary but always recommended.

Casting Call for TNT's "Wedding Day"

Do you know of a couple who are planning on getting married or would like to marry Summer or Fall of 2009, who really DESERVE an amazing wedding but cannot afford it in these tough economic times?  "Wedding Day”, a new prime-time series premiering Tuesday - June 16th @ 8pm/7pm CT on TNT, is seeking to cast inspirational couples for our next amazing season!

Chicago Bachelorette Party Idea

A substitute to the bar scene to celebrate your Bachelorette party would be a fun night at Chicago’s Chopping Block! Here you can sit back, relax, and sip on your favorite wine and indulge in the fabulous food Chicago chefs prepare right before you. Or you and your ladies can learn first hand how to whip up something spectacular for your significant other, friends and family. 

When to Send Out Wedding Invitations

Summer weddings are right around the corner and I have gotten the question, "When do I send out my invitations?" a lot lately. Wedding invitations should be mailed six to eight weeks before your wedding date. If you do have invitations going to international destinations I recommend those are mailed out ten weeks in advance as the mail will take a bit longer to reach them but also to come back to you. And remember, if you have international guests, you should not place a United States stamp on their reply envelope. They will need to go to their local post office to get the proper local stamp. For destination weddings outside of the United States I would recommend your invitations are mailed ten weeks before the wedding date to allow for your guests to get the hotel booked and airfares purchased. 

Chicago Cubs Fan Wedding Ideas

In honor of the Chicago Cubs Opening Day I have included some fun ideas for Chicago brides and grooms that are Cubs fans to incorporate their love of their team in their wedding day. One FUN way to do this is to have a classic Wrigley Field Scoreboard or Wrigley Field Cake would be a great choice for a Groom's Cake. 

Sunny Beach Pictures at Ritz Carlton on Grand Cayman

Sunny Beach Pictures at Ritz Carlton on Grand Cayman

If you are in Chicago, you woke up to a cold and dreary day today. I just got back from a walk with the dog and it is COLD! SO.....I thought I would channel some warm summer vibes by posting these adorable pictures of Kevin and Janie who got married at the Ritz Carlton in Grand Cayman.  They zipped around the Island the day after the wedding to play in the sand and run thru the crystal clear blue water in the ocean. What a fun couple!

Photos by Rebecca Davidson