AELO Alumni | Rachel + Michael, 6/25/16

VENUE: CITY WINERY | PHOTOGRAPHY: JENNIFER KATHRYN PHOTOGRAPHY | VIDEOGRAPHY: REM PHOTOGRAPHY + VIDEOGRAPHY | FLORIST: DAHLIA BLOOMS | PHOTOBOOTH: SHUTTERBOOTH | DJ: TOAST + JAM | CEREMONY MUSIC: MOELLER MUSIC | HAIR + MAKEUP: NIKA VAUGHAN BRIDAL ARTISTS

The adorable Rachel and Mike celebrated their big day at City Winery on a lovely summer day. Their beautiful courtyard ceremony was filled with love and light and as always Toast & Jam got everyone on their feet during the reception. Congratulations, we wish you all the best!

CAWC Wishlist Drive

CAWC Drive

December 11th |3pm - 5pm

The Long Room - 1612 W. Irving Park

Below is the Holiday Wishlist for the CAWC Drive. We hope to see you there! 

Children and Teens
Board games
Kid movies (nonviolent)
Basketball, football, soccer balls
Lego sets
Educational workbook
Toiletries
Body wash
Shampoo and conditioner
Hand sanitizer
Deodorant (men/women)
Hair products
Laundry detergent

Household items
Pillows
Blankets
Sheets (twin size)
Outlet covers
Blue-ray DVD player
Blender
Industrial coffee maker
Kitchen knives
Underwear/undergarments
Thermal underpants and shirts (women and children)
Socks (women and children)
Underwear (women and children)

Winter Gear
Hats, gloves, and scarves
Fleece sweaters (all sizes)
Baby
Diapers up to size 6
Baby wipes & baby wash
Training cups
Baby bottles (No BPA)

Art Supplies
Craft sets
Paint and paint brushes
Jewelry-making sets
Sewing kits

Self-Care
Makeup kits
Nail polish & manicure set
Beauty gift sets
Body spray and perfumes
Planners/agendas
Movie passes
Gift cards
Reading material related to self-care, meditation, etc. (in both Spanish & English)
Essential oils (Rosemary, Lavender, Neroli, Marjoram, Ylang-Ylang, Chamomile, Clary Sage, Carrier)
Yoga mats (new)
Journals (women and children)
Slippers (women and children)
Transit Cards

An Event Less Ordinary is partnering with the Long Room to collect donations for Connections for Abused Women and their Children. With your help, we can make the Holiday Season a great one for many women and children affected by domestic violence, and we hope to see you all on December 11th!

Please stop by the Long Room on Sunday, December 11th from 3pm to 5pm to drop off donations from their Holiday Wishlist, below. 

The Long Room will also be donating a percentage of the profits, so please stop by for a drink or two if you don't have a physical item! 

f you can't make it to the drive itself or aren't in the area but would still like to donate items or make a monetary donation, please contact Carolyn Johnson at carolyn.faith@gmail.com to arrange or drop off or pick up! Please make checks payable to CAWC.

Connections for Abused Women and their Children, formerly Chicago Abused Women Coalition, is committed to ending domestic violence. Using a self-help, empowerment approach, he provide a shelter for women and children, and counseling, advocacy, and a 24-hour hotline for people affected by domestic violence. he work for social change through education, service collaboration and institutional advocacy.

For those that have never experienced domestic violence, it is difficult to imagine what the Holiday Season is like for individuals who are victims. A time of year for celebrating family and unconditional love for mankind can become a dreaded season filled with fear and hopelessness for many. With your help, we can make this holiday season into one of great hope for these individuals. Scroll down to read one of the many stories of newfound hope.

To learn more, please visit http://www.cawc.org/

AELO Alumni | Garrett + Minda, 8/24/16

VENUE: REDFIELD ESTATE | PHOTOGRAPHY: CUSIC PHOTOGRAPHY | CATERING: HANDCUT FOODS (The groom's company!) | CAKE: AMY BECK CAKE DESIGN | PHOTOBOOTH CAMERA: SHUTTERBOX ENTERTAINMENT | FLORALS: NILEE EVENT DECOR | HAIR AND MAKEUP: TOTAL IMAGE BRIDAL | DJ: TOAST + JAM | ROLLS ROYCE: CLASSIC WEDDING CAR | VIDEOGRAPHY: VANILLA VIDEO

What an incredible day. After rain threatened, we ended up with sunshine and warmth (and a lot of humidity). Garrett and Minda tied the knot at the glorious Redfield Estate in August. It was an incredibly emotional ceremony followed by delicious hors d'oeuvres, an excellent buffet of Chicago style hot dogs and Italian beef, and an awesome dance party! Minda's father made the cutest photobooth, the Rocky theme played during their first kiss, and let's just bask in the glory that was Minda's dresses. What a queen. Candice Cusic captured their day so beautifully, up until they left in the vintage Rolls Royce.

We wish these two beautiful people a happy and long life together! 

AELO Alumni | Christina + Chris, 7/9/16

CEREMONY: MADONA DELLA STRADA | RECEPTION: HILTON ROSEMONT | PHOTOGRAPHER: SPRUNG PHOTO | VIDEOGRAPHER: FRED FOX | PHOTOBOOTH: YOUR NIGHT PRODUCTIONS | DJ: C-4 ENTERTAINMENT | FLORIST: AVANT GARDENIA | DECOR: YANNI DESIGNS | ICE SCULPTURE: ART BELOW ZERO | LATE NIGHT SNACK: GENE + JUDE'S HOT DOGS

Christina and Chris' wedding was so romantic. The wedding took place at the gorgeous Madonna della Strada Chapel at Loyola University. Christina, a teacher and Chris, a firefighter, were so excited to become husband and wife.  You could see how much love they had for each other throughout the whole day. After the beautiful ceremony, guests headed to the reception at the Hilton Rosemont. An amazing wine glass ice sculpture was the focal point of the place card table. Guests were in amazement of this "cool" piece (get it?!). Christina and Chris did not disappoint. They truly wanted to make this day a special one for everyone involved.  They wanted their parents to have a special dance as well, so they asked all of the parents out onto the dance floor to enjoy a dance with them.  To the parent's surprise, the DJ then proceeded to play each parent's own wedding song. It was a very special moment for everyone to watch.  Chris and Christina wanted to give their guests a special treat, so as the night was close to an end, a cart of Gene and Jude's hotdogs was rolled out.  Needless to say, these two know how to throw a party! Congratulations, you two! We wish you a lifetime of happiness.

AELO Alumni | Allison + Jonathan, 6/17/16

VENUE: CHATEAU RITZ | PHOTOGRAPHY: ROBYN RACHEL PHOTOGRAPHY | CAKE: SUGAR HILLS BAKERY | FLORIST: LIFE IN BLOOM | LIGHTING + DRAPING: A POSH PRODUCTION | CEREMONY MUSICIANS: MAGNOLIA STRINGS | DJ: A-Z ENTERTAINMENT | VIDEOGRAPHER: SOMETHING NEW MEDIA | HAIR + MAKE UP:

Allison and Jonathan's day was one right out of the storybooks.  The wedding took place at the Chateau Ritz and it was a beautiful setting for these two.  The romantic ceremony set the tone for the whole day. Allison truly looked like a princess as she walked down the candle lit aisle.  After the wedding, the couple greeted all of their guests just as the King and Queen of England would. They walked out onto the balcony overlooking all of their guests who were waving American and British flags. They waved to their adoring guests and then proceeded down the elegant staircase surrounded by their loving bridal party. As they walked through their loved ones, guests threw rose petals on the beautiful couple.  The rest of the evening was filled with laughter, dancing and most of all, love. They even had the amazing John Cleese provide a speech for the couple! We wish these two a lifetime of love and happiness!