Five Grain Events

Chicago Event Planners

Women’s Club of Evanston — Elizabeth and Gavin

I felt a great connection with Elizabeth and Gavin almost immediately when we started talking. They live in Seattle, where I spent a big chunk of my life. But they met in Australia, where I happened to also live when I was very small! Plus, Elizabeth is from the Chicago area, so she knew she wanted to get married somewhere close to “home” for a big portion of their guests. She found both Five Grain Events and the Women’s Club of Evanston through a dear friend, who was a previous client of ours! I loved how open and honest Elizabeth was with her stressors about the wedding: she and Gavin worked a lot, and were very busy, and the idea of throwing a big party that put her at the center of attention was not high on her list of “favorite things to do.” Since planning these sorts of receptions most certainly *is* on our list, I was happy to take some of the leg-work off her plate!

Ryan Moore Photography

One of the first things we did was help Elizabeth and Gavin find a photographer. Since they were already married, having eloped at a beautiful lake in Washington state, they only needed a few hours of photography to capture some special portraits and the day’s events. Knowing that Elizabeth and Gavin were both good-humored and laid back, Ryan Moore Photography seemed like the perfect fit — and he was!

Ryan Moore Photography

Ryan Moore Photography

Elizabeth and Gavin took some time amidst their busy wedding day to exchange gifts and enjoy a glass of champagne together. We always stress the importance of finding time to be alone on the wedding day, as it can get quite busy and overwhelming.  It’s nice to focus on the real reason the day is happening in the first place — your love for each other!

Ryan Moore Photography

Women’s Club of Evanston was the perfect venue for this group — an intimate gathering of friends and family; some local, some in from abroad, but all joining together to celebrate Elizabeth and Gavin. Because the spaces are so well decorated and ornate, only a minimal amount of decor was brought in — perfect for a low-maintenance couple like these two! And with the added security team from Diplomatic Security Group, we knew that all of Elizabeth and Gavin’s guests would be taken care of throughout the night.

Ryan Moore Photography

Ryan Moore Photography

The food was provided by Catered by Design, and was delicious! We loved these caprese sliders, and how fun is this cute tuxedo napkin fold?! Schaefer’s supplied the alcohol and glassware, and drinks were flowing all evening!

Ryan Moore Photography

Ryan Moore Photography

Ryan Moore Photography

For floral decor, Elizabeth wanted to incorporate some of the hues that were included in her elopement bouquet, as well as some floral from Australia to tie in Gavin’s background. Fleur did an absolutely beautiful job; she was thrilled with her bouquet (which included a beautiful Australian protea) and the rest of the wedding flowers!

Ryan Moore Photography

Ryan Moore Photography

It was so much fun to see Elizabeth and Gavin connecting with people they hadn’t seen in quite some time, and talking about the details of their elopement.

Ryan Moore Photography

Gavin was excited to source some of the music for their wedding reception; and CloudGate was a wonderful choice! This quartet provided the perfect ambient music for a lively cocktail hour while guests mixed and mingled.

Ryan Moore Photography

If you ever have a few younger kids at your wedding reception who you want to keep busy — put them in charge of your photo guest book! These girls took the job very seriously, and had a blast rounding up guests to snap a photo and encourage them to sign the guest book. It ended up being one of the most detailed and filled guest books I’ve seen!

Ryan Moore Photography

Ryan Moore Photography

Ryan Moore Photography

During dinner service, Gavin and Elizabeth were delighted to hear from some of their closest family members. Toasts were filled with laughter and beautiful sentiments, and it was clear that everyone from all sides was thrilled with this union of love.

Ryan Moore Photography

Ryan Moore Photography

We can not get enough of having pie at weddings these days! It’s such a fun change of pace from traditional wedding cake (which we still absolutely adore, don’t get us wrong!). Bang Bang Pie is one of our favorites, especially when it is paired with ice cream service by the caterer.

Ryan Moore Photography

Ryan Moore Photography

Guests had a great time enjoying each other’s company as the night went on. Dancing, chatting, and laughter filled the room. Thanks to Gabe at Green Line Talent, the bride and her friends were able to show off their dance-major talents on the dance floor!

Ryan Moore Photography

Ryan Moore Photography

Ryan Moore Photography

Ryan Moore Photography

We truly enjoyed working with Elizabeth and Gavin, and hope these two are continuing on their blissful first year of married life!

Ryan Moore Photography

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum Wedding — Katy and Nick

Do you remember the 21st night of September?
Love was changing the minds of pretenders
While chasing the clouds away
Our hearts were ringing
In the key that our souls were singing
As we danced in the night
Remember how the stars stole the night away?

Ryan Moore Photography

Do you remember the 21st night of September?  We certainly do.  Katy and Nick smiled throughout the entirety of their special day and it was a delight to work with them.  Ryan Moore Photography  did an exemplary job capturing the days festivities.

The day began for Katy at the Hotel Lincoln in the spacious Grant Suite.  Nika Vaughan Bridal Artists, Salon Rouge, and Custom Hair Lounge were in charge of all things beauty and they did a fantastic job.  Nick and his groomsmen opted for a relaxed gathering at Katy and Nick’s apartment before getting ready for the day.

Ryan Moore Photography

Ryan Moore Photography

Ryan Moore Photography

Ryan Moore Photography

Ryan Moore Photography

Ryan Moore Photography

Ryan Moore Photography

Nick and his boys traveled via trolley to meet the ladies and head to St. Clement Church  for the ceremony.  But first, Katy and Nick enjoyed a private (and adorable) first look on the Hotel Lincoln‘s iconic and eclectic staircase.

Ryan Moore Photography

Ryan Moore Photography

Ryan Moore Photography

The newly renovated St. Clement Church was a wonderful and sentimental venue for Katy and Nick.  Katy had attended the church and went to school at St. Clement throughout her entire upbringing.  We’d like to personally thank the staff and Father Paul Seaman for making the ceremony flow so seamlessly for our wonderful couple. Chicago Musical Connection  provided the music for the ceremony.

Ryan Moore Photography

Ryan Moore Photography

Ryan Moore Photography

Ryan Moore Photography

Ryan Moore Photography

Ryan Moore Photography

Ryan Moore Photography

Ryan Moore Photography

Ryan Moore Photography

The wedding party got back on the bus to take some fun photos around the city before heading to the reception at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum.  Once they arrived to the venue, Ryan was able to capture some more beautiful shots of the couple in and around the museum.

Ryan Moore Photography

Ryan Moore Photography

Ryan Moore Photography

Ryan Moore Photography

Ryan Moore Photography

Ryan Moore Photography

Ryan Moore Photography

Ryan Moore Photography

Ryan Moore Photography

Ryan Moore Photography

Inside the museum, we were hard at work along with Calihan Catering and Nancy Kraus Floral Design creating the perfect reception space.  The newlyweds had chosen two cakes; one adorned with Nick’s beloved Philadelphia Eagles logo and a second adorned by Katy’s parents’ wedding cake topper.  Katy and Nick had even made their own personal escort cards using paper that they had watercolored together.  This wedding was very special and the personal touches showcased their love for one another.

Ryan Moore Photography

Ryan Moore Photography

Ryan Moore Photography

Ryan Moore Photography

Ryan Moore Photography

Ryan Moore Photography

Ryan Moore Photography

After a grand entrance and a delicious meal from Calihan Catering, it was time to party!  Everyone headed downstairs to a packed dance floor thanks to the Bluewater Kings. At the end of the night, VIP Valet’s school bus made sure that everyone got back to their hotels safely.

Ryan Moore Photography

Ryan Moore Photography

Ryan Moore Photography

Ryan Moore Photography

Ryan Moore Photography

Ryan Moore Photography

Ryan Moore Photography

Ryan Moore Photography

Katy and Nick, thank you for letting us help you with your special day.  We wish you all the best and can’t wait to see what your future entails.

Ryan Moore Photography

Happy Anniversary, Maureen and Tim!

Last year we had the honor of celebrating Maureen and Tim’s love with a beautiful May wedding! Tying the knot in front of beloved family and friends and their adorable dog, Riggs, it was an unforgettable ceremony. Of course, the day did not end there. Surrounded by the travel-themed decor they created themselves, the couple glowed as they danced the night away at Artifact Events.

Kimberly Rensburg Photography

We hope you are sharing in some beautiful memories as you celebrate one year of marriage!

Love,

Kelly and Joan

The Fairlie Event– PaperSpecs Road Show

When Sabine Lenz of PaperSpecs reached out to us with a fresh idea she wanted to try to bring to life, we were thrilled to jump on board! She has an incredible amount of energy and creativity, and her events always bring an element of fun. (We had a blast working with her on the PaperSpecs magazine launch party a couple years ago!) For this event, she was working with a national planning team as well, so we were helping source local vendors and providing some on-site assistance for event day.

RoboToaster

We were able to pop over to a new venue in West Town called The Fairlie when Sabine was in town for another trade show earlier in the year, and she fell in love! The high ceilings, visual interest, and open space for creativity checked off some very important boxes for the PaperSpecs Road Show. There were some great features already built in that helped save room in the budget, while also providing show-stopping effects — a beautiful bar, curtain dividers to separate different activities, and beautiful wood tables large enough for vendors to showcase their materials.

RoboToaster

A big part of this event was networking with other like-minded professionals, so we knew having some great food and drinks would be a must. We always love working with Jordan’s Food of Distinction and Spritzology, and this event proved no exception! The appetizers and drinks were a hit.

RoboToaster

RoboToaster

When it came to audio visual needs, we kept it very local! Ivan Carlson Event Design is just down the street from The Fairlie, and provided us with the setup we needed to amplify the sound and visuals for the event presentations. Sabine gave a great presentation on the latest trends to keep an eye out for in paper, and Justin Ahrens of Rule 29 spoke about the creative process. (His charity, Wheels4Water, was also onsite with virtual reality goggles to explain some of the work their charity does.)

RoboToaster

RoboToaster

RoboToaster

RoboToaster

RoboToaster

RoboToaster

We sourced simple black linens from Bbj Linen, as vendors needed to have some covering on the tables to hide their extra samples beneath, while also providing a clean backdrop to help their gorgeous paper samples pop!

RoboToaster

RoboToaster

RoboToaster

RoboToaster

RoboToaster

RoboToaster

When it came to capturing the photos and video for the night, RoboToaster was an easy choice. We teamed up with them on the PaperSpecs event a few years ago, and their understanding of the client was an added bonus. We always love working with their team!

RoboToaster

RoboToaster

It was fun to walk around and see all the different offerings, and we certainly learned a lot about the world of paper! We were thrilled to see some friends from Chicago’s Artistry Engraving, too — they even had one of their presses at their booth, so attendees could hand-press their own notecard with a beautifully lined envelope. (If you are looking for some truly unique print pieces or invitations, definitely check them out!)

RoboToaster

RoboToaster

RoboToaster

Thank you, Sabine, for trusting us with the vendor sourcing for this great event! We hope the rest of the Road Show was as successful as the first stop in Chicago!

RoboToaster

McCormick Place – Tessitura Conference

One of my favorite things about being an event planner is how delightfully unexpected certain clients, venues, and assignments can be. Last summer, we were asked to help with on-site logistics for the Tessitura Conference — the largest gathering of arts and cultural professionals in the world. Joan and I have a unique connection to the conference; in our past lives as non-profit arts organization employees, we each attended a Tessitura Conference!

Our role was to act as the “right hand” to the head of the conference planning team, who had recently sustained an injury that made getting around the behemoth that is McCormick Place difficult. We dove in head-first, attending a week of pre-con meetings to get up-to-speed with the schedule of events and our role, then got ready to welcome the nearly 2,000 attendees.

The General Session space, where attendees gathered for conference updates and keynote speaker sessions, was set up in such a way as to create a strong viewing angle for each person. The screens and open stage structure really helped make the presentations accessible. The collaborative efforts from PRG and J&J Exhibitors ensured the set-up and audio/visual were up to par and within union standards.

Image courtesy of Tessitura Network

Image courtesy of Tessitura Network

Image courtesy of Tessitura Network

Daily meals were provided by Savor, the in-house catering team at McCormick Place. Their service and quality was impressive, given the number of mouths they were feeding! We worked hand-in-hand with them before each meal to ensure all the dietary restrictions were represented and properly labeled, so attendees could quickly get their meals.

Image courtesy of Tessitura Network

Image courtesy of Tessitura Network

Image courtesy of Tessitura Network

Image courtesy of Tessitura Network

One of the highlights of the week for me was helping facilitate the 5K run from McCormick Place to Museum Campus. The combination of the beautiful weather, a stunning sunrise, and world-famous architecture along the route made me feel even more proud to call Chicago home. A couple Tessiturians even dressed up like the Blues Brothers to cheer the participants on! We worked with the team at RaceTime, a local company who set up the course and tracked participants’ times.

Image courtesy of Tessitura Network

The Tessitura team hired CSI DMC to assist with transporting the thousands of attendees from McCormick Place and its neighboring hotels to Navy Pier for the final night’s festivities. The Grand Ballroom at Navy Pier was the perfect spot for celebrating the end to such a wonderful week! The weather was picture perfect, and the view of the fireworks simply couldn’t be beat.

Image courtesy of Tessitura Network

As the Tessitura Network is a technology company that serves the Arts industry, it only made sense that there would be a band made up of Tessitura employees and attendees. The performances were wildly entertaining, and the dance floor was packed!

Images courtesy of Tessitura Network

Image courtesy of Tessitura Network

We truly enjoyed working with Tessitura’s conference planning team, and being involved in all the ins-and-outs of a large-scale, week-long conference.