We recently partnered with our good friend Anthony Navarro, of Liven It Up Events on a project that was both a lot of fun and supports a fantastic cause. Anthony had the idea to gather members of the wedding world to create a platform where caterers, florists, stationers, planners and others could come together to profess their support for marriage equality.

Deborah and the Art of Imagination team are firm supporters of full marriage equality nation-wide and we were excited to be asked to participate in the Stand Up Project. Since civil unions were legalized back in June of 2011, we have worked with a handful of same-sex couples in planning and designing their unions across the city, including two at Loft on Lake, at Room 1520, the Rookery Building and Stan Mansion.

Be sure to watch this and the other videos posted on the YouTube channel and spread the word.

In today’s Wedding Glossary entry we cover the ever-present GOBOs or gobo. GOBO is a term derived from “GO BlackOut” or “Goes Before Optics” and is a template slotted inside, or placed in front of, a lighting source and used to control the shape of emitted light. Developed for use on film sets, the term “gobo” has come to generally refer to any device which produces patterns of light. It is typically a metal plate that is affixed to a light source, allowing the light to shine through particular portions, resulting in a displayed pattern or logo on a wall, floor or ceiling.

Gobo design and use is one of our many specialties. In terms of weddings and events, we use gobos constantly. One of the most common uses is, of course, when a couple requests to project their monogram on a wall or floor. Additionally, gobos are also perfect for adding texture and interest to an area using light. We have a library of custom patterns that we project on any surface, such as leaves or branches for a touch of softness or romance to a focal point.

Gobos are great for corporate events – they are an ideal means to project a logo or icon to make the event complete.

The Rookery Building, is located in downtown Chicago, right in the heart of the Old Financial District and is one of the most unique venues in the entire city. Now 124 years old and boasting architecture by Frank Lloyd Wright, the venue is one of the hardest to book for brides – events are typically scheduled far more than the usual year in advance!

Art of Imagination has been exclusive at this elegant wedding venue since 1996 – we are lucky to work with every bride that comes into the space. Thanks to a unique hanging fabric design we developed exclusively for the building, we are able to mask the store fronts that face into the space, without detracting from the amazing architectural details.

The Chicago Cultural Center is an amazing architectural gem, right in the heart of downtown Chicago. Opened in 1887, the massive building is a Chicago Landmark building that houses the city’s official reception venue where the Mayor of Chicago has welcomed Presidents and royalty, diplomats and community leaders. Famously the central library building, it was converted to an arts and culture center. The Center is one of the city’s most popular attractions and is considered one of the most comprehensive arts showcases in the United States. The building is also home to the world’s largest Tiffany stained glass dome and a dizzying amount of decorative tile and elaborate, vintage decoration – all details that make it an ideal setting for any wedding, which is why the building is one of the most in-demand wedding venues in the city even as few realize that the space is open to hosting such private functions.

Deborah and our creative team have worked here a number of times – but our most recent wedding here was also a high-profile event – this bride won a contest from the Oprah show to have her wedding documented and profiled on both the Oprah show and online.

Deborah worked directly with the bride to create a stunning, soft and romantic display for her special day – we created a modern lounge setting that would complement the historic setting and we washed the head tables in amber tones, with GOBOs of leaves to match the organic tile work. And for the ceremony, we created an elaborate wedding structure with vintage chandelier crystals that reflected light as the couple stood underneath.

It all came together beautifully. The florals, the food and the decor all made for an unforgettable evening. For more photos, visit our

Although we’ve been designing weddings and private events since 1996 and have been part of many Indian and other ceremonies from various world cultures, this was the first Indian wedding of this scope at the historic Stan Mansion (where we are the exclusive light & fabric vendor since it’s inception several years ago). And although we’ve worked on some large events, this Indian wedding we were a part of earlier this month set a lot of new highs for us. It took three full days of setting up transform the already beautiful Stan Mansion into a stunning palace fit for a king and queen! Everywhere one looked, we placed light and decor that went well and above any requests we’ve received in some time. There were lots of projected leaves and branches, VIP sections built from branches, lit with romantic large bulbs but the centerpiece of it all was the stage, which we transformed into a lush and colorful mandap, with the help of Cattleya Bridal, whose colorful hot pink orchids and orange roses really pulled it all together.

The event started in royal fashion with the groom riding down Logan Boulevard on a white horse, followed by a tour bus filled with the bridal party. And although the event at the Stan accommodated close to 300 guests, the festivities were broadcast live to a captive audience back in India.

We truly enjoyed working with the lovely ladies of  The Smitten Bride– the event flowed smoothly and not a detail was out of place thanks to their careful planning. Cattleya Bridal created the amazing stage decor, and again went above and beyond in their floral decor.

A huge thank you to Adrian Nastase for providing the images. Be sure to “like” this below and share with your friends.

We work with so many unique wedding venues in Chicago, and in the West Loop especially, there is an flourishing concentration of wedding and reception spaces big and small that are all unique, with their own character and personality. We have worked with all of them over the years – from West Loop Studios, now closed, to the still-new Room 1520, to the industrial & artsy MCA Warehouse and many others. But the list is incomplete without Loft on Lake – a venue that is unique among the rest for it’s combination of exposed brick, vintage timber oak beams and a stunning 65-foot long skylight that is unmatched in the city.

The venue, like most lofts, is easy to work with, giving our brides endless flexibility and creativity. Loft on Lake also attracts some of the most down-to-earth, fun and easy going brides we’ve had the pleasure of working with. Since it’s inception in late 2009, the space has hosted hundreds of weddings and is becoming well-regarded in the industry for it’s casual but refined atmosphere.

Owned by a husband & wife team, Cher and Steve Garrett are both creative people. Infact, Steve Garrett is a successful commercial and wedding photographer. His photography business, called Lofty Weddings and it’s services are offered to all Loft on Lake brides at a discount, making the Loft easier to choose for couples looking to get a head start on their wedding planning. As a venue, it’s perfect for smaller, intimate affairs for less than 200 with a ceremony. The space has a long and accommodating list of caterers and vendors, so brides have no trouble assembling all the best wedding vendors for their Special Day. A blank canvas of a space that is also BYO means each couple can transform the space to their liking without breaking the bank. We have worked there on a lot of event over the last several years.

Not limited to only weddings, Loft on Lake is also ideal for any sort of corporate function, but we’ll cover that another time. Flexible, creative and unique – be sure to contact the venue for a tour, whatever your event may be.

We have been the exclusive light & decor vendor at the amazing Rookery building since 1996 and although for us, every wedding we create and design is very special, it’s not every day that the bride and groom also happen to be “Amazing Race” winners! And since we’re so used to working at the Rookery, we sometimes don’t meet the brides until the day of their event – and so, we almost missed this tidbit!

Vignette is not a word you hear often, and yet for the Creative Team at Art of Imagination, it is essential. With applications in several areas, including literature and photography, we think of the word as a graphic design term – as in decorative designs, often in books, used to separate and decorate sections of books.

In event design, vignettes are essential – in our line of work, they are focal points that create interest at all the various venues we work at – especially larger spaces, such as the modern ZhouB Art Center in Bridgeport or the historic Stan Mansion in Logan Square – so that guests can come to an event and have various areas of interest to keep them busy throughout the night.

An especially good example of this concept is the Mad Men-themed event we created recently at Room 1520 – a modern loft-like space in the West Loop. A networking mixer where guests were invited to dress their 1950’s best – we created a cool & retro lounge setting to match the mood. A fireplace & couches on loan set the mood of the swanky party, acting as both a visual centerpiece & a place for guests to mingle & take a break from dancing.

We carried the theme throughout the space that night – as you can see in the image gallery on our Facebook Page – don’t miss it.