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.