Alecia is a designer at heart.  So once we started going, it was ridiculously unstoppable.  We knew we wanted a slick, clean palette.  Then add crazy, unexpected pops of color.  I wanted to add something else.  I wasn’t sure what it was.  But then I thought, cowhide?  There is no way she is going to go for it.  Um, she was THRILLED.  So we added in cowhide for the aisle runner and the table runners.  It gave us an anchor that we so needed with all of the craziness we were about to do.  We filled the downstairs foyer with floor to ceiling flagging tape installation.  It was an amazing entryway!

An unbelievable balloon ceremony installation inspired by photographer Jenny Van Sommers.  The party favor was a washi tape covered box filled with bright gumballs and balloons placed at each place setting.  The guests blew them up  just in time to litter the dance floor with a sea of balloons.  We hung the menu for the evening from the ceiling in front of our custom made chevron curtains.  We made a ton of flagging tape wands for the guests to wave wildly as they exited their ceremony. The bride’s uncle MADE the wooden bar. The guests found their seats by finding their triangle on a our colorful triangle board, then were instructed to flip it over and write a cute note to the couple.  It turned into their guest book!

It all was a dream come true for me, as a designer. And Alecia and Jon, my soulmates, I love you guys.

Vendor LOVE:

Event Design + Planning: Jesi Haack Design

Photography: Avery House

Personal Florals: Dilly Lily

Centerpieces: Bride’s friend Laura Wagner

Cake + Desserts: Bittersweet Chicago

Catering: Pure Kitchen Catering

Venue: Room 1520

Paper Products: Escort Cards, Place Cards, Guest book, Ring Bearer signs, menus, stir sticks: Pitbulls and Posies

Invitations: Kate Gabriel of Wit & Delight

Makeup: Rommy Najor

Photobooth: Smilebooth

Ceremony Installation Inspiration: Jenny Van Sommers

Martha FREAKING Stewart.  To get caught up, see my previous post. Which table do you like best?

And go see us on MARTHA!!!!!!

Of course this amazing team pulled through in the most AMAZING way possible:

design + styling: Jesi Haack Design

photography: Mr Haack

wardrobe styling: Jesi Haack Design

florals + styling: JL Designs

hair and makeup: 1011 makeup

cake: Sweet and Saucy Shop

dinnerware: Casa de Perrin

gown: JL Vintage

catering & Food Styling: Contemporary Catering

stationery: Azulsahara

special thanks to Be Inspired PR for additional production.

I was inspired by the simplicity of the color scheme, and wanted to take it to a retro vibe.  I focused on the 1960′s.  I wanted it to look like the kitchen of June Cleaver.  The clean, modern patterns of the table linens covered with clear oilcloth really flipped my lid.  The food we showcased was straight from the 60′s.  Pop tarts, jello mold shots and Yoo hoo, YES.

So, we did TWO tables.  Why not give Martha options???  Here is table 1. Check back manana for table 2.  And let me know which one is your fave!

And go see us on MARTHA!!!!!!

Of course this amazing team pulled through in the most AMAZING way possible:

design + styling: Jesi Haack Design

photography: Mr Haack

wardrobe styling: Jesi Haack Design

florals + styling: JL Designs

hair and makeup: 1011 makeup

cake: Sweet and Saucy Shop

dinnerware: Casa de Perrin

gown: JL Vintage

catering & Food Styling: Contemporary Catering

stationery: Azulsahara

special thanks to Be Inspired PR for additional production.

It’s finished.  4 weeks of brutal workouts.  I loved EVERY SECOND.  It really was the most intense workout I have ever experienced.  I will give you my stats below.  Regardless of what the scale says, my body has changed.  I gave away 4 pairs of my jeans.  WOOT!!!

You guys.  You should GO TRY BARRY.  The first class is free.  It’s so rad, I want you all to experience it.  You are in a gym full of treadmills and weights.  It’s dark.  There are club lights.  The music is SUPER loud.  The instructors are killer.  Just try it.  Mention my blog to receive 10% off your purchase

Now, I won’t leave you hanging.  I won’t be posting any more super attractive and non humiliating pictures of myself on my blog, but I WILL post a picture of the final product once I reach my goal!  Because everyone needs closure, right?  THANK YOU so much for all of the comments, tweets, facebooks, instagrams, and emails that you have sent encouraging me!  It was the ultimate motivator and accountability!

To catch up, go read my first post, week 1, week 2, week 3.

My time is now.

Week 4 stats:

Beginning weight: 150 lbs

Week 4 weight: 143.9 lbs

Total weight loss: 6.1 lbs

Sweet Details: Make Blake a headband station, a mobile that is filled with handwritten love, make your own pizzas, and a dessert bar to die for.

Vendor LOVE:

Event Design: Jesi Haack Design

Event + Floral Design: JL Designs

Event design + Concept and Paper Goods: Karrie Pyke Designs and Posh Paperie

Desserts: Sweet and Saucy Shop

Photography: Carlie of Gabriel Ryan

Head on over to Hostess with the Mostess and check out our feature!  And her DRESS.  I know everyone will ask.  It’s actually mine and I bought it at H&M last year  sorry!

Vendor LOVE:

Click here to view the embedded video.

I am just REALLY trying to remember that right now.  Week three and going into week four has been difficult.  I had my birthday, so that put a damper in my eating last week.  I gained a pound.  So bummed.  It’s crazy how that can make it SO hard for me to get up and go to Barry’s in the morning.  I missed Monday of this week, and I didn’t go this morning, but the day is not over yet.  I WILL NOT GIVE UP.  This is a lifestyle change for me, not just a one month challenge.  I know that it is going to take more than 3 weeks to really make a change in my body.  Meanwhile, I am feeling stronger.  More energetic.  Joyful.  The days when I go work out in the morning are CONSIDERABLY better days than the ones that I don’t.  So if anything, I am healthier emotionally and mentally.

Good news though, one of the Instructors, Nicole, is a nutrition blogger and she creates specified meal plans for clients.  She has offered to guide my nutrition!  She is passionate about teaching people, especially moms, about their health and helping them form a plan to lose weight.  Her official site will be launching next month: Wow Moms.  Brilliant!!  I told you they are awesome at Barry’s!!!

Week 3 Stats:

classes attended: 5 (thursday thru thursday)

Weight last week (WEEK 2): 145.5

Weight this week: 147.1

Weight gained: 1.6 lbs

Pounds away from my goal: 27.1

“CONGRATULATIONS! You’ve been selected as a top wedding professional according to The Knot Best of Weddings 2012.”

I am SO EXCITED and honored.  We love EVERYONE at The Knot and are incredibly blessed to have been noticed and chosen by them!  Thank you so much to The Knot!!!

So, this week has been hard.  I am discouraged with my weight.  I basically have been zig zagging between 148 and 145.  ALL. WEEK.  So I need to adjust my eating habits.  I have been burning about 600 calories at Barry’s and then I eat under 1500 NET calories a day.  Which means if I don’t work out I can eat 1500 calories, but if I burn 600 calories at Barry’s then I can eat 21oo calories.  The thing is, I am doing WHATEVER I want with those calories.  I will skip dinner so I can have frozen yogurt later that night.  Or I am eating too many carbs, not watching my sodium, etc.  So I am going to REALLY try and make those 1500 calories GOOD calories.  Because like I said, my time is NOW.  And I want to take full advantage of this opportunity.

I am already mourning the fact that Barry’s is already half way over.  Like, seriously mourning.  I have a pit in my stomach when I think about it.  But don’t worry, my fitness will not stop once this opportunity is over.  I will keep posting on here until I have reached my goal.  Oh, do you want to know what that is?  120lbs.  By the way, I am 5’1″.

So.  I NEED encouragement.  Is it dumb to ask you for that?  Leave me a comment.  Tweet me.  Facebook me.  Whatever.  It seriously is my lifeline sometimes.  And THANK YOU for supporting me in this!  It really is incredible hard, but INCREDIBLY empowering.

Ok, stats time.

Attended 5 classes

Week 3 weight: 145.5

Weight loss since last week: 1 lb

Weight loss since the beginning: 4.5 lbs

Go see my week 1 post, or my beginning post.

Vendor LOVE:

Event Planning + Design in collaboration with Meredith: Jesi Haack Design

Photography: Jagger Photography

Venue: Smog Shoppe