Pre-Christmas Sales...

 

Stop by to shop for gifts... or just for yourself!

25% OFF

CHRISTMAS AND HOLIDAY

                                                                          

including gloves and scarf sets

(excluding jewelry)

Happily Ever After...

Another great "Sneak Peek" highlight show by Jai Girard Photography of our July 28, 2012 wedding.
Congrats Erin and Jeff Robbins!

May you live "Happily Ever After"

http://jaigirard.com/blog/2012/10/erin-and-jeff-wedding-slideshow-highlights-the-blackstone-hotel-chicago

the Chemistry was always there...

Jen Patterson and NFL Hockey player Nick Boynton's wedding was featured on Strictlyweddings.com Blog.

August 3, 2012 at the Lake Forest Academy

http://www.strictlyweddings.com/blog/2012/11/featured-wedding-jen-nick-the-chemistry-was-always-there/

Jen's bouquet was stunning, white Polo roses and pearl studded Stephanotis... compact but SO elegant. Great job Jill!

Check out their blog for the full feature and see their chemistry!

Flower FUN FACTS

Stephanotis

Meaning: Marital happiness
Best For: Bouquets and arrangements
Scent: Very fragrant
In Season: Year-round
Price Range: Moderate
Floral Fact: These trumpet-shape blossoms are traditional bridal flowers, no doubt due to their meaning.

for more flower fun fact meanings check out

 http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-planning/wedding-flowers/articles/symbolic-wedding-flower-meanings.aspx

Photos by Jai Girard Photography

http://www.strictlyweddings.com/blog/2012/11/featured-wedding-jen-nick-the-chemistry-was-always-there/

Meghan Cashman's DREAM wedding...

Labor Day weekend this year had us all running in different directions! At Joseph's we orchestrated 9 weddings amoungst our teams and squeezed in 50 homecoming orders. This wedding was a beautiful, lush event at Cuneo Mansions and Gardens. The weather was a bit "iffy" but the rain came and went and the ceremony went off without a hitch! Bauers Catering had it all covered, from plentiful servers to outside beverage stations, no one would forget this wedding.

Some of our team took to the mansion a day early to begin on-site design of the fantastic arrangements that would grace each table as well as the awesome orchid draped entry tree. While others stayed back creating personal work that would make a princess shine.

The oversized bell vases were billowed with hydrangeas and roses while the low arrangements still as gorgeous and definitely not taking a back seat. Each table being "pin spotted" by Sid Sawhney of Precision Sound and Lighting, truly showcased our work even more. Don't forget the reflexed polo white rose at each place setting.

Now who wouldn't want this "Sweetheart Table"? The pipe and drape done by Dan is just a-mazing, and shows the attention to detail that was taken with this event.

Now this cake I bet will get "pinned" a few times! Not just flowers on the top of the cake... but Daryl stuffed each layer FULL. Just dripping with elegance and richness.



Significance of a Chuppah

The Jewish faith is one of beauty and one that is steeped in tradition. One of the most beautiful traditions of the Jewish faith is the Jewish marriage ceremony, in which the chuppah is used. The chuppah is the canopy, or tent, under which the Jewish marriage ceremony takes place. It is usually made of satin or velvet cloth, supported by four poles. It symbolizes the new home and life that the bride (the kallah) and the groom (the chatan) will be building together.  In other words, the chuppah represent the groom's home, where the bride will be joining him.

The chuppah is open on all sides and is similar to the tent inhabited by Abraham (father of the Jewish people) and his wife, Sarah. The open sides of the chuppah also represent a welcoming of visitors and strangers into the home, as the forefathers welcomed strangers and travelers into their homes. The chuppah could also date back to the days of the Exodus, when the Jewish people were still traveling in the dessert. During this time, a portable tent was used to house God's presence and/or the Ark of the Covenant. This was called a mishcan or was also known as the tabernacle.

Depending on the branch of the Jewish faith that the couple comes from, the chuppah can be set up either indoors or outdoors. Ideally and traditionally, it is set up outdoors and takes place close to sundown at the end of the day. The significance of this is the hope that the new couple will be blessed with many children. This tradition also dates back to Abraham where God promised him that his "seed would multiply as the stars in the heavens".

The couple is generally escorted to the chuppah by both sets of parents. Generally, neither the bride nor the groom wears jewelry of any kind under the chuppah. This signifies that their commitment is about who and what they are as people, rather than what they own.  

 

The number seven is significant in the rituals that take place under the chuppah.  The bride will circle the groom seven times, while under the chuppah and then takes her place at the groom's right-hand side.  The circling of the groom seven times holds two meanings.  First, seven represents the seven days of creation. Seven also signifies that they are complete as a couple and incomplete as mere individuals.

While under the chuppah, the ceremony continues with the recitation of the Seven Blessings. The Ketubah, or marriage contract, is read as well. The wedding ring is given to the bride; if the bride wishes to give a ring to the groom, she may do it later in private after the ceremony. The couple drink wine and the groom breaks the glass.  This is said to represent a grief over the destruction of the temple.  Once these things have been completed, the merriment of the wedding reception will begin.

 

NEW Chuppha feature...

The photos are in from North Shore Photography!  A beautiful NEW chuppah was designed for our clients with an overhead of candlelight ambiance. Candles of all sorts and sizes created a cloud over the couple and their bridal party.

What an amazing backdrop for their ceremony at the JW Marriott in Chicago.

An elegant bouquet was designed by Jill, for Julie- with roses and callas creating a ombre fade. Having the bouquet wrapped with a meaningful handkerchief adds that extra special touch. 

Together with our team, Susan Lazar of Northbrook, orchestrated a beautiful ceremony and reception for our clients. One that I am sure they will cherish forever.

Chicago Botanical Garden

Looking for something to do this weekend to get your holiday spirit sparked? Visit the Winter Wonderland at the Botanical Gardens in Glencoe.

Don't forget to look for our Josephs Events tree " Merry Mitzvah"
designed and decorated by Daniel.

http://my.chicagobotanic.org/horticulture/behind-the-scenes/bts-wonderland-express-part-1/.

November 23, 2012 – January 6, 2013

Open 10 am. to 6 p.m. dailyCloses at 2 p.m. December 18.
Closes at 3 p.m. November 29, December 8, and 24.
Closes at 4 p.m. December 5, closes at 4:30 p.m. December 12.
Closed December 25.

Buy tickets

Ticket prices:
Adults: members/nonmembers: $10/$12
Seniors 62+: members/nonmembers: $8/$10
Children 3 to 12: members/nonmembers $8/$10
Children 2 and under are free
Half-price Tuesdays

Sally's 50th Birthday Party...

Working together with a venue and an out of town client we created a great party theme for Sally. Her favorite color was pink, and we ran with it. Ivana used the artwork that Carol designed for the table menus and placecards to make this beautiful sign for the hutch. She made a stencil out of foam core copying the rose and leaves from the artwork to watermark the sign...giving it that truly custom look.

Happy Birthday Sally!



Adding a little light to your tablescape...

In a variety of sizes and colors these great votives can take your tablescape from blah to oober fantastic! Don't forget to pick up some when you order your holiday arrangement. They can be used all year long too.

Community Events...

During the fast pace of the holidays at Josephs Events, several of us took some time out to join three other area florists in a Floral Show at the Kildeer School District. Wednesday night we went to Twin Groves School, to participate and see our pieces raffled off for a great cause. We were to design and create 6 pieces of a variety of themes in front of the audience, as they watched and were educated on what we were doing and also product we were using.

Dan took a moss wreath from fall to festive holidays, showing how you can utilize items you have at home while changing up the wreath in minutes.

Jill created an amazing piece around a branch using all sorts of fall colors and flowers. There is so much to look at on this piece, don't miss any angle, make sure you look high and low on this one. This one is going to a lucky winner for sure.

Carol was working on a slightly different angle...incorporating her love for stationery into her floral pieces. Ivana made a foam core box that we put vellum artwork into the windows that was lite. Using the idea of the tall glass pillar candles she also wrapped that with the same artwork for extra glow.



Then we created a multi piece giveaway that could be used as a cluster or individual arrangements.

Also working with individual personal posies we designed three themes but using the same hydrangea mechanics and adding color appropriate for each theme. These would be set at each place setting for your guest to take home after your fabulous dinner party.

It was a great time, and a very successful first year for the Kildeer Floral Show.

Thanks for inviting us-

What's Daryl up to...?

From one day to the next, the styles of arrangements vary greatly. Using fun and out of the box items, and even power tools might be in the course of his day of work.

Looking for some Zen in your life?

We will keep you posted,... these arrangements may show up in a Chicago bridal magazine...

Echeveria

Echeveria is a succulent from the Crassulaceae family.

It's sometimes called Hen and Chicks, although several species go by this common name and it can be difficult to tell these succulent plants apart.

All echeverias grow in a rosette 2-6 inches (5-15 cm) across on short stems. The rosette has fleshy, blue-green leaves that become tinged with red when exposed to sun. Handle it with care because the leaves break off easily.

But did you know that if they do break off you can keep them in your home for several months unattended and no maintanenance?

These rosettes are showing up in all sorts of places now in the floral industry. They are used in wedding work as well as in an ornate rustic arrangements.

Double Nickels Birthday-

At Joseph's we juggle a wide variety of events. This one was a "top secret" birthday party in the city at the Wit Hotel. Invitations went out to our clients guests about 4 weeks ago, very custom sleeve-style invites were designed by Carol Woldhuis Designs. The artwork was created with elements that were meaningful to the client. The rest of the party theme snowballed from there....with LOTS of NICKELS everywhere.

The Cibomatto Lounge was transformed into a great red-glowing night club. Keeping the decor simple but trendy, was a great idea by our crew. Wanting to keep the theme and artwork of the invitations the prime focus, vellum sheets were printed and wrapped around 9 " pillar vessels, which created an amazing glow in the room. Once again we ran with the nickel theme and scattered thousands of nickel coins like confetti. Buckets of the clients popcorn were a great conversation snack for the guests attending.

Guests had options for a wine-tasting and education, scotch sipping, several food stations to explore while listening to dualing pianos and finally an all out DJ experience.

Don't forget...the nice thing about custom stationery is you can utilize the artwork in many ways. We created napkin artwork that was sent to Ar-En Parting Printing for our two sizes of silver napkins, but also had custom coasters created from the nickel art to tie it all in. We think of "EVERYTHING" at Josephs!

BUT the cake was a sure jaw dropper! We contracted Jaimee Corcoran with A Dash of Whimsy to create the Wrigley Field marquee that was used on the invitations. What an amazing job she did on this scrumptious rich dark chocolate cake layered with raspberry filling. Our clients were impressed beyond belief- Great job Jaimee! Make sure to check out all the detail...down to the nickels-

Happy Double Nickel Birthday Mike!