Since moving to Chicago I am amazed at the variety of vendors and choices you have as a bride and groom.  Recently I came across a bakery like none that I have ever seen: The Bleeding Heart Bakery. They were the first certified Organic Bakery in Chicago and have lived up to their mission since, always changing their menu but staying true to their out of the box organic style.

This is one of the few bakeries where punk rock and delicious pastries go together.  Its funky style, and scrumptious sweets are addicting.  Their mission is simple: “to create edgy yet beautiful pastries that provoke thought and emotion and is above all, superior in taste and always organic.” Over on Belmont and Damen, Michelle Garcia is taking baking to a new level!!  She is showing everyone how delicious organic foods can be and still manages to have time to incorporate events such as canned food drives and knocking on doors selling cupcakes for Obama.

Is your mouth beginning to water by looking at these cupcakes? Would you believe me if I told you they were gluten free?  Bleeding Heart Bakery is able to make vegan look and sound salivating even to every carnivore out there! Many brides have incorporated this bakery into their big day and have uniquely wonderful creations for their cakes. A few of my favorites are shown below but if you want to see most of their artistic ability visit their flickr page: Bleeding Heart Bakery.

I adore the designs on these cakes and can’t even begin to imagine what the flavor of each one is, all organic, all the time!  If you are in the area, stop by this bakery and meet Michelle and Vinny and try one of the many tasty treats they have available!

Check out their website: Bleeding Heart Organic Bakery.

I have to begin this post with the most well known, ideal city bride there is, Sarah Jessica Parker – from Sex and the City.  She almost made it down the aisle in a lovely Vivienne Westwood design.  I have to point out my favorite detail from her attire is her hairpiece.  Although some critics might hate it, I think it is completely unexpected and makes her style stand out as her own.

In Hollywood it is easy to be over the top, throwing a stylish affair that everyone drools over.  My downtown Chicago lifestyle allows me to see it from a more realistic view, but just as city chic.  I love seeing brides embrace their roots and tie in details that highlight the city that they love!

Don’t be afraid to stop traffic on your big day…Reminds me a bit of the Abbey Road Beatles Picture!!

Whether you hail a taxi or take the el on a daily basis to work, why change your routine on your wedding day?

During your big city wedding do not forget to stop by the locations that make your city what it is, landmarks… favorite restaurants… or simply fabulous places you and your fiance have spent time at.

I adore this Garrett’s Popcorn Bar that was set up as a take home favor of the most stylish popcorn in Chicago for their guests. If your city is known for piled high hot dogs, deep dish pizzas, or cheesecake, whatever it is - serve it up at your wedding and give your friends and family a taste of what you and your husband love!

Celebrate your city and embrace what makes it unique !!

Sources: Jasmine Wong Photography, Bride.net, Rich Miller Photography, In Style,

I LOVE sweets.  But I am not a cake person, so when it came time to choose my wedding cake flavor I didn’t have much of a preference.  I always heard about how much fun it is to go to the cake tasting, with the millions of flavors and icing choices!  I left that decision mainly to my husband.  If I had heard about this idea sooner maybe I would have taken an extra piece of cake on my wedding day.  Rice Krispie Treats are my weakness, and having an entire cake made of rice krispies is what I would call my perfect day!

You might not believe me when I tell you that the cake above was made purely of rice krispie treats…but that is the wonderful thing about the recent artists that took on baking!  They can take any flavor or texture and turn it into a beautiful creation!

Scrumptious marshmallow goodness will await you on your wedding day if you choose this specialty cake flavor! It will also save you some money in the budget due to the fewer ingredients and less time that is spent baking.  You can still find a unique cake topper and decorate with the same flowers you had planned to use, but this is something that your guests will definitely not be expecting!

If you still want the traditional cake on your wedding day with the different flavors and icings, consider having a rice krispie grooms cake or building miniature rice krispie cakes and giving them away as favors.  This could be a great DIY project! Look for a future blog post on how to make Rice Krispie Treat favors!!

If you decide to have this unique style of wedding cake…make sure you invite me

What flavor of cakes have you done that are outside the norm?

Sources: Manis Bakery, Cup Cake Tree, Richardson Wedding Blog, Art of Dessert

What did you do with your wedding dress after your wedding? Is it still sitting in your closet waiting to get cleaned? Are you hoping one day your daughter will wear it, or are you just holding on to it for nostalgic reasons? Trash the Dress is a new trend where brides take pictures in the dirt, water, etc. “trashing their dresses.”  I the reasoning behind it is that you are telling your friends and family that you are in this marriage for good, and will never need to wear a wedding dress again. If you are willing to get a little dirty in your dress you can have some really spectacular pictures! The two pictures below are extreme, but so original I love the inspiration!

These water pictures are beautiful, their dresses spread out and seem weightless.

If you aren’t looking to trash your dress alone, get your new husband involved and have fun ruining your wedding clothes together!

I think it would be fun when all of your close group of friends are married to have a “Trash the Dress” party and all chip in on a top photographer to take pictures trashing your dresses together!

Many photographers are really beginning to embrace these trash the dress photo sessions.  They allow you to really dig deep and pull out your personality and creativity! Check with your photographer, even if they have never had a trash the dress session before, maybe he or she will do it for a discount to help build their portfolio.  You never know until you ask

What are your thoughts on trashing your wedding dress? Would you be willing to wear it into the ocean?

Sources: Wed Pix, Indigo Charlotte, The Knot

You want to remember everyone that attended your wedding, but you want something a little different than your traditional list of names for your guest book.  To add creativity and still get a record of everyone attending your big day, a great idea is to use your engagement pictures to make a 12 month calendar.  Present the calendar as your guests arrive as your guest book and ask your friends and family to sign on either their birthday or their anniversary.

When your day is over you will have beautiful pictures of your engagement, combined with a record of all your friends and family’s important dates.  This is something you can cherish for years after and never forget a birthday or anniversary again!

This is one of the many ideas that can get you thinking outside the box and help incorporate creative details into your day.  What are other unique guest book ideas you used at your wedding?!

Source: Zazzle.com