Coming in From the Cold
2 HMR Designers Share Their Own Fabulous Winter Weddings
Those living in warmer locales might not envy the sting of a Chicago wind upon leaving their house or the slickness of an ice-drenched sidewalk beneath their boots, but many of us midwesterners understand the value in four distinct seasons. Come winter, it becomes especially important to reflect on this.
One way to warm up when the cold sets in is to remember that with each season comes opportunities for different enjoyments. We enjoy different food and drink, different clothing and accessories, different activities, moods, and of course, different colors, textures, plants, flowers, and decor. Let’s welcome winter and embrace the frost by having a look at two of HMR’s very own designers’ fabulous winter weddings. Both of these lovely ladies were delighted to say “I Do” in the season of snow.
Let’s begin with designer Carli Milstein’s exquisite January celebration at the Renaissance Chicago. Carli favored abundant shades of white, echoing the stark beauty of winter. (Carli is pictured below in a most wonderful eyelash lace bolero jacket)…
Despite the season, Carli also wanted a cozy, garden-like atmosphere that would work well within the setting of a hotel. An abundantly candlelit aisle punctuated with clean whites and verdant, fresh greens made for a gracefully lit, elegant ceremony.
Carli combined camellia foliage with lemon leaf and seeded eucalyptus greens to create a substantial, lush framework for focal arrangements and centerpieces. Anemone, lilac, and ranunculus added delicate touches of white along with garden roses, tulips, hydrangea and hanging amaranthus.
Soft, charcoal gray linens and touches of gold allowed for the gorgeous centerpieces to really stand out, and generous candlelight woven down the center of the head table achieved the intimate, warm feel so important to Carli.
Carli’s beautiful wedding reminds us that simple whites and natural foliage can create a true, soft warmth perfect for winter.
Jessica Griffin Pfluegl’s glowing Ivy Room celebration followed Carli’s in March. Let’s appreciate the season by taking in some of the details (the first of which being her absolutely delightful fur shrug and radiant bouquets)…
Jessica is influenced by understated elegance, and opted for mid-century-inspired design, rich with bold patterns and metallics.
Custom gold-sequin linens dressed the head table and were accompanied by ghost chairs, gold flatware, and of course a profuse, stunning centerpiece complete with garden roses, ranunculus, lilac, poppies, sweet pea, camellia foliage and dusty miller.
Jessica was incredibly passionate about her floral, opting for mostly whites with pops of coral, orange and other muted colors, which paired beautifully with the gilded backdrop.
It was important to Jessica that her wedding was warm, memorable, and fun. She paired sputnik chandeliers with mirrored bars and curved banquettes to establish more of a supper club fee, and created intimate spaces to relax with custom lounge furniture.
Jessica’s warm, luminous celebration makes a snowy March day feel like the perfect time to wed. So, if you’re hesitant to rejoice the cold, let these diverse examples of winter marriages remind you that the season is indeed something to celebrate.
Special thanks to Kent Drake Photography for all of the fabulous photographs of Jessica’s wedding.