Chicago Style Weddings - Designers Challenge 2023
Every year, Chicago Style Weddings magazine hosts a fantastic “design off” called the Designer’s Challenge!! The magazine pulls together four teams of amazing vendors from their lists and pits them against each other to create show stopping and inspirational styled shoots for the magazine. Last year, BW Studio + Events was lucky enough to get chosen AGAIN after having won for their 2022 design!!
Absolutely thrilled at the team they put together for us!!
PLANNER | BW Studio + Events
FLORAL | Floral Expressions & Gifts
CAKE | Creative Cakes
STATIONERY | Emery Ann Design
TABLETOP DÉCOR | Marquee Event Rentals
VINTAGE RENTALS | Elements Preserved Vintage Rental
VENUE | The Grand Ballroom at Joliet Union Station
PHOTOGRAPHY | Esther Gallarday Photography
This year our design concept was “Through Sepia-Color Glasses” and yes, you can still vote for your favorite design - click on the button below!! But check out the gallery and info below to learn more about our design and story behind it all.
BW Studio + Events led their team to create a playful and whimsical setting, inviting guests to view a springtime garden through sepia-colored glasses. Esther Gallarday Photography captured the creations of BW Studio + Events, Creative Cakes, Elements Preserved Vintage Rental, Emery Ann Design, Floral Expressions and Marquee Event Rentals in the historic Grand Ballroom at Joliet Union Station.
Built in 1912, The Grand Ballroom at Joliet Union Station is one of Joliet’s most historic properties. Inspired by this history, the team drew inspiration from the past, but it wasn’t the 1910s that caught their attention. Instead, the team looked to the 1970s. The venue’s sweeping granite staircase and antique ticketing booths were the perfect backdrop for this playful vision.
No longer filled with the echoes of trains, the former depot transformed into an environment better suited for the sounds of groovy vinyl records. Vintage furniture rentals, antique suitcases and collectible stamps all contributed to this retro atmosphere. What once was a bustling hub for travelers, the venue has been reimagined into a magical event space that offers a one-of-a-kind experience, regardless of the era.
A special thank you to a wonderful vendor team:
PLANNER | BW Studio + Events // FLORAL | Floral Expressions & Gifts // CAKE | Creative Cakes // STATIONERY | Emery Ann Design // TABLETOP DÉCOR | Marquee Event Rentals // VINTAGE RENTALS | Elements Preserved Vintage Rental // VENUE | The Grand Ballroom at Joliet Union Station // PHOTOGRAPHY | Esther Gallarday Photography
If you’re curious about our win from last year… here’s a blog post we wrote about last year’s submission!!