La Dolce Vita

Designer’s Challenge 2026

Cannot believe I am announcing that this year marks our fourth time participating in the Chicago Style Weddings Designers’ Challenge!! An exciting event where four talented Chicago wedding planners come together to create stunning wedding concepts with a team of vendors selected by the Chicago Style Weddings magazine team.

The competition brings out the best in us, as each team works hard to craft a fantasy wedding that represents their creativity, vision, and collaborative spirit. It’s always an inspiring challenge to push the boundaries of wedding design and showcase what’s possible when talented minds join forces.

Our 2026 Vision:

Headed by BW Studio + Events, this Designers’ Challenge team transported guests to a sun-drenched Sicilian hillside without ever leaving Elk Grove Village. Against the patterned tile floors and warm wood ceilings of Cefalù Seaside Sicilian, AmiBloom Florals, Amore Creative, BW Studio + Events, Delish Cakes, Dish & Décor Vintage Rental and Photogenique- Imaging brought a big, bright Italian family dinner to life.

The team leaned into the venue’s Mediterranean soul, with vine-ripe tomatoes tucked into wildly gestural saffron,crimson and basil floral arrangements. Atop white linens, olive oil place cards and blue and white dishware gave every place setting an unmistakably Italian essence. Familiar desserts, like a tiramisu tower and raspberry-topped wedding cake, nodded to the indulgences the Italian countryside inspires.

It’s the story of two people who fell in love on holiday, kept returning to Italy and eventually decided to bring Italy to them. Every detail — from the “La Dolce Vita” menus to the Aperol Spritz tower waiting at cocktail hour — evokes a celebration as generous and sun-soaked as the culture that inspired it.

We wanted it to feel elevated and sophisticated enough for a wedding experience, but homey enough to feel approachable and like anyone could achieve this look with beautiful items from their collection.