Meet the Venue | Eagle Ridge Resort and Spa

The holiday spirit is among us, and I can't think of a better place that brings the warm and fuzzies of the season than the Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa in Galena, Illinois.  My family has spent many a Thanksgiving holiday there, as well as my sister's wedding this past August.  Every year we went around Thanksgiving, the lodge and surrounding area was already decked out with their Christmas decor that you felt closer to December than turkey time.  So, in honor of the festivities that are edging closer and closer, I thought it would be fun to feature this venue that I hold so close to my heart.  In addition, Megan, the event planner for my sister's wedding, was so fabulous and definitely worth hearing from.

Photo courtesy of Unposed Photography

If you ever need a weekend getaway from the city (for those of you in the Chicago area), I highly suggest Eagle Ridge for a nearby retreat!

I reached out to Megan to answer a few questions about the resort....

1.  What is your main job at Eagle Ridge?
My official title is Catering Sales Manager. My job is to plan and oversee Weddings and Special Events such as Vow Renewals, Family Reunions, Bachelor and Bachelorette parties just to name a few. My unofficial title is Swiss Army Knife… I have worked in most positions in the Restaurant and Hospitality Industry and am more than happy to fill in wherever needed.

2.  How long has Eagle Ridge been around?
As one of the Midwest's most unique full-service golf and spa resorts, Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa offers an array of exciting experiences, as well as the perfect destination to take advantage of its pristine beauty and relaxing getaway opportunities. The resort is a natural backdrop to the picturesque setting of the 6,800-acre Galena Territory – a recreational and residential development built by the Branigar Organization in the early 1970’s. It’s abundant wildlife, rolling hills, peaceful lake and dramatic vistas were the perfect setting for a world-class resort and its close proximity to the historic town of Galena instantly made the area popular with vacationers.


Accommodations at Eagle Ridge range from 80 beautifully appointed rooms at the main lodge – or simply ‘the Inn’, to roughly 200 spacious, individually private-owned one-to-six+ bedroom villas and distinctive homes each enhanced by modern amenities and luxurious features.  This unique lodging arrangement not only offers guests the traditional luxury hotel room experience, but it also presents a more private alternative in our inventory of free standing homes which lend themselves beautifully to families, group getaways, wedding parties, executive retreats and even group meeting venues.

3.  Toot your own horn....what is the venue’s specialty?
Eagle Ridge goes above and beyond to accommodate our Guests and make them feel welcome. We pay a great deal of attention to the details and do our best personalize each stay and make it a memorable one.

4.  What would be your dream event creation?
A Celebrity Wedding. (Preferably Jennifer Aniston’s, I’m a big fan!) 

5.  Wedding trend you love and one you’d like to see disappear?
The trends that I love are seeing the personalized things/trends that Brides do. Some favs include different colored Bridal Gowns, going with black and gold linens instead of the traditional white, not having programs and doing a chalkboard or sign instead just to name a few. I don’t think that there is a trend that I would like to see disappear…. I think that every Bride is different and I love different trends/styles for each of them based on their personalities and tastes.

6. Craziest request you’ve had??
Umm, honestly, I don’t think I can say that I’ve ever had any request too crazy. I’ll be sure to let you know when I do though. lol

7.  What is something uncommon you wish your clients knew about Eagle Ridge?
We have had celebrity’s stay here.  When the movie field of dreams was filmed the cast stayed at Eagle Ridge. 
Also, our Chef creates a completely edible Gingerbread house every winter. I have attached a fun fact sheet about that as well.

8.  Favorite thing to do outside the territory?
I love nature, which Galena is great for! But besides kayaking and taking our two adorable beagles for long walks out near the nature preserve just outside of town. My guilty pleasure is Sushi! Date night with my husband is one of my favorite things to do and we dine at Little Tokyo in downtown Galena as often as possible. It’s delicious!

9.  Anything new and exciting coming up that we should know about?
The second phase of multiphase renovations will be taking place soon which will concentrate on all our guest rooms in the inn and courtyard. We are all very excited about this!

Megan Carter

Catering Sales Manager

Weddings & Special Events

384 Territory Drive

Galena, IL  61036

(815) 776-5027 Office

(815) 275-3287 Cell Phone

(815) 777-0445 Fax

mcarter@eagleridge.com

www.eagleridge.com

http://www.eagleridge.com

Thanks so much Megan!!!  Oooo, and thank you for this tasty treat.....

Celebrating 5 Years!

This weekend I will helping The Dress by Nicole celebrate 5 years of their dress boutique, as well as their expansion.  Come by Saturday from 10am - 4pm to check in on me painting.  It will be a wonderful celebration!!

The Dress by Nicole

• 131 W. Wesley Street
• Wheaton, Illinois 60187

Phone	(630) 653-3737
Email	nicole@shopthedress.com
Website	http://www.shopthedress.com http://shopthedress.blogspot.com/

Ironically, it is also Reenie Rose's 5 year anniversary this month.  Sooooo, if you want to come by on Saturday and bring me cake, I will not resist.  Cheers!

Pop the Champagne to Celebrate Pantone and DIY!

It has been quite awhile since I posted.  I kind of took a mental holiday break from everything.  Instead of digging myself out of snow, I'm trying to surface out of a pile of catching up which means I have a bunch of content to share with you….all in due time of course.
For starters, I want to go back to about a week and a half ago when a styled shoot I worked on was featured on Style Me Pretty Illinois.  Once again, myself, Jennifer Gaudreau of Jennifer Kathryn Photography and Meghan Andalman of Lovebird Events took on the Pantone color of the year: Emerald Green.  I'm kind of sad to see this one go since it still seems so in season and fresh.  Alas though, I think we paid tribute to this color quite well with our shoot.

Hosted at The Boarding House in their 3rd floor dining room, we couldn't have asked for a better setting and source of inspiration.  From floor to ceiling, myself and the rest of our team used the space as our muse for our individual projects.  I took the wine bottle ceiling and inverted it to create a centerpiece for our table:

Another project I took on was a custom painted table runner.  We decided against the over done chevron and went with a simple wide diagonal charcoal gray stripe.  At the ends I recreated the single letter monogram that was used in several other details.  How appropriate that the letter "L" was chosen too!

You'll have to visit Style Me Pretty Illinois to view the full gallery of images taken by Jennifer Kathryn Photography and to see all of the amazing details our team took on.  Everyone worked so hard:

Photography: Jennifer Kathryn Photography | Wedding Dress: Bella Bridesmaid | Floral Design: Dilly Lily | Cake: Elysia Root | Invitations: Nico & Lala | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Bella Bridesmaid | Event Planning: Love Bird Events | Event Design: Reenie Rose | Hair & Makeup: Nika Vaughan Bridal Artists | Groom's Attire: J. Crew | Boarding House Chicago: Boarding House | Linens: BBJ Linen | Sweets: Veruca Chocolates

So with one more day left to enjoy this color of 2013, I thought I might inspire you going into the new year with a video on how to cut your own wine bottles like the piece in our shoot:

Maybe you are looking to create a fun centerpiece for a NYE party or are want to get a bit more creative in the new year.  Whatever your motive, I hope you put all of those champagne bottles to good use!

How to- Cutting Wine Bottles from Reenie Rose on Vimeo.

Happy New Year!!!

FORM 2013 Recap

It's hard to believe a month has already passed since I co-hosted FORM: Art + floral with Natural Beauties Floral and Kristine Aletha Weddings at the Chicago Artists Coalition.  I wanted to revisit the evening and show you some of the fantastic images taken by Heather DeCamp Photography.

Natural Beauties Floral's creation.

My painting complimented by Fleur du Jour's floral interpretation.

An awesome piece by Stems.

Mmmm.....Elysia Root Cakes.

Proseco provided by Evolution Wine and Spirits.

Sangria and flavors by Cello Via.

Every bite by Goose Island Catering was delicious.

St. Germain made such a tasty cocktail.

Flowers falling from the sky by Life in Bloom.

A magical creation by Fragrant Design.

Team FORM 2013

 To view the entire photo gallery, visit the FORM Facebook page, and be sure to "Like" us!!

Mother's Day Gift Guide

Mother's Day is 9 days away, and if your mom is anything like my mom, she is very difficult to buy for.  Granted, my mom and I have very similar taste, so really, anything I like, she would most likely enjoy as well.  The problem here is that she doesn't see a need for her to have more stuff....she'd rather I have these treasures.  I can't tell you how many times I've ended up with shoes, jewelry and other miscellaneous things she's originally gotten for herself, thought twice about and handed them over to me.  I will not reveal what I am getting her this year to say "thank you for being the bestest mom ever" cause she is likely reading this (hi mom), but I will tell you that she won't want to give it back to me....but maybe share just a little of it with me.

So if you are in a pickle this year, I have a couple of options that mom will love.  She won't be returning these gifts but will be writing you a thank you note instead!

Yesterday I made two Mother's Day focused stops.  One was to my printer to pick up these gems:

Remember my lovely calendars I was selling at the beginning of the year?  Well, come May, calendars are kind of obsolete, so I had them converted into these postcard-like pieces of stationary.  Blank on the back with a stunning painting on the front, twelve of them come in a set with envelopes for $15.00 (+tax & shipping where applicable).  Perfect Mother's Day gift...I think so!

If you're thinking something a little extra that really shows how much you love mom (insert arms spread wide open here)...then I can do one better then this, but you should probably throw in a pack of the cards for good measure.  3 words: a Reenie Rose print (ok, 4 words).  Mom's love prints of their kid's paintings or just Reenie Rose work that they admire.

Stop #2 yesterday was extra special for me.  After meeting with Natalie and her mom from Zuzu's Petals, I knew that we were going to become connected in both business and friendship in a lifelong kind of way.  Sure enough, Natalie's mom fell in love with one of my paintings, and Natalie being the good daughter that she is, ordered a print of it from me as an early Mother's Day/retirement gift for her mom.  Look at this picture of sweetness!

The nice thing about my paintings is that they aren't completely noticeable as a bridal bouquet.  Natalie's mom just loved this piece and already had visions of it in her home without even caring about who the bride originally was for this bouquet.  I love that.
The moral to this story is that you too have the ability to have your mom beaming with love.  Print orders likely won't be delivered in time for Mother's Day, but it is certainly something you can write in a lovely card that her amazing gift is on the way....and I have just the cards for you!

Send me an email with your order request to info@ReenieRose.com.  I've got you covered for Mother's Day!

The Perfect Album: BrideBox

Second to having a fabulous painting as a daily reminder of your wedding are your photos.  While a painting fully encompasses the whole feel of a wedding, a photo album really captures the play by play of your entire wedding day.  It should be done well, and it should be done by the people who know you the best...you!  In comes BrideBox to assist you with making your wedding day photo album everything you wish it to be.

Wedding albums tell the story of your special day

Usually it is just a few large prints that get framed; slideshows requiring your family to huddle around a computer screen; flipping through a stack of proofs by hand and passing them around; or worse yet, a disc sitting in a drawer that is never used. While there are many ways to share your wedding photos, anything less than a wedding album doesn’t tell the whole story of your special day.

What is BrideBox? A company that helps brides and grooms capture the narrative of their wedding day with elegance and ease.

This is a new offer in the wedding industry. The idea of taking the photographer out of the album is scary to some brides. But DIY trends have opened up paths for couples to personalize every aspect of their wedding.

When it comes to something as personally meaningful as your wedding memories, why would you want someone else to create that for you?

The design of an album sets your photos apart, reflecting the personalities of you and your spouse. Most designs use a chronological narrative –showing your special day as it unfolded, from getting ready and the first look, to the ceremony and reception. This helps to remember the sequence of events. But as a couple the most important thing to reflect is what the day meant to you, and showcasing your images in a flush mount wedding album gives you the most out of your wedding photography. It’s an intuitive way to relive the memories of your special day.

As long as you have photo memories to protect, BrideBox is a great gift option. Not just for newly engaged couples but newlyweds and even just ‘weds’. All you need are digital photos, and you can showcase the photographer’s stunning work.

BrideBox albums are produced in a lab alongside professional photographers’ products. The only difference is, the time you put into deciding how your photos best deserve to be displayed. The photographic paper allows for smudges and fingerprints to be completely wiped away, just with a soft cloth. The pages will not fade, rip, tear or damage. All of your pictures are kept looking their best and available to display.

Be proud. Show off your wedding.

The best reasons to create your own wedding album:

-You know best how your photos should be displayed. You have your favorites and should display them how you want them.

-You control the design. This doesn’t mean it’s labor intensive; just your personal style and taste are able to shine through.

           -It’s all through a simple, easy-to-use software application. Download it for free, and pay nothing until you are ready to print. 

A Unique Gifter

Just in time for some last minute Valentine's Day ideas (or getting an early start on your wedding registry), I've got some amazing gift ideas for you this week.  Well, I have some amazing people helping me by lending their advice and giving some new direction to gift giving.  Let's be honest, who doesn't want a box of chocolates on V-day or need their fluffy towels as a wedding gift?  We can do better though folks!  It's time to step it up this year and really be mindful of the giving you are doing...because it only means that the "getting" will be that much better.

First up today is Anne from Unique Gifter who takes gifting and registries a step further by providing options for every holiday and every person's needs.  Take it away Anne!

“The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” – Aristotle

• Dyson or Miele vacuum
• Kitchenaid Stand Mixer
• Sterling Silverware
• Original Artwork
• Pot Set
• DSLR Camera

The above are some of the more common, more expensive items that show up on wedding registries. For many people, they are drool worthy consumer goods that remain out of reach, or are just plain un-justifiable in their own budgets. There are all sorts of reactions to high priced wedding registry items; invariably someone secretly (or not-so-secretly) thinks that you’re being gift grabby. The high roller may be disappointed in the lack of selection and the organizer jumps at the chance to pull together a group gift. All of the items listed above have long lives and high use. Additionally, for many, they are things that they dream of getting but are financially out of reach most of the time. That is precisely what makes them such fantastic gifts!

I invite you to join me in bringing together an awesome gift for a lucky couple that you know. You can select one of the pricier gifts and organize a group of contributors. Take the gift as a base and create a complete moment or memory. All of the pieces come together to create a complete picture, just like a puzzle. Here are a few examples of fantastic group gifts:

The Espresso Machine

This past summer, some friends received a very pricey espresso machine, from about a dozen of their guests. The guests all got together and picked up the machine, plus a nice milk thermometer, a steaming jug, some coffee beans and a selection of espresso and coffee mugs. Now, they have a daily ritual made possible, down to the last detail, by a great group of friends. Some more ideas to add to an espresso machine could be some honey, raw sugar, or maybe even a nice jazz CD for a lazy Saturday morning.

The Camera

Another set of friends selected a DSLR Camera as their long-shot wedding registry item. The newlyweds spent the first year of their marriage teaching English in Korea, snapping photos and adventuring together. Their memories would have been very different had they not had generous guests who came together to bless them with this gift. They also picked up a convenient carrying case, to complete the gift.

Artwork

This is Reenie’s Rose’s wheelhouse! Ensure you know the couple well, or check with them first, but original artwork can be an extremely touching and valued gift. It will be something that the couple keeps and displays in their home for a very, very long time. They will be able to enjoy it almost daily and it will remind them of the gift givers.

Vacuum

Now, you may be puzzling about the vacuum. Are your friends or family pet owners? Yes? Guess what, they will LOVE that vacuum and so will any guests that set foot in their home! It may seem a very bland and boring thing to give, but trust me on this one, their future health and happiness may well depend on it!

Group gifts are unique in how they provide an opportunity for friends and family to come together and show their support for a couple. They are a form of symbolic uniting on behalf of the couple, showing more than the etiquette obligation to bring a gift to a wedding. The effort put forth to coordinate, plus the joy at receiving some of the most costly registry items that they may not have expected to be gifted, is overwhelming for some newlyweds. Put another way, group gifts are like a great big hug from friends and family!

Anne writes about all sorts of great gift ideas, including creative and fun ways to give cash, at her blog Unique Gifter. She covers wedding savings tips for guests, plus tips for adding that special touch to gift giving.

Style Me Pretty Teaser

More teasers for tomorrow's photo shoot unveiling...

Tangerine Tango would not have shown it's true color without the lovely florals by Adriana Amarei of Life Made Pretty.

Our venue was amazing!!!  First of all, we had a gorgeous clear day with a view of the lakefront in all its glory.  Buckingham Fountain was on in full force and the lake was the clearest blue.  Venue Six10 was the perfect setting for our clean, modern shoot.

And how about all of those special details put together by Meghan of Lovebird Events?!  She was so lucky to utilize the dish ware by Susan Fredman at Home and linens by BBJ Linen.

Finally, our lovely models, Jaime and Patrick.  How do you show an anniversary of love without a couple that truly loves each other?  Jaime looked stunning in the BHLDN dress while Patrick was oh so dashingly handsome.

I can't wait for everyone to experience the full shoot tomorrow.  Be sure to visit Style Me Pretty Illinois!!!!

***Images by Jennifer Kathryn Photography***

Be U Weddings Feature

I love seeing more of a bride and groom's wedding than just the bouquet, so I was delighted when Be U Weddings featured Sarah and Ernest's wedding on their blog yesterday.  They had an incredibly gorgeous ceremony at the Chicago Cultural Center with flowers by Blumen of HMR Design Group, and all of the perfect details put together by Hilary of Estera Events....love her.  Check out the post and take a trip down memory lane to this purty painting....

A Year in Review

Phew, we made it through the first week of 2012.
For the past couple of weeks, everyone has been reminiscing about the past year while preparing for the year ahead of us.  I would be lying if I said I wasn't doing the same.  This week has been about analyzing, reviewing and planning for 2012.  The thing is, we can't help but look back on the past in order to plan for our future.  That being said, I am going to do my part and pay gratitude to all that made 2011 possible for Reenie Rose....it only seems right and a form of good karma for 2012.
So, here's a year in review for Reenie Rose:

Kara & Mike

Florist:  Kehoe Designs

Photographer:  Rick Aguilar

 Rachel & Jason

Carrie & Bill

Florist: Event Creative

Photographer:  Studio This Is

Kelly & Andrew

Florist: Grapevine Floral

Photographer: George Street Photo & Video 

Paula Jean & Brian

Florist:  Kehoe Designs

Photographer:   Stuart Rodgers Photography 

Laura & D.R.

Florist:  Elegant Creations

Photographer:   Brad Photographers and Video 

 Maureen & Kevin

Florist: Pistil and Vine

Photographer:  Darcy Demmel Photography

Sarah & Ernest

Florist: Blumen Design

Photographer:  Jaclyn Simpson Photography

 The paintings are lovely, but the vendors I work with are fantastic.  The people I continue to surround myself with are the ones that are helping to build Reenie Rose to it's potential.  

Just think, by the end of this year, I'll have completed a full calendar's worth...and then some.  2013 Reenie Rose calendars....I like that idea.  Is it too early to place orders?

Weekend Happenings

Holding true to my promise of actually keeping up with the progress of my current painting, here I am writing to you with an update.  I was lucky enough to work at Magnificent Milestones on Saturday...painting!  While the storm rolled in and out, I sat in the front window and got some work done.

I think this painting would actually look really pretty in this space with all of the soft tones.

In other stories of Reenie Rose, I met with another florist last week that I am just loving!  Kelly Marie of Fleur is a seasoned veteran in the floral industry.  She's been in business for almost 10 years now and plays hostess to the cutest boutique in Logan Square.  Every time I've been in there to see Kelly, I say good-bye to her and then find myself lingering around for a few minutes after to take in all the goodies she has lining the barn-wood walls.

Love, love, love her work....and she's pretty great too!  Fingers crossed on creating a painting of one of Kelly's beautiful bouquets in the near future!