Wedding Day: Highlights from Wedding Events at The Special Event 2013

.A pretty wedding cake from Chicago's famed Swedish Bakery welcomes guests to the Wedding Galleries at The Special Event 2013

The team at WOW Event Design is guided by the "rustic-vintage-barn" theme, which is requested by more than half of their bridal clients today, to create "A Victorian-styled Wedding." A dramatic custom structure showcases the dining tables.

Patterned china and lacy overlays add charm.

Another view of the structure. Supporting WOW Event Design were AAA Tentmasters, Hall's Rental, Remarkable Rhinestones, the Succulent Source, Swedish Bakery and Visual Impact Events.

From MichaelAngelos The Special Event Co. and Celebrated Events, "Innovative Saturation." The team took its inspiration from fashion's color-blocking trend and the works of Dutch abstract artist Piet Mondrian to design bright, geometric bursts of hypersaturated colors including sapphire, fuchsia and leaf green.

Black tables and chairs throw the fuchsia centerpiece into high relief.

The geometric tabletop at "Innovation Saturation."

Kehoe Designs makes a bold statement with "Nouveau Noir"--a mix of ebony and ivory with shots of gold. Design touchstones included Vera Wang's black bridal gowns and a Marcel Wanders-inspired chuppah.

A glamorous lounge in "Nouveau Noir." Gallery supporters were BBJ Linen, Floral Exhibits and Tablescapes.

Low, lush centerpieces dress the table.

The mosaic-tile bar sparkles with gold highlights.

Detail + Design uses geometric motifs--hexagons, diamonds and the like--to craft the sleek "Contours of Geometry."

The elegant tabletop. Gallery supporters are Cloth Connection, CORT Event Furnishings, Evans Audi Visual, and KB Design.

A closer view.

The Detail + Design team uses a range of seating options--from chairs to benches to low-back benches to high-back benches--for the ceremony.

The 2013 Wedding Event takes over the Chicago Marriott Downtown for an utterly elegant dinner.

Guests marvel at the wide variety of tabletops at the Wedding Event.

A dramatic centerpiece.

Old World elegance.

Towering vases brim with floral.

A moody mix of black vessels, white floral and sparkling votives.

The never-fail charm of a candelabra.

A tiered arrangement.

Another towering centerpiece.

Guests also enjoyed a fashion show of bridal gowns; the brides carried oversize bouquets.

An amazing bouquet.

Superstar planner Sasha Souza serves as keynote speaker.

MC Brett Culp (left) salutes the event chairs: Ali Phillips and Anthony Gowder.
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