Come on over and see me sometime.

...on my new blog site, that is! Just this morning I launched a newly-revamped website at forgetmeknodt.com, and in addition to loads more eye candy in the new gallery...

sneak peak!

...it includes a blog of its own. So if you want to keep on hearing from me, just head on over to forgetmeknodt.com/blog and sign up for updates! I'll be blogging often.


Cheers!
Janessa

...and this is what it's all about.

Today has been a HUGE day for my budding lil' biz! More on that soon, but let's just say that certain opportunities have arisen that required me to go back through my archives of photos from weddings.

That's how I happened upon this gem, captured by David Turner Photography. It's Jina - one of my favorite brides of all time - wrapped up in a truly blissful moment just after she tied the kno(d)t.

This image sums up exactly why I do what I do. ¡Viva amore!

United we [stop and smell the flowers].

Sneak peeks are in from last week's corporate event - the 88 Brand Partners launch party. A million thanks to Cage + Aquarium for capturing some great shots of the flowers! 

I had so much fun with these. Basically, 88 is a creative agency in River North with a groovy new brand and something new to say to Chicago's advertising world: "United we brand". So they hired on Cage + Aquarium to spin and manage a super fun photobooth, Hearty Boys to serve up massive amounts of creative deliciousness, and yours truly to add even more color to an already vibrant office space.

I decided on seriously bright arrangements of orchids, dahlias, delphinium and craspedia. Maybe an anemone or two, and a coupla ranunculus. How could I not capitalize on their bold color palette, contrasted with black? Also of note - the cute "magic 88" balls!

Here are a few sneak peeks. More to come as the images keep rolling in!

Save the Date fun!

I am SO excited! Our Save the Dates just arrived!

You might remember me gushing in an earlier blog about Mike Hirshon, a professional illustrator whose wedding flowers I'll be doing this summer. Well, he just finished our Save the Dates, and is now working on our invites! (Can't WAIT to see those!)

The whole process was so painless. I just wrote him an email telling him about JP and me...the things we like, what we do, how obsessed we are with Maddie...and he drew up a couple sketches. I chose one route, and we took a few days making refinements. Then? VOILA! Check 'em out:

 Front and back. I'm in love!

 Look! He captured Maddie's likeness perfectly! He even gave her a Chicago Cubs bandana!

Brides, if you're on the lookout for cool alternative options for your save the dates, check this guy out. I'm just thrilled - he really personalized these for us. They're little original artworks! Now, I just have to address them all. Eeeesh. :)

Wait for it...

Today at 6:00 pm, rojo foto // design will announce the winning couple for the Love Never Fails Giveaway! I'm so excited to be a part of this. All of the couples who entered had fantastic love stories, and it was so much fun to read through them. Yay love!

To keep things extra-super-duper-fair, Robert and I recruited a few guest judges to help us choose.

Amanda Yu-Dieterich: Made with Love Paperie and Design Studio 

Amanda makes the most amazing personalized invitations and things...she's a brilliant designer and an expert with paper types and printing techniques. She really understands how to bring a couple's personality to life through design, so we knew she'd be able to provide excellent insight!

Tanya Luz: Domestic Arts - Custom Cakes & Sweets

Tanya's custom creations shop operates out of Ann Arbor, Michigan. And when we say custom, we mean it! Not only is she a genius at making classic cakes, she's not afraid to give a couple exactly what they want! Death Star cake? Sure! Starry Night cake? No problem! Check out her blog for some super sweet photos.

Meghann VanderBaan: Blush & Bashful Event Boutique

Getting to know couples and what makes them tick, is Meghann's specialty -- and how she makes her living! She works with brides and grooms to plan and customize every little detail of their wedding, and she does it so well. We knew she'd be a great addition to the Lover Never Fails team of judges!

The five of us together gave lots of time and attention to every submission we received. Can't wait to announce the winners, and get started planning their dream wedding flowers!

Brushing off the cobwebs.

So, the winter isn't a very popular time for weddings here in Chicago, but it is an extremely popular time for PLANNING weddings! I have, thusly, been up to my eyeballs in emails and estimates and other various forms of paperwork. It's all in the name of floral design, though, and boy oh boy is this wedding season going to be a doozy!

Actually, there have been a lot of changes and opportunities for Forget Me Knodt lately, but that will be a topic for another blog.

This weekend I was honored to work on centerpieces for tonight's Catering Executive Club's dinner, hosted by Pure Kitchen Catering at Room 1520. The color scheme is whites and neutrals, with antique farm tables, crystal chandeliers and crystal chivari chairs. What fun!

I made some nice antique-yet-fresh centerpieces in little bronze urns. With garden roses and spray roses, plus hyacinth, hypericum and privet berries, and scented geranium greens, they looked great and smelled even greater!

And then, just to keep me on my toes, my wonderful friend Mara went and had a brand new baby girl (Sadie!) on Saturday morning! So it was back to the flower market to pick up something in a pink. A sweet little something for sweet miss Sadie.

I went to the hospital on Sunday to meet her and smooch her mama, and I think it's safe to say she and I are going to be fast friends. For example, she had a serious case of hiccups, but didn't let that get her down in the least. An optimist - I like her already!

It was a busy weekend, but I can't say how nice it was to get my hands back in some flowers. It was good to brush off some of the cobwebs and get ready for the wild ride that's just around the corner. Hope you're all doing well, and staying warm!

Indie Wed! (Or: Baby's First Bridal Show)

January 28th marked my very first Bridal Show! It was fantastic. It was so much work, but so worth it!

In addition to playing with gorgeous flowers (and wild raspberries!) I got the chance to be inspired by hundreds of amazing local vendors, eat cupcakes and things, and meet SO MANY fantastic new brides (you know who you are!).

But there's more. I also got to spend the whole day with my wonderful friend and esteemed colleague, Becca Heuer of Becca Heuer Photography.

She helped me more than I can ever thank her for! Plus, she took tons of great photos that day - like the one pictured above! You can view more of them here, on her blog.

Thanks to the organizers of Indie Wed, to all the vendors who participated, and to the wonderful brides who came out to meet us. Can't wait for the next Indie Wed to come around!