A Wedding Planner's Perspective

Behind the Vows

Notes on planning, real weddings, and what actually happens behind the scenes.

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You’re Engaged! Now What?
Newly engaged couple sitting on stone steps among autumn leaves, she in a cream dress with her arm around his shoulders, he in a green plaid blazer, smiling at each other
You’re Engaged! Now What?

You’re Engaged! Now What?

You said yes. Before the venue tours and the Pinterest boards, a wedding planner on the first conversations that make everything after easier.
October 6, 2026

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Planning a Chicago Wedding: Venues, Weather and Expert Tips
Bride and groom holding hands as they walk beside a stone balustrade above the Chicago River, with the downtown skyline behind them
Planning a Chicago Wedding: Venues, Weather and Expert TipsBehind the ScenesPlanning AdviceReal Weddings

Planning a Chicago Wedding: Venues, Weather and Expert Tips

September 9, 2026
From riverfront restaurants to historic landmarks, and from July heat to February snow: how to plan a Chicago…
From Trust to Wedding of the Year
Close-up portrait of a bride in a high-neck lace wedding gown and a bearded groom in a dark suit embraced beneath a flowing white veil, with the bride's hand resting on his chest showing her wedding ring.
From Trust to Wedding of the YearBehind the ScenesReal Weddings

From Trust to Wedding of the Year

August 19, 2026
CM Event Design received the 2025 NACE ONE Award for Wedding of the Year. The story behind it…
What Happens If Things Go Wrong On Your Wedding Day?
Newlyweds entering their reception hand raised in a brick loft wedding venue
What Happens If Things Go Wrong On Your Wedding Day?Behind the ScenesReal Weddings

What Happens If Things Go Wrong On Your Wedding Day?

June 28, 2026
The moments you remember are possible because of the moments you never see. When you picture your wedding…
What Couples Don’t Realize About All-Inclusive Wedding Venues…And What Happens When Included Vendors Aren’t the Right Fit
Wedding ceremony set with black chairs and floral arrangements in a brick venue
What Couples Don’t Realize About All-Inclusive Wedding Venues…And What Happens When Included Vendors Aren’t the Right FitPlanning AdviceVendor Insights

What Couples Don’t Realize About All-Inclusive Wedding Venues…And What Happens When Included Vendors Aren’t the Right Fit

May 29, 2026
At first glance, an all-inclusive wedding venue sounds like the dream. Your catering is included. Rentals are bundled.…
Why Being a Real Wedding Planner Is Nothing Like The Wedding Planner (Sorry, J.Lo)
A CM Event Design planner carrying the bride's gown and veil as she walks to the ceremony.
Why Being a Real Wedding Planner Is Nothing Like The Wedding Planner (Sorry, J.Lo)Behind the ScenesPlanning Advice

Why Being a Real Wedding Planner Is Nothing Like The Wedding Planner (Sorry, J.Lo)

May 15, 2026
Hollywood gave us J.Lo in heels. Reality looks a lot more like carrying dresses, solving problems, and trying…
Just Because You Blow Out Candles Doesn’t Make You a Firefighter…
Candlelit wedding reception tablescape with pastel florals in a rustic barn venue
Just Because You Blow Out Candles Doesn’t Make You a Firefighter…Behind the ScenesPlanning Advice

Just Because You Blow Out Candles Doesn’t Make You a Firefighter…

April 29, 2026
...and just because you planned your own wedding doesn't make you a wedding planner. There is something happening…
Inclusive Wedding Marketing: Why the Industry Must Move Beyond Brides
Two grooms in suits with boutonnieres holding hands as they walk together outdoors
Inclusive Wedding Marketing: Why the Industry Must Move Beyond BridesVendor Insights

Inclusive Wedding Marketing: Why the Industry Must Move Beyond Brides

January 12, 2026
Weddings aren't about roles. They're about choosing each other. The wedding industry has long been built around a…
When the Unthinkable Happens: What to Do If Your Wedding Venue Cancels After You’ve Contracted
Black and white photo of newlyweds kissing at a brick wedding venue entrance
When the Unthinkable Happens: What to Do If Your Wedding Venue Cancels After You’ve ContractedPlanning AdviceVendor Insights

When the Unthinkable Happens: What to Do If Your Wedding Venue Cancels After You’ve Contracted

December 22, 2025
When the unthinkable happens and your wedding venue canceled after contracting, it can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't…
Fall Wedding Season Reflections: What This Year’s Weddings Have Taught Me
Newlyweds walking hand in hand down a leaf-covered woodland path in autumn sunlight.
Fall Wedding Season Reflections: What This Year’s Weddings Have Taught MeBehind the ScenesPlanning Advice

Fall Wedding Season Reflections: What This Year’s Weddings Have Taught Me

October 20, 2025
Fall weddings remind me how powerful stillness can be — the light, the air, the in-between moments that…
From College Buddy to Mystery Guest: What To Do When A Wedding Crasher Shows Up
Newlyweds relaxing with drinks on a lounge at their wedding reception
From College Buddy to Mystery Guest: What To Do When A Wedding Crasher Shows UpBehind the ScenesReal Weddings

From College Buddy to Mystery Guest: What To Do When A Wedding Crasher Shows Up

September 29, 2025
We've all laughed at the movie Wedding Crashers. Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson were fantastic at sneaking into…

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