I hired Jalpa as a full-service wedding planner June 2022 for my September 2023 wedding. From the…read morevery beginning, Jalpa was an absolute gem, guiding me through each step of the wedding planning process and transforming my dream of a perfect big fat Indian wedding into a reality. From the initial consultation to the final moments of the big day, Jalpa demonstrated professionalism, creativity, and an unwavering commitment to making our wedding a truly magical experience. Over the course of 14 months, she assisted in booking every vendor, coordinating/communicating seamlessly with the venue and our vendors (decor, catering, DJ, video/photo, etc.), helped pick out small wedding details, and provided invaluable insights and advice. Her ability to listen to my needs and help my vendors understand my vision truly made every decision feel informed and stress-free. One of the aspects I appreciated most about working with Jalpa was her flexibility. Jalpa understood my type-A personality and my desire to be hands-on with planning, she allowed me to communicate directly with vendors and take charge when needed, while still providing the necessary support and expertise. Jalpa maintained open and clear communication throughout the entire planning process. She was responsive to emails, calls, and any questions or concerns we had. This made us feel confident and assured that our wedding was in capable hands. Jalpa's commitment to her clients is unparalleled. When the big weekend arrived, Jalpa, Mitul, and her J2R team were so efficient and ensured that everything ran smoothly and ON TIME, a remarkable feat given our sizable guest count of close to 600. All thanks to Jalpa's impeccable organization and coordination skills, we truly got to enjoy our wedding weekend without worrying about logistics. She also effortlessly handled the intricacies of our Hindu wedding and vidhi ceremony. Her ability to communicate with my parents and the priest ensured that every detail and the complex steps of the ceremony were flawlessly executed. Hiring Jalpa was single-handedly the BEST decision I made when planning my wedding. Every single one of our guests complimented the wedding (which is very rare for an Indian wedding). They all complimented how beautiful, organized, and fun the wedding was. They also all loved the food. Even three months later, our guests are still talking about our wedding weekend. This honestly would have not been possible without Jalpa. I highly recommend her for all your wedding planning and coordination needs. You will not regret hiring her. Jalpa cares deeply about her clients and goes above and beyond to create unforgettable experiences. I wholeheartedly recommend Jalpa to anyone looking for a dedicated and talented wedding planner. Thank you Jalpa, for making our wedding day the best day of our lives!

Grace is the best wedding planner and more than we could have ever hoped for- attentive,…read moreresponsive, organized, great insights and style, and all with the best demeanor!!!! She was a joy to work with beginning to end. I am sure a million things went wrong on our big day but we had no clue... we were truly able to enjoy every minute because we were in Grace and her team's very capable hands!!! This woman knows how to execute...all with a smile to boot!! If you are lucky enough to work with Grace and her team you will know exactly what I mean. THANK YOU GRACE!!!

If I could give bonus stars for Grace, I would. She was an absolutely amazing wedding planner!…read more She was there every step of the way, offering expertise on everything from table choices to food and drink options to timelines and budgets. She has a 100% can-do attitude and is a pleasure to work with. She prepared a detailed timeline for the months, days, and hours leading up to our wedding; contacted every vendor whenever necessary, including to plan all logistics and timing for the day-of; assisted with all choices along the way; all the while with a huge smile on her face. Her team was also outstanding. Victoria and Ari were there the day-of to handle all logistics. I truly cannot recommend Grace and her team highly enough.

I learnt about the Winnetka Community House when we went to the North Shore Art League for the…read morefirst time to attend the opening reception of their new exhibit -- "Summer Open".  The art league is located on the second floor of the Winnetka Community House.  The Community House was completed in 1911, and it has been expanded several times since.  That's why it was interesting for us to enter a historic building that's over 100 years old, but discovered a modern extension where the art gallery is after climbing a flight of old-fashioned stairs. Apparently, the center hosts many performing arts programs that include dance, theater, music and more.  When we were viewing artwork of the exhibit, a friendly elderly actor of the center greeted us while taking a break on a comfy couch.  We could hear music rehearsal in the theatre when we passed by. They also have education programs, youth sports programs, a full-service fitness center, classes and lectures -- all kinds of activities that help enrich lives of residents of not just Winnetka, but of the broader North Shore. When I read their Yelp reviews, I learnt that the center is even a popular weddings and events venue!  It is truly a versatile community house! As a privately supported 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Community House is not funded through tax dollars.  It's good to know that donations are 100% tax deductible.

If you have high expectations for your wedding venue, this is not the place. I left feeling very…read moreunderwhelmed with both the space and the service. We had a tour scheduled with Sahra, but it was moved to a different time, which seemed like it may have been to accommodate another group. When we arrived, the front desk gentleman was very kind, but we ended up waiting about 20 minutes while Sahra continued speaking with the previous tour group. She clearly saw us waiting but didn't acknowledge us or apologized when she eventually came over. Once the tour finally started, it felt very rushed. The entire walkthrough lasted maybe 15-20 minutes, and there wasn't much opportunity to ask questions before she quickly moved on to the next area. At the end, I asked if she could send photos of the space set up for weddings so we could better visualize it decorated. Her response was, "I won't remember, just email me--I had three tours today." We were the third tour, which made the comment feel dismissive. What stood out even more was that the previous group had asked about placing a hold on the space and did not receive that same response. Overall, the experience felt unprofessional and unwelcoming. After touring around 20 venues, this was by far the most disappointing experience. As for the space itself, it felt very small and somewhat outdated. The bridal and groomsmen suites were essentially small conference rooms. In my opinion, the venue may be better suited for smaller events like a bridal or baby shower rather than a full wedding. Unfortunately, due to both the service and the space, I would not recommend spending your time touring here.

Every Thanksgiving, my friend usually orders a fully cooked whole turkey from Mariano's for her…read morefamily. This year, she invited me to join them. As we talked about the menu, I told her that my brother randomly met Jenna, a Catering by Michaels culinary analyst, at a restaurant right before the holidays last year. She told him about how fabulous their confit turkey legs are so he ordered them, and now his whole family are addicted. I'm a dark meat lover too so I was sorry I missed out on trying them! I guess my turkey description made an impression on my friend because she kicked Mariano's to the curb. She ordered the turkey breast, two confit turkey legs & the gravy. Let me tell you - everything was FANtastic. "Out of this world" as my friend & her family gushed!! They traditionally make their own sides, but this turkey was so delicious that they are planning to order the whole shebang from here next year. The fully cooked turkey breast & legs were so easy, no messy carving necessary. The leg skin was crispy & both white & dark meat were unbelievably juicy. My brother & now my friend both thank Jenna for her confit turkey legs recommendation! We are all stuffed hahaha!

Planning a Chicago wedding while living in California was a challenge - especially for choosing a…read morecaterer. Shannon from Catering by Michaels was so helpful and responsive and very accommodating of our limited availability in Chicago. The food was delicious. The appetizers were unique and delicious and easy for guests to eat while standing around mingling. The dessert bar was so much fun and so tasty, too! The entrees were to die for. The beef tenderloin was actually what sealed the deal for us - my husband said that was the meal he wanted to eat at the wedding! We didn't originally love the salad options we first tried at our tasting but Shannon and the team were so open and responsive and crafted a chopped beet salad that was exactly what we were hoping for. Shannon was also super helpful as we figured out options for kids' meals and guided us to the most economical option. Throughout the entire process, Shannon and her team were super responsive and kind and we ended up with a delicious meal and wonderful experience. We definitely recommend Catering by Michaels for your Chicago wedding!

We had our wedding here and it was just stunning. Deborah and her team were amazing to work with…read more Helped us anytime we needed it while planning a wedding from out of state. Gorgeous day as well - everything turned out beautiful. And they recommended the best vendors.

We hosted a wedding reception at the Grove this month. A beautiful outdoor venue for a party--we…read morehad about 75 guests seated at tables in the pavilion, and made good use of the green space. Children had fun running amok in the field rather than having to sit in a banquet room. Guests who were sensitive to noise from the DJ music were able to sit on benches outside the pavilion and enjoy the event. A couple relatives hadn't attended any wedding receptions in 20 years, but were able to come to this outdoor one. Also a great option for immunocompromised folks who can't safely go to indoor receptions. The coordination with the caterer, etc., was great, and everything ran smoothly. The parking was conveniently located, yet out of sight from the pavilion. Highly recommended!

I just did my kids party with royal decor studio and Natalya and Lidia were amazing and so nice…read more They're work was beautiful. I highly recommend them.

Great work by Lidia. We hired her for Backdrop for my wife's baby shower event and she did a…read morefabulous work. She was easy to work with, great in communication and punctual. She set up the backdrop in exact 1 hr timeframe which was given to her.

Rich and the Butter and Vine team were an absolute pleasure to work with from start to finish. They…read moretook the time to make sure the menu was exactly what we wanted, even creating a custom hors d'oeuvre just for us. The food blew us away with generous portions, incredible flavors, and beautiful execution across the board. Two of our bridesmaids said it was some of the best wedding food they'd ever had, and to this day, friends and family still bring up how much they loved the food. The team at Butter and Vine will work with you every step of the way and leave your guests with a meal they'll remember. We are so grateful we trusted them with our special day!

Butter and Vine were phenomenal!…read more Rich and his exceptional team exceeded every expectation for our memorable wedding. They were a joy to work with! We are incredibly grateful that Rich agreed to cater our intimate celebration, given they are known for much larger, elaborate events. From the very beginning, Rich and his staff were professional, knowledgeable, organized, and truly committed to bringing our vision to life. Our guests are still talking about the food--every dish was absolutely delicious. The quality, flavors, and presentation were perfection, and the compliments continued long after the night ended. We are also deeply thankful to the team for setting up our beautiful outdoor beach ceremony and creating an elegant reception space that was perfection! The staff were attentive, kind, and consistently went above and beyond to make sure everything was flawless. We could not have asked for a better experience with such a highly skilled and professional team. We would recommend them wholeheartedly to any couple looking for exceptional food, service, and a team that truly cares about you and your vision!

My husband and I chose The Caterist as the caterer for our wedding reception and we couldn't be…read moremore pleased. From the very beginning with our tasting, Erin from their team was incredibly responsive to our questions and concerns and so easy to work with. On the day of the wedding, the servers and bartenders were all friendly and helpful. Now the important part: the food was amazing. So many guests at our wedding came up to us raving about the food. Entrees were well seasoned and the portions were generous, and the desserts on our dessert table were also very tasty, with a lot of variety. Overall, would definitely recommend working with the Caterist for your wedding!

The Caterist provided exceptional service for our fundraising event at the Evanston History Center…read more We received positive reviews on the food tasting wonderful. As an event organizer, I also appreciated how easy it was to work with their team during planning and on the event day. Their staff was friendly and all smiles which makes such a difference for guests.