Lisa Gordon Events

05/28/2021

My first wedding since 2019 could not have been more perfectly suited to what I do: It was a small, backyard wedding that was completely non-traditional, extremely eco-friendly...and there were puppies! For the whole story and more photos, hop over to my blog and check it out: https://lisagordonevents.com/its-wedding-season-again/.
[ : A couple in matching rainbow and denim outfits (with matching rainbow masks) pet a small black puppy held by a person wearing all black.]

05/05/2021

It has been way too long since I wrote you a blog post, but I'm coming out from under my pandemic rock, and I see some good news. Read on for more: https://lisagordonevents.com/peering-cautiously-out/
[ : A woman in a strapless white dress (with a black belt) seated in a plush orange chair peers over the top of her bouquet of brightly colored Ge**er daisies.]
Photo: Paul Grigonis, pplusgphoto.com

11/16/2020

If you have been wondering whether that farmers market was going to be saved, the answer is an unfortunate no. There are too many obstacles and the time is too short. Please support the farmers who are coming to town, anyhow, to drop off people's orders and CSA shares. You can find more information on my blog: http://lisagordonevents.com/anyone-have-a-miracle/

No Miracle Nov 13, 2020 | Other Events | 0 comments Update as of Monday, November 16: The market is definitely not going forward. There are too many obstacles and too little time. Please share this information with your neighbors and friends. I don’t want people to show up and be disappointed beca...

10/04/2020

I know this has been at the bottom of my wedding-planning list for years, but I think it's way past time to start considering the needs of all of the guests at a wedding. Non-drinkers can have fun beverages, too!

This weekend I went to a wedding at a friend's house. As we chatted with fellow guests, my partner and I stood in line at the bar.

"What can I get you?" the bartender smiled. "We have everything!"

"Great!" I cheered. I was thirsty. "Something non-alcoholic please."

The bartender's cheery demeanor immediately turned to one of perplexity. He wasn't expecting this, apparently. Befuddled by my request, he told me there was juice and water bottles in the cooler around the corner. So... the kids cooler.

Yea, I know the drill. I've been sober almost two years and I know all about the kids cooler. And yet I go into every social gathering, every wedding, every restaurant with almost a Pollyanna hope. Maybe the sober curious movement is making a ripple in the food and beverage industry. Maybe this time they'll have the non-alcoholic (NA) beer they said was out of stock last time. Maybe they've finally updated their menu to have NA options that are fun and flirty and celebratory.

But we still have a long ways to go, don't we? And at every social gathering, I still ask for my drink in a wine glass or a tumbler. And I ask for a lime wedge because, yes... it's more fun. And yes... it makes it look less like a kid's juice box and more like a grown up drink.

And yes, I don't drink but that doesn't mean my taste buds died. I still like festive drinks in fun glasses with pretty colors.

Yet more often then not, I wind up digging through the ice of a kids cooler, looking for something NA besides apple juice and Capri Sun.

You stand out if you're not drinking. You get questioned if you're not drinking ("are you pregnant?") You look and feel out of place, especially if you're new in your sobriety. Sometimes... you even get ridiculed or pressured to have one.

Being sober in a world that idolizes booze feels like a target on our back. A target I never asked to be there. A target I never expected.

Quitting drinking was hard. But navigating in this boozy culture as the only non-drinker at almost every event, networking party, every wedding? That's harder.

A little inclusivity would go a long way. Offering NA options at your party. Throwing out non-alcoholic suggestions when you offer to buy someone a drink? It's an easy, inclusive concept that might make a big difference for someone newly sober and struggling.

Time to change the narrative. Someone's reason for not drinking is none of our business. Let's offer more NA options and less sideways glances. It would go a long way.

***
Follow Celeste on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/theultimatemomchallenge.

09/26/2020

One more post in the series on food preservation for winter: Root cellaring--minus the root cellar. http://lisagordonevents.com/eco-friendly-living-root-cellaring-minus-the-root-cellar/.

Join me next Tuesday at 7:00 pm on Zoom for a workshop on freezing, pickling, and any other kind of winter food storage that might interest you. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89593190791.

09/11/2020

Here's another in my eco-friendly living series: How to make your own vinegar. This one is fun! http://lisagordonevents.com/eco-friendly-living-make-your-own-vinegar/
[ : A glass jar full of yellow apple cider vinegar.]

08/27/2020

Want to know about brine pickling? I have another post in my eco-friendly living series on my blog right now: http://lisagordonevents.com/eco-friendly-living-pickling/. Let me know what you think!
[ : Two quart jars of cauliflower in brine on a plate. Jars are unlidded and have small jars in their mouths as weights.]

08/21/2020

I know you're going to say, "What does this blog post have to do with wedding planning?" The answer is, "Nothing!" But it has everything to do with eco-friendly living. And since green weddings are all about eco-friendly living, here's a blog post on the subject of food storage. Let me know what you think!
http://lisagordonevents.com/eco-friendly-living-freezing-fresh-food/
[ : A row of one-pint canning jars, stacked in twos, on a wooden shelf.]

07/20/2020

Remember how my last blog post was all doom and gloom? Well, I still think parties need to wait, but if you are planning a wedding, anyhow, my post this week is more of a how-to (http://lisagordonevents.com/more-on-phase-4-weddings/). Take a look!
[ : A long table, seen from the end, dressed in white linens with silver chargers at each place setting and a few flowers and candles down the length of it.]

07/10/2020

Today, in harshly realistic wedding blog posts, I present "Phase 4 Weddings: Just Because You Can, Should You?" (See http://lisagordonevents.com/phase-4-weddings-just-because-you-can-should-you/.) I am not the one who is going to sugarcoat the situation for you. A realistic assessment is always going to be your best friend, even when you hate it. So, if you want my unvarnished opinion, read on!
[ : A woman in a long, lacy white dress, seen from behind.]
Photo: The Still Life Photography

06/24/2020

I have been holding onto this photo since this amazing wedding last fall, because to me it just says, "Happy Pride!" Happy Pride, everyone!
[ : Two women kissing. One wears white; the other wears a blue suit. They both wear rainbow sunglasses.]
Photo: Hadasssah B Photo for Cage And Aquarium Productions

06/19/2020

With everything going on in the world, it has been pretty hard to think about writing a blog post. But I finally have a little something to share. It is not earth-shattering. It does not solve any problems of injustice. But maybe you will find it helpful: Some FAQs about weddings in Illinois right now. Check out http://lisagordonevents.com/faqs-about-weddings-in-illinois/ for more.
Photo: Artisan Events
[ : A wedding couple with a Hindu priest--and no one else.]

04/24/2020

It's funny how we take trees for granted. Here, the tree is just a pretty backdrop for a wedding portrait. But today is Arbor Day, our national holiday dedicated to the appreciation of trees, so let's pause for a moment to consider all the things trees do for us: shade us and our houses, bear fruit, collect atmospheric carbon, provide habitat, ooze sweet sap.... The list is almost endless. Let's give three cheers for trees!
[ : A woman in a long white dress and veil, holding a bouquet of sunflowers and a man in a blue suit and tan pants stand together under a tree, with a stream and waterfall in the background.]
Photo: KELLY JO PHOTO

04/22/2020

Well, it's Earth Day. It's the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, no less. And this is not how I thought I would be celebrating it. I didn't think there would be so little traffic or so few airplanes in the sky. I didn't think the air would be so clear, or that so many people would be out walking and biking. These days of the world shut down and turned upside-down, with all their difficulties, also give us a little glimpse into what a greener future might look like. Maybe more people will be able to skip the commute and work from home. Perhaps we could have stronger local food systems. We could even spend more time paying attention to our communities to help everyone be more resilient in the face of change. Could this be the beginning of some better things in our world? Change is hard, and we resist it, but when we see the benefits, maybe we will come to embrace it. Happy Earth Day, world!
[ : A small lake at sunset seen from a wooden dock. In the foreground is a floating pontoon dock. There are golden and purple clouds in the sky and green trees on the far shore.]
Photo: Ryan Timm Photography.

04/17/2020

I spend a lot of time looking at wedding photos. But this batch really takes the cake. Check it out and have a few laughs.

04/06/2020

And now, the moment you've all been waiting for: My latest blog post (http://lisagordonevents.com/my-best-advice-about-2020-weddings/) gets all geeky and digs into the data to tell you everything you need to know about wedding planning for 2020 and beyond. Seriously, though, I hope you'll find what I've written useful, whether you're planning a wedding, a wedding vendor, or someone otherwise involved in a wedding this year.
[ : Bride and groom walk back up the aisle in an outdoor area, with a few guests seated in chairs on either side of the aisle.]
Photo: Geneva Boyett :: Photographer . Venue: Community House .

03/27/2020

Right now, I'm so grateful for all the people I've worked with creating beautiful moments. I just spoke to a recent client who said that the warm memories of her wedding were helping her through this difficult time. Here's to more warm memories! And more beautiful moments.
[ : A vase filled with hydrageas in shades of blue and purple, with some smaller pink flowers and some greenery.]
Photo: Maia Rosenfeld Photography . Flowers: Sunset Foods . Tent: Indestructo Rental Co. .

03/25/2020

Yeah, yeah, it's a wedding photo, ceremony by the lake, blah blah blah. What I really want you to see in this photo is....the sunshine. See that? The sun is shining, kind of like it has been all day today. Now, did you get out into that beautiful sunshine today? If so, good job. If not, I want you to remember just one thing: Getting outdoors into the fresh air and sunshine is the best possible thing you can do for yourself--right now and always. It makes you feel good; it boosts your immune system; and it's the best disinfectant. What are you waiting for? Get out there before the sun goes down!
[ : Long shot of a wedding ceremony set up facing Lake Michigan with the Chicago skyline in the background. Rows of white chairs face a chuppah. There is a lot of blue sky with a few clouds that takes up most of the frame.]
Photo: Sprung Photo