A Hen and Two Chicks

There was a hen party last weekend in Chicago! One hen and two chicks attended. There were manicures; there was shopping; there was cheesecake; there were champagne cocktails.

My daughter's best friend and I flew off to the Windy City to help my (one and only) daugher select a wedding dress. It turned out to be a perfectly wonderful experience (no disappointment, no frazzled nerves and no frustration.) It helped that the bride-to-be had a strong vision of what she wanted in a dress. It also helped that she has spent the last 20+ years on stages wearing dance costumes, because she knows what she likes and what looks good on her body.

On Day 1, we had the pleasure of visiting Dame Couture in Evanston, IL where we were treated to a special glimpse into the world of custom-made and vintage dresses. Owner, Holly Greenhagen, was attentive, creative and professional and had invested time preparing fabrics and ideas before we ever arrived. The service we were given was personal and considerate, and my daughter was pretty much sold on ordering her dress from this shop. We left our appointment and went "out on the town" and took our celebration from dinner at a Mexican restaurant to a session of chatting, looking at bridal magazines and drinking wine in our hotel room.

Day 2 arrived, and we warned our bride to keep an open mind as we prepared for the second, and final, appointment...this time at BHLDN in Chicago's Gold Coast district. For any of you fans of Anthropologie (I am their fan-club president, by the way...haha) BHLDN is Anthropologie's sister store and bridal line. Let me tell you, there were no words for our reactions when we stepped into this shop (other than "OH MY GOSH!", said emphatically and repeatedly.) Suffice it to say that, as both an interior designer and mother of the bride, I could have been quite happy to reside in there until the end of my life.)

My daughter's stylist, who was sweet and accommodating, had also pulled her favorite gowns before we arrived, and our bride was anxious to slip into each one. Every dress was stunning in its own way, and it was a joy to watch her model each one. As she chose her favorite and it was "blinged up" with the perfect accessories, it was impossible for my glowing daughter to deny that she had found her perfect dress. (Of course, I can't possibly spill her secret and post a picture until after the wedding...)

Cue the champagne party!!! After we toasted in the bridal shop and completed our purchasing details, we made our way to POPS for Champagne for a celebratory cocktail. (Fun Fact: the name of the drink I ordered was "Bad Girl, Drunk by Six". Luckily, I didn't take the name seriously.)






Dinner and cheesecake followed, after which Prince Charming (the fiance) drove us back to our hotel.

There were a few other fun events throughout our time in Chicago (shopping, manicures, lunches, etc.) and way too soon, it was time for the hen party to end.

Those extra special, once-in-a-lifetime moments fly by,

......but they're worth every amazing second.