On November 14, 2022, Wish Upon A Wedding hosted its 11th annual Blissful Wishes Gala. The event benefits their mission to provide couples with bespoke weddings and vow renewals in the midst of life-changing health circumstances. The Gala served not only as a successful fundraiser but also as a milestone celebration for their 200th granted wish.
We sat down with Blissful Wishes Gala planner, Lauren LePine of Urban Allure Events, to learn more about this elegant, heartwarming evening.
Tell us how the Blissful Wishes Gala came to be. What was the inspiration and overall goal, and who were the attendees?
The 11th Annual Blissful Wishes Gala was a labor of love that saw over 30 wedding and event companies pull off this impressive fundraising event. Over 600 attendees came together as an industry to fundraise for Wish Upon a Wedding — granting weddings and vow renewals to couples facing terminal illnesses or life-altering circumstances. Additionally, it was the perfect way to celebrate the organization’s 200th wish.
The “Moulin Rouge” themed gala featured a fantastic runway show with dresses from the title sponsor, BHLDN, which has donated thousands of dresses to Wish Upon A Wedding’s sister organization, Wish Upon A Dress. This nonprofit sells these donated designer wedding gowns and special occasion dresses with a portion of profits going back to Wish Upon A Wedding.
What’s one moment or experience that stood out to you during the 11th Annual Blissful Wishes Gala?
After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the organization was so excited to bring back this event which people look forward to all year long. We were able to work with some amazingly talented and generous vendors who really elevated the experience. From the food and wine to the gorgeous designs that brought the “Moulin Rouge” theme to life, to the musical acts peppered throughout the evening, our dedicated team of vendors made the evening far beyond what we could have hoped for.
A pivotal moment for this year’s gala was having Angela Andrews, one of Wish Upon a Wedding’s wish recipients (who got married in December of 2018), present the award to her doctor, Dr. Summer Dewdney. Dr. Dewdney was instrumental in helping her survive Stage 4 cancer. Andrews spoke about the amount of hope that Wish Upon A Wedding provided her and her now husband during the dark periods of life that came with treatment; she described how her ceremony felt like a fairytale. This is why we do the work that we do. Giving couples a day of celebration is truly a life-changing and meaningful endeavor for everyone involved.
Who were your key partners, and what were their roles in making this a successful gathering?
photography: Golden Hours
title sponsor: BHLDN
event planner & design: Urban Allure Events
event design: Atmosphere Events Group, Exquisite Events and Floral Design, Elena’s Garden, Virginia Wolff Inc., Flowerlife, Siblana Events, and Yanni Design Studio
venue: The Old Post Office
dresses: Wish Upon A Dress
catering: Calihan Catering
wine: Meta Wine
spirits: Diageo
musical entertainment: BeatMix Music
rentals: Marquee Event Rentals
chairs: Nuage Designs
linen & chargers: BBJ La Tavola
production & lighting: Frost Chicago
furniture vignettes & seating: Bowery & Bash
dessert: ECBG Cake Studio
photo booth: Shutterbooth
cocktail activation: Kendra Scott
draping: MK Lighting and Design
champagne: Room 1520
fashion show director: G ALXNDR
hair & makeup: The Bridal Beauty Team
jewelry: Plum Diamonds
video: Hello Darling Films
featured planner
Urban Allure Events
Urban Allure Events has been a pillar in the events community in Chicago and beyond since 2015. The combination of their stunningly unique designs, unmatched creativity, and commitment to bringing clients’ visions to life has allowed Urban Allure to successfully execute over 400 events, both locally and nationally. photographer: Golden Hours