A Cheeky Guy You Should Know

With the New Year in full swing, many of us are feverishly planning our goals, hopes, and dreams for the first year of this new decade. For many Cheeky chicks around town, this may include planning the wedding of our dreams. (The holidays, after all, generate more engagements than any other time of the year.) And there’s no better starting point than the nation’s finest event décor company: Kehoe Designs, which, lucky for us, is headquartered right in our very own hometown. You’ve probably already seen the work of Kehoe, but just didn’t know it. They’ve designed spaces and events for the likes of the Peninsula Hotel Lobby, The Museum of Contemporary Art, The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Elysian Hotel, and even the White House. And we at Cheeky have an “in” with the man behind some of the magic at Kehoe. Cheeky, meet Ryan Wille, Kehoe’s premier designer with unparalleled talent, insanely creative vision, and best of all, a heart of gold. In fact, we think Ryan could be one of the determining factors in not only what sets Kehoe apart from the others, but also what can give a Cheeky bride-to-be the most unbelievable wedding (and wedding planning experience) of her dreams. Cheeky recently sat down with the charming and sweet visionary to discuss his love for brides, where he finds his inspiration, and how a girl’s shoe collection can provide insight into her wedding décor.

Cheeky: Why would a bride choose Kehoe as opposed to another company?

Ryan Wille: Kehoe is a full service event décor company – we take care of everything. Full event design, fantastic flowers, furniture — anything you can dream of, we can build. We have a truly amazing group of talented individuals. Kehoe has been around for 14 years and we have close to 200 people working with us. Theatrical set designers help build fantasy environments that are built exclusively for you based on your dream. This includes fabric technicians, florists, carpenters, welders, upholsterers, textile techs, graphic artists, sculptors, paintings, CAD designers, and beyond. But we pride ourselves on our customer service. That’s the true luxury of Kehoe.

Cheeky: As a designer, what are your first steps when working with a bride?

RW: Look at yourself in the mirror, look at your closet, your shoes, your own sense of style: a lot comes from that. You’ll wear your favorite color most days of the week. I also, of course, ask what their favorite and least favorite flowers are. I also want to know where the couple met, hear the story and learn about the love. I enjoy connecting with the groom, bride, and family. When having a consultation, I love when the whole entourage shows up. I gather so much from all these opinions. I ask the bride to look at herself, look at her home, look at her life — that’s where the true inspiration come from for me.

Cheeky: Where do you personally gather inspiration from as a designer?

RW: Architecture and landscape design first and foremost. Inspiration is everywhere. Fashion magazines, storefront windows, experiences in life, and traveling — I am always keeping my heart and mind open to it.

Cheeky: Do you have a favorite theme, color, idea, or flower that you consider your signature?

RW: Never. I don’t discriminate. I love that I’m versatile. I connect with my clients. I take their inspirations and mix it up with my style and keep it current. I like taking a classic, traditional idea and using current trends to keep it fresh and unique. It’s that unexpected element. I love the wows and the vows.

Cheeky:  What would an unexpected element be?

RW: A pop of black.  Making something that is traditionally a color perhaps clear or made of glass. Instead of a bouquet of roses, I will make a hedge of roses. I love taking a traditional idea and using it in an expected way, as opposed to sticking with generic touches.

Cheeky: How would you describe your style as a designer?

RW: I love it all: traditional, modern, classic. I love the classic white wedding, but I also love the glassy, modern, illuminated wedding. One of my secrets is taking someone’s personal style and mixing it up with what’s going on in the world in terms of the design and style.

Cheeky: You mentioned magazines and storefronts as sources of inspiration. Do you have specific favorites?

RW: Architectural Digest is my all time favorite. W magazine is fantastic. As far as storefronts go, Chicago is the best. We have all of Michigan Avenue, the smaller boutiques in Wicker Park, and West Town, which is my neighborhood. I find it everywhere.

Cheeky: Do you have a crowning accomplishment of an event? An event you are most proud of? Tell us about it.

RW: I had the opportunity to design the wedding of my sweet, dear friend from college, Jenny. (Pictured.)  She wanted me to capture the love, the feeling, the passion. The theme for the ceremony was a romantic, ethereal garden, and the reception was all white and very modern to fit with the space. It was at the Adler Planetarium. A true vision taken to life… It was amazing to be a part of the whole entire process. I got to give her everything she’s ever dreamed of. Jenny started crying tears of joy when she saw the room — that was the best moment. I don’t often attend the events and this was one of the first events I designed that I got to experience. It was a Jewish wedding and we danced and danced. It was amazing. I made sure I gave her my all (which I do for all my brides), but being such a close friend to her, it was a proud moment in my career. Everything went perfectly.

And we wouldn’t expect anything less.

You can check out Ryan’s work firsthand THIS Friday, January 22^nd at Sunda. We are proud to announce that Kehoe is designing Cheeky’s very first event of 2010, as we honor the Top 10 Cheeky Chicks of the Year. Stop by to see Ryan’s magic, and perhaps, share a cocktail with him. We speak from experience: he’s one cheeky fella.

Contact him at ryan@kehoedesigns.com.