Chicago Wedding Planner & Creative Director
Your wedding, architected from the root of who you are as a couple.
Not what you're supposed to want. What you actually want.
Birdcage & Blushers is a Chicago wedding planning and creative direction studio for couples who know what they want — and need someone who can build it. Every detail connected. You, fully present.
Where Vision Meets Direction
As a Chicago wedding planner and creative director, I start where most planners don't — with who you are as a couple. From there, every decision has a through line: the structure, the pacing, the details. Nothing arbitrary, nothing disconnected.
And because the process is built around you from the start, you move through planning with clarity and confidence — so when the day arrives, you're not managing it. You're living it.
“She absolutely nailed our somewhat unique vision for the event, and the result was even better than what I had imagined in my wildest dreams.” - Carey
Who I Work With
They know what they want and how they want their wedding to feel-they just need the right person to build it.
They value depth over excess, experience over expectation, and want their decisions to reflect that.
They’re not looking for more options—they’re looking for clarity, direction, and someone who can lead them there.
They want guidance, but not guesswork. Structure, but not rigidity. A process that feels considered, not overwhelming.
Most of all, they want to move through planning with confidence, knowing each decision connects back to something real.
What working together actually feels like
Calm, instead of constant overwhelm
Clarity, without the second-guessing
Guidance that supports your voice—not replaces it
A wedding day you get to fully experience-not manage
“Alyson is an incredible wedding planner. She is patient, fun, and knows exactly the right time to push so everything turns out perfect. I travel a lot for work and Alyson stepped in time and time again to ensure decisions were made in my absence.” - Nicole
Wedding planning and creative direction, built around who you are from the very first decision.
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Full-Service Planning & Design
End-to-end creative leadership and architectural oversight.
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Wedding Planning Strategy & Direction
A focused, high-level planning intensive designed to establish your wedding’s structure before major decisions are made.
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Partial Wedding Planning
A structured partnership for couples who’ve already begun planning and want professional direction.
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Destination Wedding Planning & Design:
Strategic destination wedding planning and creative direction for celebrations beyond Chicago.
Meet Alyson
Alyson Thompson | Founder & Wedding Creative Director
I'm personable, down to earth, and genuinely fun to plan with — but when it comes to your wedding, I don't play. I'm a fierce advocate for your vision, your experience, and every decision that shapes your day.
My approach is strategic and deeply personal. Because a wedding that feels like you doesn't happen by accident — it's built that way from the start.
Where Thoughtful Direction Becomes Design
Every wedding is shaped from the inside out—where each decision builds toward a wedding that couldn’t belong to anyone else but you.
As seen in: Rock n Roll Bride and Handled: A Wedding Planning Podcast
You already know what you want. Let’s build it.
If you're ready for a planning experience that starts with who you are — and ends with a day you actually get to live — I'd love to hear about your wedding.