The Left Bank Jewelry & Shoes, it’s all in the details!

We couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome back The Left Bank Jewelry & Shoes for a third eleven eleven WEDDING Giveaway. One of our favorite spots for wedding shopping in Chicago, The left Bank is a fabulous, Parisian-inspired boutique in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago. It is brimming with jewelry, shoes and accessories for the discerning bride.

For the 2012 eleven eleven WEDDING Giveaway, The Left Bank will be providing shoes for the bride as well as jewelry for the bride and bridesmaids.



A look back at Amy & Howard’s 11.11.11 wedding

Words cannot describe how amazing Amy & Howard’s wedding was, but it wasn’t just the wedding day, they were such a pleasure to work with from the first moment we met them.

It was such a pleasure for all of the event sponsors to work hand in hand with Amy & Howard to create their dream wedding.  We took great care to make sure the event beautifully represented their personalities and their cultures.  I can speak for each sponsor involved, this was an extraordinarily fun event to be part of!

As Amy & Howard began the planning process it was clear that they wanted something elegant, sophisticated and slightly modern. The talented women of Greatest Expectations worked tirelessly to ensure that the process was fun and exciting for the couple and also each of the sponsors.  Their  dedication and hard work spanned months of planning and you should have seen them in action on the big day! This stunning wedding would not have been possible without the onsite assistance of so many extra hands including the entire Greatest Expectations staff, Susan from The Left Bank, Sheshe from Berghoff, Kelly and Caleb from Fleur, Barb from the Chicago History Museum as well as countless others brought in by individual sponsors.

The bridal party started the day at Hotel 71 where the ladies had hair and make up done by Mario Tricoci Salons and were then transported to the ceremony in style by Chicago Trolley.

We were able to turn the already stunning Chicago History Museum, into a completely new space thanks to the expert assistance of Greatest Expectations, Fleur, Chicago Lighting Design, Halls and Private Label Linen. Who knew that savvy lighting could make such a difference in the middle of the day!

All of the little details, which we all know are not so little, were attended to by Magnificent Milestones and Rosemary Hall Calligraphy with the most beautiful menu cards, programs and hand done signage.

Because this was a brunch wedding, Berghoff Catering offered an amazing pancake bar, savory station and beverage bar featuring speciality champagne cocktails. It was really so much fun!  Amy Beck Cake Design seriously blew our minds with the most spectacular cake ever and the guests were treated to delicious custom created favors by Truffle Truffle.

I am not sure what you were doing at 1:00 p.m. on 11.11.11, but I can tell you that all of the guests at Amy & Howard’s wedding were dancing their butts off!  The Larry King Orchestra gets a party started like no other band! They are so amazingly good that it’s impossible to stay in your seats.  It was extra fun because the guests were really into music. Seriously one of the best afternoons ever.

When people were not dancing, they were having a blast with the photo booth from ShutterBooth Chicago.

Fashion forward … All of these beautiful people were outfitted by the best in the business.  Amy’s dress was from Jenny Yoo Collection and the bridesmaids were in dresses from Bella Bridesmaid.  The ladies were all adorned in custom headwear from Joy Scott Millinery and bejeweled by The Left Bank Jewelry and Shoes, who also did everyone’s shoes!  The men looked dapper in their tuxes from BlackTie Formalwear.

A special thank you is due to Bev Albert from Ceremonies for your Life for creating a truly meaningful and beautiful wedding ceremony and Rappatone Boutique Training for helping the bride and groom get fit and healthy for their big day (and the rest of their lives).

Much props to the ever talented Amanda Hein for taking all of these stunning photographs.  She also shot the live reveal party hosted by ZED451 and Amy & Howard’s engagement shoot.

To see a “live” look at this extra special day be sure to re-watch the wedding day re-cap from our friends at Poetic Productions!

Thank you for following along with us as we took this journey!  Much love to Amy & Howard! We are very much looking forward to what 2012 has in store! Stay tuned for more details over the next couple of months!



The Left Bank Jewelry & Shoes

The Left Bank is a fabulous, Parisian-inspired boutique in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago. It is brimming with jewelry, shoes and accessories for the discerning bride. We are so thrilled to have participation again from The Left Bank for the eleven eleven WEDDING Giveaway 2011! They will be providing shoes for the bride and bridesmaids, as well as jewelry for the bridesmaids.

Last year Amanda selected these fantastic purple peep-toe shoes with crystal shoe clip.  The bridesmaids wore beautiful silver shoes and Hematite Crystal Necklaces.



Just a Little Sneak Peak …

Here are a few pictures to give you a little taste of the beautiful event that was Amanda and Mike’s eleven eleven WEDDING!!  Thanks to Amanda Hein for sending these over!  We will have fun recaps and details after the holiday!!

Don’t you just love how amazing they look in the birdcage veil and hat from Joy Millinery!?  And how about those stunning flowers from Fleur, the Jenny Yoo dress, the rockin’ purple shoes from The Left Bank Jewelry and Shoes, custom made necklace and earrings from Team Blonde … Wow!

Please stay tuned!



Your dream wedding is closer than you think!

Please let the video load completely before trying to watch it!

Welcome to the eleven eleven WEDDING Giveaway! On Thursday night, the eleventh of November, two thousand and ten, one lucky Chicagoland couple will be in the middle of their own dream-come-true wedding. The eleven eleven WEDDING is the brain child of us here at Greatest Expectations, but it is also a labor of love for each and every sponsor involved. We have gathered a group of Chicago’s premier wedding professionals to create this incredible all-inclusive wedding. The lucky winners will receive a wedding valued at over $60,000!!

From the largest and most obvious details to the smallest and most delicate touches, our sponsors have come together in an effort to do a really amazing thing for a couple who would not otherwise be able to have such a lavish affair.  Make no mistake about it, this will not be your ordinary banquet hall wedding … We are talking a top-of-the-line, upscale wedding!

The celebrations begin with a rehearsal dinner on November 10th at ZED451, offering one of Chicago’s most unique dining experiences. The big event will be held at West Loop Studio, for 50-75 of your closest family and friends, featuring the scrumptious tastes of Berghoff Catering and the beautiful sounds of the Becca Kaufman Orchestra.  Every single detail of the wedding will be taken care of and the winning couple will be dressed, spoiled and catered to in every way. Be sure to read about all of our sponsors to discover what each of them will be providing (this is one extensive list!).

You may be asking yourself “How can I win this amazing wedding?” Well, it’s pretty simple really; just send back the submission form and a photograph of you and your beloved. To be considered, all entries must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (CST) on May 1, 2010.  After receiving all entries, we will post 10 semi-finalists online and open the polls to the public for a week to vote for their favorite couple.  Yes, that means you can have all your friends and family members voting and helping you win.  Heck, you can even vote for yourself or someone you have never met!! The three couples with the most votes will be brought in for an interview and the grand prize winner will be announced at our live reveal party on June 1, 2010, hosted by ZED451. Make sure you read the contest rules to learn about all of the little details.

We have so many fantastic sponsors involved.  Throughout the submission process we plan to highlight each and every sponsor so you can get to know them a little better but, in the meantime, take a look at this list of pros ready to make your wedding dreams a reality … Oh, it’s important to note we are still adding more sponsors to the list (and you thought it couldn’t get any better!)

Ok all you wonderful couples out there … Buckle your seat belts and join us on the eleven eleven WEDDING Giveaway ride, it promises to be one of the most exceptional nights of your life!! You’ll be hearing a lot from us and the other sponsors so please check back often!

Photographs by Amanda Hein Photography