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.
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.
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).
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!
I cannot even believe it but here we are … 11.11! When we first decided to hold the eleven eleven WEDDING Giveaway it all seemed so abstract. We completely worked backwards, getting the venue and all of the vendors on board before having a Bride and Groom. I’m not sure if it was luck or fate that led Amanda and Mike to us, but they have been the perfect couple to win this wedding.
Everyone at Greatest Expectations has loved working with Amanda and Mike throughout this entire process. They are so in love and so thankful to be going through this experience. I’d say we are all winners!
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank, from the bottom of my heart, all of the extraordinary vendors who came together to make this happen. Each and everyone of them took a leap of faith with me on this experience. I asked them to give of their time, talents and products for a couple they did not even know … And boy did they all come through! What an amazing group we have assembled. Not a single aspect of this would have been possible with out each of them and I am, quite honestly, humbled and honored to be in their company.
We all sincerely hope you have enjoyed watching the process from “behind the scenes.” I cannot thank the staff from Poetic Productions enough! They have worked so hard and given so much of their personal time to allow each of you to be a part of this experience with Amanda and Mike. Honestly, words fail me.
And now here we are … Yesterday Amanda, Mike and their bridal party were massaged, polished and pampered by the staff at Mario Tricoci, then they checked into their beautiful rooms at the Hotel InterContinental to freshen up for the rehearsal dinner. It was the perfect way to set the tone for the next couple of days.
Before dinner Amanda and Mike rehearsed the ceremony with their Celebrant Toni Hassett and then were treated to an amazing experience at ZED451. It was really exceptional to see everything coming together so beautifully and the staff at ZED451 really outdid themselves to make everything extra special. They even surprised everyone with a champagne toast at the end of the night!
As you read this, Aga and Frankie from Mario Tricoci are getting the bride and her bridesmaids ready for the big day and set up is already underway at West Loop Studio.
Be sure to check back soon to see a sneak peak of the pictures and hear all about tonight. Thank you for being part of our eleven eleven WEDDING journey.
Allow me to start by saying I fell in love with Amanda & Mike the second I saw their video on the eleven eleven website. I first met them at the live reveal party at Zed451, I could feel the sincerity and warmness of their hearts and it flowed to their parents.
For our planning meeting we met at a local coffee shop, I explained that my job as their Celebrant was to create a ceremony that should be an expression of their heart and soul. Simple or elaborate, traditional or cutting-edge, formal or casual, collectively we will create a meaningful ceremony tailored just for Amanda and Mike. They were excited about having their love story told during their ceremony. As a Celebrant, believe in the power and effectiveness of ceremony and ritual. I collaborate with my clients to create and perform personalized ceremonies that reflect the clients’ beliefs, philosophy of life and personalities; not the my own.
Unity rituals were a big topic during our discussion, they were interested in having some elements of their ceremony be traditional, however, and they also wanted to incorporate non-traditional rituals. Hand fasting or “tying the knot” is a Celtic ritual of tying the bride and grooms hands together with a cord or ribbon in a love knot signifying the tying together of two hearts and two families forever, Amanda and Mike loved the idea of tying their souls together with a love knot.
Humor is what gets Amanda & Mike through tough times and they would like to include it in the ceremony. Family means everything to them and they look forward to honoring their families on their wedding day. When Heather from Greatest Expectations first told me about this contest I was excited to do something extra special for a deserving couple, I am truly blessed and honored to be Amanda & Mike’s Wedding Celebrant.
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!
