Oak Street’s Fourth Annual Charitable Wedding Walk

Sunday, September 19th, 2010

12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Don’t miss a chance to meet and mingle with some of Chicago’s best wedding professionals at this annual charity event.  All proceeds will benefit The American Heart Association and as a bride you will get your very own luxury swag bag full of tons of amazing goodies (including something from Greatest Expectations).

To purchase tickets just click here

But wait … We have a free VIP ticket!! One lucky reader will get a vip ticket  for two (the bride and her guest worth $90!) to this exceptional event!  If you would like to be the recipient of such an awesome prize just post a comment on this post telling us what you enjoy most about reading CS Brides!  We will have a random drawing on September 9th so hurry and post your comment today!

Here at Greatest Expectations we love to get creative weddings. It is so much fun to work with clients who want to do something unique and allow us to really get our creative juices flowing.

When we met with Christine and Tyler, we knew right away they would be a fun couple to work with. Right off the bat they mentioned how important candy was in their lives. Yes … You read that correctly, candy! So we suggested a dessert reception with a few savory bites to complete the evening.

The perfect location for this ceremony and reception was The Chicago History Museum. We work at CHM a lot and always love it. One of my favorite things about this space is that we can make it look completely different for each event and you still get that elegance and timeless beauty that the museum offers.

Most of our events at CHM are held during the “good” weather months because they have such a great outdoor space. It is really rare to find outdoor ceremony space in the city. But this was a winter wedding, so we were inside for the ceremony. I am here to tell you … it was beautiful.

Please don’t consider CHM to be only a spring and summer venue because, with the right decor and set up, an inside ceremony can be completely breathtaking.

We pulled together an all-star group of wedding professionals to make this wedding extra special starting with one of our favorite photographers, Eric Snoza from SnoStudios. We have worked with Eric on several events, and he always delivers an exceptional product at an amazing price. Christine’s response to her wedding pictures was pure joy. She even told me she felt like her pictures were better than any of the ones she’d seen in the million wedding magazines she had been looking through.

If you are a follower of this blog you already know that I adore the pastry chef from Berghoff. Chon is such an exceptional talent and when it was decided that this wedding would be all about desserts we knew it was best to call on the our good friend Nicole and her expert staff.

The menu consisted of about twenty different sweets that were stationed and passed, along with a savory antipasto station and some beautiful savory passed Hors D’Oeuvres. My absolute favorite would have to be the Rice Krispie Station. Picture handmade rice krispie treats filled with fresh strawberries, chocolate chips, peanut butter chips (the bride’s favorite) with options to dip in chocolate fondue and sprinkle with an assortment of mouth-watering toppings!

Of course we had to have mini lemon cupcakes with lavender cream cheese frosting and mini chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter frosting. Chon also did the wedding cake. The bride requested a simple vanilla buttercream cake … But of course the filling had chocolate chips inside. Can we say yummy?

Because they didn’t have a seated dinner, we did cocktail style seating with the most beautiful shantung linen from BBJ Linen and a trio of centerpieces provided by Kelly Uss at Fleur. Kelly truly created something breathtaking by using white and green florals including succulents, sweet peas, hydrangea, garnet dahlias, orchids and black eyed anemones. She even found an adorable tiny succulent for the groom’s boutonniere.

Kelly also designed this beautiful wishing tree and of course the evening would not have been complete without a candy bar and Berghoff root beer floats for the guests to enjoy!

There were some really adorable details captured while the bride was getting ready as well. I was totally in love with the blue shoes Christine wore and the beautiful hair accessory. Check out the hanger her wedding dress was on!

Overall we thought this was a perfect wedding and we thank Christine and Tyler for allowing us to be part of their special day! I’m off to eat something sweet now.

Here’s the latest must-have wedding deal coming soon from Wedobo!

$49 Customized Candy Package ($100 value) from Suckers Candy Inc.

Be sure to watch the Wedobo site for more information about how to get in on this deal!

A few months ago we did a While Drinking a Glass of Champagne interview with Kara Underwood Gordon from Magnificent Milestones Custom Stationery.

Since we last spoke with Kara she has been hard at work creating a fantastic new line she calls The Third Coast Collection. We think Kara has designed something really amazing.  To make it even more fantastic, the line is eco-friendly, using soy based inks and recycled paper products … If you live in Chicago it doesn’t get much better than this!

Here is what Kara has to say about her exciting new line:

“The Third Coast Collection celebrates the great city of Chicago that we call home! A place where each neighborhood, bus route and zip code has it’s own identity and flair. Each resident is proud to call it their own. The Third Coast Collection is made up of letterpress cards, reusable bags and clean designs, all done locally.”

Below are just a few examples from the line and remember, everything Kara does is completely customizable, so get those creative juices flowing and give Kara a call today!! If you shop now you can save 15% on orders of $100 or more! Enter SHOPBIG at checkout.

We are pleased to be a sponsor for an exciting Charity Golf Event hosted by our good friends at Engaging Events, Poetic Productions and Gerber + Scarpelli!

Wednesday, August 18th
12PM Shotgun Start
5 PM BBQ

Crane’s Landing Golf Course
10 Marriott Drive
Lincolnshire, Illinois

Support a great cause while playing golf! If golfing is not your thing, that’s OK … Just come and enjoy the BBQ. There is even a chance to win some exciting prizes!

To register just click here.

All proceeds benefiting One Step Camp for Cancer.

An Afternoon of Bridal Luxury

Oak Street’s 4th Annual Charitable Wedding Walk

Sunday, September 19, 2010 | 12PM-4PM

Walk begins at The Private Dining Rooms of Spiaggia
980 North Michigan Avenue, Level Three

COUTURE GOWNS • ELEGANT JEWELS • DELECTABLE CAKES
BRIDAL REGISTRY • FLORAL & EVENT DÉCOR • HAUTE CUISINE

LUXURY SWAG BAGS
Filled with extraordinary gifts exclusively for the bride-to-be

TO PURCHASE TICKETS, VISIT WWW.CSBRIDES.COM
A percentage of the proceeds will benefit the American Heart Association

There is something extra special about your wedding veil.  Whether you want something simple and short, cathedral length, birdcage or just a really fantastic hair piece (yes, in some situations that can be the whole veil), your veil makes a statement about who you are and what type of wedding you plan to have.

One of my favorite new products is the Custom Monogrammed Veil by Kristina Eaton. This is a totally unique item and perfect for the bride who loves to see her Monogram everywhere (ok, you will not be able to see it as it trails behind you but everyone else will and you’ll have the pictures to remember it by).

You can check out Kristina’s beautiful handiwork at a trunk show hosted at The Dress by Nicole, August 12-14. Receive a 10% discount if you place your order during the trunk show!

It was truly a pleasure working with Amy and Mark on their intimate and elegant wedding! It was pure coincidence that their special day took place on Halloween; they were adamant about not having a “Halloween” wedding, but as you will see, by the end of the evening, they were embracing the holiday! The amazing photos were taken by Lizz and Maggie at Orange2 Photography. We loved working with these ladies!

The ceremony took place at the gorgeous Alice Millar Chapel on Northwestern University’s campus in Evanston. The weather was perfect for a fall wedding – sunny and mild.

The reception was held in the private dining room at the iconic Spiaggia Restaurant, so naturally the food was out of this world! The views were just as great – overlooking North Michigan Avenue and Lake Shore Drive. The delicious wedding cake was from Bittersweet.

The gorgeous, fall-themed flowers were provided by Anthony Gowder Designs. The simple and elegant centerpieces fit perfectly with the overall ambiance of the room.

The brides big concern for the evening was if people would dance or not.  Well there was never any doubt in our minds because the evenings entertainment was provided by the talented Chicago Catz. The dance floor was packed all night!

And because you simply cannot have a wedding on Halloween without a little festiveness …

Thank you so much to Amy and Mark for including us in your special day!!

Here’s the latest must-have wedding deal coming soon from Wedobo!

$190 Junior Suite ($399 value) at the Sutton Place Hotel Chicago

Be sure to watch the Wedobo site for more information about how to get in on this deal!

One of the things I love about my job is meeting so many talented, fun and simply amazing people in the industry.  I

have been lucky enough to forge some really great bonds with many of my vendors and one of my favorite is Nicole Marotta from Berghoff Catering.  Many of you know the Bergohff name from the famed Chicago Eatery “The Berghoff.” Carlyn Berghoff, the daughter of the owners of The Berghoff, started her extremely successful catering business (then known as Artistic Events by Carlyn Berghoff) in 1986 and bought the restaurant from her parents upon their retirement in 2006.  This often causes confusion when I suggest Berghoff Catering to my clients.  I’ve had many a client tell me they don’t want “German Food” at their wedding.  I am here to tell you that Berghoff Catering does not just do German food!!  One of the reasons I love working with Berghoff is because of their extremely talented culinary department.  They have some of the most innovative and creative chefs in Chicago and I am constantly amazed by what they “bring to the table.” I have a special relationships with their pastry chef, Chon, who I consider to be one of the best pastry chefs in the area.  If you are looking for the perfect sweet bite you simply must try Berghoff!

Now back to my dear friend Nicole … I have worked with Nicole for more than six years now and we have collaborated on tons of beautiful and unique weddings.  I had to twist Nicole’s arm a little to do this interview but I am so glad I was able to talk her into it!

What sets Berghoff apart from the competition?

Our size, service and commitment to hospitality- we are a very close knit team that has a family-like atmosphere.  Because of our size, no detail goes overlooked and our resources allow us to do small as well as extremely large scale events.

What is your favorite savory and sweet thing on the menu?

Impossible!  It’s like asking a Mother to pick her favorite child… Ha ha ha.  If I had to choose I’d pick the grapes rolled in goat cheese and sacher tortes.  Yum!

What is your favorite venue to work?  Why?

Before switching my major, I spent 3 years studying Horticulture and worked in at greenhouse and florist for years so I love the natural beauty of the Garfield Park Conservatory!

If you could travel anywhere in the world where would it be and why?

It would be to visit one of my two favorite places … Eagle River, Wisconsin or Key West, Florida

I love the beauty and serenity of the Northwoods. It’s a great escape from daily life. As for Key West… well, it’s Key West…

What is your favorite animal?

Monkey … I have quite the monkey collection.

What is your favorite  restaurant?

Seven Fish, in Key West.

If you were a color, what color would you be and why?

Blue- and according to http://blogthings.com/whatcolorcrayonareyouquiz/ I am blue as well!

“Your world is colored in calm, understated, deep colors.
You are a loyal person, and the truest friend anyone could hope to find.
On the inside, you tend to be emotional and even a bit moody.
However, you know that people depend on you. So you put on a strong front.”

True, very true.

Who is your favorite movie star?

Tom Hanks, circa The ‘Burbs!

What is your favorite saying?

“Make it happen”

What do you like most about working with Greatest Expectations?

I love how much fun we have working together on the actual day of the event!

We do have a ton of fun working with Nicole!  She keeps us in stitches the entire day, which makes everything better and helps the time pass much faster.

Nicole thank you for taking the time to do this interview!  We love you, we love Berghoff and we look forward to our next project with you!