Macarons, smore’s or  pecan pie tarts, oh my!!

We love sweets!!

Designing creative dessert stations is one of the best parts of our job and it’s especially fun when we get to work with the talented crew from Luscious Layers Bakery on Damen.  That’s why we have teamed up with them to create this delicious little giveaway for one lucky Chicagoland reader!

Tell us just how much you love sweets by designing the most extraordinary sweets table concept and telling us all about it on our facebook page, then have all your friends “like” your comment and the person with the most creative design concept (and “likes”) will win a mini sweets table from Luscious Layers perfect for a shower, bachelorette party, birthday or any smaller celebration. The winner will select select one pastry, one cookie or macaron and one flavor of mini cupcake for 10-15 guests.  The options are seemingly endless but here are just a few of the delightful desserts available.

~mousse cups

~mini eclairs

~cream puffs

~mini tartelettes

~mini brownies

~whoopie pies

~lemon squares

~oatmeal chocolate chip cookies

~snickerdoodle cookies

~peanut butter cookies

~macarons in flavors like blackberry, chai, rose, earl grey or espresso

~Mini cupcakes in flavors such as champagne and dark chocolate

Can you say yummy?!

We are so thrilled to be participating Under a New Moon, what a historic event!  I was so honored that Anita Vaughan from Anita Weds invited us to participate and we know it will be an exceptional evening!

Under a New Moon is a celebration of same-sex civil unions in Illinois! Be one of the first couples to have a civil union ceremony in Chicago!

This is it … Your last chance to send in your submission for the eleven eleven WEDDING!  You could be the winner of your own amazing wedding on 11.11.11 at The Chicago History Museum!  Go here to enter!! Hurry!

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!

Each of the sponsors will be doing guest blog pieces on the eleven eleven WEDDING website so I hope you will head their often to check it out.  Diana, from Jenny Yoo is the first blogger!  In the meantime, here is a little teaser … The video from Amanda’s dress shopping experience at Jenny Yoo!!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLYWVqkMG8Q

Thanks to Ken from Poetic Productions for this fantastic montage!

It was so thoughtful of Sarah to send me a picture her beautiful bridal bouquet with the broach attached.  I really love all of their pictures, so if you want to see more check out her photographer, Janie Lucille Yoder’s blog. I think you will be happy you did!

Thank you Sarah for sharing these beautiful images with us. You were a radiant bride!

Head on over to the eleven eleven WEDDING site to see the three finalists selected … It was really fun to watch the votes come in and we think all the couples are amazing!  Now we cannot wait to see who the winner is!

The voting is now open for the eleven eleven WEDDING Giveaway!!  Please take a moment to check out the site, read about the ten amazing semi-finalists and cast your vote.  We had so many wonderful couples submit applications and it was extremely hard to decide who should be in the top ten.  We think you will fall in love with them all just like we did!!  No go vote!!

]]> http://www.greatestexpectations.com/blog/index.php/2010/05/vote-now-for-the-eleven-eleven-wedding-giveaway/feed/ 0 http://www.greatestexpectations.com/blog/index.php/2010/05/last-day-to-enter-to-win-chicagos-premier-wedding-giveaway/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=last-day-to-enter-to-win-chicagos-premier-wedding-giveaway http://www.greatestexpectations.com/blog/index.php/2010/05/last-day-to-enter-to-win-chicagos-premier-wedding-giveaway/#comments Sat, 01 May 2010 10:00:14 +0000 Greatest Expectations http://www.greatestexpectations.com/blog/?p=1414 Continue reading →]]> Today is the last day to get your submission in for the eleven eleven WEDDING Giveaway!!  You have until 11:59 p.m. to enter so hurry on over and fill out the submission form!  Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity to have the wedding of your dreams sponsored by many of Chicago’s top wedding professionals!

I seriously loved interviewing Kara Underwood from Magnificent Milestones!!  Kara owns an amazing custom invitation shop and I am like a kid in a candy store there … Ok, I will admit it … I have a little crush on paper. Feeling really nice paper gives me a bit of a rush.  Now I know that might be a little strange for some of you but it isn’t for Kara and that is one of many reason we get along so well!!

One lucky reader will get an amazing gift provided by Kara … You will have to read through the interview to find out what and how you can win.  Yeah, I am sneaky like that!

You own a beautiful invitation company that operates out of Smitten Boutique, how did you end up sharing this space?

Kirstin Martin, the owner of Smitten Boutique, and I separately had dreams to open a wedding boutique in the West Loop. It was perfect… close to many wedding vendors and there was absolutely nothing like it in the area. The only problem was, we both had the idea at the same time.

We opened within 6 months of one another and did our best to find our niche and support one another’s businesses. Kirstin focused on day of details, such as jewelry, cake toppers and more, while I focused on custom invitations and all things paper. We were constantly sending people to one another and meeting for coffee to chat. After a year, Kirstin and I met to discuss a physical merger. We would share the amazing space at Smitten Boutique and each maintain separate businesses. Naturally, I jumped at the chance!

Seriously folks, if you live in the Chicagoland area and have not been to Smitten Boutique then run don’t walk. The store is simply amazing!!

What do you love most about the invitation business?

When the bride sees her invitations for the first time! It is very surreal to see your name next to your fiancés… very official!

You just created your own Invitation Line.  Tell me about “The Third Coast Collection”!

I started the Third Coast Collection out of my love for Chicago and a void in the marketplace. Brides & Grooms are always searching for fun and kitschy notes for thank you cards and welcome bags. They don’t always have the budget for customized notecards and these have a way of being personal to the couple and their personalities. Stay posted for a line of Chicago-centrice save the dates and invitations coming this fall!

You used to be a wedding planner, what made you decide to forego that and focus on invitations?

I love weddings (obviously), so it’s no surprise that I had my hand in several things at once. Planning was so much fun, but I truly think everyone should have a specialty. After the business started to grow, I realized that I was spreading myself to thin and needed to decide on just one focus. My love for paper prevailed!

I must admit this makes me very happy!!  Not only because Kara was some stiff competition for me but because she has truly outdone herself with the custom invitations.  I seriously love taking my brides to see her.  Not only do they love being in the shop and what she has to offer but she is just plain fun to spend an hour with … Oh and it does not hurt that if you make an appointment to look at invitations with her she gives you the most adorable “expert thank you cards” (yes, that is all you have to do … Make an appointment instead of just stopping in!).

What do you miss most about planning?

Good question! I miss the day of, hands down. It is so exciting… Seeing the bride for the first time, watching the groom when she walks down the aisle, bringing them in to see the room, everything.

What did you find the most stressful about being a wedding planner?

There were times that I felt more like a psychiatrist than a planner! There is a lot of mediating, whether it is between a client and his/her parents or the bride and groom themselves, and it is challenging.

You just got married yourself (at the Ivy Room no less).  What did you learn from “the bride’s perspective” that you did not know from the planner perspective?

All the fun details and stresses you don’t deal with as a planner…. Such as the amazing dress, the dreaded guest list.

What was your favorite part of your wedding?

Oh gosh, that is hard! I have a few… getting ready with my bridesmaids and my mom was a blast. I needed my girl time, so everyone came over in the morning for hair and makeup. After a lot of laughs (and some champagne), it was time to start the day. The ceremony was also one of my favorites. Our officiant did a great job personalizing it. Last but not least, one of my favorites was the dance party that took place that night.

What is your favorite restaurant in Chicago?

My favorite food is Mexican and I love the *new* Mercadito.

Favorite color?

Yellow

Favorite movie?

Steel Magnolias

Favorite song?

This changes all the time! Once I love something, I listen to it on repeat, literally, so it doesn’t last as a favorite for long. Sleepyhead by Passion Pit is on repeat right now.

Which living person do you most admire?

My mom, for a lot of reasons. She is one of eleven (yes, eleven!) children which made her mom-like figure to my aunts and uncles at a very young age. She had to sacrifice a lot to help out and never got to go to college. But I have never heard a complaint. She worked hard before starting her own family and still became extremely successful. In more recent years, I have thrown her several curve balls, moving to Chicago (with no job, no plan), starting my own business, opening a store and more. Everything I throw her way, I get nothing but support. I am always told that if “someone can do it, it’s me” and I truly think that is why I get to do what I love today.

What do you like best about working with Greatest Expectations?

Personally: You two are just fun! I can seriously chat with you for hours. Oh wait, we have!

Professionally: I love working with planners like you that go above and beyond for their clients. They are so lucky to have you! I know when I email them at 9:00 p.m. at night, I will get a response

Thank you Kara!!  It is so nice to get that kind of compliment from someone in the industry.

Now on to the good stuff … If you love paper the way Kara and I do then you will really enjoy these beautiful (and totally fun)  engraved note cards from Kara’s Third Coast Collection. In order to win simply post a comment here telling us about your personal secret (or not so secret) obsession (mine is clearly expensive paper). Anyone is welcome to enter!