Planning Sophisticated Events 

chicago wedding planning

for Elegant Love Stories

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You finally found the one you can’t live without. And your love?

It's one of a kind.

That’s why you can’t waste your precious engagement planning an overly traditional wedding or following a cookie-cutter wedding template.

Your love story deserves to be told in a unique, tailored-to-you, one-in-a-million way. It should be a day that illustrates your distinctive personalities and creates a memorable experience people talk about for years to come. It should be elegant and sophisticated — just like you.

Your wedding should be, too. 

Christena was EXCEPTIONAL. Thorough, organized, thoughtful, funny and kind. I was dreading wedding planning before meeting her. She had connections with vendors/industry insiders. She gave tips and things to look out for of things I would not have known if planning on my own. She understood our wedding vision, and brought us ideas/options that aligned, which made wedding planning simple.

- Joyce

Wedding Planning Collections

01.

full
planning

02.

Partial Planning

03.

Wedding Management

Click the boxes for more information

full
planning

Average Investment: 8000 

Full planning is for the busy couple who doesn't want to spend 500 hours planning their wedding and wants hands-on assistance with wedding planning from the very beginning. We will handle the leadership role, as we help you create a one-of-a-kind timeless wedding that your guests will be talking about for years to come.

Our Full Service Wedding Planning is the total package: comprehensive, attentive, and personalized from the moment you book with us. We’ll guide you through the entire wedding planning process with innovative ideas and intentional and purposeful planning/design to create an unforgettable experience. This package is perfect for the busy couples who want to sit back and enjoy the wedding planning process knowing a team of seasoned professionals are handling the details.

what's included

Expert Logistics

Expert logistics handling everything from meetings, tastings, hotel room blocks, RSVP management, and more. We take a hands-on approach to these details so you don’t have to.

Curated List

A curated list of recommended venues that match your aesthetic and vision, and guidance throughout the whole venue selection experience

Your Vision

Your vision brought to reality as we design an event aesthetic to match your style and recommend creative experts who can bring your vision to life.

Strong Connection

A strong connection with our team via unlimited wedding planning meetings and unlimited emails 

Quality Service

High -quality service via customized recommendation for creative partners we know and trust and guidance through the entire selection process.

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Partial Planning

Average Investment: 5000 

For the busy couple who doesn't want to spend over 300 hours planning their wedding and wants a professional to guide you throughout the planning process. You’ve already made some key decisions yourselves, but still have questions and would benefit from expert advice to help you create a wedding that will be talked about for years to come.

With our Partial Planning package, we will guide you through the wedding planning process by co-planning with you, from vendor selection, guidance, design assistance, custom timeline creation, execution on the wedding day, and more. You will benefit from our strategic planning, innovate ideas, and calming presence. This package is perfect for couples who want to enjoy the wedding planning process knowing a team of seasoned professionals are assisting them along the way.

what's included

Custom Timeline

A custom wedding day timeline so you can savor your best day ever

Expert Logistics

Expert logistics handling everything from room blocks, tasting, ceremony rehearsal to venue walk-throughs and more  

Strong Connection

A strong connection with our team via monthly wedding planning meetings and unlimited emails 

Quality Service

High-quality service via recommendations for wedding vendors we know and trust.

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Your Vision

Create your vision as we design an event aesthetic to match your style and recommend creative partners like floral designers, lighting experts and morewho can bring it to life

wedding
management

Average Investment: 3000 

Wedding Management is for the busy organized couple who wants to lead their own wedding planning process, with professionals guiding them along the way. You’ve already made some key decisions yourselves and have spent 300 hours planning your wedding, but still have a few questions and would benefit from expert advice so you don't have to spend an additional 200 hours planning your wedding. Most importantly, you want to find a partner to entrust with wedding day logistics.

Our Wedding Management package is an elevated version of the popular day-of coordination service, as it includes guidance & advice leading up to your wedding. It’s perfect for overwhelmed couples who want to wake up on the wedding day knowing their well-laid plans will be flawlessly executed. 

what's included

Custom Timeline

A custom wedding day timeline so you can savor your best day ever

Expert Logistics

Expert logistics handling everything from ceremony rehearsal to venue walk-throughs and more  

Strong Connection

A strong connection with our team via monthly wedding planning meetings and unlimited emails 

Attention to Detail

Attention to detail as we coordinate all creative partners on wedding day

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Reassurance

Reassurance that you’re on the right track with an online planning portal that includes a variety of wedding planning documents like a budget tracker, guest list management, planning checklist and more

micro wedding

Custom Price

For couples who want a romantic wedding day on a smaller scale. You know that a small guest count won’t limit the elegance and sophistication of your event, but you also know you’re going to need expert help bringing your intimate celebration to life. 

Our Micro Wedding Planning package is completely customized to each couple. Whether you want full-service help planning a grand wedding for 50 or expert guidance on creating an elegant elopement for two, our team is happy to assist with as much or as little as you need. Regardless of your event size, working with Elegant & Sophisticated Affairs always includes unlimited email communication, attendance at important vendor meetings, and personalized recommendations starting the moment you book with us.

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Christena was there for us every step of the way to offer advice and assistance along our initial planning phase, includING contract review which was KEY, but really became life saving when it got down to the nitty gritty later on. Christena is a magician when it comes to vendor management and timeline creation. Being able to email her with one-off questions for advice, having the giant checklist of all the little things you would never think of, and her monthly checkins were incredibly valuable to us as well.

- Cailin

meet the
storyteller

I’m Christena, and I’m a storyteller at heart.

And events? They’re the physical representation of a story — kind of like a photo album, but living, breathing, loud, sweet-smelling, and delicious. Your wedding is a chance to tell your love story, live and in living color with an audience of the most special VIPs in your life. The most important thing I can do as a wedding planner is to get to know you, because that’s the only way I can plan an elegant event that truly feels like you. So, I’m all ears — tell me your love story.

view the
process

Step One: Consultation

You’ve reached out to us, and we couldn’t be more thrilled! Our team will get to know you before designing a proposal specific to your needs. Once you sign a contract and pay a deposit, we’ll begin planning!

view the
process

Step Two: Planning + Design

Time to plan! Let’s start with booking major vendors and refining your aesthetic vision for your day. Our team will be involved at varying levels depending on which package you choose, but regardless, you’ll always have email access to us no matter what. 

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process

Step Three: Confirmation

About two months before the wedding, we’ll start confirming vendors and begin creating day-of timelines, floorplans, and more. Having a rehearsal? We’ll be there, too

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process

Step Four: Wedding

Congratulations! It’s wedding day! We’ll be the first ones at your venue setting up, and in charge of the clean-up crew. Our goal is to make this day totally stress-free for you — don't’ worry about a thing! 

Ready to Say I Do?

You’ve found the perfect partner… have you found the perfect Chicago wedding planning team, too? We hope so! Let’s set up a quick phone call to make sure. 

schedule a free call