Christine’s hands-on approach to event planning; whether that be for a couple or corporate client, is what CJDE is built on. The merging of such a personal business combined with her expertise within event design and flowers, is what drew Christine into the world of events after leaving a career in Advertising. Having loved the meticulous process of project management, she has built her planning business using the same principles.
Today, Christine has produced over 150 weddings. Worked with corporate clients including Facebook, Patron and Courvoisier. With every bridal bouquet that leaves CJDE’s doors, still being designed by herself.
She is beyond proud of the client relationships she has built into friendships and believes this time and attention that she gives her Clients, produces the most personal and beautiful events possible.
Meet The team
Katy Krantz Lead Planner
We are thrilled to have Katy as our lead Event Planner to our weddings and celebrations. Katy has experienced almost every facet of the event industry including event-day installation, floral production, planning, and even running wedding cake tastings!
Most recently, Katy produced all weddings and many corporate events ranging from 50 to 500 guests at the Art Institute of Chicago for two years. Following this, Katy worked as the lead sales director for the Luxury Catering Company, Truffleberry Market, ensuring her client’s wildest food and beverage dreams came to life seamlessly.
Katy has a meticulous eye for detail and style (spreadsheets, timelines, planners, and inspiration boards are some of her favorite things on earth), a wealth of knowledge about Chicago’s event industry and its’ amazing vendors, and a warm, caring, and positive personality that she imbues in everything she touches. Katy truly cares about the happiness and comfort of our clients throughout every step of the planning process and will go the extra mile to ensure they have the most wonderful experience from start to finish.
Katy’s favorite part about event planning is the adrenaline-induced high of event-day, working with a team to create magic, and most importantly, watching her client’s beam with joy.
Matthew Bell Lead Designer
Matthew, born and raised in Missouri, has become a pivotal team leader here at CJDE. To call him a true “Jack of all Trades” is a wild understatement. Matthew’s extensive floral design expertise coupled with his production installation prowess gifts CJDE Client’s with innovative event design that stems from a true artist’s heart.
His natural and organic floral arrangements are filled with texture and intrigue while his attention to detail has him continuously surprising and delighting our clients event after event.
Christine and Matthew spearhead all design work that leave CJDE’s doors and have become that dynamic duo that finish each other’s sentences (or styled vignette) to perfection.
Throughout today’s constant changing event landscape it is Matthew’s strong production skills that make him the one you want at every event setup because you know he’s any CJDE design project’s personal Swiss army knife.
In addition to floral artistry Matthew’s skillset includes painting, carpentry, sewing; our Clients just love him and if you are blessed enough to see him buzzing around at an event just ask him to show you his holiday displays he looks forward to designing every year.
Kendall O'Connor Event Planner
Kendall has been with CJDE since before her Indiana University graduation days, and is now an Event Planner and Wedding Coordinator for all of CJDE’s “Day-of Coordination” Clients.
As the glue that holds team CJDE together, her meticulous attention to detail paired with her calm, cool and cheery demeanor is why she’s the Planner you want by your side come wedding day (now more than ever!).
Since 2020 she has successfully navigated the postponements of over 25 Weddings and Events and after numerous “micro weddings” she is the planner you want to turn to when navigating today’s ever changing wedding rules & regulations. Her eye is always on the prize; ensuring that no matter what external factors mandate, you get the wedding that YOU deserve.
Today Kendall leads our “Day-of” Coordination at CJDE. (Just ask her why she LOVES that our “Day-of” is so much more, and is a true “3 months-of”). She loves to cook & tacos (extra hot sauces for her) and exercises her creativity through designing many of our Groom’s boutonnières. We’ve deemed her our CJDE pro at these little works of art!
Full disclosure; she has been seen at numerous events whipping up “oh, I guess we NOW need flowers for Aunt Sally & Uncle Jim” in record time. Ask her what her most-used tool is in her emergency Wedding suitcase!
