I’m Christine and it’s SO nice to meet you.
Thank you for are inviting us to celebrate your most special, personal and happiest of days. Nobody knows you better than family; meet the hand-selected members of mine, who produce only the most beautiful of affairs. Executed only at the highest of quality led with precision and heart.
I built a business to produce work I’m proud of. For Client’s whose life milestones deserve heart, creativity and expertise.
With a team who treats CJDE like their own.
Have you ever walked into a room and just FEEL it. The colors in the flowers and lighting evoke emotion. The touch of a vintage champagne coupe as you sip a hand-crafted cocktail, while you’re led by a smiling team from one room to another? You feel taken care of and whether you’re the Groom or great aunt, come Wedding day, you feel like the room has somehow morphed into an all senses experience that somehow personifies a couple.
I do not produce cookie-cutter events. I produce events that exude what makes that celebrant the very special person or couple that they are.
And have built a business around it.
I believe being a wedding planner makes me a better designer, and vice versa. The merging of such a personal business combined with my expertise within event design and flowers, is what makes CJDE unique. And after a career in Advertising, having loved the meticulous process of project management, I have built a planning business using the same principles.
Today, I have produced over 200 weddings over the last 10 years. I believe in quality over quantity and am beyond proud of the client relationships I have built into friendships.
Meet The team
Katy Krantz Lead Wedding Planner & Designer
CJDE’s countless couples, including myself as a November 2022 Bride, can personally speak to the duality of Katy’s eye for detail paired with her pure heart and soul she puts into every wedding she produces. Katy quite simply cares, above and beyond, leaving both vendors and Clients alike wanting her in their corner come event day.
Her experience is vast from producing weddings and corporate events at the Art Institute to being the lead sales director for the Luxury Catering Company, Truffleberry Market.
As CJDE’s Lead Wedding Planner & Designer, Katy has a natural ability to walk into an empty room and design it in a way that speaks to both beauty and function. From Chicago to Charleston, it’s no surprise our Clients LOVE securing her planning services before any other wedding vendor. Katy listens intently, always helping her Clients uncover what’s most important to them (often before they even know it!) and ALWAYS finds that perfect Wedding Venue in a gorgeous sea of options!
Katy is an avid animal lover and a proud Auntie to 5 family pups and the newest Krantz addition, nephew Rowan. You can find her on the tennis court or much like Christine (and one of the many reasons they are each other’s yin to their yang) chasing down all things pink. A color as happy, vast and vibrant as our Katy.
Giora Stuchiner Executive Producer & Senior Designer
Our prestigious Fashion Institute of Design graduate, Giora comes to us after 18 years of event design and production experience in NYC. His designs have been seen around the globe, having worked with some of the biggest names in the event industry including his mentor, Colin Cowie.
Giora has a way of peeling back the layers of a design project, always taking the time to understand our Client’s true intent, likes and subjective tastes. Balanced with his high standards he knows our Client’s deserve, Giora will always find the perfect blush rose for a Bride whether that be a Quick Sand vs. a Sweet Eskimo Rose and ALWAYS views design from an experiential and photographic lens. Giora’s former chef resume coupled with his professional photography promotes thoughtful dining experiences with gorgeous design that is always properly lit (shhh…I’m openly sharing his event pet peeve – improper light design!).
If you’re lucky enough to have Giora as your event designer be sure to ask him: 1) how your wedding fashion can be translated into flowers 2) to see photos of his charcuterie displays and 3) what he sees being unique for your event. He doesn’t believe in duplicity and wants everyone to feel like a one-of-a-kind celebrant on their wedding day.
Sami Laner Assistant Event Producer & Event Coordinator
Sami started with team CJDE as a production and day-of coordinator assistant where Christine and the entire team instantly saw potential and swiftly brought her on as a full-time event producer and event coordinator.
Her experience with the Special Olympics of Chicago and Kansas has provided Sami with event management experience through fundraising events that are purposeful and managed with benevolence; a skill Sami naturally possesses and has proven vital to success at CJDE.
Her heart is as big as her organized, “type A” DREAM worthy to-do lists, as Sami personally assists Christine with each and every event she produces. Her attention to detail is incredible as she manages production schedules alongside Katy and Giora. She has quickly become an indispensable member of team CJDE and our Clients are so lucky to have her.
