A new year and more optimism with our celebrations. We hope to feel more comfortable that events will not be cancelled or postponed for 2022. In light of positivity, CCE clients are focusing on adding special statement pieces to their celebrations. Smaller events are allowing more wiggle room within the budget to splurge on special extras and unique details, such as detailed floral installations and/or specialty design rentals, like chairs or tablescape details. Whenever possible, CCE particularly loves incorporating neon signage, lit up marquee signs and lavish escort card displays to create fun, and welcoming spaces for event guests. CCE’s latest favorite trend is designing lounge areas to offer guests comfortable seating. Whether outdoors or indoors we encourage clients to dress the celebration space with vignettes and unexpected details to create variety and interest within the design. Area rugs under the lounge furniture provide grounding and warmth, while chandeliers, and thoughtful touches like  family photos create the perfect personalized event.  These few suggestions will elevate your special celebration and make a great photo op area for photos! CCE is excited to create statement pieces and special extras for your next celebration! Happy New Year! Christina

After another year of pause, we made it to the end of 2021! This past year everyone found themselves very busy with work and still learning how to navigate the pandemic. It was no different for CCE.  Our year ended up being very memorable. We had events just about every weekend over the summer; some with 2-3 events in one weekend! We handled four destination events as well!  These events were possible with the help and dedication of my team. I am very proud that our bond and mutual respect has grown even more! I am very nostalgic and grateful for Masumi and Olivia!  During the summer, CCE had the pleasure of bringing on two very talented interns. The incredibly busy summer allowed the two ladies to learn more about the event industry than they would have in any classroom. Brigit and Caroline accepted the hands-on challenge with our team. They handled everything beautifully and we could not have been more proud of them! In the midst of our busy work life, I moved out of my home after 19 yrs and found myself in two different homes. I’ll still be local in the Chicagoland area and also Summerlin, NV which is 30 mins from Las Vegas. The plan is to continue to provide the best events in Chicago and destination events as the world starts to come back to “normal”. More on CCE future in 2022 blogs. Now, it’s time to think about relaxing with family and friends over the holidays. Don’t forget to check out our latest article in Quintessential Barrington Magazine. https://www.quintessentialbarrington.com/wp-content/uploads/nd21-at-home-christina-currie.pdf May God bless you and your family and friends going into 2022! Cheers! CC

Gather Happily & Thoughtfully Bringing people closer together seems like an oxymoron these days. We are trying to keep everyone safe in times of a global pandemic yet it feels like the best time to stick together during challenging times. Recently, we had a client that dreamed of gathering family members that had not seen each other in over 15 years. The idea was to reminisce about the good times, when life seemed simpler, and create memories for years to come. Our team and client felt it was the safest to keep the event outdoors for this special family. It is always our goal for all the guests to feel comfortable and not worry about any risk of illness.  We pulled this outdoor family reunion off with all the vibes of “everything and everyone will be okay”. Our design concept stemmed from summer sunshine and citrus fruits to execute an overwhelming feeling of happiness. The event concept was centered around lemons “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade”! And, that is exactly what we did with our incredibly talented creative team. From freshly squeezed lemonade and citrus filled centerpieces, to a floral filled photo op wall and delicious family style meals, we helped this sweet family cheers to life together after so many years!

At last, our sweet 2020 couple had their moment! Sarah and Jordan’s 2021 wedding looked like a scene from a fairytale. The Chicago Botanic Gardens made a gorgeous backdrop, but the couple’s undeniable love was the real storyline of the day. Rustic farm tables, light blue linens, dusty pink and white florals, classic gold details, and a glamorous chandelier all came together to create a dreamy and poetic ambiance. The couple lived happily ever after as they danced the night away surrounded by friends and family.

Hi everyone, my name is Brigit McDonnell, a 2021 summer intern for Christina Currie Events. When I told my friends and family that I wanted to pursue a career in the event planning industry, everyone responded with “that makes perfect sense”. I’ve always had a passion for creativity, organization, and working with others. But as someone that always likes to have a perfect plan, putting all of my eggs into the event planning basket was scary. What if I didn’t like it? It was also scary since I like change, adventure, challenge, and creativity. What if it was the same thing over and over again? These were thoughts that stuck in the back of my head as I sat in the classroom. Then my 12-week summer program with CCE began. There are so many things you cannot learn in the classroom. I learned that on my first day with CCE. Actually, I learned that within the first ten minutes of my first day. I learned that every single day in the event planning industry is different. Every client has a different dream for their event in mind. Our job is to make that dream a reality. There is not one path, one color, one menu, one venue, one floral arrangement, one timeline that will make that dream come true. This is where the creativity, adventure, change, and challenge I crave comes in. I’ve witnessed (and gratefully helped) the CCE ladies think outside of the box. They have turned a typical Saturday into a couple’s most cherished day of their lives. They have turned a color scheme into a family reunion that brought a family closer together than ever. CCE taught me that success in this industry actually depends on NOT doing the same thing over and over again. CCE has

The art of black and white portraits has been a favorite of CCE for years. B&W portraits are a timeless record of something personal, and black & whites styling  is always associated with timelessness. Even plain, clear skin can look better in black and white. Although considered old fashioned, these photos are immune to changes in fashion. It’s as if it will always last. Flattering portraits – more than anything – are the kind photos which people want to endure as they are. Your own face may age (apologies for the reminder), but you don’t want your portrait to do the same. As the saying goes “fashion may come and go, but only style remains”. CCE believes this truth applies directly to the enduring style of black and white portraits.  Cheers, CCE Ladies Photo Credit: Kent Drake Photography

We made it to 2021! What now? What will weddings, celebrations and corporate events look like for 2021? For one, they will continue to look smaller and at the same time offer more intimate details. One of the biggest 2021 wedding trends will be an interest in more intimate ceremonies. Also known as ‘micro or mini weddings’, these occasions tend to have a smaller guest list of up to 25 – 50 guests. They can be formal or informal, and keep with tradition, or take a more modern approach – however, they tend to be a fusion of both. Also, since there is more budget per head with a less guest count, they lend themselves perfectly to bespoke soirees, which are remembered for personal touches throughout. This can range from private wine tastings and interactive chef demonstrations to personalized favors and curated stationery suites as part of the big day celebrations. Most importantly of all, they also allow the host/hostess to spend quality time with each and every guest – just one of the reasons for its surging popularity. Small celebrations set over longer periods are increasingly becoming the go-to for many people and we certainly don’t see this slowing down into 2021 and beyond. With intimate milestone celebrations on the increase, our clients will look for extra ways to impress and spoil their smaller guest list and what better way than celebrating for multiple days. Some of our clients are looking to bring their guests over the pond to Europe for their celebrations! Can you imagine celebrating your birthday in Iceland or Italy? A new trend from 2020 will carry over into 2021, virtual events. The physical distancing required by the pandemic will continue at least through the summer of 2021. One aspect of the virtual renaissance you might