Frequently Asked Questions
We're a full-service event planning collective based in Chicago, handling weddings, corporate events, and social celebrations of every size. From a 2-hour strategy session to full end-to-end planning, we design, coordinate, and execute your event — setup and cleanup included — so every detail reflects you, and you get to be fully present soaking up the good vibes with the people you love.
We serve Chicagoland and the surrounding suburbs — we're happy to travel up to about 1–1.5 hours from downtown Chicago (State & Lake) for the right event.
It depends on the package and event type. As a starting point:
• Wedding Planning Strategy Session: starting at $400
• Month-of Wedding Coordination: starting at $3,000
• Full Wedding Planning: starting at $6,500
• Social Event Planning: starting at $3,250
• Corporate Event Planning: starting at $4,875
• Banquet & Gala Planning: starting at $5,500
• Milestone Celebrations (all-inclusive): starting at $1,000
• Picnics & BBQs (all-inclusive): starting at $800
• Friends Night In (all-inclusive): starting at $900
• We work with budgets up to $49K, and every package can be tailored — book a free consultation and we'll help you figure out the right fit.
It varies, but most packages include an initial consultation, prep/check-in meetings, vendor management (contracting, coordinating, and communicating with all vendors), a final venue walkthrough, and full day-of coordination — timeline creation, setup, and cleanup. All-inclusive packages (Milestone, Picnics & BBQs, Friends Night In) also include food, drinks, decor, and an activity, planned around a menu you choose.
Month-of Coordination is for couples who've already done their own planning and have booked all their vendors — you're just looking for an expert to take over, analyze the big picture, and structure a day-of timeline that incorporates your resources, booked vendors, and guests in a way that works best for your event, within your budget. Please note: Month-of Coordination does not include contract review for any vendors booked prior to hiring us. Full Wedding Planning is soup to nuts: we're with you from your first vision meeting all the way through vendor contracting, timeline building, and day-of setup and cleanup.
Yes — our Planning Strategy Session is built exactly for that. It's a 2-hour session with a professional planner, and you'll walk away with a full event planning workbook (timeline, to-do list, vendor list, and more) within two business days.
If you'd like extra support on the actual day, couples who book a Strategy Session have the option to add on a CCE Event Planner to oversee and execute your prepared timeline and plans — so all you have to do on the day of your celebration is enjoy. This includes a virtual 30-minute pre-shift meeting upon request, and is priced at $50 per hour (4-hour minimum; 1.5x rate after 8 hours). This is the only way to add day-of coordination support without booking full planning, since the event has already been planned by you.
Not at all! Weddings and corporate events are our two biggest focus areas, but we also plan milestone birthdays, anniversaries, cultural celebrations, showers, engagement parties, rehearsal dinners, picnics, BBQs, and themed Friends Night In gatherings (think game night, movie night, tarot & astrology, or anything you can dream up).
Yes. Our Corporate Event Planning and Banquet & Gala packages cover everything from vendor contracting and multiple prep meetings to full day-of timeline execution, setup, and cleanup — built for offices, conferences, holiday parties, and larger galas or milestone productions.
The sooner the better, especially for weddings and holiday corporate parties, since our calendar fills up seasonally. Booking early also means more flexibility on vendor availability and your date.
For our all-inclusive packages (Milestone, Picnics & BBQs, Friends Night In), yes — food and beverage menus are built in, with options like grazing tables, pasta bars, sandwiches, and more. All desserts are provided by our sister business, Gianna Bakes Cakes.
Book a free 30-minute consultation with one of our planners — no obligation, just a conversation about your vision, budget, and timeline. Book your spot here.
CCE is a family collective: Gianna Consalvo (CEO), Michael Consalvo (CFO), Gabrielle Consalvo (Creative Director), and Jordan Amandes (CTO) — siblings and spouses with over 30 years of combined event experience across weddings, corporate functions, and social gatherings. Learn more about our story here.