REAL WEDDINGS, REAL TALK

Carolyn Johnson Carolyn Johnson

AELO Alumni | Kellie + Drew, 5/2/26 - PHOTOS

What an incredible night. It’s no secret that we love our unconventional weddings, and a couple of cuties getting married at the city’s best dive bar was no exception. Kellie + Drew wanted a casual, fun wedding at their favorite place, and that’s what we delivered. Drew carefully curated their music, the “Pope” officiated, and everyone had a blast. Born to Run, indeed. We love you guys. Congratulations!

VENUE: LIAR’S CLUB | PHOTOGRAPHY: MELODY JOY CO | FLORALS: HAILEY RODDEN | RENTALS: CASTLE PARTY RENTAL | BURGERS: SMALL CHEVAL | TOWN CAR: WINDY CITY LIMO

What an incredible night. It’s no secret that we love our unconventional weddings, and a couple of cuties getting married at the city’s best dive bar was no exception. Kellie + Drew wanted a casual, fun wedding at their favorite place, and that’s what we delivered. Drew carefully curated their music, the “Pope” officiated, and everyone had a blast. Born to Run, indeed. We love you guys. Congratulations!

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Advice & Insight Carolyn Johnson Advice & Insight Carolyn Johnson

We are here for you.

Are you looking for a badass team to help you plan your wedding without all the stress of The Industry? Do you need a stage manager to coordinate your day?

Are you looking for a badass team to help you plan your wedding without all the stress of The Industry? Do you need a stage manager to coordinate your day?

We don’t push you into trends or tell you that have to spend a million dollars. We customize your planning experience to match your pace and your needs. There’s a package for everyone!

If you want a capable, fun-loving team full of theatre kids on your side, we’re booking now for 2026 and 2027!

🎤 80s announcer voice 🎤 Get in touch today!

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Carolyn Johnson Carolyn Johnson

YOU MUST HIRE CATERING.

What does a serving staff need to take care of when you’re just having food dropped off?

Listen, not to call anyone out, but your wedding planner/coordinator is NOT a caterer. We’re not licensed to deal with food and it’s NOT why you hire a planner.

We totally understand the need to save money. But you’re going to have catering dropped off for nearly two hundred people, you must hire catering and serving staff. There are so many other things we need to be doing while expert caterers are doing their thing.

What does a serving staff need to take care of when you’re just having food dropped off?

-Throwing linens
-Setting cutlery, napkins, flatware, glasses
-Setting up the buffet, including plates and sterno
-Replenishing food, plates, etc.
-Bussing tables
-Cutting cake and serving it
-Setting up dessert and coffee
-Taking out all trash
-Sweeping and mopping per venue instructions

Absolutely none of that is what we do. Please think it through before you decide not to hire an event caterer. We know price tags can be shocking but in the end, you may spend just as much hiring outside staff. Okay? Okay. Thank you.

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Advice & Insight Carolyn Johnson Advice & Insight Carolyn Johnson

PLEASE be cringe on your wedding day.

What do you mean you don’t want to be open and earnest and deeply in love and goofy on your wedding day!?

What do you mean you don’t want to be open and earnest and deeply in love and goofy on your wedding day!?

Please please please shelve all feelings of “I must be cynical and over it and too good for it” all the time, but especially on your wedding day.

Smile big, laugh out loud, and most of all, be so in love everyone in the room can feel it.

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Advice & Insight Carolyn Johnson Advice & Insight Carolyn Johnson

What does a Day of Coordinator / Event Manager do?

Let us lead the team you’ve assembled leading up to and on the day of so the that experts you’ve hired can do their jobs.

We are here to take all the stress off your shoulders! Planning your wedding goes well beyond hiring your vendors.

Let us lead the team you’ve assembled leading up to and on the day of so the that experts you’ve hired can:

- focus on their important jobs
- stay on the same page
- eat!
- stay in the moment with you
- not worry about coordinating the whole event (photographers should be focusing on their art, not their watches!)

We also do about a million other things, but leading the vendor team is a big part of our job. And then you get to relax and enjoy your day, your people, and your love.

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