IF YOU LIKE our name, YOU’RE GOING TO LOVE WORKING WITH US
about hbic weddings
Unlike other wedding planners, you'll never find us hugging a clipboard from the sidelines of your reception. Instead, your very own HBIC planner will be up in the thick of things. Keeping both the planning and wedding day on track. And ensuring you're having the time of your freakin' life.
So, who are we and how are we different?
AS YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED, WE DO THINGS A LITTLE DIFFERENT AROUND HERE
HBIC Weddings
Chicago's Best Wedding Planners
Your Straightforward Sounding Board
We'll help you narrow down your Pins and hear out your dreams. (Heck, we'll even dream with you.) And we'll help you navigate your feelings, ideas and even your mom!
But you should also know that if one of your ideas won’t really work – or there is a better way to approach your idea, we’re going to tell you that too!”
Because, trust us, you might think a trolley filled with your wedding party is a great idea. But the air conditioning of a bus is better than diesel fumes any day - especially during summer in the city.
“Diane truly was an HBIC throughout the last few months leading up to our wedding! She was a great listener when I expressed my desires, but she also offered guidance and help from her past experience.”
-Ellyn + Jim
Your Stress-Free Support System
With HBIC, you'll get the sum of our experience, event connections, tools and advice.
(That's 20+ years of experience you'll love right there.)
Not just our full-service clients. And not just 30 or 60-days out. We're talking Every. Single. Client.
Right from the start, you'll get immediate access to everything from customized checklists and budget trackers to guest management tools and music lists.
In other words, if you have a smart device and WiFi, you can tackle your to-do list. Better yet, if you're at the florist and you've got a quick question, call us already! We've got you.
“Diane not only knows the right vendors, but she also knows what works and what doesn't. She has many years of experience, and we were able to use her expertise to help make important selections. Knowing that Diane was behind the scenes allowed us to walk into that magical space and enjoy a most incredible evening!”
-Lisa + Bryan
Your Been There Done That Experts
With us, you've got a " been there, done that" expert in your corner who understands the world of events. Someone diplomatic - who knows how and when to speak up to get things done tactfully.
We'll listen to your concerns and make sure they're handled. We'll walk into your venue with big smiles and 40 extra copies of the most recent/correct floor plan. And we'll communicate with the venue, vendors and day-of team to make sure your wants and needs are honored.
Basically we’ve got your back ALL day in ALL ways!
“If you want a wedding planner that will have your back, be engrossed in the details of your special day, and be nimble enough to adjust on the fly come what may, call HBIC Weddings!”
-Kim + Will
Your Take Charge Conductors
Check, check, & double-check. It’s not a soundcheck, it’s the way we think.
Like the conductor of an orchestra, we believe that we can only play well if we prepare well. So, we'll begin by making sure all of your vendors are on the same page. We'll review their contracts and proposals to make sure they've given you the "good stuff." We'll create realistic wedding day schedules for each. And we'll sniff out anything that might negatively impact your experience.
Come wedding day, when it's time to perform, we'll be there to cue the band of vendors to work in harmony. We’ll check that all the seating arrangements and meal selections are dialed in. And we’ll make sure your dad’s Scotch neat is on standby.
Most importantly, we’ll check on you two to make sure you’re delighted with your day and beyond happy.
“On the day of the wedding, we didn't have to worry about vendors or schedules or any of the little things because Diane had it covered. Diane also had an assistant with her, Alexis, who was equally fantastic and was such a positive energy.”
-Shelley + Rudy
DIANE
They don’t call me “Downtown Di” for nothin’.
I'm a native of Chicago - proudly raised in the South suburbs. As a kid, I never missed a chance to go downtown with my family. I loved the excitement and energy. (Still do.)
I got into events after working for my family's interior design business. Like my love of Chicago, this world sucked me in, and I've never looked back.
OWNER + HEAD B*TCH IN CHARGE
I've worked for every facet of the Chicago events industry from destination management to luxury design. I've worked in the belly of busses and have produced events for Presidents. I’ve worked in virtually every museum, venue and hotel - and know their loading docks and lighting like the back of my own hand.
Beyond creating an amazing setting for your wedding, I have a knack for turning stressful situations into lighthearted fun. I’ve been known to drop an f-bomb once and a while. And I have a few good jokes to make the wedding party laugh while getting inline with the day’s plan.
Bottom line, I'm a creative soul. I see design in everything. I'm slightly (okay, genuinely!) obsessed with binders. And I have a planning mindset that allows me to juggle a lot without any hesitation.
Let's Connect
As a Certified Wedding Planner with 2+ decades of experience planning and producing events, I have thousands of events in my rearview mirror.
AFTER ALL THIS TIME AND EXPERIENCE, HERE ARE A FEW THINGS I KNOW ARE true:
expertise matters
That’s why I don’t cut my own hair or do my own taxes. (If I did, I’d probably find myself rocking an orange jumpsuit with crooked bangs…)
GOLDENS ARE EVERYTHING
I know I might alienate a lot of people here, but Goldens are the best dog ever. They sleep so much, that they’re like plants with tails that love you. How can you argue with that?
Let's Connect
LAUGHTER =
BEST MEDICINE
Life is full of ups and downs. You might as well have fun through it all.
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MY DAD WAS WICKED SMART
"You'll think of the whole world differently if you start thinking preventively." You can thank my dad for that one.
SH*T HAPPENS
But things will work out… They always do.
