Today we’d like to introduce you to Caroline and Ashley Shields.
Caroline and Ashley, please share your story with us.
We started Line & Lee over many creative conversations while our kids were playing at the park. We should add that we are married to brothers, both live in Downers Grove and have kids the same age. So, lots of opportunities to chat!
We always loved hosting and styling our own parties but so many of our friends talked about the stress of throwing their own. We came up with a solution — party blueprints. It’s a way to make hosting simple and fun and more affordable than hiring an event planner. No more deep dives on Pinterest, no more party research! We plan out the menu, decor, and playlist; our clients get an organized checklist of all the party details sent right to their inbox.
We’ve worked on rehearsal dinners to luaus and small dinner parties and can’t wait to prep for the holidays!
Has it been a smooth road?
We experience bumps in the road every day — being moms and business owners, inevitably someone is always getting sick(!) and finding the time to meet or brainstorm is always tricky. We get crafty when needed!
Our best advice is: trust your gut and surround yourself with people who will give you honest feedback.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into Line & Lee story. Tell us more about the business.
We specialize in adding small, simple touches to a party so that it’s one the guests remember. We also specialize in knowing the best place to order a taco bar or the best chocolate cake from scratch (if that’s your thing), the best place to hire a bartender, the best way to throw together an easy tablescape, and definitely our playlists–the soul of our company (if we’re being honest).
We are different from other event planners because as party stylists, it’s a modern way to work with clients who are hosting events — both big and small. Our goal is for the party to be cozy & magical, never fussy, just fun!
For good reason, society often focuses more on the problems rather than the opportunities that exist, because the problems need to be solved. However, we’d probably also benefit from looking for and recognizing the opportunities that women are better positioned to capitalize on. Have you discovered such opportunities?
The opportunities definitely outweigh the challenges. Passionate women always find a way. We love this quote: “Be messy and complicated and afraid and show up anyways.” – Glennon Doyle
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lineandlee.com
- Phone: 630-930-7310
- Email: lineandlee@gmail.com
- Instagram: @lineandlee
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lineandlee/
Image Credit:
susan plocher (personal photo)
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
