Category: Marketplace

Hala Dairi had never worked with an event planner before she met Christina Currie, and hired her to plan a mother/daughter brunch. Now, she’ll never work with another one: Christina is her one and only.
Hala, a North Barrington resident, hadn’t entertained on a large scale in her new home since it was built in 2006. In the intervening years, she attended many events at friends’ homes, but never hosted herself. “With moving and working, it was a really busy time,” Hala recalls. A mother of three, she also manages her husband, pulmonologist Dr. Firas Dairi’s, area medical office. But as her second child approached college age, she felt it was time to reach out to her friends with a warm invitation.
When Hala drew up her guest list, it totaled close to 80—an intimidating number.  “I thought, I cannot do it myself.”
She found Christina Currie Events on the internet, and felt an immediate connection.
“I liked her because she’s from Barrington, and would know what I was looking for.”
Christina, who is known for giving her undivided attention to clients, met with Hala at her home.
The first meeting took about an hour, during which she learned Hala’s vision for her event—and noticed many details about her personal style.
“I took cues from their home, which is filled with linens and soft, round lights,” Christina says.
This vision, coupled with her knowledge of Hala’s preferences, were enough to set the experienced event planner’s wheels in motion.
Hala, who is of Syrian descent, wanted her friends and family to feel uniquely cared for in the midst of turmoil. She also wanted to celebrate her two daughters, Layal (18) and Nawal (14). “It [the conflict in Syria] stopped everyone from enjoying life. We’re always talking, thinking about it,” Hala laments. “My kids are fed up—we’re not going out. But kids grow up. You cannot stop living. I wanted everybody to come and just enjoy each other.”
Christina immediately understood the significance of the event……