CD & ME

CD&ME Special Events & Banquets is a multi-space event venue set on beautifully landscaped grounds in Frankfort, Illinois, about an hour south of Chicago. The property grew out of a landscaping business founded in 1992 by Frankfort residents Chuck JaBaay and Dean Vaundry, who transformed their warehouse property into an event destination after hosting a fundraiser for the National Association for Down Syndrome that grew from 250 to 1,200 attendees over 13 years. The venue offers two distinct spaces for weddings, fundraisers, corporate functions, concerts, and celebrations of life. The Mica is a white vaulted tent nestled within botanical gardens, anchored by a towering fireplace and a majestic fountain. The Loft pairs a working distillery and eclectic memorabilia with a 32-foot gazebo, gas firepit, private patios, and cascading waterfalls — a combination the venue describes as "elegantly rustic." Both spaces are surrounded by thousands of perennials, mature trees, and ornamental water features throughout the grounds.