MEET The Co.
We are your
Luxury Hospitality Experts
EXTRAORDINARY EXPERIENCES CRAFTED BY EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE.
We consider it an honor to devote our expertise to your wedding. Immersing ourselves in the creation, planning, and execution of every aspect of your wedding weekend, we apply the refined and perfected rules of entertaining that we’ve honed over the past decade. Our commitment to a limited number of events allows us the opportunity to develop a deeper, more personal connection with you.
While we specialize in weddings and the events that surround them, we’re all about celebrations and have planned baby showers, milestone birthday parties, corporate conferences, and anniversary celebrations. If you want to party in style—whatever the occasion—we are here to help.
To foster this bond, here’s a glimpse into each of our lives, inviting you to feel a part of our world too.
Meet Our Team
Kate Turner
IN KATE’S FAMILY, EVERY MOMENTOUS OCCASION WAS CELEBRATED OVER A SHARED MEAL AND THAT’S WHERE HER LOVE OF HOSPITALITY AND ENTERTAINING TRULY GOT ITS START.
Her parents taught her from a young age that whether it’s connecting over the perfect latte, a mother-daughter pedicure, or a vintage red with a five-star meal – every accomplishment should be honored, and every tabletop deserves to be styled.
Growing up you could find Kate pouring the perfect cup of lemonade from her roadside stand, pairing the perfect veil and dress for her Halloween costume, or even combing through vintage Martha Stewart Weddings magazines planning her union to to the current teen heartthrob. Much of Kate’s childhood revolved around weddings. It’s that lifelong love of marrying hospitality with a carefully curated tabletop that brought her to open Kate + Company in 2012.
Kate’s concierge-meets-interior design approach has landed her crew on Vogue’s and Bride’s magazine’s lists of best wedding planners, and their work has been found everywhere from Martha Stewart to Grace Ormonde and – her personal favorite – preserved in her clients’ wedding albums and Instagram feeds!
Kate’s panache for perfection and commitment to authenticity drove her to co-found 23 City Blocks Hospitality Group in 2013. As the first in the Saint Louis market to bring restaurant-style cuisine to private events, Kate’s strategic vision led this renowned hospitality group to challenge the boundaries of luxury in the emerging Midwest market. In 2022 she sold the business to Butler’s Pantry to focus solely on the creative direction of Kate + Company.
Though both companies are award-winning, that’s not what Kate’s most proud of. Her biggest claim to fame is surrounding herself with the greatest people. After all, the best weddings take a village, a carefully curated team, and a little magic. Her true passion lies in creating spectacular events with talented people for extraordinary clients.
Kate’s at-home company is just as important: her loving husband, Adam, and their trio of exuberant sons.
Kimmy Gainer
Kimmy is our resident hype girl and thrives on wedding week energy. TO KIMMY, THERE’S NOTHING BETTER THAN WITNESSING TWO PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER, SURROUNDED BY THEIR CLOSEST FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
Hospitality is in her blood. During high school she worked in her family’s restaurant and got her first taste of wedding planning with a local florist. She quickly learned the value of hard work and excellent customer service and realized her chosen career path. She earned a degree in entertainment management, with a focus on events. While she has spent time volunteering at not-for-profits, participating on boards for past schools and working the Super Bowl, her greatest passion comes from weddings.
After college she returned home to Saint Louis, where she (very) persistently pursued a position within Kate + Company. Kimmy worked tirelessly year after year, finally landing in her current role at Kate + Company, Executive Director, in 2021. At Kate + Co, she found the perfect combination of expert execution and innovative design. Execution is truly her passion; she especially loves unique client experiences, and ensuring they are just like her couples always envisioned. Whether it’s a new city, venue, or something that has never been attempted…Kimmy is up for the challenge!
It’s been said that she is the ‘company’ part of Kate + Company, supporting Kate and the dream to grow this company. Together with Kate over the past ten years, they’ve developed the perfect partnership of yin and yang. Kimmy finds joy in working alongside the team at Kate + Company not only to produce clients dreams and visions but to continue pushing the bar for the wedding industry as a whole.
When she’s not editing a spreadsheet, crafting the perfect timeline, or assisting her couples, Kimmy’s happy place is sitting on a patio catching some live music, sipping margaritas, and catching up with family and friends. Kimmy recently turned the tables and was a bride herself. In planning her own wedding in 2022, she gained further perspective on the importance of the little things that make a wedding special and applies that outlook to her clients’ big days.
Eli Schnieders
WITH AN EXTENSIVE BACKGROUND IN PUBLIC RELATIONS AND BRAND MARKETING, ELI (short for Elizabeth) HAS PRODUCED AND COORDINATED SOME OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL EVENTS AND RESPECTED CELEBRATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY FROM SUPER BOWL COMMERCIALS TO TIMES SQUARE POP-UP ACTIVATIONS. WITH HER ABILITY TO SPOT TRENDS AND PASSION FOR STRATEGY AND ORGANIZATION, ELI’S EMPHASIS IS CUSTOMIZING ONE-OF-A-KIND EXPERIENCES ON EVERY LEVEL.
From an early age, Eli was taught the importance of being over-the-top, or as she likes to say… “just enough.” When tagging along on her mother’s work trips, Eli was best known around the convention floor as the seven-year-old wearing the pink suit and hosting make-believe conference calls. She dreamed of the “real world” and knew her calling for production and entertainment.
After college, Eli moved to St. Louis where she pursued her passion for sports and entertainment promotion for over five years before joining Kate & Co. She led media and promotional efforts for consumer brands like Bud Light, Ryder Cup, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts and BODYARMOR Sports Drink, along with being at the forefront of Crocs’ recent resurgence. She’s produced globally-recognized events, developed award-winning promotional campaigns and managed high-profile celebrity and athlete partnerships for over 30+ A-listers.
Eli has a knack for at-home entertaining, turning unique situations into momentous occasions and elevating the guest experience. She’s specialized in producing highly personalized events with tailored, unforgettable experiences. Her attention to detail and passion for all types of celebrations add meaning and value to everything she does. Eli draws inspiration from her daily life and uses her unique flair to add value and creativity to her work and for her clients. With a positive and personable demeanor, Eli will take on any task with a “can-do” mindset. In her free time, you can find Eli at a sporting event, frequenting just about any foodie hot spot, or enjoying a boat day at the lake.