Please help us welcome Maggie, our summer college intern! We are so thrilled to have her here with us and can’t wait to see what the summer brings! Read on to find out more about her!

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My name is Maggie Lundeen and I just finished my sophomore year at the College of William and Mary in Virginia. I have lived in the West Suburbs of Chicago my whole life and spent majority of my free time doing gymnastics. I am currently on the women’s gymnastics team at William and Mary where I am studying Government and Women’s Studies. In my free time at school, I work with WMTV and helped produce several Trendspotter episodes throughout both semesters. Along with WMTV, I worked with several charities such as the Mayflower Marathon, NEDA, JDRF, and WISC in the Williamsburg area. Through all of these activities I learned that I loved to work with others and I wanted to choose a career that allowed me to do so.

I hope to pursue a career in something that lets me have to the chance to be creative as well. Being a part of someone’s big day or special event is truly exciting and I hope I can make their experience even more memorable. I learned about Michelle Durpetti Events early this year and thought it would be the perfect opportunity to explore the career of event planning! Not only is MDE a women owned and managed business, which I find very impressive, they also have a strong community involvement with the range of events they produce. I hope I can develop my skills as an event planner and learn how it all works from the beginning planning stages to the very end.  I’m excited at the chance to work with Emily and Sterling and learn from their experience in the industry.  This summer working at MDE should be filled with memorable experiences and the chance to learn a lot. I couldn’t be more excited!

The color name “chartreuse” stems from it’s resemblance to the colors of two different French liqueurs introduced in 1764, green chartreuse and yellow chartreuse.

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To most of us, chartreuse is just another shade of yellow (or green) falling somewhere in the category between apple green, bright yellow, lime green, light grass green, “light green with a tinge of yellow”, green-yellow, yellow-green — you get the gist. It’s a mix of warm and cool colors that can feel very springy, but also a bit 60s retro…and we LOVE it for Spring 2013.

Need some ideas on how you can incorporate this color into your wedding day? Here are three of our favorites:

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Decor – Hang colorful mercury glass with rhinestones (like the one pictured below) on tree branches or place them down the aisle for your ceremony.  The antiqued metallic finish of these mercury glass is reflective and shimmery, which will work to enhance the candlelight, perfect for your celebration!

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Drink – What better way to use the color in your day than via it’s original inception? Use Chartreuse Liquor to create your specialty cocktail for the evening. Try this great recipe to make a delicious Chartreuse Cooler!

1 oz Yellow Chartreuse

2 oz orange juice

1/2 oz lemon juice

3 1/2 oz sparkling bitter lemon soda

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Diamond – What could be more special than a unique engagement ring with this beautiful, bright color?

Sarah, who is completing her high school senior project with us, has been learning a lot about weddings! We asked her to share her new knowledge on the blog. Enjoy!

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During the past week with my time at Michelle Durpetti Events I researched historical wedding facts and came across some interesting traditions. Even today we see some of these traditions subtly among weddings that MDE has planned, whether it’s a small detail on a shoe, or the color of the bouquet.

When I think of weddings the first thing that comes to mind are the elegant traditions; the beautiful white wedding dress, the sparkly engagement ring, and the bouquet toss. Many girls dream of their fairytale weddings, which include these traditions and so many others; however what many people might not know is where they all came from.

Weddings first started around 4,350 years ago and over time many traditions have taken different forms, but others remain the same.  For example, the use of wedding bands originated in Egypt and it is still an important part of the ceremony today.  It wasn’t until many years later that Pope Nicholas made engagement rings an important part of weddings.  At one point in time it was preferred to have an engagement ring with both diamonds and pearls, however today the most desirable choice for brides is a diamond ring. The hardness of diamonds represents enduring love, and the classic DeBeers slogan, “A Diamond is Forever,” indicates one of the many reasons why the diamond engagement ring is valued so much.

In bridal magazines, and movies we always see the beautiful bride walking down the aisle in a gorgeous white dress; this tradition dates back to Queen Victoria when she wore a white wedding gown to her very own wedding.

Today the white usually contrasts with the bridesmaids’ dresses and allows the bride to stand out on her special day. Oddly enough it used to be a custom for bridesmaids to wear white dresses as well, because it was believed that the brides needed to blend in to hide from evil spirits. Eventually this tradition changed a little to bridesmaids wearing shorter white dresses and short veils, and today we typically see bridesmaids wearing colorful dresses. As in 27 Dresses, there is also the modern joke about the ugly bridesmaid dresses, so that the bride will look the best and all attention will be on her.

And of course there is the tried and true tradition that comes from an Old English rhyme “Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue, A Sixpence in your Shoe.” Brides often carry each of these things during their wedding for good luck.  Something old represents the bride’s bond with her family, and usually she will wear an heirloom piece of jewelry, or something that has been passed down through generations. Something new is a symbol of good fortune and success for the new life that she is beginning with her husband, and something borrowed is typically from another happily married woman to symbolize the promise of a happy marriage as well as the support of family and friends, especially in times of need. Something blue symbolizes the faith and loyalty that the bride will have for her husband and it is often a subtle addition, such as a few blue flowers in the bouquet or a blue ribbon. Finally there is the Sixpence, which goes in the bride’s shoe and it is a blessing for wealth, however this typically is a more British custom.

It’s crazy to think about how many of these traditions date back to many, many years ago, and although they have evolved since then, many are just as popular now.

Photos courtesy of Carasco Photography, Studio Starling and David Turner Photography

As you know, 2/3 of the MDE team are avid equestrian enthusiasts, so when Be U asked us to contribute to their article about Derby inspired weddings, we jumped at the chance! We gave some pointers on how to translate derby fashion and decor to your wedding day, as well is incorporating fun signature drinks and food items into your big day. Read the whole article here and enjoy!

This morning we had the distinct pleasure of presenting Kentucky Derby party tips on Fox News Chicago! Being equestrian enthusiasts, we had so much fun planning this segment! We loved  making all our ideas come alive on Fox with the help of some of our favorite vendors!

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 Alex of Exquisite Designs created perfect Derby Day floral with hydrangeas, roses and tulips in primary colors. She used a silver champagne bucket Michelle won at a horse show and an antique trophy for the vases and it was so equestrian chic! Silver containers are the perfect derby day decoration because silver is a huge part of many equestrian awards, including the Kentucky Derby trophies given to the winning jockey, trainer and breeder.  Alex also created a blanket of carnations that was inspired by the blanket of roses awarded to the Derby winner, which was our personal favorite! Just think of what that would look like as a runner!

We asked Phil Stefani Signature Events to make some very authentic dishes of Burgoo and Hot Brown, and after some research, they come up with tasty dishes! Burgoo, also known as Roadkill Stew, is a communal dish in the south, where each guest brings an ingredient for the stew. Hot Brown was created at the Brown Hotel in Louisville, KY, as an alternative for a late night ham and egg sandwich. Hot Brown is an opened face sandwich made with turkey and bacon, covered in mornay sauce. Tom, from Phil Stefani, also came up with a Mint Julep Margarita, which is perfect for this weekend, as Cinco de Mayo is on Sunday! Want to try this delicious concoction? It will be served at Phil Stefani’s 437 Rush on Friday and Saturday, and if you want to make it at home, here’s the recipe!

Mint Julep Margarita
Serves-10
1 cup of white bourbon (instead of tequila)
20 ounces of regular flavored margarita mix
2/3 cup fresh mint leaves
10 Cups Ice
Place all ingredients in a large blender on low until smooth, Serve immediately in a chilled margarita glass and garnish with a fresh mint.

No party is complete without sweets and Lillycakes went above and beyond to create some fabulous Derby treats of bourbon balls, mint julep bundt cakes and mini Kentucky Derby pies! Bourbon is, of course, a staple of the Derby and Kentucky, and Lillycakes’ bourbon balls were the perfect mix of bourbon and chocolate. We also loved the adorable mint julep cakes, because who can have enough mint julep on derby day? And the mini Kentucky Derby pies, which are chocolate walnut tarts, were adorable! We also featured Garrett Popcorn, which we served in the cutest little burlap bags from Paper Source. We simply stamped the bags with a horse and horseshoe stamp, and voila! An oat bag snack container!

One of our favorite parts of the Kentucky Derby is the fashion and Loreta Corsetti is the person to contact in Chicago when you are looking for a statement derby hat! She graciously lent us the most beautiful hats for the segment and it was all we could do to give them back, we loved them so much! As an award winning milliner, she has dressed quite a few ladies for the Derby, and we were drooling over her fabulous designs! Guaranteed to win the wearer any hat contest!.

[http://www.loretacorsetti.com]

Finally, Erickson Designs created the best place cards for a Derby party! With adorable jockey silks on them, the place cards doubled as an ice-breaker, with fill in the blank “If I were a racehorse, my name would be:” Michelle named hers “Piccolo Sogno” (little dream in Italian) and Sterling named hers “Sterling Reputation”. Peggy at Erickson Design also whipped up the lyrics to “My Old Kentucky Home” for guests to have on hand and sing along before the race!

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Check out the segment here and enjoy the race!

We are thrilled to introduce you to Sarah, who is completing her Senior Project with us to learn more about one of her future career passions, event planning!

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My name is Sarah Nusekabel and I am a senior from New Trier High School. I love to spend my free time riding horses, and taking art classes.  I really enjoyed a glass art class I took at my high school last year and I have also taken metal-smithing jewelry classes in the past.  As long as I can remember, I have loved any chance I can get to be creative.  In the fall I was enrolled in the Marketing and Merchandising in Fashion course at my school.  My class collaborated with Oak Street Design and Old Orchard in order to create a visual merchandising display for Barnes and Noble’s cafe, Williams and Sonoma, and the Westfield Concierge.  We worked with Amanda Wolfson from Oak Street Design, and learned about the process of planning and editing throughout the project. As with event planning, every little detail was important in creating a final product that we could be proud of.  I have always enjoyed planning dinners and birthday parties for my friends and family; with one of my career interests in event planning, Amanda referred me to Michelle Durpetti Events. After looking at their blog and pictures from weddings and events they had planned, it was evident that interning with them would be a great opportunity, and the perfect way for me learn more about event planning careers.

            While I continue working at MDE, I hope to learn more about what goes into creating the timeline and how the creative aspects are organized, so they all come together seamlessly.  I plan to study marketing next year in college, so I hope to learn more about how to MDE uses social media like Twitter, and Pinterest to advertise their company and their ideas. During my time at MDE so far, I saw the Paper Styled Shoot Challenge video they prepared for Style Unveiled, which gave me a better understanding as to how their company is advertised and the multiple techniques that can be used to do so.

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I had the opportunity right before senior project to volunteer at the Fierce, Fabulous, and Five event, which celebrated MDE’s 5th Anniversary as well as a launch of a new venue space, Loft 644.  I was able to learn a lot about what really happens on-site to produce an event and I worked mainly on the sweets table with Amy DiTomasso of Sugar Chic Designs. The process reminded me of a visual merchandise display, with the simple goal of catching peoples’ eye and attracting them to your table. Every single detail of the table was well thought out, from the placement of each glass jar of candy to the types of candy in each dish.  This was a new experience for me and it was amazing to see the transformation of Loft 644 from the beginning of the set up to the end.  I am also excited to assist with the Chicago Opera Theater’s Annual Gala on the last day of my project because I will learn more about the day of components and how the timeline comes together over time.

Last Thursday we celebrated our fifth anniversary in conjunction with the launch of River North’s newest venue space, Loft 644, and we could not have had more fun doing it!!!

While mingling in the multifunctional event space of Loft 644 with its exposed brick walls, wood ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows, guests joined us in making a toast to five years.  Attendees sipped on specialty cocktails from Femme Du Coupe, Ketel One and Veuve Cliquot and enjoyed a delicious array of food provided by FIG Catering, Jewell Events Catering and Phil Stefani Signature Events and a beautiful spread of sweet treats from Sugar Chic Designs.  Loft 644’s spacious dance floor was packed to the brim with guests dancing to the latest hits courtesy of DJ Lee Michaels.

To complete the night, guests were asked to grab their friends and their favorite costume piece and hop in the Open by Shutterbooth photo booth to capture the night’s festivities.  Delicious party favors were given to guests on their way out courtesy of Truffle Truffle.

With fabulous vendor partners including; Big Onion Tavern Group, Elegant Event Lighting, David Turner Photography, Sugar Chic Designs, StemLine, Creative, Ben Mahoney Productions, Hall’s Rental, BBJ Linens, Phil Stefani Signature Events, Jewell Events Catering, FIG Catering, Femme du Coupe, Flair Designery, DJ Lee Michaels, Open by Shutterbooth and Truffle Truffle the party was a smashing success!

Huge, heartfelt thank you to everyone who has supported us for the last five years and came and celebrated with us!

Kim and Andrew got married on a beautiful fall day in October of last year and what a day it was! Lake Geneva, Wisconsin was the perfect location for this fun couple.

From the fall floral perfectly executed by Exquisite Designs to the groom’s orange and black argyle socks, this wedding was the epitome of fall fun! The couple made the historic Riviera, which is located right on the lake in the heart of Lake Geneva, their own with spectacular uplighting by Automated Lighting Design and their favorite food, steak! The groom’s grandfather founded Northwest Meat Company and so, of course, the only option on their menu, was beef!

Carasco Photography captured the most beautiful moments of this gorgeous day and we could not have been happier to work with this sweet couple and we wish them nothing but the best in their life together!

Reception: The Riviera, Lake Geneva
Floral: Exquisite Designs Chicago
Photography: Carasco Photography
Lighting: Automated Lighting Design
Collateral: Erickson Design
Cake: Sweet House of Madness
DJ: Ameritune
Linens & Chargers: BBJ
Rentals: Classic Party Rentals – Chicago

We are amping up for our WGN segment tomorrow and couldn’t be more excited! We will be featured on the 11am WGN news sharing our tips for throwing a modern spring event! We’ve had so much fun running around finding great props for this segment, there are so many great decor items out right now! We are thrilled to be working with Ryan at Stemline, Creative on the beautiful floral we helped pick out at Kenicott Brothers last week, as well as Nicole from Truffle Truffle who will be creating a fabulous favor. Lillycakes has created some really fun and yummy dessert treats to follow some delicious spring menu items from Phil Stefani Signature Events! Amy from Sugar Chic will also be with us tomorrow to help stylize and set up our tablescape with some gorgeous BBJ Linens. Make sure to tune in around 11:45am to catch Michelle discussing spring party planning!

We are so thrilled to be included in the Style Unveiled Paper Styled Shoot Challenge with a few other, select wedding planners from across the country! We were assigned two different “paper inspirations”, one gold shimmery and one beautiful cream and gold chevron, which we will be incorporating into our shoot. We have assembled a dream team of vendors to help us create a beautiful tablescape and we are are so exciting to be working with them! Elizabeth Grace will be creating some fun collateral, Elysia Root Cake has us all excited about some fanciful sweets, Fleur has come up with brilliant floral ideas and David Turner will be capturing it all on film. The shoot will take place on the cute patio at Piccolo Sogno and we are so excited to spotlight this fantastic Chicago restaurant. We couldn’t be more excited about some of the props we’ve picked up for this shoot, including some very cute animal accents! Keep on the look out for the feature!