At Michelle Durpetti Events, our integrity, reputation and service to our clients are top priorities….

Scott & Cara Nava

Carasco Photography

“Our company has worked with MDE on numerous weddings, events and editorial collaborations. Michelle Durpetti applies her practical know-how, PR experience and passion to creating events that bring her clients’ vision to life. MDE consistently produces and manages well-orchestrated projects with a seamless plan while offering great insight for complex logistics throughout the planning process.”

Gregory M. Franklin

Trainer/Owner, Canterbury Farm, Holiday Party 2010 & 2011

“I worked with Michelle and MDE to plan our annual Holiday Party in December of 2010. MDE handled everything thoroughly, from beginning through culmination, including catering and décor. The event was held in my home and Michelle made sure that the event went off without a hitch and my house was left exactly the way the caterer and florist found it. MDE provided turnkey planning and management, with great attention to detail and always with a smile on their faces. I would highly recommend them for your next event.”

Jessica Erlain

The Reese Erlain Foundation

“I am proudly writing this recommendation for Michelle Durpetti Events on behalf of the Reese Erlain Foundation. Michelle worked for the Reese Erlain Foundation from November 2008 to March 2009. Our foundation was in need of an enthusiastic, committed, and experienced event planning team to put together a fundraiser for a 4 month-old baby girl named Reese, who was suffering from Infant Leukemia.

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Upon meeting Michelle and her team, we were instantly impressed with her professionalism. Michelle listened to our concerns and requests for the event we wanted to put together for Reese. We had limited time to execute the benefit and she assured us that time would not be an issue. Michelle was confident that she would be able to get the job done. Michelle not only gave us options that she felt would benefit our cause, she also shared with us her vision of what this event would look like and was able to incorporate our list of requirements and needs without a problem.

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Because Michelle has experience in event planning for the Chicago area, she was able to provide us with many wonderful opportunities that ultimately made the benefit so successful. Not only did Michelle give us a beautiful setting for the benefit, she was able to provide us with numerous donators. In such a short time, Michelle was also able to offer us two Chicago area media celebrities to host the event. Her vision came alive and we were constantly impressed with her ability to follow through with her word.

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As a result of Michelle and her team’s continuous dedication and hard work, the benefit for Reese was a huge success. We tripled the amount of donations we had originally said we wanted for Reese’s family. Those who attended the event raved about it for months. They said it was classy, organized and fun! I highly recommend hiring Michelle Durpetti Events for your organization. You will not be disappointed. Please contact me if you have any further questions.”

Elizabeth & Eric Jans

Bride and Groom (October, 2011)

“We got married last weekend and in looking through the budget aftermath, I have to say that Michelle Durpetti Events is far and away the best thing that we spent our money on… Their service was worth every single penny, which is difficult to find in the wedding industry.

I chose the day-of-coordinator option and three months before our wedding, they took over. They will be as involved or uninvolved as you wish; they worked within my budget and I never felt pressured to spend money on anything I didn’t want or feel was valuable. They came to my vendor appointments, double checked contracts and made sure I got what each vendor had promised. The whole team was so fun to work with, and they take the time to understand what you want and make sure it comes across in your wedding.

The day of the wedding, they took care of EVERYTHING. We were truly able to be guests at our own wedding. It was such a wonderful feeling to know that I didn’t have to worry about anything; we were able to focus on each other and our guests. My husband and I have reminisced about our wedding every day, and in each conversation we mention how it all comes back to Michelle Durpetti Events. I can’t imagine trying to pull it off without them.”

Happily married,
Elizabeth and Eric

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Heather & Mark Allen

Bride and Groom (May, 2011)

“Michelle Durpetti and her team made all my dreams come to life. I was a girl who always THOUGHT she knew what she wanted her wedding to be like but I never realized that I was missing a ton of details about a wedding I would’ve never considered had I not had the help from Michelle. She took on a challenge in itself….planning my wedding in 4.5 months and took extreme care and interest in every detail that went into the wedding planning and actual wedding day. Michelle also was so helpful thinking of unique ways of making the day super creative within the budget we had and taught me a lot about where that budget should be dispersed. I can’t speak more highly of Michelle and all her staff! Michelle has a professionalism and knowledge of Chicago and the people and hot spots to know. And if you’re anything like I was, not knowing any vendors, take Michelle’s advice, she knows the best people in the business! I have been married 6 weeks now, and missing all the fun wedding planning was, but I must say, I doubt it would’ve been as much fun had I not done it with Michelle Durpetti Events!!”

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Ted Widen
Publisher, Chicago Scene Magazine
Chicago Scene 2010 & 2011 New Year’s Eve Celebration at the Drake Hotel

“Michelle is a great person to work with, she has events in her blood. The team at MD&A is experts in their field.”

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Lisa Marie Lanz

2009 Chicago Commit to Courage Medal of Honor Host Committee, Co-Chair
Salute to Spouses Spa Day and 2009 Congressional Medal of Honor Convention Sentimental Journey – An Evening at Chicago’s Empire Room

“When an event takes place on an annual basis, there is opportunity to continually evaluate and implement lessons learned to compound success. A once in a lifetime, historic event, brings with it unprecedented expectations and attention to detail in order to ensure its success. The balance of inspired events and remaining budget conscious is a delicate and vital one and MDE (then known as MD&A) does so with expertise and ease. Always proactive, responsive and all the while, making it fun, MDE helped to create unforgettable events for our nations recipients of the highest award for Valor, the Medal of Honor, and their spouses and guests. From a Salute to Spouses Spa Day of pampering for the women on the home front of Veteran support, to an evening filled with song, dance and taste sensations honoring decades of history and their service, Denise, Michelle and their entire team, not only created and orchestrated meaningful events, they did so with respect, care and compassion for these special guests. The choice to seek the expertise of MDE was one that we had confidence in from the first creative concept meeting through to when the last guest was wished a good night.”

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Kristine M, Stabler
Vice President of Community Affairs, Arlington Park Racecourse
Arlington Million Charity Gala

“MDE (then known as Mcgowan, Durpetti & Associates) were recommended to me when I was in the planning stages for the gala.  Initially I was a little nervous about hiring the talent for this very special event for Arlington Park.  The experience from beginning to end with the MDE team immediately calmed my fears with their professional approach and reassuring demeanor.  The entertainers exceeded my expectations and the attention to every detail made this event the talk of the track.  Our guests were entertained from the moment they arrived and through out the evening.  I would highly recommend MDE for your next event.”

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A. Tom Kokinakos
Senior Sales Manager, Phil Stefani Signature Events
Green Tie Ball XVI and XVII

“I worked with Michelle Durpetti during Green Tie Ball XVI and XVII (for the past two years). This team is very detail oriented and are a master of their craft. From logistics to planning, every aspect of the event was covered precisely. “

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Erik Bradley
Music Director, WBBM-FM B96
Green Tie Ball XVII and Green Tie Ball XVII pre-events

“We worked very hands on with MDE in 2008 with several events surrounding Green Tie Ball XVII and not only did everything happen with flawless and thorough execution but I was updated with full detail every step of the way. In my 20 years in radio, rarely have I come across a firm that is so on their game. The follow through was impeccable. I recommend Michelle Durpetti Events with whole-hearted enthusiasm.”

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Vince Pagone
Executive Director, Chicago Gateway Green
Green Tie Ball XVI, XVII; Charity Poker Tournament 2007, 2008 and 2009; TREEcago Initiative Press Conference 2008

“Michelle Durpetti as MDE (then known as McGowan Durpetti and Associates) has been Chicago Gateway Green’s exclusive event producers for two years. These high-energy individuals have managed all elements of our fundraisers, including creative development, committee management, and all operations and logistics, with a willingness to do whatever it takes to produce a successful event. This allowed the Board of Directors and staff to focus on the mission of greening and beautifying Chicago’s expressways, gateways, and neighborhoods. We look forward to working with them on the 2009 Green Tie Ball and beyond.”