Where one’s something old is another’s something new [Interview with The Wed Exchange]

April 4, 2013June 10, 2013 by Steph | 1 Comment

Are you a bride (or groom) on a budget? Or a past bride (or groom) with many unused wedding items? Here’s a potential solution!

I was so excited to meet for breakfast last weekend with Lotoya Vongrechin, a co-founder of The Wed Exchange! The Wed Exchange is taking place on Saturday, April 13 in the Detroit area and the following day in Missouri. The Wed Exchange is “where her something old is a bride’s something new.” The event is an opportunity for past brides and brides-to-be to buy, sell, and exchange wedding items such as gowns, decor, bridesmaid dresses, and more.

I agree with Lotoya when she says: “We live in an environment where there are lots of DIY brides and brides on different budgets. There was nothing in Metro Detroit where brides on a budget could buy used wedding items!” She came up with The Wed Exchange in order to fill this void and is excited to launch the first events next weekend!

There are certainly many do-it-yourself brides (and grooms) out there who end up with many creative items that are used for a few hours on their wedding day but don’t have much use beyond that. If you have wedding items taking up space in your house or just want to do something with unused wedding items, consider selling some of your items at The Wed Exchange. Sign up by April 10 to sell your items. Lotoya suggests that you think about which items you are emotionally attached to, and which items you are not so attached to. Are you going to have a vow renewal? What will you want to wear your gown again? “Or do you want to make another bride’s day very special? That could be her something borrowed or old.”

If you are a creative open-minded bride or groom, or simply trying to save some money (seriously, who isn’t??) on your wedding, the Wed Exchange will provide an opportunity for you to buy lightly used items at a lower price. Part of each ticket sale will go toward Brides Against Breast Cancer, and if you want the event planners to sell your items, your unsold items can be donated to charity. Ticket sales run until April 12.

Lotoya is a wedding and event planner whose roots are actually in the automotive engineering industry! She started out by planning detailed trips for some of the Big Three companies and also helped plan several friends’ weddings and bridal showers. “Planning was really really always my first love. When you love something deeply in your core, you always get pulled back to it.” She started her event planning company in 2008.

“Most girls and women dream about their wedding. I have, definitely… and I just love weddings. I love the art of love. I think you should be able to create something you love, whether it’s large, small, or however you want to do it.” She encourages brides to go with their gut, even as they browse the multitude of wedding magazines and blogs. If you are getting overwhelmed, “always look within yourself and what you envision your wedding to be. You want to bring in your own personal style, not what everybody else is doing.”

She loves using Pinterest as a tool for creating a full wedding concept. When she sits down with a client, she gets to know the bride, groom, or parent, and develops a board of wedding images for feedback. After that discussion, she then recreates a similar vision from those images! Lotoya’s favorite moments of wedding planning are (1) the first look – when the couple first sees each other on their wedding day and (2) when the couple sees the transformed venue for the first time. “Both of those moments literally bring tears to my eyes!”

What used wedding items have you been thinking about buying or selling?

[groom’s view] Creating one-of-a-kind wedding invitations

April 2, 2013June 10, 2013 by Steph | 13 Comments

Hooray! It’s the first groom’s view post by my husband Sean! Check it out and consider leaving him some blog comment love. Note: It was I, not Sean, who linked words like “sartorial” and “audiophile” to their definitions. He has a bigger vocabulary than I…

Planning a wedding can be a very stressful process for a couple. There were times during the planning phase of our wedding when I wondered if surviving the planning process was the first test of our potential as a married couple. While every couple will have its own internal dynamics that are usually not apparent to friends and family, those reliable guidelines can go out the window when previously undisclosed wedding traditions and expectations come to the surface.

Fortunately, I’m a sartorial traditionalist, an audiophile and have an interest in design and art so I took the lead in designing invitations, hiring a DJ, arranging music, and selecting tuxedos (and a dress) for the groom’s party. Of course this planning process did not happen in a vacuum and Stephanie was my chief collaborator and the inspiration for everything that is commendable in the abovementioned areas of responsibility.

Selecting an initial design for our invitations was actually very easy as I had given Stephanie a painting of us by Matte Stephens as an engagement gift. We were certain that we wanted to use it on the invitations; however, I also had my heart set on a letterpress element and avoiding anything too elaborate. One challenge was that most letterpress shops do not also do giclee printing (high-end, high-resolution inkjet). The other challenge was that letterpress paper is not engineered for giclees. After consulting with Detroit letterpress shops I was aware of at the time, I could not find one that was interested in the job. [Salt & Cedar is the relatively new letter press shop in Eastern Market that did not exist when we were planning our invitations.]

After weeks of internet searches, I reached out to the Elevated Press in Ann Arbor. The owner, Michelle, was willing to discuss the project and help us develop a layout that simplified the project. I borrowed a giclee printer and printed the image per Michelle’s layout and then delivered them to her for her to press. I made sure to reach out to Matte for permission before sending Michelle the image and he was honored that we were including his artwork in our wedding invitations.

After a great deal of trial and error and reading some technical documents on using Photoshop and printing on a printer with eight separate color cartridges, I was able to reproduce the image with the level of accuracy and nuance I had hoped for — no simple task when using ivory paper. Michelle then printed the letterpressed portion and RSVP cards. We ended up with an opportunity to visit the White House in April 2011 and actually present President Barack Obama with an invitation to our wedding.

His response was that ours was “the coolest wedding invitation he’d ever seen.” President Obama also said that he would try to make it if he was in town. It turned out that he was in Detroit on our wedding day to meet with then-President of South Korea, Lee Myung-Bak. Good thing he didn’t show up as tapping one’s glass to elicit a kiss between the newlyweds could have been grounds for a cavity search.

Michelle ordered beautiful navy envelopes from Paper Source to coordinate with the ink on our invitations. I ordered a custom return address stamp from 2impress on Etsy. Stephanie hand addressed the invitations in silver ink due to her talent for writing legibly.

[real wedding] Christyn and Ismael’s Detroit wedding

March 26, 2013March 25, 2013 by Steph | 2 Comments

Christyn and Ismael planned their Detroit wedding with almost 200 guests in just five weeks! How in the world did they do that? Read on to find out about their June 2012 wedding at two beautiful Catholic churches in the city. Enjoy the images by Tessa Bird Photography!

Christyn said that getting married in Detroit was a no-brainer: “We couldn’t imagine getting married anywhere else. We met here, we live here, we go to church here, we work here, we play here. This is home. Ismael and I met next door to St. Anne’s over 13 years ago. It was as if we were coming full circle.”

Venues: Ceremony at St. Leo’s Catholic Church / Reception at St. Anne’s Catholic Church Hall
Rehearsal Dinner: Polish Village Café
Catering: Canapé Cart http://www.canapecart.com/
Cake: Supreme Bakery, 5401 Proctor St, Detroit, MI 48210
Flowers: Eastern Market (centerpieces) and friend of family (bouquet/corsage)
Favors: Made by Ismael
Music: Ceremony – Coleman Ward (Detroit School of Performing Arts) & Suzanne Camino / DJ – Dexter Dubois
Photographer: Tessa Bird Photography
Makeup: Rita Leigl of Green Room Spa
Hair: Ezelli Salon http://ezellisalon.mobi/
Event Planner: Melinda Anderson of Swoon Rental and MeMe Designs
Invitations: Artist Loralei Byatt
Linens: Lyndsey’s Linen

How did you incorporate Detroit into your wedding?

We probably were a bit more limited or should we say, flexible, since we planned the wedding in 5 weeks! Not a shotgun wedding…just making sure our VIPs were in the country to attend. Looking back, that seems unbelievable, but it turned out perfectly….at least in our eyes. We had just under 200 people and were so glad to have them share in our Detroit wedding.

With the short notice we didn’t get to prepare for our out of town guests as much as we would have liked but we had a few opportunities to show off the city. We were able to secure rooms at a hotel on the riverwalk, which gave guests a great place to walk and view the city. We had our rehearsal dinner at Polish Village Café, I hear the wedding after party was at Green Dot Stables just a couple blocks from the hall… although we didn’t make it! And our Green Acres home was open the day after for our out of town guests.

What socially or environmentally conscious choices did you make during the wedding planning process?

The hall we used was completely bare bones, so we found a caterer that could really work with us to brainstorm. This gave us the benefit of taking home food. I’m not so sure the take out containers were eco-friendly, but the food did not go to waste! We had out of town guests over to our house the day after, so that was helpful.

Ismael created favors from recycled pop and beer caps. He punched out sayings with the date imposed over the invitation background, making a magnet that was placed at each place setting.

We’ve always admired our friend and artist Loralei Byatt’s photography. She was generous to work with us to design our invitation with an image of a bright purple flower, Spiderwort (!), from her garden.

What was your favorite moment of the wedding?

Standing on the altar with Ismael by my side and all our friends and family there with us. We could not stop smiling.

The music. We both love music and dancing, so everything from Brenda Fassie as we entered, Sade as our first dance, the father-daughter waltz, or the last song – Fedde Le Grand’s Put Your Hands Up For Detroit…..I love this city!! They all made the day memorable!

Hearing our guests say: “It was like an old fashioned wedding!” “…The best wedding food we’ve ever had!” and “You both never stopped smiling!” Perfect!

What words of advice do you have for those planning their own Detroit weddings?

Look for nontraditional spaces: There is a wide range of options for weddings in Detroit – something to suit every budget. While there are plenty of beautiful hotels and conference halls, there are also many museums, church halls, public buildings, parks, galleries, and random spaces that could host your wedding.

Don’t break the bank: There are options. Short notice gives you great negotiating ability. We bought all our own liquor and drinks. We skipped a large wedding party and had opted for flowers bought the morning of the wedding at Eastern Market.

Get off of Pinterest. Kidding! A little. It stressed me out.

Wedding photography by Tracy & Riva

March 21, 2013June 10, 2013 by Steph | 3 Comments

Ready for some more awesome Detroit wedding photography??

I met Tracy Grosshans & Riva Sayegh-McCullen when I was meeting a lot of wedding photographers in the area a year before my own wedding. Riva Sayegh resides in the beautiful Green Acres neighborhood of Detroit. Tracy and Riva are fun women to get to know … And I loved discovering last year via Facebook that they photographed one of my family friend’s wedding! Scroll down to check out some of Tracy & Riva’s lovely photographs of recent Detroit weddings and see more here!

What inspired you to get into wedding photography?

Wedding photography combines so many elements that we both love. Working with people, especially experiencing this awesome day with them, is an amazing experience! But photographically, it is an exciting challenge that combines portraiture, photojournalism, still-life/ details and action all in a very deadline oriented and short timeframe kind of day. We work really well together, bouncing ideas off the other person all day, and balancing all of the elements together. It’s a fast-paced and thrilling day!

Describe your photography style or approach.

We really love to capture the day as it happens, and not get in the way of what is happening. We are photojournalistic, but we are also in control of the action. When we take the couple’s portraits, we want to really reflect their personalities. We take stylish and timeless photos that we hope really capture the memories that they want from that day.

Tell us about how it came to be that you live in Detroit. What do you love about Detroit?

While Tracy has an amazingly restored 19th century farmhouse in Ypsilanti, I live right here in the city. My husband and I bought our house in Greenacres-Woodward nearly 6 years ago. We really wanted to invest in the city and contribute to its growth and energy. We believe in Detroit. We love Greenacres because of its beautiful historic architecture, huge trees and lush foliage (hence the name of the neighborhood!), diversity of people, and very involved community. The people here are awesome, and we have many friends in the neighborhood, young and old, black and white, everything in between, that not only care about the city and the neighborhood. We all are actively involved in promoting the success of the city in so many ways.

What are your three favorite Detroit wedding venues to photograph?

Many of our favorites are on Belle Isle- the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory and Gardens, Belle Isle Casino, and The Detroit Yacht Club. The Rattlesnake Club is a favorite of ours, the Colony Club is lovely, as are the dozens of historic and architecturally beautiful churches in Detroit.

What are your three favorite Detroit spots for engagement (or anniversary) photos?

Of course Belle Isle, Dequindre Cut, Eastern Market, and my new favorite Palmer Park! Close to home, it has lush woods and a historic log cabin, amazing fountain, a pond and lighthouse. You can see deer there if you are very quiet!

Any predictions for Detroit wedding trends in 2013?

There is definitely a DIY spirit in our Detroit couples. I think whatever the style of the wedding, it’s always so much more exciting when the couple and their friends and family have an active role in the aesthetics and planning of the details. It’s obvious when the details don’t look like they came straight out of a magazine- that they really reflect the couple’s personalities and tastes!

If you could give one piece of advice to Detroit brides & grooms who are trying to choose a wedding photographer, what would it be?

Photographers are really the only vendor you choose for your wedding that you spend nearly the entire day with. You not only want a team of talented photographers that can capture your wedding in a timeless and beautiful way, but you want to have a great experience! Meet with your photographers in person, talk to them and see if they are a good fit- aesthetically, personally, and professionally. We always walk away from our weddings feeling like we made new friends, and we think our couples feel that way as well!

[real wedding] SiRui and Jesse’s Gem Theatre wedding

March 19, 2013March 17, 2013 by Steph | Leave a comment

I am excited to share SiRui and Jesse’s Gem Theatre wedding from September 2012. I met SiRui a few years ago through a mutual friend and remember when she asked about the best spots in Detroit for engagement photos. It’s a good thing when folks living outside the city ask questions out of a genuine desire for answers and local knowledge. Check out the lovely images by Special Moments below.

…And how much do you love SiRui’s red gown??

Tell me about your love for Detroit.

We really enjoy the times we’ve spent in Detroit. It’s a fun and friendly city with a tragic beauty about it. It’s rich in history and potential. Jesse and I picked the Gem Theatre in Detroit because we wanted somewhere memorable for our wedding, not just some generic banquet hall.

Venue: The Gem Theatre
Photographer: Special Moments
Gown: Designed by Moonlight Bridal, purchased at B-Ella Bridal
Jewelry: Reaver Diamond Company
Flowers: Bill Hamilton Designs (LGBT-owned)
Cake: Mid East Bakery
Music/Video: Mike Staff Productions
Makeup & Hair: Imagine Three
Wedding coordinator: Luna Soiree
Officiant: Lindsey Anderson (Detroit)
Guest accomodations: Marriott in Renaissance Center

How did you incorporate Detroit into your wedding? What socially or environmentally conscious choices did you make during the wedding planning process?

Our theme for the guest welcome bags in the hotel was “Favorite things from Michigan.” We included Better Made potato chips, tortilla chips from the Ann Arbor Tortilla Factory, Faygo, chocolate-covered cherries from Cherry Republic and caramel corn from Kilwins. Even the welcome card was from the printer Gwen Frostic.
We are big supporters of marriage equality. Our guests name cards were done in different colors and arranged like a rainbow. Many of our friend identify themselves as “bears” we had custom-made bear cake toppers.

What was your favorite moment of the wedding?

My favorite moment of the wedding was walking down the aisle. My Dad was incredibly supportive. It really meant a lot to me! Also when we were introduced as newlyweds at the reception.

What words of advice do you have for those planning their own Detroit weddings?

Definitely go visit the places that you may be interested in for your wedding. While you’re there find somewhere that’s not wedding related to explore. It keeps you sane by creating a date like moment with you and your future spouse. Also there are lots of amazing things happening in Detroit that if you don’t live in the city you get a chance to be a part of.

R&R: Jewelry by Sparklegarden …reused and reinvented

March 14, 2013June 10, 2013 by Steph | 11 Comments

Are you a jewelry lover? If so, this post is for you!

Mavis Farr-Smentkowski is a Detroit resident whose jewelry and metalsmithing studio is located in Southwest Detroit. If you are a bride or groom looking for some locally-made, environmentally friendly jewelry for your wedding day or for bridesmaid/groomsmen gifts, check out her company, Sparklegarden, on Etsy! One of my favorite things I learned about Sparklegarden is that Mavis can create custom cufflinks or guitar picks for you!

Check out these adorable bridal earrings….

How did you get into metalsmithing and jewelry?

After a lifelong fascination with both tools and jewelry, I officially got into metalsmithing in 2006. I’m trained as a painter, but my attention span shifted when my daughter was born. I found it more fulfilling to express myself with a medium I could literally and figuratively pick up and put down many times while completing. My goal is to provide high quality affordable future heirlooms with a streak of sass and a lot of heart. The majority of my work is custom, with the customer choosing the stones, and the personalized stamping. What I love about making jewelry and gifts for people is that I get to give folks a means to express themselves in a lasting way.

I understand you use recycled silver and other metals. Can you tell me more about that process? Where do you find your metal sources and how did you decide to go this route?

Up to 10 percent of the world’s energy consumption comes from the mining of precious metal, with most mining currently happening in open pit mines. Pit mines are often created by blasting beautiful natural areas and using chemicals like cyanide to extract the metals. Without getting too political, I’d like to point out that there is an alternative which is using, reusing, and reinventing our current supply.

When creating my jewelry, I upcycle vintage tea tins and other elements to give them a new life. I purchase my sterling, fine silver, gold and copper from a certified “green” wholesaler. When I can, I locally source copper and bronze to use again.

The guitar pick above makes me wish I hadn’t passed up that $20 guitar at the Lafayette Park neighborhood yard sale a few years ago…

How did you come to live in Detroit? Why Detroit for your studio space?

I grew up near Detroit, and my family has deep roots here. After a long stint (20 years) in the Lake Superior bioregion, my husband and I decided on an urban pioneering adventure. We packed up our daughter and our hound dog last summer and headed back to the Motor City. Detroit is the perfect place for creative people who don’t mind rolling up their sleeves and making things happen.

How would you describe the style of the bride or groom who might shop at Sparklegarden for customizable jewelry?

My typical wedding client is someone who wants a unique personalized gift at a great value. A lot of my customers choose my work because of my quick turnaround time, and use of recycled precious metals. The styles range anywhere from classic pearls and gold to boho eco chic to punk rock Audrey Hepburn.

Is there any advice you would like to share with newly engaged brides or grooms in Detroit on finding the right accessories and wedding party gifts?

My best advice is to take your time. Breathe deep. And shop local.

Six word stories, wedding style

March 12, 2013March 12, 2013 by Steph | 1 Comment

Have you noticed the growing fascination with six word stories?

I first discovered six word memoirs on Colored Girl Confidential. The current theme semester at the University of Michigan is “Understanding Race” and a few weeks ago the University launched its campus portion of Michele Norris’ “The Race Card Project.” University of Michigan students, faculty and alumni are sending in six word stories about race, ethnicity and identity.

Where does this idea of six word stories come from?

Ernest Hemingway reportedly wrote the original six word short story: “For sale: Baby shoes. Never worn.” He wrote the story to win a bet that he could write a story in six words that could make people cry.

A few weeks ago, I tweeted my own six word memoir to CG Confidential:

I recently thought to myself, wouldn’t it be cool if people developed six word stories about their weddings, before their weddings even took place? Maybe it could be a way to express your vision or theme for your wedding. You could post it on your wedding website. You could ask your wedding guests to suggest six word short stories about you and your partner through your wedding website and then use those stories at the reception in place of table numbers. Or – this may have been done already – what about a wedding twitter feed with six word stories?

Our wedding six word story would have been something like:

Photo credit: Orris Photography

What would be your wedding six word story?

[real wedding] Ashley & Raimi’s wedding at the Wright Museum!

March 7, 2013March 7, 2013 by Steph | 9 Comments

Have you ever seen a photograph that captured happiness so simply, so clearly?

If you look at even just one of the photos below taken by photojournalist Marcus Parham, you will realize that Ashley Whitfield and Prof. Raimi Gbadamosi had a blast at their December 2012 wedding at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History! Ashley and Raimi met when they were involved in social justice issues in London. She’s a youth worker and curator; he’s an artist.

Ashley and I met during college at the University of Michigan. Doesn’t she look radiant? I love that Riana, one of the bridesmaids and another college friend, was a flower maiden!

Tell me about your love for Detroit.

I have an affinity for Detroit for many reasons. It has helped to raise my community – some of my most dear family and friends. Detroit is a center for radical histories and contemporary social justice struggles. And I love the culture that seeps through it all from gator shoes to Dilla!

The details

Venue: Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
Photographer: Marcus Parham, photojournalist
Gown: Runaway Bride budget friendly sample dress store
Catering: Jackson’s Five Star Catering
Cake: Holiday Market, plus a dessert table with peach cobbler and cheesecake
Flowers: Goodness Gracious Flowers
Favors: Art pieces created by the groom!
DJ: DJ Sicari
Ring: Sculpted by Mark Woods
Make-up: Shalonda A
Hair: Meatta B
Officiant: Hon. William G. Lipscomb, Jr (Ashley’s uncle)

How did you incorporate Detroit into your wedding?

I was fortunate to have my wedding at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History a national but also local gem. The Wright Museum is an essential part of Detroit’s landscape. Also, I requested a set of some of my all time favorite music: Detroit Ghetto Techno (DJ Snowflake & DJ Assault). Finally, our lovely guests were some of my favorite Detroiters.

What socially or environmentally conscious choices did you make during the wedding planning process?

I was determined to stick to a modest budget. We donated flowers to a nursing home after the wedding. I felt uncomfortable with the history of certain “traditional” wedding elements such as the wedding veil, so I did not wear a veil, toss a bouquet or have my groom find a garter belt! All accessories (except my shoes) were family heirlooms: my mother’s headpiece and great-grandmother’s earrings. Finally, I asked my friends to select their own dresses.

What was your favorite moment of the wedding?

My four favorite moments were: (1) Dancing with lifelong friends to some of my all time favorite music: Detroit Ghetto Techno! (2) Seeing one of my best buddies, Riana Anderson, walking down the aisle as the flower maiden (she always teased about wanting to be a flower girl). (3) Our first dance to Wayne Shorter’s Bachianas Brasileiras No.5 from the album Alegria. (4) Being ‘sprayed’ with money, a fun Nigerian custom.

What words of advice do you have for those planning their own Detroit weddings?

Relax and enjoy the process. Allow space for the incidental. Many of my most memorable details emerged organically!

How to cleverly plan a Detroit wedding (Interview with Lynn Jovick)

March 1, 2013June 10, 2013 by Steph | 1 Comment

Lynn Jovick is the Designer and Owner of Clever Bumblebee Creations. She is also on the board of directors for the Scarab Club, which was Mahima and Shane’s wedding venue in Detroit! I was thrilled to connect with Lynn through Mahima and Shane.

Lynn has a wealth of knowledge and experience planning weddings in Detroit, and we sat down to chat about weddings in Detroit! I love hearing people express how they became passionate about their “work.” It was amazing to see Lynn’s face light up when talking about the details of wedding design as we excitedly shared our love for all things wedding-related over coffee! I am also grateful for her ideas and advice for LoveintheD.

Check out the interview and photos (all taken by Lynn, except the first one, which was taken by a wedding guest)!

What inspired you to get into the wedding/event business and how long have you been doing it?
I’ve been fully involved in the wedding planning and production industry for the past seven years. Being an interior designer in the years prior, clients would always ask me for my opinion on event and party design. Then I decided to take a floral design class and I was hooked! I loved working with the color and texture of flowers and it all came very naturally to me. My customer service background only complemented that talent if you can say that. And I love, love, love to see the outcome and final project unveiling, if you will. It’s like a work of art to me.

What is your favorite thing about wedding planning?
My favorite part of the wedding planning process is first, the consultation – brainstorming with the client about their special event, and coming up with a plan. And second, seeing it all come together and the look on the brides face when she sees her bouquet!

What is your biggest lesson learned about wedding planning?

I am not sure if this is a lesson, but something I feel strongly about. A budget is a budget, and any budget can be achieved honestly. You don’t have to oversell to a client to make their dream a reality, although a little convincing and a lot of experience with ideas is always a plus.

What do you love most about weddings in Detroit?
Having a wedding in Detroit proper opens so many doors to options: unique places, historic landmarks, diamonds in the rough, beautiful seasonal scenery, which yields wonderful memories, and amazing photography. One piece of advice: Don’t skimp on the photography!

Any predictions for Detroit wedding trends in 2013?
More and more couples are becoming aware of the uniqueness and value of having a wedding in the city proper. I see that “trend,” if you will, becoming more apparent. Most couples getting married today are excited about bringing a historical twist to their event, be it an old family church, a favorite place to hang out, or something unique about the city to show their guests. Detroit has so much to offer in that sense. We have it all in the palm of our hand. For many couples, having a wedding in one of Detroit’s historic areas brings community and family back together to embrace the values of knowing your history and your families’ humble beginnings.

If you could give one piece of advice to Detroit brides & grooms who are just starting out in the wedding planning process, what would it be?
My advice to all my couples is to remember that your wedding is about you and sharing your interests and lives with your family and friends! This ties in to another “trend” in wedding planning: Most of my couples are in the position of paying for their own wedding. There are very few parental “handouts” anymore. Not that they shouldn’t have an influence on your day, but there are ways to incorporate both the old and the new. In fact, I encourage it! So this is your chance to throw the biggest party of your lives to date. I encourage you to share your families’ interests in subtle ways, and make you day uniquely yours. Your wedding day is a day that will be talked about for years to come.

Thank you, Lynn!

Readers: Any aspiring wedding planners out there? What do you love most about planning and design?

How to eat (and feed your guests) guilt-free

February 25, 2013June 10, 2013 by Steph | 2 Comments

What’s the biggest portion of your wedding budget?

Wedding planning sites say that you should expect to spend about half your wedding budget on the reception venue and food. The cocktail hour, meals and open bar amounted to 42 percent of my wedding expenses, not including the cake and bubble tea.

Given the massive amount of money you are going to spend on food, let’s talk a little about the people who prepare and serve those delicious meals to your wedding guests, shall we?

Many of you might have worked in restaurants before (I have not), so you are probably already more familiar than I am with some of the problems that plague the restaurant industry. Do you remember if you were paid for sick days? Did (or do) you have an opportunity to advance? Were (or are) you paid adequately?

Source: http://michigan.rocunited.org/

One way to eat and feed your wedding guests guilt-free is to contract with a gold or silver prize restaurant to cater your wedding! Alternatively, you could host your rehearsal dinner at one of these worker-friendly restaurants!

The Restaurant Opportunities Center (ROC) recently released its 2013 national diners’ guide. ROC gave gold and silver stars to restaurants with strong ratings for paying tipped workers $5 or more per hour, for paying non-tipped workers $9 or more per hour, for providing paid sick days, and for promoting employees internally.

Check out the ROC 2013 national diners’ guide!

ROC rated the following five Detroit restaurants as “high road” gold or silver star restaurants for treating their workers with respect!

Avalon International (gold)
Baked goods, sandwiches, coffee, and more!
I went to Avalon’s new bakehouse grand “bread-breaking” opening on Friday. Congratulations to Ann, Jackie & the whole team! Check out MLive’s photos of the huge space. Who knew mixing bowls could be so ginormous?

COLORS Detroit (gold)
Contact Dan Jones (dan@rocmichigan.org) for catering menu (breakfast, lunch, dinner, happy hour, dessert options available)! Minimum of 25 people for catering/special event orders.
Can host rehearsal dinners, up to 60 people.

Le Petit Zinc (gold)
Catering services available! Can host rehearsal dinners for up to 30 people.

Russell Street Deli (gold)
Specializes in vegetarian/vegan meals and has catered weddings for up to 240 people! No minimum or maximum for catering orders.
Can host informal rehearsal dinners up to 40 people.

Seva Restaurant (silver)
Can host wedding buffet receptions in the restaurant for up to 80 people or cater off-site for up to 500 people!

Okay, okay. So I know that list is short. There are certainly restaurants that simply weren’t evaluated and rated by ROC.

…And you are probably wondering how you can apply ROC’s principles as you prowl the city for the best venue and best caterer that meets your budget. You could ask potential caterers: “How do you support your workers? Do you give your workers paid sick days?”

If you don’t feel prepared to ask questions like those, simply clip out the tip card below and hand it to your catering representative!

Stay tuned for future LoveintheD posts highlighting caterers in Detroit that you might want to consider. Feel free to leave a comment with a suggested “high road” restaurant employer!

Do you have a personal story about the restaurant industry to share with LoveintheD?

LoveintheD

Socially conscious Detroit weddings and happenings

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