Loving Day Detroit 2013 in photos!

Earlier in June, multiracial couples, families, and individuals gathered in Detroit to celebrate Loving Day, the anniversary of the 1967 court decision that found interracial marriage bans to be unconstitutional.

Children played, children’s stories were read, many arts and crafts projects were constructed, photos were taken at a photobooth, and most importantly, stories of couples and families were shared in a dialogue. Click here to read the original LoveintheD post about Loving Day Detroit.

Below are some photos from the event that speak for themselves!

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loving day kids

During the event, one individual spoke about reactions from other people to his being in an interracial relationship – gauged by looks and glances when seen in public together or some individuals “checking it out and then being positive.” Another participant spoke about how being in an interracial relationship and multiracial family has opened her eyes to dynamics of race in today’s society: “It’s also enriching, because I see a whole world that I never knew existed.”

“Raise your children in diverse areas.” One individual at the event spoke about growing up biracial in an area that was not diverse and about the experience of having parents who did not discuss issues of race openly. A woman in an interracial marriage spoke about the dynamics of raising biracial children and never being able to predict when a conversation about race in her family would come up and how to respond to questions. The conversation turned near the end toward school diversity, environments and choices in Detroit for biracial or multiracial children.

Readers: What are your experiences with interracial marriage in Detroit? 

Handmade weddings – Interview with Indie Detroit Wedding Ring

In February of this year, not one, but two Detroit area wedding blog/websites launched into the blogosphere! LoveintheD came online as a socially conscious Detroit wedding blog. And Indie Detroit Wedding Ring also launched as an online and event resource for brides and grooms in the Detroit area looking to use locally sourced handmade goods in their weddings!

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Angela from Indie Detroit Wedding Ring for coffee. We chatted about our love for weddings, ways to support one another, and, you know, other bloggy stuff!

Check out my interview with Angela below.

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A Fox Wedding

How did the idea of the Indie Detroit Wedding Ring come about?

It all started at a craft show at the Loving Touch. Other vendors at the show asked me how I started to break into the wedding business with my company, Moving Beauty. We realized that while handmade weddings were popular here, it was really hard to find local vendors. Also, vendors had no where to promote themselves to engaged couples other than mainstream wedding sites, which may not be economical for small vendors. Thats when we first had the thought, “Wouldn’t it be great to have a wedding craft show?!” Shortly after that, Indie Detroit Wedding Ring was formed with two goals, to create an online resource and to host in-person events.

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Indie Detroit Wedding Ring is hosting a showcase on June 28, 7:30 p.m. at FLIP Hair Salon, 251 W. Nine Mile Rd, Ferndale, MI 48220. What should brides or grooms look forward to at the showcase on June 28?

We have hand picked a group of artists to give couples inspiration for their upcoming weddings. The IDWR team will also be on hand to meet soon-to-be brides and grooms and answer questions they might have as well as build the DIY wedding community here in metro Detroit.

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Chain Chain Chained

Describe the kind of Detroit bride or groom who chooses to have a handmade/indie wedding.

The ideal IDWR couples are people who want a wedding rooted in the values of handmade goods, whether they make it themselves or purchase from area artists and makers. They want their wedding to be a true reflection of themselves and would rather spend their money on experiences and items to make their wedding more special and authentic, not flashier.

What are your three top reasons why handmade is the way to go for a Detroit wedding?

1. Detroit is filled with artists and makers who want to collaborate with brides and grooms to make their weddings special. Its a great, hard-working community to support.
2. Handmade weddings are a great way to show your individual personalities and your relationship. It’s a lot of fun for your guests to learn more about you as a couple.
3. Planning a handmade wedding means you become part of the DIY community, where you are exposed to so many economical ways to recycle and reuse.

Readers: What handmade elements are you thinking about including in your wedding? 

Freedom to Marry – Celebrate Loving Day in Detroit

History was made on June 12, 1967. Can you believe that interracial marriage bans were struck down in the United States only less than fifty years ago?

The Loving v. Virginia decision anniversary is directly relevant to my life for several reasons.

First, my husband Sean and I are in an interracial marriage. The challenges that we have faced as an interracial couple are not anywhere near the institutional barriers that existed during the Lovings’ time. We owe a debt of gratitude to them for their courage.

Second, I worked for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Michigan for a time, and am proud of the work that the ACLU does to defend our constitutional rights and civil liberties. ACLU lawyers Bernard Cohen and Philip Hirschkop represented the Lovings in their court case.

the lovings

Richard Loving (who was white) and Mildred Jeter (who was Black and Cherokee) were married in Washington, DC fifty-five years ago today, on June 2, 1958. They actually lived in Virginia, but interracial marriage was illegal in that state along with twenty other states. After returning back to Virginia, the Lovings were arrested, tried in court, and convicted of miscegenation.

They decided to leave the state, so that they would not be sentenced to a one-year jail sentence. They contacted the American Civil Liberties Union, which decided to take on the case. The case wound its way up to the United States Supreme Court. After nine years of a legal battle, the Supreme Court justices unanimously decided in favor of the Lovings! Interracial marriage bans around the country were found unconstitutional.

Chief Justice Earl Warren said in the 1967 opinion:

“Under our Constitution, the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides within the individual and cannot be infringed on by the State.”

With those words echoing today, decades later, what can we expect or hope to read in the Supreme Court’s upcoming decisions this summer about same-sex marriage?

So how does Michigan fare in the history of interracial marriage laws? Interracial marriage was illegal in Michigan from 1838 to 1883. The Michigan Compiled Laws of 1857 included this language: “No white person shall intermarry with a negro…” In 1883, Michigan was one of 17 states that allowed interracial marriage. [Source]

loving day detroit

On Sunday, June 9, 3 – 6:30 p.m. at the Cass Corridor Neighborhood Development Center, check out the second annual Loving Day : Detroit celebration! Join us for children’s games, story time, discussion, a showing of The Loving Story, and a potluck!

LoveintheD will have a photo and story booth at this annual celebration. Come take some photos and also share your story as a multiracial/ethnic person, couple, or family. Maybe you’ll see your face and story up on LoveintheD in the future! I cannot wait for this photobooth.

Happy anniversary, Richard and Mildred Loving!

Readers: What are your reflections on interracial marriage, multiracial identity, and multiracial families in your own life?

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

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.”

brides against breast cancer

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.

The WED Exchange post card - detroit

 

The WED Exchange post card back - detroit

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?