Tag Archives: Detroit

Detroit’s future – Vote on Tuesday August 6!

by Steph | 2 Comments

I apologize for the lack of blog posts over the past few weeks. I know this isn’t a great excuse, but life has just been a little hectic lately. In a good way!

As you know, I started this blog because I love Detroit and wanted to provide inspiration for brides and grooms to pursue socially conscious choices in their wedding planning and to highlight responsible vendors based in the city. Some of you know that I am not a wedding planner and was not a do-it-yourself bride. I got into blogging because I care about our city and have a social justice orientation to things :-)

You care about the future of Detroit as well. Tuesday’s primary election can be a historic one and your vote can help make the difference. Yes, the bankruptcy might happen. Yes, the emergency manager is in place. In my view, resident voices are more important now than ever before. In addition to the mayoral race, we will be voting for city council members by district for the first time in 95 years. This is our opportunity to elect candidates that will best represent the values, concerns, and visions of our neighborhood residents. The new city council will help shape what Detroit’s future looks like and set the bar for what a district-based city council can achieve.

Click here to read the League of Women Voters Detroit voter guide to learn about the candidates and make your decision! Then go vote on Tuesday, August 6.

vote

I filled out my absentee ballot last night and am excited to turn it in today. Will you vote on Tuesday?

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. To check out your sample ballot and find your polling location, click here. Detroiters across the city will be voting on Tuesday, August 6. Will you?

P.S. Congratulations to Melissa & Chris who were recently married in Detroit!! Check out their Engaged in the D guest blog posts here and here.

[real wedding] Michelle and Monique’s Belle Isle celebration

by Steph | 6 Comments

“Detroit is home.”

That is what Michelle and Monique Lin-Luse had to say about their love for Detroit! Although they now live on the East Coast, they come back to Detroit for the holidays and continue to call Detroit home. In fact, they plan to move back to Detroit in a few years! I met Michelle and Monique when they were juniors at the University of Michigan and I was a freshman. Michelle and Monique were more seasoned student activists from whom I was grateful to be able to learn!

On September 18, 2012, Michelle and Monique were married at the Belle Isle Casino. Take a look at these lovely photographs by Wendy Martin Photography!

Michelle_Monique Monique

Michelle_Monique makeup Michelle

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

  • We utilized mostly local vendors, prioritizing Detroit, then the state of Michigan. The only things we brought from outside of Michigan were the vodka (Pennsylvania-based distillery which was a reference to where we were living at the time) and the champagne.
  • We purchased local flowers that were in season.
  • DJ was a local who played Motown. He also helped lead a line dance routine!
  • We purchased local brands like Faygo, McClure’s, Better Made Chips for welcome packs.
  • We specifically asked caterer to not serve bottled water. Read “5 reasons not to drink bottled water.”

Michelle_Monique couple with fence in back

Michelle_Monique fist group pic

Venue: Belle Isle Casino
Photographer: Wendy Martin Photography
Caterer: Brown Bag Catering
Cake: Mrs. Maddox
Cupcakes: Just Baked – Faygo flavored cupcakes
Floral/Décor: Goodness Gracious, Inc.
Music/DJ: Miguel Mickey
Lion Dancers: Derek & Ying Gee
Favors: Custom m&m favor bags
Photobooth: Rock the Booth
Video: Wedit.com
Make-up: Mary Pryor
Hair: Self (Monique); Jenny Lee (Michelle)
Wedding Planner: Two-Foot Creative
Violinists: Judith Teasdle and Beth Kirton
Graphic Designer: Jee Chang
Officiants: Rev. Dominique Atchinson and Rev. Nora Shumake

Photo credit: Wendy Martin Photography

Michelle_Monique just married

Michelle_Monique centerpiece

Michelle_Monique faygo cupcakes

Michelle_Monique cake

What was your favorite moment of the wedding?

Our favorite moment was in between the “reveal photos” and arriving at the ceremony location. It was the moment when our wedding party joined us in downtown Detroit to take photos before the wedding. We felt safe; we were with our family. We were super excited about everything that was going to happen and it was the moment we could (had to) relinquish all control. We were able to enjoy, truly enjoy, the day. Everything was going to be okay!

Photo credit: Wendy Martin Photography

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

Anyone who has decided to have their wedding in Detroit knows that the city is more than meets the eye. There are so many locations for wedding venues or receptions that are historic, beautiful, and one-of-a-kind. To plan a wedding in the city, you have to tap into the network of amazing network of small business owners, event planners, musicians, caterers, etc. Take advantage of the impressive creative ‘brain trust’ that is available to you. If you are having out-of-town guests who are unfamiliar with the area, remember that the D is different from other cities. Don’t forget to help them take advantage of all there is to offer (and the things we may take for granted) in the city we all love.

Photo credit: Wendy Martin Photography

Love in the D.

by Steph | 32 Comments

Welcome to LoveintheD! I am thrilled to launch a socially conscious Detroit wedding blog!

Why did I start LoveintheD?

Thanks for asking! I married my husband Sean on October 14, 2011 at the First Unitarian Universalist Church. We celebrated our reception at the gorgeous Colony Club. I enjoyed planning and, of course, had lots of fun on our wedding day! However, mid-way through the planning process, I realized that I wasn’t having much luck on mainstream wedding planning websites finding many vendors based in the city or vendors owned by women of color. I also wished that I had started thinking earlier in the process about making the wedding a socially responsible one.

I looooooved looking at the plethora of wedding blogs already existing in the blogosphere, but became frustrated that hardly any of the wedding blog posts I saw (of course there are exceptions – some blogs do include great Michigan weddings!) were from Michigan, let alone Detroit.

I love Michigan. I love Detroit. I grew up in a suburb of Detroit and have lived in the city for a little over seven years now. Detroit is where I met my husband, have continued to grow as a woman and as an advocate and organizer, and have learned many things about struggle, hope, and love. Sean and I plan to raise our family in Detroit. After we got engaged, there was no question where our wedding should be held. Of course it would be in Detroit!

In the months after the wedding, I had some thoughts about starting a Detroit wedding blog, because I figured: “Well, if no one else has done it yet, I might as well start one!” A year and some change later… here we are!

Photo credit: Orris Photography

What do I mean by “socially conscious” and why is that important?

Social conscience. An attitude of sensitivity toward and sense of responsibility regarding injustice and problems in society. [Source: dictionary.com]

Basically, a socially conscious bride or groom might consider the workers that prepare or serve the reception meal, the effect of various aspects of a wedding on the environment, same-sex couples who may not be able to enjoy the benefits of legal marriage, or small local businesses in the city. Of course, it is probably impossible to be conscious of all these things and pull off a perfect wedding that is 100 percent socially responsible. But one could try, right? Here on the LoveintheD blog, I plan to blog about weddings that include at least a few socially conscious elements.

I decided that if I were to start a Detroit wedding blog, it would have to have some element of social consciousness in order to stay true to my passions.

What will I blog about?

LoveintheD posts will include: real Detroit weddings, local vendors, ways to incorporate Detroit into your wedding, style and music (occasional posts from my husband), Detroit happenings and social justice topics from the frame of “lovin’the D.” This is all new for me, so we’ll see how it goes! I would really appreciate your comments, feedback, and ideas.

Thanks for stopping by! Check out LoveintheD this Thursday for the first Real Weddings post.

What kind of stories, tips, and resources would you most like to see on the LoveintheD blog?

//