Michelle Vining

I grew up in a household that was built around entertaining – candles were always lit for company to come over during the week, and St. Patrick’s Day was no joke. I knew the only true path to happiness for me would be to turn entertaining into a career, so I started my degree in Hospitality at Purdue University – Boiler Up! – and never looked back.

Honesty is the best policy and my number one motto. If we’re working together, you’ll never question my opinion on a matter, and I will always manage your expectations to make sure there are no surprises. I promise to make the planning process manageable and fun, no matter how much or how little we have to do in whatever amount of time you give me. I will never overwhelm you with choices, and promise to give you my truthful suggestions to help you make the right decisions for your day!

I love to be creative, and so does my ideal client! Color, pattern, and texture are my jam, and the more inspiration you give me, the more I can help you produce a day that is absolutely unique to you as a couple. I personally hate to mimic events that have already happened, and instead, I prefer to design an atmosphere that is based on something special to you – a favorite painting, grandma’s china pattern, the way your living room is designed, or even inspiration you may have found on travels you’ve taken together. I even promise to keep you and your style in mind while I’m on my travels, because I’m currently in the process of exploring the world. Don’t be surprised if at our design meetings I throw out an idea or two that may be a bit out there – you’re totally welcome to say no, but that doesn’t mean I won’t keep putting them out there until something different sticks. I feel strongly about creating an atmosphere that will wow your guests and keep their jaws dropped for years to come!

On the day of your wedding, I promise to be as involved or as uninvolved as I need to be at any which moment of the day. Don’t be shocked if you hear me say “Let me do the worrying – you just have a glass of champagne!” because by this point, you’ve trusted me to put together a solid team of vendors that I have total confidence in to execute the day to the absolute fullest. That leads to a successful wedding day, allowing me to stay mellow, let the team do their thing, and keep you cool and collected. You get to worry about spending time with your nearest and dearest, and leave the wrangling of the masses to me. I even promise to threaten your wedding party with a lack of alcohol until they do what I need them to – which is a tactic that has yet to fail me thus far! And, if and when all the formalities are done, the dancing has subsided, and “Closing Time” by Semisonic has sounded at the end of your after party, you want to send me your most true selfie of you both eating the Shake Shack I left for you next to your hotel bed, I wouldn’t be opposed…

So, if you’re still reading this and you want to know a little more about me that’s not necessarily wedding related, you’ve skimmed to the right paragraph. I’ll be honest – the majority of my weekends are spent turning clients and colleagues into friends, but on the rare occasion I don’t have to send someone down an aisle, you can either find me perusing the restaurant scene, whether that be in Chicago, or another city that may or may not already be on my radar or stamped in my passport, or executing a fun and colorful DIY project at my home on the northwest side of Chicago. I’m a sucker for a good tartare, an extra dirty martini, and mint chocolate chip ice cream, and I am actually convinced my 5-year-old self hates me for not having a tub of ice cream in my freezer at all times. I pretend that I like to work out, but it’s really just to counteract all of the wedding cake, I can tell a mean dad joke, I 100% believe that aliens exist whether it be in human form or other, I’m desperately awaiting a cover of “Ignition (Remix)” so I can go back to not feeling guilty about the love I have for that song, and I’m passionate about donating to cancer research so I can continue to help others who have gone through what my family has endured, losing my mother to cancer. It’s my way to remember and thank the person who first planted the words “wedding planner” into my head many, many years ago.

Finally, for those who are as unenthused about reading as I am – The SparkNotes: If you think you’re looking for a planner who will always tell you the truth, who will dare you to be different when it comes design, who isn’t afraid to boss your rowdy wedding party around to get the job done, who promises to tell a few dad jokes per meeting, and who will gladly swap restaurant, travel, and home improvement recommendations with you, then let’s make it happen – talk soon!