Wedding season is upon us. For anyone who has planned a wedding you know how much time and work goes into making your special day just that, special. Haley Lertola is the owner of Detroit Cultivated and she has come up with an alternative to your run of the mill bridal expo. Yes, they serve a purpose, but I often hear groans from newly engaged brides when they talk about the idea of going to one. This is why Lertola’s idea is genius.
un.Bride.led will be held on May 19th from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m., and will be held at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD). Tickets are $60 per person. The tickets are limited, so if you are interested in going it’s important to get your tickets as soon as possible.
un.Bride.led is an immersive experience for couples planning their weddings. Weddings are expensive, and it is important to find vendors that will see your vision for your special day. The vendors that Lertola is working with for the event have been selected because for one they are great at what they do, and secondly they are conscious of how important sustainability is in the event business.
Guests will be treated to a three course seated dinner, by Executive Chef Nick Rodgers from The Root Restaurant in White Lake. During dinner there will also be specialty drink pairings that work well with the seasonal menu, which will be provided by Café 78. A strolling dessert and champagne course will be after dinner. During that time guests will be able to speak with the vendors that are involved.
After dessert brides will be able to get an up close look at wedding gowns in the bridal lounge. There are other surprises in store for guests of the event.
Lertola has been in Detroit for a year, before moving here she lived in Chicago where she was an event planner for eight years. The idea for un.Bride.led came from an event she held during her last year in Chicago. During a bridal expo they had a small section designed like a wedding reception. Twenty guests at a time were able to experience the vendors before they made a decision.
Her main focus is planning beautiful events for her clients all while being conscientious of the lack of sustainability in the event business. Detroit Cultivated works with local chefs, farmers, and businesses that have the same conscientious mindset about the planet. This includes using local flowers and plants for decorations and bouquets, to donating leftover food to Forgotten Harvest. All compostable waste is given to the Michigan Urban Farming Initiative so they can turn it into compost for area farms.
If you are interested in following Detroit Cultivated on social media you can find her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
MOCAD is located at 4454 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, Michigan.
You can find all of the vendors involved in un.Bride.led below.
- Executive Chef Nick Rodgers has been at The Root Restaurant
- Pot & Box
- Alessandra Bridal and Formalwear
- Alisa Bobzien Design and Stationary
- Detroit Laser Company
- Benjamin David
- Mary Ann Productions
- Drew Mason Video
- Design Group
- Vicecream
Photo credits:
- Photography – Benjamin David Photography
- Design – Detroit Cultivated
- Location – Alessandra Bridal Couture
- Gown – Alessandra Bridal Couture – Ersa Atelier
- Invitation, escort card, menu design – Alisa Bobzien Design & Stationery
- Laser Cut Table Number & Sign – Detroit Laser Company
- Floral arrangement – pot & box
- Table setting – Special Events Party Rental