Our Story
Michigan Avenue Events is a luxury wedding and event planning firm born in Chicago and at home anywhere our clients celebrate. Available everywhere our clients wish to celebrate.
Who we are
With over 20 years of industry experience and 15 years as MAE, Michigan Avenue Events creates elevated, unforgettable celebrations for esteemed clients. We specialize in planning luxury weddings, special events, galas, corporate events, and retreat planning in Chicago, the North Shore, Michigan & destinations worldwide. MAE consistently delivers a seamless, high-touch experience from concept through execution. Known for exceptional design, communication, and attention to detail, we bring your vision to life with precision.
The MAE standard
Every client of Michigan Avenue Events is handled with the utmost care. A differentiating point is our communication, level of design prowess, and articulate execution. We only take on 10-15 clients per year because we believe every client deserves to be prioritized.
Nationally recognized and founded in 2011 by Chicago native Brianne Garritano, Michigan Avenue Events is known for sophisticated weddings and events that blend exceptional hospitality, artistic design, and seamless execution. No two of our clients' celebrations have ever looked the same. Each is thoughtfully tailored to the couple's story, style, and vision.
That standard has earned the trust of some of Chicago's most notable names. MAE has planned celebrations for the Mayor of Chicago, elite philanthropists, billionaires, professional athletes, celebrities, executives, and prominent families who expect discretion as much as design, in Chicago, on the North Shore, in Michigan, and at destinations worldwide.
As founder and a planning professional with more than 20 years of luxury experience, Brianne remains actively involved in every event and every major decision. From strategy and design to vendor selection, logistics, and execution, she works closely alongside each client so every detail reflects their vision and is carried out with intention.
We believe our clients deserve transparency. Rather than simply asking what they would like to spend, we show them what that investment can accomplish: real-world examples of the guest experience, design at scale, the details that will be remembered, and production elements that are worthwhile at every level, from million-dollar budgets to more modest ranges. The result is a planning experience built on trust and confidence, and our five-star reviews point to it.
For two decades, our goal has remained the same: to create an exceptional, value-driven experience that begins long before the celebration and continues long after it ends.
We build lasting relationships with our clients, remaining a trusted resource for months and even years beyond their events. Whether bringing an intimate dinner to life, orchestrating a multi-day destination wedding, or producing a celebration of cultural significance, or a large-scale corporate gathering, we approach every occasion with the same level of care, creativity, and precision.
Because for us, exceptional service isn't simply delivered on the day - it's carried through every detail, every moment, and every relationship.
The approach
Every MAE differentiator comes down to design, communication, and execution, done with more care than anyone expects.
That triad guides every luxury wedding, corporate event, and gala we plan in Chicago and beyond: thoughtful design, clear communication, and precise day-of execution.
A refined design sensibility shapes every environment we build: palette, florals, lighting, and tabletop composed like an editorial spread, never a template.
Precise, proactive, and personal. You will always know where your plan stands, what happens next, and who is handling it. That discipline is the quiet luxury of working with MAE.
Production oversight, vendor direction, and white-glove service on the day itself. Seamless is not an accident; it is a schedule, rehearsed.
The Founder
For Brianne Garritano, exceptional experiences begin with an extraordinary attention to detail.
As Founder and Creative Director of Michigan Avenue Events, Brianne has built her career around creating celebrations that are as thoughtfully considered as they are beautifully executed. Her signature approach blends refined design, concierge-level assistance, meticulous planning, and an unwavering attention to detail, ensuring that every element feels intentional and every moment unfolds seamlessly.
Service areas
We plan across Chicago, Winnetka, Wilmette, Lake Forest, Highland Park, the North Shore, Southwest Michigan, New York City, the Riviera Maya, and destinations worldwide.
Michigan Avenue Events plans destination weddings and local celebrations with the same production standard in every setting.
Press & Praise
From high-profile celebrations to deeply personal milestones, Michigan Avenue Events is trusted by celebrity and discerning clientele who value exceptional execution and absolute discretion.
Two decades of extraordinary celebrations have shaped a reputation we hold with great care. Explore our Press and Reviews for verified recognition and the words of clients who have experienced the Michigan Avenue Events approach firsthand.
In the press
Editorial coverage from the desks that cover celebration.
PEOPLE · Exclusive
PEOPLE covered the St. Regis Kanai celebration exclusively. Michigan Avenue Events planned and produced the multi-day weekend, from champagne sabrage to vows beneath the Ceiba tree.
Modern Luxury · Profile
A studio profile of Michigan Avenue Events and founder Brianne Garritano, covering how the team plans bespoke weddings and events in Chicago, the North Shore, Michigan, and destinations worldwide.
Wezoree · Roundup
Wezoree's Chicago planner guide names Michigan Avenue Events among five firms to know, citing more than two decades of full-service and destination wedding planning.
In their words
What clients say when the celebration is over.
I can't speak highly enough of Brianne and the MAE team and feel we got an incredible value for the services they provided. The level of professionalism, polish, attention to detail and expertise they provided throughout the entire wedding…Read the full review
Brianne of MAE did the most incredible job planning and managing my wedding at ShoreAcres on the North Shore. She is so warm and friendly but also so good at taking care of business. I have been working in the wedding industry for 18 years…Read the full review
We witnessed MAE's amazing work at our friend's wedding in 2021. After getting engaged and started planning, we decided to reach out and use them for our wedding! From the beginning, it was clear that MAE was the right choice for us.…Read the full review
As seen in
Features and awards that spotlight the celebrations - and the clients - we are honored to serve.
Drop a Hello
Tell us about the celebration you're imagining: the city, the season, the feeling. We'll take it from there.