MDE Welcomes Brigit McDonnell!
We are so excited to introduce MDE’s newest team member, Brigit McDonnell! Brigit is a proud Hoosier alum and comes to us with industry experience in both planning and decor design. Her career has allowed her to put on large-scale luxury corporate and social events and weddings at Chicago’s most coveted venues. She has worked on everything from a wedding with 20,000 red roses to a Harry Potter-themed holiday party. When Brigit is not putting together design decks or making timelines she enjoys cheering on Chicago sports teams, traveling, and reading.
Get to know a little bit more about Brigit below and help us welcome her to the team, enjoy!
What is your favorite food?
My favorite food is the iconic Chicago-style deep-dish pizza. Specifically, Lou Malnati’s, and yes, I will debate Lou Malnati’s vs Girodano’s with you and I will win. Growing up in the Chicago area, I took deep-dish pizza for granted. My taste buds had been spoiled and I didn’t even know it! When I went out of state for college, the flimsy pizza of Indiana was not cutting it. Every single time I came home, my parents made sure my first meal was Lou Malnati’s deep dish. It became our tradition. And now, I love it even more than I did growing up.
What is something no one knows about you?
I am very interested in fashion. I love reading Vogue articles with a behind-the-scenes look at the fashion industry’s biggest players, the politics surrounding fashion houses, and where trends stem from. My free time is often filled with making mood boards and wish lists of clothes and accessories that I desperately want to add to my closet. It is on my bucket list to attend a fashion week event. I believe that the fashion industry also influences trends in the events industry so pulling inspiration from the runway is a fun way for me to mix business and pleasure.
What do I love about weddings?
My favorite aspect of weddings is the couple’s individuality being shown through creative decisions. I am a believer that a true love story is composed of a series of intimate moments, inside jokes, and small gestures that the outside world does not see, but mean the most to the couple. Bringing those elements to life through unique details allows guests to get an inside look at the love story they are there to celebrate. Whether it be sourcing a dessert from a first date spot, printing song lyrics onto a cocktail napkin, or using flowers local to a favorite vacation spot, these types of details make a wedding not only meaningful but also innovative and artistic.
Where would your dream destination wedding take place, and why?
My dream destination wedding would be in Dublin, Ireland. My great-grandparents came to the US from Ireland. My grandpa taught at Trinity College in Dublin during his law career and frequently went back to visit. I have been lucky enough to vacation there with my family as well so the city holds a special place in my heart. I pride myself in being a city girl, so Dublin combines the hustle and bustle I thrive on with the charm of Irish culture that I love. Fancy hotels and beautiful restaurants paired with lively pubs would create the perfect balance of luxury and good old-fashioned fun that I want my guests to experience all weekend long.
