We specialize in destination weddings, bringing a wealth of knowledge about the culture, language, and cuisine to every event. It’s this knowledge, combined with relationships cultivated over many years, that sets us apart. Our connections with the finest vendors and creative partners give clients exclusive access to the best in the area. From flights to flowers, our seasoned and multilingual team is there to coordinate it all.
As a third-generation Italian-American restaurateur, Michelle grew up with hospitality in her blood. MDE strives to bring that same warmth and intention to every part of the planning process. It's what separates a typical luxury event from one that leaves guests feeling seen, valued, and cared for.
Michelle is a storyteller — so beyond potential color schemes or appetizers, uncovering a client's authentic story is an integral part of her onboarding process. That personal connection allows her to infuse their story into the event in a way that feels meaningful and natural.
Luxury is about quality, not quantity. We put thought, time, and craftsmanship into every detail, because even the smallest one can spark a moment of delight or create a lasting memory.
The MDE team is fluent — not just in Italian and Spanish, but in everything required to plan a successful destination event. We’re able to communicate respectfully with local vendors, draw on longtime relationships with world-class creative partners, and enhance celebrations with local culture and traditions.
Our standards are high — not just for what we do, but how we do it. In an industry built on relationships, maintaining honesty and integrity is key. We cultivate relationships with vendors and partners who are masters of their craft, and the work we do together elevates us both.
Michelle Durpetti
Founder & CEO
Michelle Durpetti is an internationally recognized wedding planner, hospitality leader, entrepreneur, speaker, and third generation restaurateur whose career has been built on one simple belief: exceptional hospitality transcends borders. As the Founder and CEO of Michelle Durpetti Events, established in 2008, she has spent nearly two decades producing extraordinary celebrations throughout the United States, Italy, Mexico, the Caribbean, and beyond. Her work is known for seamlessly blending thoughtful logistics, timeless design, and genuine cultural understanding, creating celebrations that are as meaningful as they are beautiful.
Michelle is widely recognized as one of the leading authorities on destination weddings in Italy. Fluent in Italian after living and studying in Florence, and with deep family roots in Lucca that remain an important part of her life today, she approaches every celebration with a profound respect for local culture, traditions, language, and hospitality. Her relationships cultivated over the last decade throughout Italy that have now grown throughout Europe, provide clients with unparalleled access to exceptional venues, artisans, and creative partners while ensuring every wedding feels authentic to its setting.
In recognition of her longstanding commitment to strengthening the relationship between Italy and the United States through hospitality, culture, and business, Michelle was named a Cavaliere dell’Ordine della Stella d’Italia (Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy) by the President of the Italian Republic in 2025. The distinction is among Italy’s highest civilian honors bestowed upon non diplomatic citizens for fostering friendship and collaboration with Italy around the world.
Beyond weddings, Michelle is the third generation owner and Managing Partner of Chicago’s iconic Gene & Georgetti, founded in 1941 and recognized as one of America’s most celebrated steakhouses. Alongside her husband, photographer Collin Pierson, she continues her family’s eighty five year legacy while championing hospitality, philanthropy, and community engagement. Together, they also own Andiamo Farm, where Michelle and Collin both pursue their passion as equestrians.
Michelle’s expertise has been recognized with numerous honors throughout her career, including the IACC Midwest Excellence Award, and she is frequently invited to speak at leading hospitality and wedding conferences throughout the United States and internationally. She has shared her perspective on destination weddings, entrepreneurship, hospitality, and cross cultural collaboration at prestige conferences and events like Engage!, THE EVENT, EWPC, VINITALY, Privé, Emerge Event Collective, and numerous industry forums. Her work and insights have also been featured by The New York Times, Travel + Leisure, PEOPLE, Forbes Czech Republic, Style Me Pretty, and many of the world’s leading wedding and hospitality publications.
Whether producing an intimate celebration for twenty guests overlooking the Tuscan countryside or orchestrating a multi day destination wedding for hundreds, Michelle believes that extraordinary events begin with extraordinary hospitality. It is this philosophy, shaped by generations of restaurant owners, years spent living in Italy, and hundreds of celebrations around the world, that continues to define both her career and Michelle Durpetti Events.
With a shared commitment to excellence and personalized service, the team collaborates seamlessly to bring each client’s vision to life. Whether managing intricate logistics or crafting stunning designs, the MDE team ensures every detail is executed flawlessly, delivering unforgettable experiences with warmth, professionalism, and creativity.
Christopher Rebollo
Onsite Production LeadChristopher Rebollo has been an integral part of Michelle Durpetti Events for nearly fifteen years, serving as one of the company’s longest standing team members and a trusted collaborator in every facet of the business. His extensive hospitality experience, unwavering professionalism, and contagious enthusiasm have made him an invaluable member of the MDE family.
Fluent in English, Italian, and Spanish, Chris brings a global perspective to every celebration. His Italian heritage traces back to Lucca, just like Michelle’s and Joy’s, making hospitality, family, and Italian culture an authentic part of who he is. In fact, one of our favorite fun facts is that Chris and Joy are actually related, a connection that makes our close knit team feel even more like family.
Beyond weddings, Chris serves as the Marketing & Event Director for Gene & Georgetti, where he works alongside Michelle to oversee the restaurant’s marketing initiatives, special events, and relationships with more than seventy five local, national, and international charitable organizations each year. His ability to balance creative strategy, logistics, and meaningful community partnerships has become one of his greatest strengths.
At Michelle Durpetti Events, Chris is a familiar face at destination weddings throughout the United States, Mexico, Italy, and beyond, where he works seamlessly alongside our planners to support production, guest experience, and on site operations. His calm demeanor, exceptional organization, and genuine love of people make him someone clients, vendor partners, and teammates alike immediately enjoy working with.
Perhaps what defines Chris most is his joyful spirit. He approaches every celebration with kindness, optimism, and an infectious sense of humor that reminds all of us that while flawless execution is essential, creating meaningful moments and genuine connections is what hospitality is truly about.
We’re incredibly grateful for Chris’ loyalty, leadership, and friendship. After nearly fifteen years, he continues to embody the heart of Michelle Durpetti Events and the hospitality values upon which our company was built.
Cristina Lo Cascio
Planner & Vendor Relations LeadBorn in Palermo and raised in Florence, Cristina Lo Cascio brings the warmth of Italian hospitality, an exceptional eye for detail, and a wonderfully joyful spirit to Michelle Durpetti Events. Based in Washington, D.C. and fluent in both English and Italian, Cristina joined the MDE team in the winter of 2026 after building an impressive career in luxury hotels, catering, and event operations throughout Italy.
Cristina thrives in the details. She has a remarkable ability to dissect contracts, communicate with clarity, and keep even the most complex planning processes organized and moving forward. Her thoughtful approach, paired with her genuine care for people, makes her an invaluable advocate for our clients and an incredible collaborator for our vendor partners.
Those who know Cristina quickly discover that she is as funny as she is capable. She brings positivity to every planning conversation, celebrates every milestone alongside our couples, and believes that kindness and excellent communication are just as important as flawless logistics.
Travel has shaped the way Cristina sees the world. Whether surrounded by mountains, oceans, historic cities, or quiet lakes, she finds beauty in discovering new cultures, sharing meals, and creating meaningful connections with people from every corner of the globe. That perspective naturally informs the way she approaches celebrations, with curiosity, respect, and an appreciation for every couple’s unique story.
On a wedding day, one moment never fails to capture her heart: the instant the couple sees one another and the emotion that follows. Watching a family’s vision become reality and witnessing those genuine reactions reminds her why she loves this profession.
And if you’re wondering how to keep Cristina smiling during a busy wedding weekend, the answer is simple. Great chocolate (preferably Italian milk chocolate with hazelnuts) or a plate of pasta, especially pasta with fried zucchini, will always do the trick.
Joy Bertagna
Senior Planner & Client Experience LeadJoy Bertagna is a Senior Planner at Michelle Durpetti Events, where she leads weddings and celebrations with the calm confidence, thoughtful leadership, and genuine hospitality that define the MDE experience.
If you’ve celebrated with us over the past few years, chances are you’ve already experienced Joy’s work firsthand. Known for her exceptional organization, meticulous timelines, and ability to anticipate challenges long before they arise, Joy has earned the trust of both our clients and vendor partners through her unwavering dedication and steady presence. She approaches every celebration with equal parts precision and heart, always striving to create an experience that feels effortless for the people at its center.
This dedication led Joy into her role as Senior Planner in 2026, where she continues to mentor teammates while managing complex celebrations throughout the United States and abroad.
Hospitality has always been part of Joy’s story. Her family traces its roots to Lucca, Italy, just as Michelle’s does, and she’s also related to our own Chris. Their families have known one another for years, making her connection to MDE feel both meaningful and wonderfully fitting. Long before weddings, there were restaurant dining rooms, family tables, and generations of people who believed that taking care of others is one of life’s greatest privileges.
Beyond her remarkable professionalism, Joy is one of the funniest people you’ll ever meet. She has an incredible ability to bring lightness to even the busiest wedding weekend, and Michelle will happily tell you that making people laugh is one of Joy’s many hidden talents.
When she’s not planning celebrations, you’ll likely find her on a volleyball court, spending time with friends, or keeping up with a social calendar that somehow rivals our wedding season.
We’re incredibly proud to have Joy as a leader on our team. Her intelligence, humor, warmth, and unwavering commitment to our clients embody everything Michelle Durpetti Events strives to be.
Madeline “Maddy” Price
Planner & Logistics LeadMadeline “Maddy” Price joined Michelle Durpetti Events in 2026, bringing experience in weddings, hospitality, venue management, logistics, and event production. More importantly, she brings a calm, thoughtful presence that perfectly reflects the way we care for our clients and celebrations.
From the moment she joined our team, Maddy stood out for her warmth, curiosity, and genuine understanding of what hospitality truly means. She approaches every wedding with empathy, professionalism, and a quiet confidence that helps couples feel supported throughout the planning process. Whether she’s coordinating logistics behind the scenes or guiding clients through important decisions, Maddy has a remarkable ability to make people feel cared for.
For Maddy, beauty is deeply personal. She believes it is discovered through experience, community, and the journey of truly getting to know yourself. That perspective influences the way she approaches celebrations, creating weddings that feel authentic to the people at their center rather than simply beautiful on the surface.
On a wedding day, one moment matters most to her: making sure couples have the opportunity to pause together immediately after the ceremony. Before the excitement of the celebration begins, she believes those few quiet moments to breathe, reflect, and simply be together often become some of the most meaningful memories they’ll carry with them.
Clients quickly discover that Maddy is both incredibly organized and wonderfully kind. She has a natural ability to anticipate needs, communicate thoughtfully, and bring a sense of calm to even the busiest wedding weekends.
And if there’s a staff meal featuring fresh fruit or crisp cucumbers, you’ve probably found Maddy’s favorite part of the day.
We’re thrilled to have Maddy as part of the Michelle Durpetti Events team, and we know our clients and creative partners alike benefit from the heart, thoughtfulness, and care she brings to every celebration.
Jamie Diehl
Systems & Operations LeadJamie Diehl joined Michelle Durpetti Events in 2026 with one mission: to make our company even stronger behind the scenes. While our planners are focused on producing extraordinary celebrations, Jamie is focused on the systems, processes, and organization that allow our entire team to perform at the highest level.
An expert in organization and operations, Jamie has an exceptional talent for creating efficient workflows, managing complex budgets, and building the spreadsheets and systems that keep every moving piece connected. Give her a challenging Excel workbook or a complicated budgeting project and she’ll happily dive right in. Her thoughtful approach ensures our team has the tools and structure needed to deliver the seamless client experience MDE is known for.
Jamie believes beautiful experiences begin long before a wedding day. Growing up surrounded by nature taught her to appreciate thoughtful environments and the way spaces influence how we feel. That perspective has carried through her work as a traveler, photographer, designer, and lifelong admirer of the beauty found in everyday moments.
Although she spends much of her time strengthening MDE from behind the scenes, there is one wedding day moment she treasures above all others: giving couples the opportunity to pause together after the ceremony. Amid the excitement and celebration, she believes those quiet moments to breathe, reflect, and simply be together often become some of the most meaningful memories of the day.
And if Jamie is tackling a spreadsheet with a bowl of fresh black raspberries, red raspberries, or a few perfectly ripe kiwis nearby, she’s probably in her happy place.
MDE's Favorite Destinations
Thoughtfully designed destination celebrations in breathtaking locations, crafted to elevate every moment.
New York
Italy
Florida
Massachusetts
Wisconsin
Italy
Puerto Rico
Mexico
Hawaii
Italy
It is our belief that everyone is entitled to a beautifully planned and executed wedding or special event, regardless of race, religion, creed, or sexual orientation. We work very hard to create lovely events that are well celebrated for our clients and their guests.
“The best of the best! With our original wedding plans coming to a halt in Jamaica due to a hurricane, Michelle and her team stepped in and moved quickly on a new country, venue, vendors, EVERYTHING, in 60 days and put together the most incredible wedding. They truly made the experience stress free and fun — our wedding wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for MDE!”
MitchellGiving Back
We believe in giving back to the communities that inspire us, supporting local partners and causes with the same care, intention, and heart we bring to every event. In addition to sitting on the board for the charities highlighted below, we also donate annually to Colby's Crew Animal Rescue, Surge For Water, Hephzibah, and All Seated in a Barn.
Your Vision, Our Expertise
Whether you're planning a wedding, a milestone celebration, or a meaningful gathering—we're here to create something exceptional, together.
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