Wish Upon A Wedding Appoints New President of Chicago Chapter Wedding and Event Planner and Restaurateur Michelle Durpetti

Wish Upon A Wedding Appoints New President of Chicago Chapter Wedding and Event Planner and Restaurateur Michelle Durpetti

2016 Chicago Wish Upon a Wedding Chapter Board Announced

CHICAGO (February 2016) –Wish Upon A Wedding has appointed Michelle Durpetti, Founder and President of Michelle Durpetti Events and Managing Partner of Gene & Georgetti, as President of Wish Upon A Wedding’s Chicago Chapter for 2016. Wish Upon a Wedding is a nonprofit organization that provides weddings and vow renewals for couples facing serious illness and serious life-altering circumstance.

“Michelle is a founding board member of the Chicago chapter of Wish Upon a Wedding and her contributions as Event Chair for two years prior to this appointment are priceless,” says outgoing President Ali Phillips, of Engaging Events by Ali. “Michelle’s expertise in wedding planning, along with her relationships with amazing wedding vendors in Chicago, makes her the perfect fit. I look forward to working with her and her chapter as I continue my role as National President of the Board of Directors of Wish Upon a Wedding, a position I have held for two years.”

Fellow 2016 Chicago Chapter board members are: Vice President Tiffany Andrews Munster; Treasurer Lori Stephenson; Secretary Kate Molter; Event Chair Misha Newgren; Marketing Chair Shannon Gail Clemonds and Wish Coordinators Sandy Sobczak and Sarah Deeke and immediate past president/National President, Ali Phillips.

“I am honored to take the baton from my friend and greatly admired industry colleague Ali Phillips,” says Durpetti. “I look forward to working alongside this talented group of women. Together we will continue Wish Upon A Wedding’s mission of bringing dream wedding wishes for couples facing serious life circumstances to a reality.”

About Wish Upon a Wedding

Wish Upon A Wedding was founded in 2010 in Santa Clara, CA by Liz Guthrie as a way to celebrate the courage, determination and spirit of couples, where one individual in the relationship is faced with a terminal diagnosis by granting their dream wedding wish, and for these chosen recipients to inspire other couples facing similar situations to find hope and strength.

The charity also grants “Urgent Wishes” for individuals who are imminently ill. These smaller, intimate ceremonies may take place in couple’s home, hospital or hospice facility within a few weeks after their wish is approved by the charity.

Weddings are at very small costs for the individuals. Most weddings include a wedding planner, venue, caterer, rentals, photographer, videographer, cake, officiant, florist, stationary designer, DJ/musician, hair & makeup and transportation. Other items may be included depending on available resources.

The 501(c)3 organization is overseen by a national board of directors. It relies on local volunteers, and wish granters and wish ambassadors to help provide services and goods for the weddings.

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Pictured left to right:
Lori Stephenson, LOLA Event Productions
Kate Molter, Blue Plate Chicago
Tiffany Andrews Munster, Soirée weddings & events
Michelle Durpetti,Michelle Durpetti Events
Shannon Gail Clemonds, Shannon Gail Weddings and Events
Sarah Deeke
Ali Phillips, Engaging Events by Ali, Inc.
Misha Newgren, Liven It Up Events
Sandy Sobczak (not pictured), M&M The Special Events Company Chicago