Clear your schedule for May 10, ladies and gentlemen: Indie Wed, the wedding extravaganza designed for to-be-weds who think outside the box, is coming to Milwaukee.

For just one evening (from 4 to 9 p.m.), area couples, couture models, vendors and live bands and DJs are converging on the Harley-Davidson Museum, and christening Chrome, the chic new tented event space.

“Forget all the stale wedding expos…this is more like a fun cocktail party,” says Kelly Maron Horvath, Indie Wed’s founder, who’s a Chicago-area stationer. “It is like being a guest at a wedding in a sense, with lots to explore and take in. Between the caterers, food truck and sweets vendors, there will be plenty to munch on throughout the evening.”

“Come with an appetite and some dancing shoes!” suggests attire designer Monica Freng of Monirose in Madison, who’s an Indie Wed alum. “The brides I have met through Indie Wed have been the most fun, fabulous clients and I am pumped to see what Milwaukee has in store!”

“It’s is a timely and needed addition to the ‘wedding show’ scene in Southeastern Wisconsin,” says Freng, who isn’t alone in lamenting that this event wasn’t around when she was planning her own nuptials. “Today, brides and grooms want a custom, personalized and local wedding. As a vendor, it gives me an awesome opportunity to meet and talk to brides who want to support and utilize small, independent businesses.”

Unlike most of the big bridal shows, Maron Horvath says this one curates a diverse selection of vendors with varied styles, price ranges and goods and services. And it’s not just brides who are taking notice. Many local wedding-related businesses are joining the wedding-show scene for the first time, including Leo & Jenny Photography.

“We want to work with couples that trust us to be creative and deliver beautiful photos that will match their style and personality,” says Leo Tseng, whose photography company is based in Mequon. “I think the Indie Wed people feel this vibe. They represent a new form of creativity and beauty in a relaxed, modern setting for weddings.”

Like Tseng, Jake Rohde of Milwaukee’s Valo Photography is a wedding-show newbie, along with his business partner, Simon McConico. “When we saw Indie Wed, we were super excited, because the people drawn to the show seem to be right in line with the people we want to work with,” says Rohde. “Milwaukee has such a creative, funky, indie and stylish group of people…I think Indie Wed is a good addition to that vibe in the wedding space. Indie Wed is to weddings what Comet Cafe is to restaurants.

“Since I haven’t been a part of a bridal show yet, I think the most exciting thing is getting a chance to meet and chat with a wide variety of people all in one day,” Rohde says. “Both Simon and I love meeting new people, even if we don’t end up working together.

“Planning the booth space has also been a lot of fun!” he adds.

But it’s not just booths you’ll be seeing. “In addition to items on display, we also allow vendors to sell items on the spot, which gives the show a fun street-bazaar vibe,” Maron Horvath says. “You really get a chance to experience the vendors rather than just picking up a bunch of business cards.”

This concept is generating quite a buzz across the country, and the fact that Indie Wed is landing here can be attributed to three Wisconsin wedding pros: David Caruso of Dynamic Events in Milwaukee, Debi Zeinert of The Blooming Quill in Port Washington and Amy Johnson of One Fine Day Productions in Madison. “Debi and Amy have both participated in several Indie Wed Chicago events, and since all three produce their own successful shows in Wisconsin, it seemed like a great fit,” explains Maron Horvath. “Of course, the staff at the Harley-Davidson Museum have been terrific to work with as well.”

“We do have a few special tricks up our sleeve, so readers will just have to come see for themselves,” says Maron Horvath. And we can hardly wait. See you there?

For more information on Indie Wed Milwaukee and to purchase tickets, click here. Psst: Buy early and get a discount!