Detroit native Britney Hoskins grew up with a family who knows how to party. So, it’s fitting that, today, she plans parties for a living.

Her goal in launching the event management business Top Pic Collective was to bring the dream experience of the client to reality. Everything at the Top Pic Collective stems from the end experience. It’s not just decor, and it’s not just pictures. Hoskins is there to make sure every detail is in place and those that a client has not thought of happen too.

She launched the Top Pic Collective in 2016 for people looking to find decor, photo booths, DJs, photographers, catering, and event planning for weddings, baby showers, birthday parties, and more – all in one place. Then, in 2022, the Top Pic Collective truly became a “one-stop-shop” after Hoskins opened her first event venue, Morenas in Grand Rapids.

Hoskins is the CEO of the largest Black-owned luxury rental company in the state and is also a local celebrity with nearly 30,000 followers on social media where she shows off many décor ideas.

“Having my own venue allows me to be the true captain of the party. The full experience is under my wing, so customers only have to work through me, instead of another vendor,” she said.

This summer, the Top Pic Collective has expanded – opening its second Morenas Event Venue at the former Karas House Banquet Facility in Redford.

Karas House has been a pillar in the Detroit community since the early 1980s. It was previously owned by William Burton Johnson, who also owned the Burton Manor in Livonia before passing both locations on to his daughter and son-in-law in 2017. It was the go-to spot for many Detroiters pre-pandemic and a popular destination for Detroit Public Schools and other local businesses to host their events.

“Now we’re bringing it back. It’s a 15,000-square-foot space with ample parking – so this venue puts us in a whole different league,” Hoskins said. “There are very few venues in metro Detroit that are able to offer this much space to comfortably host the ceremony and the reception in one place, while allowing the bridal party to get ready on-site and guests to have free parking close to the city.”

Hoskins said it’s important for her to be accommodating to her customers and to have an understanding of different cultures to make sure her events are inclusive and respectful. For example, Morenas Grand Rapids has become popular among the Latino community in the area, and Hoskins hosts several quinceañeras every month. She noticed that her clients wanted to have dance rehearsals prior to the event, so she started including the space during the week as part of their rental agreement. She will also offer traditional Latin American cocktails and decorations at the events, while also allowing customers to bring in their own drinks and decor.

She also works with a lot of DIY brides who want to plan their own weddings and make their own decorations. To make things easier for them, she offers the venue for the full day to allow them to set up without the stress and strain of timing, and she’ll allow designers to come in and decorate the day before an event.

“That’s where I feel bigger event venues miss the mark. We work with our customers and adjust to the clientele we’re serving so we can customize their experience and be a better ally. That’s one of the things I think truly makes us unique,” said Hoskins.

“We pay attention to the clients who are frequenting our business. And we want to make those people feel as comfortable as possible,” she said.

Hoskins also owns the Luxe Rental Collective in Sterling Heights, where people can rent seating, tablecloths, backdrops, glassware, décor, and more. She will also be offering these rentals at the Redford location.

“We’re continuously outgrowing our warehouse in Sterling Heights. That’s why I wanted to find a space big enough to offer our rentals, house my office, and host events in one building. It’s been a long search, but we finally found it,” she said.

Morenas Event Venue is currently in the first stage of a three-stage remodeling plan. Hoskins and her team are now working to renovate two ballrooms, along with the foyer and the bridal suite, and transport rentals from the warehouse. The first stage is expected to be complete by October of this year.

Then in phase two, the team will be adding a kids lounge and completing smaller projects, like updating light fixtures and crown moldings. Phase three will begin in the spring of next year and includes building an outdoor patio. Anyone who hosts an event before phase three begins will receive a discount on the venue.

In addition to renting out space for weddings and other celebrations, Hoskins plans to start offering a networking event called Mondays at Morenas by the end of this year. She said this will be a weekly happy hour at the Redford location, raising money for Black-owned businesses in the area.

In the future, Hoskins would also love to operate a junior entrepreneurship incubator out of the venue. There, she would invite teenagers interested in the event world, such as DJing, photography or event management, to come hone their skills and connect with mentors within the business.

“When I was their age, a lot of people told me I was too young to start a business, and it was discouraging. So, I want to be the person who tells teens, ‘You can do this!’” she said.

“I think believing in young minds early is vital to moving our community forward. That’s how you get the next generation to do something great. You give them permission to fail and give them a safe space to try out their ideas.”

For Hoskins, she has wanted to be a business owner since she was 15 years old. But people always told her she would only be successful if her business was a side-hustle, instead of a career. It wasn’t until 2019, when she was 30, that she decided to ignore the nay-sayers and leave her corporate job to run the Top Pic Collective full-time.

“I had an amazing job, and three kids to take care of – a 13-year-old, 9-year-old and 5-year-old. People told me I was crazy for even considering leaving. Of course, I was scared as hell, but I had spent half my life wondering if I could be a business owner. So, even if I failed, I knew I at least needed to try,” she said.

Of course, soon after Hoskins quit her job, the COVID-19 pandemic happened. But she didn’t let that stop her. She started hosting driveway and drive-thru baby showers and birthday parties, and, by making a name for herself during the pandemic, people began lining up for her services after COVID-19.

Since then, Hoskins has become known as the “theme queen” in the industry and has gained nearly 30,000 followers on social media. She offers a full immersion into whatever theme a client wants. If someone wants a safari-themed party, she brings in animals like snakes and crocodiles. If someone wants a Havana Nights-themed party, she brings in fedoras, cigars and Latin dancers.

Just through word of mouth, Hoskins’ business has grown exceptionally over the last two years. Not only has she opened two event venues, but she was also hired by Detroit-based celebrity and gospel singer Kierra Sheard to plan her baby shower and was selected to be a vendor at the 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit.

“That really blew us off the map, and we gained this crazy followership,” she said.

“I really want people to hear my story and see how I went from being a teen mom, trying to get into the business world, to being the owner of the largest Black-owned luxury rental company in the state and the only Black-owned wedding venue in Grand Rapids. I want to inspire people – to show them, if I can do all of this, they can too.”

The newest venue is located at 23632 Plymouth Road, Redford. Hoskins will host the official grand opening celebration Monday, November 25th.at 7pm.This will be a star-studded formal affair and ribbon cutting ceremony.

Save the date for you Sweetest, Sweetest Day ever with Mini-Mony on Saturday, October 19th at Morenas Grand Rapids is located at 4470 Breton Road SE, Kentwood. With the popularity of Mini Money last year during Valentine’s Day, Britney Hoskins, owner of Morenas Grand Rapids, Morenas Detroit and The Top Pic Collective, has added Mini Mony Sweetest Day, October 19, 2024 2:00pm – 8:00pm.

During this mini-Ceremony, Hoskins allows couples to have 15 close friends and family there to support you! The Officiant is included.

This is a 30-minute ceremony on The Sweetest Day ALL FOR $100.

This is an extremely unique opportunity to get married in a luxury event space with a beautiful design at little cost. This opportunity is going to be best for brides that are ok with a simple ceremony and no individualized requests. If you've been daydreaming of your perfect wedding day, we encourage you to consider us for a more traditional wedding.

For more information on Hoskins and updates on her upcoming projects, visit thetoppiccollective.com and follow her on social media at instagram.com/thetp_collective and facebook.com/TopPicPhotoBooth.