http://carascophoto.com/blog/?p=3126 http://carascophoto.com/blog/?p=3126#comments Mon, 23 Aug 2010 04:15:36 +0000 carasco http://carascophoto.com/blog/?p=3126

Carasco Photography is pleased to present the 2nd annual Brides, Bubbles and Bliss event at Gallery 1028 on February 2, 2011. This bridal soiree appeals to the art-driven bride and groom seeking inspiration for their wedding day possibilities in a non-expo, avant garde style setting.

Our recent photo-video collaboration also took place at the rustic, modern loft of Gallery 1028 in Goose Island. We wanted to emphasize the raw aesthetic of the space and allow the behind the scenes activity and elements to be exposed and set the scene.

The gowns were provided by Belle Vie Bridal Couture and Vera Wang Chicago. Hair and makeup were provided by talented team at Sonia Roselli Studio, styling by Jessi and Heidi of Belle Vie Bridal Couture and last but not least, the video provided by Ben Mahoney Productions. Be sure to check out the photo and video creatives on the Brides, Bubbles and Bliss website and our upcoming fashion bridal shoots with this creative team.

All photos provided by Carasco Photography:

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What current trends are you seeing this year for weddings?

The 2010 pantone color of the year is turquoise, which can be paired with jewel tones such as amparo blue, or even pairing it with Tuscany brown looks fabulous. I have seen these colors used recently in weddings, events and fashion. The inspiration for trends in color can be found in many places. For instance, something that recently inspired me was a peacock feather. I love peacock feathers because they transcend all styles - from funky to vintage to glamorous to fantasy. These colors were also behind the inspiration of the sweetheart table featured in the photos.

How do you feel about bridal registries? Do you think they are a thing of the past or are there other creative options for brides and grooms other than what the department stores offer?

One interesting trend I’ve noticed is many brides are registering for custom designed fine china. Rather than selecting fine china from brands that anyone can choose from, brides and grooms have become more interested in having a family crest or monogram custom designed for them to place on their fine china. During these economic times people in general aren’t able to spend as much money, so it is important that the money they do spend is towards something meaningful. Allowing a couple to design their own family crest or monogram assigns personalization and sentimental value to something they will use on special occasions throughout their lives. Couples are also willing to invest in custom designed fine china because they see it becoming a family heirloom. The fine china featured in the photos, provided by Sarah Drake Design, showcase just how lovely custom designed fine china can be. Sarah Drake Design, located in Chicago, creates custom designs for fine china. To see more go to their website and and click on the monogram.

What would you suggest for a creative and meaningful gift or favor for the guests?

One of the most meaningful gifts a bride and groom can give their guests is a donation made on their behalf. Giving a donation as a gift allows the bride and groom to share with their guests something that is of particular interest or importance to them. Many brides and grooms will donate to an organization specifically geared toward medical research for instance if someone in their family has had a specific illness. Other couples may choose to donate to a cause they hold dear such as an animal shelter (www.anticruelty.org) or an organization dedicated to urban greening and beautification (www.gatewaygreen.org).

It seems as though there has been an increase in sweetheart tables at weddings, is this a seating arrangement you would suggest to couples?

It’s really up to the bride and groom and what they feel comfortable with. Many couples feel as though sweetheart tables are more intimate than head tables. A sweetheart table, such as the one displayed in the photos, is a way to give the bride and groom time to themselves at a table designed specifically for the two of them. In addition to providing the bride and groom a more intimate setting during dinner, it also allows members of the wedding party to sit with their dates. While a sweetheart table may be ideal for a couple who prefers a more intimate setting, more traditional couples may prefer a head table. Once again, it all comes down to personal preference of the bride and groom.

What are some unique ways to direct guests to their seats?

There are many creative ways to seat guests at your wedding. One of my personal favorites is projecting the guests’ names and table numbers on a wall in a reception area before they are seated. Not only can this catch guests off guard, but also by projecting a seating arrangement onto a wall it becomes an element of décor and ambiance.

One of the main focal points of a wedding reception (in addition to the bride of course!) is the cake. In fact, brides often spend between 2 to 4% of their overall wedding budget on cake! The good news is there are many ways to cut costs without skipping out on the detail. One suggestion is to add color to your cake. Whether it be to your entire cake or just to the icing detail, adding color is one way to draw more attention to your cake without adding to your bottom line. Because adding color only requires food coloring and does not increase the number of hours it takes to create your masterpiece, the cost is almost always included!

What do you think about the wedding cake’s role in the wedding. Any tips on how to increase the wow factor without going over budget?

Another way to avoid increasing the cost of your cake is to use a small array of flowers or fresh fruit to enhance your cake as an alternative to ornate icing details. However, I must caution not to go overboard, as even flowers and fruit can become costly.

Image from fashion bridal shoot with Giselle, Eric Kipp Custom, Topiarius and Sara Saltanovitz at the Peninsula Hotel.

Any thoughts on what a second time bride should wear?

The beauty of being a second time bride is having the option to wear whatever you please! There are no limitations on color for the second time bride. While even first time brides are now embracing colors such as pastels and black on their wedding day, second time brides have the option to wear cherry red satin down the aisle if they please (and they have – trust me I’ve seen it!). The only limitation second time brides have is by the time of day in which they are holding their ceremony and reception as well as the formality of the occasion. If a second time bride is marrying early in the afternoon in an outdoor garden it is clearly less formal than a late afternoon early evening ceremony and reception held at a swanky hotel.

A lot of our couple’s ask about post-reception options to continue the celebration into the night. Any suggestions?

There are many ways to keep a celebration going, however I believe the two most time tested and proven ways are quite simple: food and upbeat music. For couples who are interested in keeping the reception going into the wee hours of the night, I would first suggest beginning the evening with an orchestra or band and ending it with a DJ or an ipod stocked with playlists of dance songs selected by the bride and groom. Music is key in keeping the night going. Some couples even consider moving into a smaller, more intimate room at their chosen venue for an “after party.” The second suggestion I would make is serving a midnight snack to keep the energy levels of guests elevated. This can be something as simple as milk and cookies to something as elaborate as a buffet spread of a variety of heavy hors d’oeuvres. Some couples will even opt to bring in their favorite fast food, such as Chicago style hotdogs.

In what ways has technology influenced weddings?

There are so many ways that technology has influenced couples. Today many couples create their own wedding website on which they display detailed information about their engagement, wedding, wedding showers, as well as photos of themselves and information about themselves that their families might be excited to learn. A wedding website is an extremely helpful tool for those couples who live long distances from their families because it keeps family members updated and in the loop about wedding plans. Another way that brides and grooms utilize technology is by creating a personal wedding email address. Many busy brides and grooms are taking advantage of this as it allows them to keep wedding and work emails separate. This way brides and grooms who are attached to their blackberries and iphones all day will not be bombarded with emails from wedding vendors.

Technology has also made wedding planning more efficient. All wedding vendors now have websites on which they display their portfolio of work and feature testimonials. This offers couples the option of researching vendors while remaining stationary.

Even the iphone now has an iWedding Deluxe application that allows brides and grooms to keep up with the details of their wedding day. Although utilizing technology can help keep couples organized, it can still leave them vulnerable to the many pitfalls of technology. I remind couples that nothing – not even the iWedding Deluxe app - can replace the insight and experience of a wedding coordinator throughout the planning process and especially to guide couples through trouble shooting on the day of their wedding. For more information on exactly how we can help make your big day stress free visit us at www.mcgowandurpetti.com.

Was there a trend that inspired the floral arrangement featured in the tablescape?

The gorgeous floral arrangement, created by Topiarius, drew its inspiration from a peacock feather. MD&A met with the floral designers before the shoot,  shared thoughts on things that were inspiring us, and we both had the bold colors of the feather in mind. This arrangement shows versatility in styles by incorporating both a modern and vintage look. The bold colors and the black vase lend to the modern appearance, while the shape of the vase and arrangement paired with the fine china place settings give the table a vintage look. What really helped add to the vintage element on the table was that the champagne flutes are actually over 40 years old! There were used by Michelle Durpetti’s (Founder, McGowan Durpetti & Associates) parents at their wedding in 1969. Topiarius incorporated blue amaranthus in the arrangement and we used a little extra pieces around the bottom of the flutes to add a more drama to the table.

http://carascophoto.com/blog/?p=2576 http://carascophoto.com/blog/?p=2576#comments Mon, 29 Mar 2010 05:19:32 +0000 carasco http://carascophoto.com/blog/?p=2576

Brides, Bubbles and Bliss, An Exclusive Bridal Event

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Teknion | NeoCon Conference

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http://carascophoto.com/blog/?p=2236 http://carascophoto.com/blog/?p=2236#comments Tue, 26 Jan 2010 03:40:05 +0000 carasco http://carascophoto.com/blog/?p=2236

Bridal Ticket Holders can choose to enter the raffle for either “An Evening in Chicago” package or “Girls’ Night Out” package.

An Evening in Chicago package is all about the romantic bride-to-be. Pair fabulous 100″ Pearls by Mastoloni with that little black dress before heading out to the city’s hot spots. After your night out, enjoy a glass of champagne in the spacious suite in the Gold Coast’s Affinia Hotel.

An Evening in Chicago package includes:

-  complimentary suite for one night at Affinia Hotel

-  bottle of Veuve Clicquot Champagne courtesy of Randolph Wine Cellars

- two Christofle toasting flutes courtesy of The Registry at Bloomingdale’s

- 100″ Pearls by Mastoloni courtesy of Marshall Pierce & Company

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‘Girls’ Night Out package is all about the sassy bride-to-be looking for a stylish day (or night) out with her girlfriends. Be spoiled by Marshall Pierce & Company and choose from a wide variety of sparking gems and jewels or a classic time piece. Then share the love by taking four of your friends on a daytime Shop Walk to visit the best local boutiques. End the day with fun classes at Flirty Girl Fitness including Pole Dancing 101, Video Vixen and more.

“Girls’ Night Out” includes:

- gift card for 5 classes and a manicure courtesy of Flirty Girl Fitness

- a Bachelorette Shop Walk for five courtesy of Shop Walk

- a $500 Gift Certificate to Marshall Pierce & Company

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TULU SHORTY GOWN by GISELLE CHICAGO

One lucky bride that purchased her ticket before the December 31 deadline will receive a one-of-a-kind TuLu Shorty Gown courtesy of Giselle Chicago!*

*The winner does NOT need to be present to win.

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http://carascophoto.com/blog/?p=2075 http://carascophoto.com/blog/?p=2075#comments Sat, 05 Dec 2009 05:23:42 +0000 carasco http://carascophoto.com/blog/?p=2075

Ani Afshar’s slogan is Jewelry that Bridges the Generation. Her designs are inspired by a variety of ethnographic textiles and cultures. You may have seen some of her collections sold exclusively at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, Bloomingdales, Anthropology, and Neiman Marcus. Ani Afshar also designs custom jewelry for brides and bridesmaids. After getting a feel for your personality, style, and wedding elements, she can piece together a design that is as unique as you.

Ani will be unveiling her spring 2010 bridal collection at Brides, Bubbles and Bliss on February 10, 2010. You may also see some of her jewelry in our recent fashion bridal shoot images:

Contact Ani Afshar at her studio to schedule a consultation (P: 773.645.8922 | 773.960.9582). You may also browse her collections at www.aniafshar.net

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http://carascophoto.com/blog/?p=1960 http://carascophoto.com/blog/?p=1960#comments Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:35:57 +0000 carasco http://carascophoto.com/blog/?p=1960

Gown: Giselle Chicago
Hair & Makeup: Samantha Sansone
Shoes: James Ciccotti
Video Interview: I Do Films

Brides, Bubbles and Bliss from I Do Films on Vimeo.

The TuLu is made of Silk Gazaar as its base and a novelty upholstry fabric used as its one shoulder ruffle drape. The entire ruffled and pleated drape is done by hand and each part is draped and sculpted by Giselle herself. This novelty fabric is one of a kind and cannot be replicated, giving it its exclusivity.

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