A Tiny Feature: Creative Unions Event Design

I've had the great fortune of being able to connect with fellow creatives through Tiny Nuptials.  With that being said, Id like to introduce Michelle Gomez of Creative Unions Event Design. She is an art curator and event planner who is bringing her energy to the Magic City and beyond.

Thank you so much for participating in a Tiny Feature! How did your love of art begin? 

My love for art began when I was a toddler. Coloring books and crafts eventually turned into weekend art classes, which then turned into attending the best magnet arts high school in Miami (Go New World School of the Arts!) Which then lead into a fulfilling and very long six year art education at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, where I got my BFA in General Fine Arts followed by my MFA in Curatorial Practice. This lead to Creative Unions Event Design - the first event planning company dedicated to telling unique love stories through specially curated art exhibitions! 

I cannot remember my life not ever being centered around art and organizing art exhibitions/events around art. 

Creative Unions is such a cool and refreshing concept. What inspired you to become an event planner?

Miami is Nice co-curated by Nick Horan, Zachary Z. Handler, Creative Unions & Terrault Gallery

Photo by Kiirstn Pagan

Thank you! I agree - it is sorely needed in an industry that repeats the same dominant traditions and event design blueprint! 

When I was back home after going to school/working/living in Baltimore for 8 years, I was unemployed and figuring out my next steps (while simultaneously realizing I did not want to participate in the traditional 9-5 arts industry job). I meditated on the beach and thought to myself, what is the golden thread that brings together all of the various roles I held in the arts? That is when I realized that what I loved most about all the art exhibitions I have curated over the past ten years were the events that happened in those exhibitions, especially the opening receptions. I realized that I loved hosting and bringing people together. The people turn the art exhibition into a dialogue, which makes the exhibition and the artworks in it come to life.

You conceptualize events to the needs of your clients by incorporating the works of local artists and studios. How awesome is it to showcase their work and bring it to a maybe unfamiliar audience? 

Photograph: Fluffy Pop Postcards

Artwork: "Pulse Portal" by Davis McCarty presented by Harbor East  and Light City Baltimore

I love surprising guests on what a wedding could be. Art becomes a natural coversation starter. It is a natural way to beautify an event in a very intentional and deep way. I love that art now becomes a huge part of a couple’s special day (one of many special days by the way), and therefore becomes an integral part of their communities lives. That impactful memory did not have to come from a day strolling at the museum. 

That exhibition lives on forever in their mind because it’s associated with an important day/memory with their loved ones. They can now recognize that art IS everywhere and not just in traditional institutional spaces!

 What is your favorite wedding trend at  this very moment?

So I am really loving elopements right now. People are now understanding that elopements are not just drunken drive-thru's in Las Vegas. Couples are really embracing their unique styles and not feeling the burden of spending $50k+ on a wedding. They are embracing a more chilled out and intimate experience (I may want that for myself too since I plan events regularly, haha!). 

Because of my growing love for this trend (while also knowing how hard it is for couples in my own generation and arts community to afford a traditional wedding), I am now offering elopement packages called “Art For Two, Please” where I help them find the existing art that surrounds and connects them to their personal love story - whether it be in a park, museum, gallery, or any other quirky space to get married in front of! Art is everywhere! 

And the photos of their elopement become even more beautiful and spectacular with the art of their local neighborhoods.

Concept & Styling: Creative Unions Event Design X Fifth House Events/Artwork: Mural by Anika Starmer

Photography: Milana Braslavsky

A very special thanks to Michelle for her contribution to TN! Be sure to stay tuned to Creative Unions as new packages are coming soon! 

If you're reading this...

...we've tied the knot! We were going to wait until the end of 2016 to say 'I do', but we figured, why wait? So in two months time, we planned our nuptials and got hitched! Be sure to be on the lookout for all the details in the 'Our Tiny Day' section within the next few weeks. Until then, you can view our proposal video(s) down below. Much thanks to all our friends and family who supported our decision to do things our way. We really appreciate it!  - Jazmin & Jason 

Click on the HD icon for better quality!

MVI_0831 from Jazmin Larralde on Vimeo.

Proposal continued from Jazmin Larralde on Vimeo.

A Tiny Feature: Adventures with Brownie

Happy New Year folks! I’m so happy to be doing a Tiny Feature again! It’s one of my favorite things to do. I love contacting vendors, and I love it even more when the vendor is so passionate about what they do! So inspiring! I’ve been following photographer Brownie aka Kathy Izaguirre, on social media for a while now and there was just something about her that drew me in immediately. I believe it was her infectious smile! It’s like I could feel her positive energy through her pics! I knew I had to ask her to do a feature. And what’d you know? She was even sweeter than I imagined. Check out her interview below. Enjoy!

Random, silly, ice-breaking question: What’s your spirit animal and why? My fiancé and I call each other Dolph, short for dolphin. I think we really do identify as dolphins! 

Tuna the dog is my spirit animal. I'm obsessed with this dog. (If you have no clue who he is, your life has been deprived of sweet goodness! Follow him on Instagram: @tunameltsmyheart.) He's even awesomer than Grumpy Cat. He is a little different than the average dog, but still is true to himself and spreads positive vibes to his fans. I think I'm pretty much his humanganger. <-- See what I did there. Doppleganger! Yes? No? Maybe?
 

OMG I love Grumpy Cat! Not only are you funny, you’re also very talented! I love your perspective and what you do with the camera. How did you get your start in the business? 

My first paying client was a dog. Ha! Bella's dog was a co-worker of mine and from there they spread the love at work! By the end of that year I was booked solid. From that moment on, it's been a roller coaster ride. I've had downfalls and moments where it was a lot of hard work. However, through the last 5 years, I have grown so much professionally and personally. It seriously has been a dream come true.
 

I really love how passionate you are about your work. In addition to portraits and engagement sessions, what’s your favorite part of shooting a wedding? (First look, exchange of vows, first dance…)
 
My favorite part of shooting a wedding is the "getting ready" photos. I just love how new the day is to the bride and groom! They're still not too nervous and tend to act like their true selves. It's the time when they are most relaxed and I can get the best candid shots. Also, I love seeing how the bride transforms into this lovely, jaw-dropping woman in her wedding dress.

That's my favorite part too! Some brides just look so natural! I am very awkward when it comes to posing for pics. Do you have any tips for people like me? What do you do to make your clients feel more at ease?
 
Ha! Awkward people are the best! See, the thing about clients who tell me they have no clue what to do, well, you’re supposed to have no clue! That's my job! I always suggest to couples to have a drink or a shot before a session. Let's be real - we are all adults and a little drink really helps calm those nerves.

I also tell them to not leave appointments for last minute and rush to their session! Plan accordingly so you can arrive to the location and do a walk-through! Once you are comfy with the environment, you will be as well! Lastly, I have this hilarious hyena laugh that has a proven 99% laughter and genuine smile effect! If all else fails, I have them make fun of each other and whisper nonsense to each other.. I remind clients that I do not record sound. 

Those are some great ideas! I’m sure you’re clients have a ball shooting with you! Speaking of environment, what has been your favorite location to date?

My favorite location is actually a random trail I found near Matheson Hammocks Park. I call it my secret garden because I have seen very few people use it. Mostly, I assume, it's because no one knows it's there! It's completely public and can look a little scary, but once you walk through 5 minutes of the nature trail, it opens up to a magical area! There are so many gorgeous and different sized trees, open fields - the light coming through is stunning! I rarely shoot there just to keep it all to myself! 
 

A huge thank you to Kathy for taking the time to do this. We must grab a cup of coffee soon!

For more information, please click on the following: 

www.instagram.com/mylifeasbrownie/