THE BRIDE'S CAFE: Cafe Chat with Michelle Rago

I am so excited about TBC's guest today...the amazing and incredibly talented Event Designer, Michelle Rago. I have to tell you guys when my phone rang a few weeks ago and the caller ID displayed...Michelle Rago....I had to do "My Happy Dance"! Michelle's events are truly inspiring!!Always beautiful...elegant...sophisticated...clean lines...."magazine worthy"....and always a reflection of her client! Michelle's book, Signature Weddings, is one of my favorite "go to" sources for inspiration and beautiful "eye candy". Michelle's work has been featured in countless number of wedding publications and she has made several television appearances...and guys...she is super sweet...such a wonderful lady!!!! Without further ado....I give you Michelle Rago...Enjoy!

The beautiful Michelle Rago!

Signature Weddings...it is truly a "must have"!

TBC: What inspires you as a designer?

Michelle: I find inspiration in just about everything - movies, travel, antiquing, books, flea markets, food, buttons...you name it. I also depend on my clients for inspiration, listening to what excites and inspires them and taping into their creative vision.

TBC: What is the best part about your job?

Michelle: There are so many aspects about planning and design that draw me in over and over again. To be instrumental in the creation and completion of such a special day is always exhilarating. And I have always been carried away by the power of flowers and how they can transform a room. I would have to say that my first design love was flowers. One of my guilty pleasures is walking through the flower market with a cup of tea early in the morning and seeing what beautiful flowers have arrived that day.

TBC: What has been the highlight of your career to date?

Michelle: I think that the publication of my book, Signature Weddings would rank close to the top so far. It helped me further define my planning and philosophy and design technique and for the first time allowed me to see a number of my weddings together as a body of work.

TBC: What are the floral/decor wedding trends for 2008?

Michelle: In flowers, I see a throwback to an earlier time, very romantic and glamorous with cascading bridal bouquets, lush garlands and over-sized urns of plumose. Chinese influences will be prominent, and of course, we are seeing natural elements incorporated into wedding design - lots of wood and linen. The low centerpiece landscape is in!!

TBC: What are your favorite color palettes for weddings?

Michelle: I love to combine crisp white (linens, tablecloths, fitted seat coverings) with chartreuse and coral or pale yellow (flowers, papery, etc.). The combination is clean, warm, colorful and timeless.

TBC: What types of venues are the most fun to design?

Michelle: I love venues that are either a blank canvas or permit us to build on an existing look and take it to the next level. I also always prefer to have some aspect of the wedding outdoors.

TBC: What 3 (okay 4) adjectives describe your style?

Michelle: Clean, Warm, Lush, Organic!

TBC: Describe a Michelle Rago Signature Wedding.

Michelle: A wedding that captures the couple's personality and passion. A Michelle Rago Signature Wedding would be described as warm, lush, and organic with a bit of whimsy thrown in. I am presently designing a wedding in Sagaponek where we are framing out the entire interior of the tent in white washed wood from the floor to the peak. The floor is carpeted in sisal. The dance floor is hand painted in a wood grain pattern. The table cloths are the finest white linen. The chairs have a full linen cover. The centerpieces are low glass containers with mounds of peonies and as the crowning jewel, the ceiling is rigged with gorgeous hanging beaded shades. For a bit of whimsy, we have turned the father of the bride's pick-up truck he uses to drive to and from the beach into a lemonade stand.

TBC: Tell us a little about your personal life...we want to get to know you a little better.

Michelle: I live in New York City and find the city a continual source of energy and inspiration. I grew up in Princeton, New Jersey and moved to Manhattan in my late twenties. I love this city! I spent summers growing up at the Jersey Shore and still think West Point Island is one of the most special places on the planet.

I love to travel and will jump on a plane whenever possible. My mother nicknamed me "wanderlust" at age eight. My first foray into the world of travel was an attempt at running away on my tricycle at age six to my grandmother's house. My most recent get-a-way was Harbour Island in the Bahamas. Learning to balance a busy season and a bit of personal time is an ongoing battle.

I have a beautiful dog, a whippet named Lola. She is 17 years old and she rules the roost. She is my sweet little pal and doesn't care so much about weddings.

Now guys...let's check out some of Michelle's beautiful work...

One of my favorites...the pink peonies and green apples...love it!

Simply Stunning!

Michelle, thank you SO much for stopping by the cafe today...we all love your work and it was a pleasure chatting with you. We look forward to your next visit! Guys, make sure you visit Michelle's new blog..it's great and you get to see Michelle and her amazing team "behind the scenes"....truly fabulous!