I started working in the events industry way back in 2003 when I was living in NYC. I worked for an event production firm that specializes in meetings and conferences. I really enjoyed it but wanted to do more of the design so after a couple of years I said goodbye to my amazing bosses and moved to San Francisco with my husband in 2006. There I was hired as a designer at a very prestigious event production firm. This is where I truly dove deep into all the aspects of design that make a beautiful event, from linens to flowers, from lighting to tents and more, while working very closely with production managers in the planning and logistics. In 2009 I decided to start my own company. That’s when Costamagna Design was born. In 2010 we were expecting our first child so we moved to WNY to be close to family. I took a little hiatus from the event world to get to know the local industry. To be honest I wasn’t sure I was going to continue the company. I finally decided to start with a couple of weddings a year, this tripled the next year and tripled again the next. At first I wasn’t doing floral design, but coming from two major cities proved challenging in the sense that I couldn’t find a florist that had the style I was used to. That’s when I decided to do flowers myself. I never thought floral design would become such a huge passion for me. Now it’s a big part of what we do at Costamagna Design. Every year we’re doing bigger and bigger event floral design jobs and I’m really loving it.
Now, we wanted to give you a week’s notice to mark your calendars for the Pop Up Shop – Love Bites and Blooms. Featuring a fresh flower bar, decadent desserts, sexy toys, hand painted cards, curated gift boxes and more! Saturday February 13, 2-7PM. 618 Main Street, East Aurora.
My passion for flowers seems to get more intense during the winter months in my “low season.” So this year I decided to have a Valentine’s pop shop. There is nothing more classic than flowers and chocolate for Valentine’s but I like to push the envelope a bit so I am joining forces with the very talented ladies of Private Knives Catering and Primrose Path Boutique to create a full experience that will captivate the men and women’s senses. What can be better than gorgeous and fragrant blooms and decadent desserts? Well, add some kinky and sexy toys to the mix and you have a deliciously fun Valentine’s day that keeps on giving.
I think this is why this event is special – because there hasn’t been anything like this done before in Buffalo (or East Aurora!)
And finally, Carla and the story behind her playlist that got you feeling the love this week:
I am never without music in the studio, especially when I’m working on floral design or any other design project. I am very romantic – I have to be to be in this business. I tend to day dream about my future life in Paris – which is happening for sure! I think about my love for painting, for my husband and my children, for traveling the world. I don’t know if it’s the scent of the flowers or the music, maybe a combination of both that I find to be a very cathartic experience.
With that, we’ll take you right into the rest of the beautiful photos, Buffalo and Rochester’s best instagrams of the week. Follow new accounts. Get some inspiration for your own shots, and head to Love Bites and Blooms!
Layer 1 A photo posted by Jaime Schmidt (@strangebrainz) on
Photographic inspiration. “Resemblance and Representation” by Frank O’Connor. #buffalony #cepagallery #marketarcade A photo posted by Maureen (@maureenmcl) on
Fresh edit on an old pic. Hoping to shoot the MW again within the next few weeks! A photo posted by @mike.shriver on
Colorful swirls with @marcdouglas1991 spinning the #DIY #LED lightball thingy I made. #BuffaloNY #RiseBFLO #igersbuffalo #featuremeigersbuffalo #longshutter #longexposure #winterbuff #yeahbuffalo #onebuffalo #buffalove #lightpaintingphotography #lightpainters #lightart #tv_afterdark #amazing_longexpo #TeamBrillow A photo posted by Jerry Anthony (@sevenoneflix) on
