An Interview with Mishka Design

Mishka Aznoe de Morales and Omar Morales Hurtado are co-owners of the wedding design firm Mishka Designs based in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Together, Mishka the head designer and Omar the project manager use their creativity to handle all of the details and finishing touches for their clients. Working with "the best" Vallarta has to offer they work tirelessly to fulfill each clients dreams, but going above and beyond what's imagined. From decor to flowers, linens and special lighting they make your wedding details a reality.

How long have you been a wedding designer?

I have been a designer for 3 years. I started out helping a friend with her company…and through that experience realized I was good at understanding what clients really wanted and, then, taking creative ideas to make it so!

What has been your proudest moment as a wedding designer?

Oh there are several - there are some designs that, when we actually put them altogether, I can't believe that my scribbling on a page is in front of us in color and 3D and oftentimes better than I had imagined! But my proudest moment is when we-Omar, my partner, and I had our very first event as our own company. So, our first event as our very own company "Mishka Designs" was super fun and I think turned out really nice!

What sets you apart from other designers in Puerto Vallarta?
To my knowledge, Omar and I are the only event design company in Puerto Vallarta - so I guess that's a start in setting us apart! There are florists and there are a few coordinators who have their own equipment and decorate, but Omar and I focus exclusively on creating something absolutely unique from start to finish that is completely about the bride and groom. I try to incorporate as many details as I possibly can which are truly representative of the couple and we love to add little touches that even our clients don't know about until their wedding day. I absolutely love seeing their face when they discover something they didn't know we would be doing for them and how excited and happy they are. It's one of my favorite parts!

From the University of Montana to Puerto Vallarta there must be a great story behind that!
Actually it was from the University of Montana to the University of Utah to Puerto Vallarta! I've definitely been to enough college to last me for the rest of my life! There is quite a long story about that, but to cut it short, I met and married my husband (who is Mexican) in Boise, Idaho where I was teaching Latin dancing (salsa, cumbia, bachata, merengue, etc.) and we moved first to Mexico City and then to Puerto Vallarta!

Tell me one of the crazier requests you've received from a bride or groom?
You mean, other than promise there won't be any rain? Just teasing…although I have received that request before!! Probably the craziest wedding we've ever done was the Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) wedding which, while Omar and I both worked that wedding under a different company, I designed/worked on and Omar did a majority of the art work. I was actually good friends with the bride's mother, which is how we ended-up doing the wedding. It was sooo much fun because the bride was open to anything (obviously!) and Omar and I really could let our imaginations run wild. We had the wedding at Dreams and all the guests thought the bride and groom were some sort of rock star couple!
I absolutely adore the cake we ordered from Charme which was about 6 feet tall and we had it carried out on something we made to look like a coffin by their groomsmen with sparklers - it was really dramatic!


What's your best piece of advice for a newly engaged bride?
Don't wait to book your coordinator or your location! I think those are the two most important elements - once you have those in place, my next piece of advice is to listen to your coordinator. They really do want your wedding to be amazing and many of the suggestions they will make are because they live here and they know the people and the climate.

One last question...

When marrying in Puerto Vallarta what is the quintessential thing you must incorporate into your wedding?
Well, just my opinion, but I think, no matter if you're having a Martha's Vineyard style wedding or a vintage wedding or something that doesn't have to do with Mexico or the beach, I think you should incorporate Mexico somehow into your rehearsal dinner or welcome dinner. I think having a salsa instructor come to give lessons or, if your group isn't into dancing, having a salsa team come and perform. It’s really just a great way to acknowledge that you're here and to infuse a bit of the Latin culture.

Mishka’s Recommends:
*I really believe a visit to the Bodeguitta del Medio, which is our local "cuban" bar with live Cuban music every night and excellent Mojitos.

*A visit to Sayulita or Chacala (beach towns just north of PV) really gives you a "local" flavor to the beaches (rather than a more tourist/or hotel approach). Plus those both are some of our best beaches here in the Vallarta area. Sayulita is a little more "touristic" in the fact that they have some really great little art shops, jewelry shops, etc. Chacala, on the other hand, really is much, much more laid back and smaller. It has the feel of a "lost" beach that just locals knew how to find and it's one of my favorite beaches to go to when I want to get away from everything.
Tip: "The best day to go to Sayulita is Sunday when they have what we call "tiangis" an outdoor flea market of sorts set-up in the streets."

Contact:
Mishka Design
1362 Ecuador, No# 6, 5 de Diciembre
Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco 48350
email: mishkadesignspv@hotmail.com
blog: Mishka Design's Blog
skype: MishkaDesigns