Celebrations by Carlos are the cultivation of a dream that began even before Carlos knew anything about planning an event. As a child taking any drama, music, or dance class he could find, he was always a fan of socializing with others and was interested in live performances and the spectacle that went along with them. He found himself appealed by the way the things he saw on stage worked, even more than the effect they created for the show. This interest fueled his inspiration to experiment with lighting and setting scenes for the one man shows he made his family sit through most evenings as a kid.

From a young age, Carlos took on the task of helping setup and decorate for family parties. Being from a large family, (his father has 13 siblings and his mother, half a dozen) a “small” birthday party was a huge occasion, taking extensive work to accommodate everyone and ensure everything was in place. Some of Carlos’s favorite memories growing up were made while spending time with his family, dancing with his cousins, and enjoying the delicious Mexican food his ethnic family made.

During high school and college, Carlos planned his own events and helped family and friends plan and run various aspects of their events. He and his two older brothers became well known for the parties they threw in their parents’ basement, which Carlos often took charge of coordinating and setting up. Besides hosting his own events, he has planned and hosted parties ranging from a 20 person wine and paint night to a fundraiser dinner-dance for a nonprofit organization that had over 400 guests in attendance.

Trained as an actor, Carlos approaches each event with an artistic eye and the knowledge that no detail is too small. With a degree in Theatre Arts, he’s learned about lighting stages, building scenery, and even sewing costumes. He often uses what he’s learned about theatre production when producing events. He is more than aware that “the show must go on” and works to navigate any challenge he faces to help every client fully realize their dream event. When planning your event with Carlos, trust that he’s also dreaming about your event… and having nightmares about what could go wrong without proper planning.

Having worked as a catering manager for a restaurant group in Chicago’s West Loop, as a bartender and server at events run by Chicago’s leading event and catering companies in some of Chicago’s most popular venues, and as an events manager for a bar and restaurant at a recreational sports facility owned by the Chicago Fire Soccer Club, Carlos is prepared to take on events of all types and sizes. He uses his past experiences to make even the smallest celebration personal to the client and memorable to their guests.

He can’t wait to share his love of gathering and entertaining at your event.