When I find something that I absolutely love, I let my imagination run with it and I dig deep to find images, words, music and foods that help to complete the picture. I am always looking for event inspiration at every turn, since we wear many hats as wedding planners, party planners and corporate event planners!  My inspiration can come from a painting in a gallery, the sights and smells of a quaint French cafe, or a beautiful fashion spread in Vogue. Each of our events begins with a moment of inspiration that is then formed over time and finally brought to life. Sometimes the event turns out exactly the way I had first envisioned it to be, and sometimes, it goes in an entirely different and even more wonderful direction because of the fabulous collaborative process that I am lucky enough to have with many of our vendors.

Either way, the process of concept to completion exemplifies the true beauty and art of creative event planning.

The amazingly talented Montecito Interior Designer, Marc Normand Gelinas, creates fine art renderings of our initial ideas and vision for our events.  With his expertise in watercolor renderings and line drawings, our event concepts can be executed precisely and skillfully. Marc’s illustrations allow everyone involved to see the concept that I am only able to describe with words.

It is so wonderful to be able to describe an idea to someone, only to see it sketched out beautifully hours later.

Below, is Marc’s charming and magical watercolor rendering of our concept for the 2010 Community Environmental Council’s Green Gala – Enchanted Fairy Forest.

And here is our final product, the lovely Green Gala filled with fairies, pixies, wood nymphs, and satyrs in a twinkling, enchanted forest glen.

Photo credit: Erin Feinblatt

Here is another one of Marc’s elegant illustrations, this time for of our “Heaven on Earth” Angels Foster Care Benefit.

And here is our completed product, a mesmerizing all white affair with beautiful angels and angelic decor! I had imagined long, white tables covered in white silky linens, with ribbon wrapped napkins and feather embellishments, bling vases with white flowers and lots of candles. We ended up with shorter tables but with all of the other elements that I had envisioned and the result was a beautiful, memorable and elegant party.

Photo credit: Patricia Clarke

It is so wonderful to experience the process of unfoldment, to plant a seed of an idea and cultivate it as it grows into a magnificent flower for all to behold.  And like a flower, an event does not last forever, but the photographs and memories will remain! To see our vision come to life is truly a joy!