It didn’t take even one day of work before I learned that event planning was not a glamorous job; Linda and Jaime told me at my interview. A job in the event planning industry, and especially at Gala, meant a lot of hard work, weekends, long hours, and straight business. As daunting as this may have seemed, however, event planning has provided me with opportunities and challenges that have benefited me in ways that I could never have imagined.
In my three years at Gala, I have had many experiences. I have traveled to Jamaica for a destination wedding, I have worked on a runway fashion show for St. John Knits, and I have organized two fundraising auctions for the Herb Gordon Foundation for Gastrointestinal Cancers. I have designed a contemporary club lounge rooftop event, a Mardi Gras client appreciation gala, and even a modern Toyko-inspired Bat Mitzvah, complete with low plank tables and pillow seating. But, the most significant experience I have had at Gala has been the professional skills that I have acquired as an event planner.
I have learned the importance of time management, organization, and planning ahead. I have learned the essence of team work and delegation as a means of getting things done in the most efficient and effective manner. I have learned to make decisions under pressure and how to be flexible and poised when last minute changes inevitably occur. I have learned how to deal with difficult clients, changing minds, and different tastes. I have learned to negotiate contracts with vendors and venues, and how to provide the biggest bang for the client’s buck. I have learned to stand up for my company, my client, and most importantly, myself.
Event planning is an extremely tough job. Like most work, it requires extreme attention to detail, vast creativity, thorough communication, intense follow through, and always a back up plan (or two). But what many people fail to realize, though, is that event planning is an extremely physical job. It’s emotional. You have to work with brides to plan the wedding of their dreams, with mothers to plan their son or daughter’s religious rite of passage, and with corporate committees to plan their highly anticipated company holiday parties and office retreats. You have to have a tough skin. The ideas and concepts that took you hours to create may not be in line with the vision or budget of your client, and the new ideas and concepts that you come up with may not be either. They may not even be after the third or fourth revision. It’s demanding. Events take hours to set up on the day of, not to mention break down, and a good event planner sits in every chair, tweaks every centerpiece on the table, and stays until the end of the event to ensure that everything flows smoothly.
But, what keeps us working at Gala, and keeps people wanting to take on the challenges of event planning, is the reward and fulfillment that it provides at the end of the day. The kiss of the happy bride and groom, the smile on the face of Bar or Bat Mitzvah child up in the chair, and the repeat business of corporate clients makes the job worth doing. Event planning provides many important job and life skills, and event planners are more than just “event planners.” We are proposal writers, décor designers, coordinators, managers, negotiators, teachers, and even therapists at times, and there is never a dull moment, a day spent behind a desk, or an event that can’t be made more exciting with a unique spin. Ultimately, being an event planner has helped to shape the professional and the individual that I am today, and I am so lucky for all of the challenges that it has helped me to take on and overcome.
The author of this blog is Claudia Frank, Event Planner at Gala Events, inc.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Monday, May 12, 2008
Wine Tasting Auction at the Cambodian Embassy
Wine Tasting Auction at the Cambodian Embassy for demining
On May 9th, 2008, Gala Events worked in collaboration with Rotary International to design a wine tasting fundraiser at the Cambodian Embassy. Rotary International is a non-profit organization that promotes development, community awareness, and fellowship, and in an effort to raise money and awareness, this event aimed to support the Halo Trust Foundation Coalition’s petition to remove landmines along the K-5 mine belt.
Handmade silk tablecloths, beautiful artwork, and luxurious silk scarves were some of the featured auction items, and overall, the event raised over $ 20,000.00. Throughout the event, guests were served traditional Cambodian delicacies and entertained by classic Cambodian dancers. Gala enhanced the elegant, Cambodian-inspired atmosphere, dressing tables in rich ivory linens topped with beautiful florals, and custom commemorative wine glasses provided the finishing touch for each of the guests.
Ultimately, I would like to thank Brendan Adams, President of Rotaract for allowing us the opportunity to work on such a significant fundraiser, as well as Ambassador Ek for a wonderful, and more importantly, successful event.
The author of this blog is Rosie Goulette, Event Planner at Gala Events, inc.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Our Couture Wedding Showcase
On Sunday, April 13, 2008, Gala inc. opened our showroom doors to the trade and public for our first Wedding Showcase. Presenting Aimee Lauren, a local couture wedding gown designer, Bloomingdale’s registry items, Fancy Cakes by Leslie, hair and makeup artists from Oxygen Salon in Rockville, handmade wedding accessories by Helene Batoff, custom invitations and calligraphy by Mickey Brodey, strings and DJ entertainment by Washington Talent, and photography by Jack Hartzman, the showcase featured an array of current trends and unique ideas in all important planning areas. Models, as well as some other daring women, visited each station dressed in Aimee’s beautiful gowns, complete with full hair and makeup by the wonderful women from Oxygen Salon.
The designers at Gala set up five different tables to whet the appetites of brides with different visions and styles. Plants Etc. created beautiful centerpieces and bridal bouquets to accent the feel of each table, and the couples flocked to the tables that appealed to their own personal tastes. A traditional table, dressed in an embroidered orchid taffeta linen, featured a gold glass urn filled with a lush arrangement of soft ivory roses. Another table was dressed in a rich chocolate brown linen adorned with velvet leaves to create an autumn feel. A gold candelabra cascading with ivory flowers completed the rich look of this table. A warm, spring feel was created on a table topped with celadon linen and a tall glass cylinder filled with brightly colored orange and fuchsia flowers. Sleek white chargers and glassware brought a cool, finishing touch. Lastly, brides and grooms tables were created to demonstrate the juxtaposition of simple elegance with modern contemporary. The bride’s table was topped with a delicate white floral sheer overlay and white box overflowing with hydrangea, roses, orchids, and beautiful flowers in hues of white. The grooms table provided an interesting contrast in all black with a black chinchilla textured linen topped with a tight pave of black magic roses. A fabulous black shimmer charger and solid black glassware enhanced the sleek look. Of all of the tables, though all were extraordinarily creative and simply beautiful, the groom’s table seemed to create the most buzz. One bride exclaimed that she had never seen such a “luscious and unique linen” that she not only wanted to “drape herself in,” but more importantly, wanted to use to surprise her fiancée in her upcoming wedding.
Overall, the showcase was a success. All of the vendors, along with the team at Gala, came together for a one-stop shopping experience and showed the many ways that we can work to create a wedding that reflects a couple’s own personal style. We look forward to our next showcase and hope for an even bigger turnout, as we at Gala are always looking to show our clients on what’s fresh and new in weddings and special events.
The author of this blog is Jaime Greenwald, President of Gala Events, inc.
The author of this blog is Jaime Greenwald, President of Gala Events, inc.
Ready, Steady, Photo Shoot
Visuals are important. They enliven content, put a face to a name, and help sell your company and products. They can help explain your brand, make it come alive. This is why Gala inc. was so excited when the Westin Tysons Corner asked us to design a table scape that would create the ultimate "wow" factor for their new events brochure.
The author of this blog is Kristie Pichler, Event Planner at Gala Events, inc.
We captured the look by creating a table design to showcase three unique, vibrant linens and a breath-taking centerpiece reflecting the colors of the linen. The centerpiece was an unique architectural feature with multiple satellite arrangements and ornate votives.
We stepped outside of the box by utilizing chopsticks in place of typical flatware and decorative bowls. This created a fusion between Middle Eastern and Asian cultures for a trendy look that has never been seen.
The author of this blog is Kristie Pichler, Event Planner at Gala Events, inc.
A "Heavenly" Bridal Booth
Gala inc. was honored when the brand new Westin National Harbor approached us to help design their trade booth for the Washington Bridal Showcase - the area's largest spring bridal show - at the Patriot Center on April 27, 2008. We delivered a design that featured the "heavenly" experience for which Westin is known. Our design painted the perfect picture while prominently showcasing the company's name and logo. This ensured branding / corporate identity and helped prospective clients to become more familiar with the Westin image. The booth design did not only focus on branding, but on the hotel's products, services, and support as well.
Stunning, simple, eye-catching, and sleek. These are all words that should describe the look of the trade booth. We showcased Gala's White Tufted Bar with light-up top, white occassional chairs, floral and table scape. Gala Events made sure not to forget the fact that the trade booth design needed to woo brides in less than three seconds.
The author of this blog is Kristie Pichler, Event Planner at Gala Events, inc.
Stunning, simple, eye-catching, and sleek. These are all words that should describe the look of the trade booth. We showcased Gala's White Tufted Bar with light-up top, white occassional chairs, floral and table scape. Gala Events made sure not to forget the fact that the trade booth design needed to woo brides in less than three seconds.
The author of this blog is Kristie Pichler, Event Planner at Gala Events, inc.
Wedding Trends: Go Bold, Go Green
As the warm weather rolls in, it seems only natural that the hottest color of the season is bright yellow. Whether you choose to incorporate it in your flowers, your linens, your bridesmaid’s dresses, or even sashed across your own wedding dress, yellow screams summer, energy, and freshness. Bold colors are very in, with jewel tones ranging from shocking pink to vibrant green. Many wedding couples are now focusing on green, not in the sense of the color itself, but rather for the natural, organic connotation it suggests.
It seems that many often brides confuse the idea of a “green” wedding with something too informal, too nontraditional, and maybe even “too hippie” for them, but in fact, there are many ways to interpret the concept of “green” weddings. Most obviously, choosing a natural setting will help set the tone; however, as with many of the organic ideas that I will discuss in this blog, making “green” choices often means spending more “green.” Unlike hotels, country clubs, or restaurants, outdoor venues often require you to outsource all tables, chairs, linens, stemware, plates and glasses, flooring and draping for tents, and most significantly, heating or air conditioning units and power generators, which are anything but conservatory. Thus, in making the decision to use an outdoor venue, it is hugely important to emphasize to your vendors that they minimize their use of energy and waste so that you maximize your green concept and make any extra expenditures worth your dollar.
Continue to “go-green” by choosing organic food and wine, and stay in tune with the trends by serving miniature portions. Offer organic vegetables, artisan cheeses, and soup shooters for hors d’oeuvres, and choose a sustainable fish, such as halibut, for your main course. Start your guests off with an amuse bouche of hummus, olives, and olive oil served in a three-compartment plate, and follow this with an intermezzo of refreshing and colorful sorbet. Fusion cuisine is also very in, so provide your guests with small portions of exotic tastes presented on square plates, and expose them to three fabulous new trends at once!
Be inspired by the bold colors that are so in style, and add energy to your event by transitioning from color to color throughout the wedding. Move from one color to another from the ceremony to the cocktail hour to the reception. Realize that you do not have to travel to an exotic destination or serve a traditional five course meal on formal china to have a fabulous, successful wedding. What will really get your guests excited in 2008 is being bold with color and concept, creating energy without wasting it, and most importantly, allowing your personality to shine brightly through all of the items that you select for your special day.
The author of this blog is Jaime Greenwald, President of Gala Events, Inc.
It seems that many often brides confuse the idea of a “green” wedding with something too informal, too nontraditional, and maybe even “too hippie” for them, but in fact, there are many ways to interpret the concept of “green” weddings. Most obviously, choosing a natural setting will help set the tone; however, as with many of the organic ideas that I will discuss in this blog, making “green” choices often means spending more “green.” Unlike hotels, country clubs, or restaurants, outdoor venues often require you to outsource all tables, chairs, linens, stemware, plates and glasses, flooring and draping for tents, and most significantly, heating or air conditioning units and power generators, which are anything but conservatory. Thus, in making the decision to use an outdoor venue, it is hugely important to emphasize to your vendors that they minimize their use of energy and waste so that you maximize your green concept and make any extra expenditures worth your dollar.
Continue to “go-green” by choosing organic food and wine, and stay in tune with the trends by serving miniature portions. Offer organic vegetables, artisan cheeses, and soup shooters for hors d’oeuvres, and choose a sustainable fish, such as halibut, for your main course. Start your guests off with an amuse bouche of hummus, olives, and olive oil served in a three-compartment plate, and follow this with an intermezzo of refreshing and colorful sorbet. Fusion cuisine is also very in, so provide your guests with small portions of exotic tastes presented on square plates, and expose them to three fabulous new trends at once!
Be inspired by the bold colors that are so in style, and add energy to your event by transitioning from color to color throughout the wedding. Move from one color to another from the ceremony to the cocktail hour to the reception. Realize that you do not have to travel to an exotic destination or serve a traditional five course meal on formal china to have a fabulous, successful wedding. What will really get your guests excited in 2008 is being bold with color and concept, creating energy without wasting it, and most importantly, allowing your personality to shine brightly through all of the items that you select for your special day.
The author of this blog is Jaime Greenwald, President of Gala Events, Inc.
Wedding & Bar/Bat Mitzvah Showcase at Bolger Center
Gala Events and Washington Talent teamed up on May 4, 2008, along with several other vendors, to showcase the Bolger Center as an up and coming event venue. The guests were inundated with wedding and Bar/Bat Mitzvah options, from music to entertainment to décor, and Gala Events was there to provide information on how to maximize the event space with regard to budget and overall look.
Gala displayed a wide variety of specialty linens, artwork, themed, and floral centerpieces, and custom signage. The biggest buzz was centered around our custom in-house tables. From wood plank tables washed in white for a shabby chic look or painted brown for a more natural feel, to white vinyl club tables, to chocolate brown leather tables, to brushed aluminum high tops, guests simply loved the idea of a table without linen. They could see that our tables are not only décor elements in and of themselves, but they also create a sleek look very much in tune with the summer trends.
Another big trend in special events is a less formal look and feel. As such, it is very important to offer unique, out-of-the box concepts with regard to décor. In addition to the tables that I mentioned above, Gala showed the ways in which our custom bars can be utilized for purposes other than the traditional beverage service. For example, we used our lighted martini bar as a contemporary hors d’oeuvres station, our glass block bar to serve fruit smoothies, flavored waters, and designer teas, and our 50’s diner bar to display root beer floats, popcorn, and other fun foods. Our fabulous mahogany bar would make the perfect set up to service a late night hot cocoa station, complete with whipped cream, chocolate shavings, cherries, and of course kahlua!
Exotic fusion foods are also very much in style, and as such, we showcased a Moroccan, Indian, and Asian inspired table dressed in a combination of vibrant orange, yellow and turquoise linens. A gold candelabra was placed in the center, topped with a cascade of brightly colored flowers and surrounded by jeweled votive holders and colored champagne flutes and wine glasses. Oversized pillows were offered in place of reception chairs, and colored glass plates were topped with large, ornate Pho noodle soup bowls for an absolutely over the top look.
Ultimately, bold colors are in for the summer, and with that, so are bold looks. This event was filled not only with bold colors and bold looks, but more importantly, it was filled with tons of energy! With Gala’s décor and Washington Talent’s entertainment, the Bolger Center showcased it’s reception space in style with bold, overflowing energy, and décor to set the trends.
The author of this blog is Nancy Radin, Senior Event Planner at Gala Events, inc.
Gala displayed a wide variety of specialty linens, artwork, themed, and floral centerpieces, and custom signage. The biggest buzz was centered around our custom in-house tables. From wood plank tables washed in white for a shabby chic look or painted brown for a more natural feel, to white vinyl club tables, to chocolate brown leather tables, to brushed aluminum high tops, guests simply loved the idea of a table without linen. They could see that our tables are not only décor elements in and of themselves, but they also create a sleek look very much in tune with the summer trends.
Another big trend in special events is a less formal look and feel. As such, it is very important to offer unique, out-of-the box concepts with regard to décor. In addition to the tables that I mentioned above, Gala showed the ways in which our custom bars can be utilized for purposes other than the traditional beverage service. For example, we used our lighted martini bar as a contemporary hors d’oeuvres station, our glass block bar to serve fruit smoothies, flavored waters, and designer teas, and our 50’s diner bar to display root beer floats, popcorn, and other fun foods. Our fabulous mahogany bar would make the perfect set up to service a late night hot cocoa station, complete with whipped cream, chocolate shavings, cherries, and of course kahlua!
Exotic fusion foods are also very much in style, and as such, we showcased a Moroccan, Indian, and Asian inspired table dressed in a combination of vibrant orange, yellow and turquoise linens. A gold candelabra was placed in the center, topped with a cascade of brightly colored flowers and surrounded by jeweled votive holders and colored champagne flutes and wine glasses. Oversized pillows were offered in place of reception chairs, and colored glass plates were topped with large, ornate Pho noodle soup bowls for an absolutely over the top look.
Ultimately, bold colors are in for the summer, and with that, so are bold looks. This event was filled not only with bold colors and bold looks, but more importantly, it was filled with tons of energy! With Gala’s décor and Washington Talent’s entertainment, the Bolger Center showcased it’s reception space in style with bold, overflowing energy, and décor to set the trends.
The author of this blog is Nancy Radin, Senior Event Planner at Gala Events, inc.
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