What turns you on?

Is it the smell of your lovers’ cologne? …Is it the feel of his lips on the back of your neck? ..... Is it the sound of his voice? ..... Hmmmm!!!! Does all of the above do it for me? ..... Sure – But if you really want to excite me……

Show me …a white patent leather tufted wall,… let me feel a silk linen flecked with metallic thread slip through my fingers…let me bask in the smell of that newly cut wood.

Passion, you have to have it when it comes to planning special events. For me the turn on, the passion comes from seeing the designs I have put down on paper become the reality in our shop. I am lucky, so very lucky, to have the privilege of being able to walk next door and see and be a part of each and every detail of how things are made. I love the details and in this business the details are what separate the men from the boys.

So my advice to all the planners and designers out there.… Find out what turns you on… which piece of your event or start of design do you feel passionate about… work on the details…. See it, touch it, taste it… and then create away….

Oh, and if you are in the neighborhood…. Stop by and check out the fabulous tree top table that is being built because baby when I look at that…. I am literally brought to my knees!!!!!!

by Jaime Greenwald, President

Another Beginning

It's Monday. Another beginning!!!

I just love the start of something new. A new day...a new week... a new event... a new design. A chance to start fresh. That's the best part of being in the special events business... no two events are ever the same. My work is never boring, always challenging, exciting and ever changing.

But, does a new beginning always mean the end?

In the event world, things are never cut and dry. This business is based on relationships so it might be the end of the actual event that you have worked on but, your relationship with the people involved from your client to your vendors has merely just begun.

You are looking for that long term involvement… that continuum of the relationship … something you work on and nurture so that when the client or vendor has a need you are the one they seek to fulfill it.

Easy? No! Not at all. But, who said it would be? In the event world like the rest of life things go wrong, relationships can be difficult… obstacles must be overcome and challenges must be met.

Soooo … you work it…you prepare…you complete your tasks…overcome your adversities and reach for your goal and in the end……you realize… that this…. was just the beginning!!!

by Jaime Greenwald, President

Lifestyle Consultants

With spring on the horizon Gala events has decided to break out of the winter doldrums by expanding dramatically. 2009 has certainly come in like a lion, with the inauguration of President Obama, to crazy trends, and the search for stability in these times of economic uncertainty.
Over the years we at Gala Events have been asked to do and produce many things. A concept we continuously find our selves coming back to is how we can continue to expand our one stop shop of resources. Which brings me to our latest and most noteworthy endeavor: becoming lifestyle consultants. What is a lifestyle consultant you ask? Put simply a life style consultant is an individual who provides expert advice and guidance. Clients often come to Gala searching for that one person they can trust to help them be the best that they can possibly be. Effortlessly planned parties, keeping them abreast of what is new in town and bringing the latest trends from all over the world to the greater Washington, DC area. What we have realized is that as we get more and more integrated into our client’s lives we find ourselves offering more and more services. Gala’s new approach provides our clients with the stability and support of the unbiased eye they crave while still producing intriguing combinations, and always delivering that trademark gala sparkle setting each event apart from the rest. As 2009 roars forward Gala’s taken its own approach to perpetuating the idea of freshness and renewal by adding lifestyle consultants to list of available services.
Wishing you a fabulous 2009!

by Jaime Greenwald, President

Be Green- 10 green steps to lowering your events carbon footprint

1. For your invitations try and find a company that uses recycled paper, some even offer treeless paper alternatives.
2. To reduce the uses of paper all together, consider having a single program per couple instead of for each individual. By using a reply post-card you also eliminate the use of more envelopes.
3. Potted plants and herbs can be an alternative to floral centerpieces that your guests can take home and re-use after the big day. If you do use florals consider locally sourced flowers.
4. Instead of gifts ask you guests to donate to your favorite charities or environmental group.
5. Create your menu using local and organic food. Minimize the amount of meat and try to select in-season fruits, veggies, and local dairy products.
6. Consider the proximity to public transportation for your guests
7. Instead of bridesmaid bouquets consider alternatives such as parasols.
8. If your event is being held indoors, consider using the space with the most natural light
9. Instead of rice, seeds, or even paper confetti provide your guests with flower petal confetti this alternative is not only beautiful it is also biodegradable!
10. Instead of a favor, have a tree planted in your guests’ name.

Top 10 tricks of the trade

1. Don’t leave home without white out or tide to-go
2. Duct tape can fix almost anything
3. Don’t forget to number the back of each response card
4. Remember three cocktail napkins per person
5. 8-10 pieces of passed hors d’oeuvres per individual
6. Using a single color will give you the biggest bang for buck
7. Linen must always go to the floor
8. Personalize your event by creating a signature something
9. One bartender per every 100 guests
10. It’s all about the flow

Top 9 Reasons to Hire a Wedding Planner in '09

1. They are YOUR advocate
2. They allow you to be a guest at your party
3. They continuously go back to the same venues, enabling them to get you a better deal and the venue wants their business.
4. They have a proven track record with your various vendors – know where to save you money
5. Will help you with the most effective places to put your money
6. It’s all about the flow! Scheduling, Scheduling, Scheduling!
7. Takes care of potentially problematic situations before they even become a problem
8. Provide you with a un-biased set of eyes
9. They will proof, double and triple check –EVERYTHING for you.

Yes we can!

Yes we can and yes we did! The week of inauguration was an exciting time for everyone in Washington, DC. Gala Events was thrilled to be a part of things. We haven’t seen this level of excitement in the DC Metro area EVER! The streets were packed and positive energy was radiating throughout the city. The Gala team came together and worked on everything from red, white and blue bunting around parade route, to designing the most exciting after party in town at Posh Supper Club.
Getting everything downtown was certainly a challenge, especially with all of the roads being closed. However, this didn’t hold us back for long! Our design team even went to the extreme of riding in the back of a truck to ensure that everything made it to its right place!


YES WE DID-A few of our favorite things witnessed during the inaugural weekend:
1. 9 Events in four nights
2. Unprecedented security, droves of people and port-a-potties
3. Unbearably low temperatures
4. Rodeo Drive meets Pennsylvania Avenue- Hollywood comes to DC
5. Exit only metro stations
6. The line around the block at Ben’s Chili bowl
7. All bars staying open till 4am
8. Not a single arrest!
9. Motorcades, movie stars, and military presence- oh my!
10. Bunting, Bling, and Biden
11. The creation of our very own star spangled banner