WHEN LOOKING FOR INSPIRATION WHEN STARTING TO THINK ABOUT PLANNING AND DESIGNING YOUR EVENT ~ IF ITS A WEDDING, ANNIVERSARY, OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF CELEBRATION, FROM BACKYARD CASUAL, TO CHIC & FORMAL BLACK-TIE . . . THE PLACE TO LOOK FOR INSPIRATION? YOURSELF.  YOUR HOME. YOUR day to day life. 

AN EXERCISE I OFTEN GIVE MY THEATER STUDENTS AS "HOMEWORK" IS TO FIND TIME TO GO OUT IN THE WORLD AND JUST OBSERvE. THINK 90'S ROM-COM, SITTING ON A PARK BENCH IN NEW YORK . . . TAKE A SEAT AND JUST PEOPLE-WATCH! FOR THE THEATER STUDENTS THIS IS A PRACTICE IN CHARACTER BUILDING, IN NOTICING DETAIL, PERSONALITY, POSTURE, ETC.  FOR YOU? THIS IS PRACTICe IN NOTICING WHAT DRAWS YOU IN ~ OFTEN THIS IS CALLED A "SPARKLE"; SOMETHING THAT NOT ONLY "SPARKS YOUR INTEREST" BUT SITS WITH YOU AND "SPARKLES" OR FIZZES, MAKING YOU FEEL SOMETHING GOOD.

THIS COULD BE A COLOR COMBINATION in a passerby's is outfit, it could be the way the sunlight is filtering through leaves in the branches above you, or perhaps the fabric texture of someone's scarf that you notice as it catches the breeze . . . 

As a designer and planner these are the things I want to know about when working on the vision for an event; details and inspiration that come from anywhere - not just inspiration pictures of other events - show the true "sparkle" of who you are, and therefore what your event should look like.

There's nothing quite so satisfying as having guests arrive and not only express their awe at the gorgeous details you've worked so hard curating, but to hear them say things like "oh wow, this really feels like them" or "this is the most you I've ever seen in one beautiful space!"

When we take the time to let ourselves feel inspired by the little things, and the big, it helps us to hone our design focus and bring about a truly one-of-a-kind curated event.

Let me know what's been inspiring you lately!

We'll talk soon,
Sophia