What is Galentine’s Day, you ask? Oh, it’s only the best day of the year! Amy Poehler says it best and once again it’s right around the corner. If you’re spending this fabulous occasion surrounded by your #girlgang, we’re sharing a bit of event planning design inspo to curate the perfect event focused around the best of the best — your powerhouse posse, your boss babes, your ride or dies.

Step 1) G-Day invitations + card exchange. If this occasion doesn’t make you think back to your younger years and exchanging handmade and/or handwritten cards with your favorite gals (and maybe your secret crush), well then, here’s your chance to make that reality happen!

We love the idea of providing Galentine’s cards for guests to share with one another throughout the event and this printable set recently featured on Pizzazzerie includes all of the goods, from invitations and cupcake toppers (we’re using them for our card exchange!) to banners and playful icebreaker cards. These individual “cupcake topper” squares can also be used as tiny galentine’s, allowing guests to quickly jot down a little lady love note and place it in one another’s card exchange box. Another fun idea is to encourage guests to arrive with a pre-made card exchange box they’ve decorated by hand, which gets all the feels started prior to arriving for the big day!

Snag these beauties to print prior to your party and let the fun begin. We also love these printables from Brit + Co as well.

Side note: if you don’t follow @pizzazzerie on Instagram, trust me, it’s worth the follow for anything and everything related to entertaining in style!

Step 2) The welcome! At every DGE event hosted at Danielle’s home, the first thing guests see upon arrival is her stylish front door. You know those posts about fabulous doors in Palm Springs? Well this gal is right up there with them in terms of style factor. No matter the season, there will always be some sort of colorful welcome indicating you’ve found the right spot! Be sure to dress up your door or entryway for your guests.

Step 3) Rosé! No explanation necessary here. This step speaks for itself. If your guests aren’t a fan of rosé, kick them out! Kidding, kidding. Always have a back-up red or white, but just keep the wine flowing and there will be no shortage of conversations (and fun).

Step 4) Simple, customizable treats. At one of our recent Take Time to Toast events, we created “bespoke bowls” for the group, allowing everyone to choose their favorite ingredients. As we’re all unique creatures, we understand that everyone has a distinct flavor palate and wanted to allow each guest to choose their own adventure.

If you’re looking for something a bit more simple (and on a budget), we love the idea of a parfait bar with lots of yummy fruits and grains. This Martha Stewart article outlines some great options!

Step 5) Photo booth or backdrop. While we all come to the party for the company, we also come for the photos (or it didn’t happen, right?). Every party should have a dedicated photo backdrop to snap a pic from your phone, or even provide a Polaroid camera for take home photos. Either way, don’t skip this step, whether big or small.

Above are photos from one of our favorite backdrops, but we also love the idea of a DIY backdrop like this one created by the duo at Lovely Indeed with just a few sticky notes. Yes, it’s that easy to create this attention-grabbing background!

Step 6) Party favors. Our most memorable party favors were a variety of beauty products from one of our favorite brands: Glossier. For your party, ask everyone to bring their favorite beauty product (while providing a dedicated maximum budget of, say, $20) and then initiate a beauty swap during the event. We are always on the hunt for new must-have products, so this allows for sharing and gaining a new product for our beauty regimen.

For more design ideas from our event planning life in Napa, check out our Galentine’s Day Pinterest board. Oh, and be sure to follow Danielle Gibson Events and Take Time to Toast on Instagram as we cover our upcoming G-Day event. 

 

SaveSave

After watching Oprah’s monumental speech at the Grammy’s, the Women’s March yesterday and preparing for our next Take Time to Toast event in a few short weeks, Danielle Gibson Events’ has been feeling all sorts of inspired lately! All of this seemed very fitting heading into our annual Vision Board Party, where we hosted Grace Gulley, author and founder of an online community meant to encourage and empower women to pursue their goals.

During the event, Grace shared her journey of finding and pursing her passion to coach women in doing just that – finding their happy. We’re not talking about the happy that society tells us we need to obtain or that we tell ourselves we need to be living. Instead, Grace invites you to focus on finding that place where you truly feel yourself. Whether it’s a side hustle you’ve been considering for some time or that next BIG move to take your business to the next level, she pushes you to step outside of your comfort zone to take those BIG dreams into action.

To kick off the afternoon, Grace led the group through a visualization exercise. She asked us to sit with our thoughts for a few moments and jot down some of our goals for the future. Did you know that simply putting a goal into words or onto paper makes you ten times more likely to achieve it? Yeah, manifestation is some powerful stuff!

As the group began to feverishly jot down their thoughts (because let’s be honest, this group was full of hustlers!), Grace then asked us to write down a few words of affirmation to assure ourselves we would achieve our goals. Telling yourself “I can,” “I will” or “I am” can be more powerful that you would ever imagine, as we all have a tendency to get in our heads from time to time and let that little voice of doubt creep in.

Once Grace got our brains moving on our vision for the next year we began the vision boarding! Oh, and we dug into some of the most delicious treats from Elaine Bell Catering and Whetstone Wines! These tiny sandwiches packed a serious flavor punch and we definitely ate more macaroons than we care to admit, but hey, it’s all in the name of creativity, am I right?!

Another special guest in attendance was Sheryl of Blushtype calligraphy. See all of these super cute, super inspiring signs below? Yeah, those beauties were handmade by her! Sheryl spent the afternoon preparing custom calligraphy signs for the group to pin to their board.

After an hour or so of open conversations, our vision boards were (mostly) complete and we were ready to share! We love this group shot of everyone with their goals literally in the palms of their hands. It’s moments like this that remind us that we have the power to make our dreams come to life, we simply have to get out of our own way and get it done!

This event was truly magical and it simply would not have been possible without these incredible sponsors. Be sure to check them out on social!

@daniellegibsonevents – event planning and design

@kvenues – venue in Napa, California

@gracegulley – guest speaker

@the_happy_planner – planners

@blushtype – calligraphy

@erinheartscourt – photography

@elainebellcatering – catering

@encoreeventsrentals – rentals

@scarlettandgrace – florals

@latavolalinen – linens + pillows

@whetstonewinecellars – wine

If you’re interested in participating in this same exercise, take 2-3 minutes to sit with your thoughts for each of the items below. Jot down anything that comes to mind. Keep in mind, there is no wrong answer. Your list can be big or small, and it can continue to grow as time goes on. You do you, girl!

1) What are your goals for the next year?
2) Share a few words of affirmation about achieving those goals. For instance, if one of your goals is to run a marathon, you could say something like, “I will run a marathon within the next 6 months.” The key part of an affirmation is using the phrases “I can/will/am going to…(fill in the blank).”
3) Name one thing you can do tomorrow to work towards these goals.

Do you ever look at those incredible holiday tablescapes on Pinterest and think, ugh (!) why doesn’t my table look like that? Well friends, Danielle Gibson Events has good news for you. As we (and our gal, @targetdoesitagain) recently discovered, Target launched their Hearth & Hand collection earlier this month and everyone is swooning over these beauties. Whether you are looking for the perfect holiday decor to dress up your dinner table, or everyday items to decorate your home, they’ve got you covered.

One of our favorite things about the Hearth & Hand collection is the story behind these subtly stylish pieces. This line was created by Target in collaboration with Magnolia, a home and lifestyle brand by Chip and Joanna Gaines. If you haven’t already heard their story, learn about it here. This power couple is truly killing the game with their eye for design and strong desire to create community inside and outside the home.

Within seconds of strolling down the aisle at Target, our minds started reeling with ideas. We could immediately picture these X-Patterned Glass Goblets, filled with our favorite chardonnay from Lewis Cellars. Or these Embroidered Placements (which come in numerous colors and patterns) styled alongside these Plaid Napkins. Needless to say, the combinations are endless and we had to resist the strong urge to buy everything in every color!

We were so inspired by this couple and their line, that we threw a holiday party in their honor! Check out the details below on how to style your upcoming holiday table on a budget, including a few staple pieces that can absolutely be used year round. Grab these goodies soon, as they are sure to sell out!

Psst! Be sure to tag @daniellegibsonevents in photos of your favorite holiday decor to share your style inspo and creations! We love hearing from you 🙂

A very special thanks to these vendors:

@target / @magnolia (Hearth & Hand collection – placemats, plates, bowls, napkins, water goblets, place card holders, floral vases, blankets, and pillows)

@megsmithphotography for photos

@robinsonpaperie / Robinsonpaperie for calligraphy

@tinyprints for place cards paperie

@lewiscellars for wine

@whetstonewinecellars for wine

@tankwinery for wine

@estateeventsmw / Estate Event by Meadowood for food

@soulflowersf / Soulflower for florals

@westelm /West elm for chairs

@restorationhardware/Restoration Hardware for chairs & chandelier

@designwithinreach / Design Within Reach for flatware

@riedelusa / Riedel for coupe glasses

Danielle Gibson Events recently hosted an event with the help of our friends at Confete Party Box, inviting a variety of local vendors throughout the Napa and Sonoma areas. We were thrilled to not only showcase the goodies we received in our Confete Party Box, but also share the afternoon with incredible women in the event and wine industry. At its core, this event was held with the intent to come together to support one another during a time of local adversity.

First, a little background on Confete Party Box! This team launched their curated party boxes after receiving numerous requests from friends and family to assist in planning their parties, and of course, picking out the perfect decor. They quickly came up with the idea to share this experience with anyone looking for party decor for all types of occasions. The best part…it’s shipped right to your doorstep! Does it get any better than that?

Our Confete Party Box arrived just in time for our Halloween themed event and let-me-tell-you! These details were exactly what we needed to dress up our tablescape and festive cocktails. Our box included decorative plates + cups, our favorite glitter utensils, napkins (obviously in the shape of a ghost), drink stirrers and, of course, lettered BOO-lloons (see what we did there?). Needless to say, we were quite pleased with the box and can’t wait to try them again in the future! Be sure to check out their website for the party box that’s perfect for your next event (psst! if you’re hosting a New Year’s Eve event, don’t miss this box)

After fawning over our party decor, including the tasty chocolate treats from Woodhouse Chocolate that were *almost* too cute to eat, we spent the afternoon catching up with some of our favorite “frendors” (see previous posts for definition). We laughed, we indulged in lots of German chocolate cake from Alexis Baking Company and even shed a few tears.

As many of you know, our beloved wine country was recently victim to some of the most devastating fires Northern California has ever seen. After over a week of turmoil and helplessly watching the devastation spread throughout our neighborhoods, our dedicated local fire departments (from near and far) were able to contain the fires. As anyone in the area can attest, every passing moment felt like a lifetime and every phone call received made our hearts drop. While some homes were spared, there were many in the area that were not and our hearts continue to ache for these friends, families and neighbors. The group of friends attending this event all live in and/or have businesses based in the Napa and Sonoma area. Needless to say, inviting these women to come together after such a monumental event was truly bittersweet.

During the event, Danielle Gibson read an email from a local winemaker, Azur Wines, who perfectly summed up what we all felt as we watched loved ones and strangers around us lose their homes, but also watch our community come together in a way that somehow made our hearts ache just a little less. While many lives will be forever changed by these events, we feel truly fortunate to be a part of such a compassionate and remarkable community.

Danielle Gibson Events hosted this event as part of the Take Time to Toast series, which focuses on bringing together, empowering, supporting and thanking boss babes. To learn more about Take Time to Toast, check out this blog!

Check out more photos below, as well as the full list of vendors that helped make this special event happen.

A huge thanks to these vendors:

@briana_marie for the photos

@lewiscellars for the wine

@confetepartybox for the party supplies

@napaweddingsigns for the pumpkin calligraphy

@balloonspecialtiesnapavalley for the balloons

@packedparty for the disco balls cups

@woodhousechocolates for the chocolates

@bouchon_bakery for the desserts

@theonicollection for the wine glasses

@latavolalinen for the linens and pillows

#bigranchfarms for all of the pumpkins

#alexisbakingcompany for the cakes

Happy Halloween!

The Danielle Gibson Events team recently got together with some of our closest frendors (that’s friends and vendors) of the Napa and Sonoma communities to throw a Halloween Party! We were able to put on this event thanks to some help from our friends at Confete Party Box.

Confete Party Box‘s concept is simple: beautiful parties, delivered to your door!

What a great idea, right? So we teamed up. We were so excited to get our Halloween themed box and the anticipation of what would be inside made it that much more fun. Check out Confete Party Box‘s website to see all the other curated boxes they have. There’s also an option to go custom! What’s cool is that their products are unique and not anything like what you would find at your neighborhood party-goods store.

Lastly, a big thank you to our wonderful photographer, Briana Marie. Below is just a taste of the beautiful images she captured. Stay tuned for more in the following weeks, as well as an upcoming blog post explaining the event and it’s significance in light of the Napa and Sonoma fires.

XOXO, DGE

You’ve waited long enough…a toast to you for bearing with us as we sorted out the press for our rosé themed soirée. We’re so excited to finally share it with all of you!

Take Time to Toast

A toast to the fabulous girl bosses in our lives and all that we’ve done as a team.

Take Time to Toast was an event hosted by Danielle Gibson Events to take time to honor and thank (aka *toast*) the girl bosses that work with us! The concept came from the idea that we all work so hard, but we don’t take the time to toast each other, or ourselves, for that hard work. Being in the events industry, we are constantly throwing parties for clients but never for our own staff. The time has come in our book! This concept should be across all businesses, not just the events world…so Danielle Gibson Events decided to lead the way in celebrating those around us!

This Take Time to Toast event was for eight very special women who partnered with DGE on our most recent corporate retreat. The retreat was a big deal for some high profile clients and these ladies worked their butts off to help everything go off without a hitch. What better way to say thank you than with rosé (both the wine and the color), delicious bites and picture-perfect photo-ops? We had tons of vendors and sponsors that made this event come to life, including our photographer @megsmithphotography, our florist @scarlettandgrace, and our caterer @fogcutter_sf, who created our idea of “bespoke bowls” perfectly. 

Again, thank you to Meg Smith for these perfect images.

Thank you to our vendors:

@megsmithphotography for the pics

@scarlettandgrace for the flowers

@fotcutter_sf for the food

@sixthcoursesf for the dessert

@balloonspecialtiesnapavalley for the rad indoor/outdoor balloon sculpture 

@azurwines for the jerobaums of rosé

@theark_ for our table runner, napkins, napkin rings, and flatware 

@thepeculiar.ink for our calligraphy

@harlowandgrey for the pink and gold splashed cocktail napkins

@theonicollection for the BEAUTIFUL coupe glasses and chairs

@concretegeometic for our centerpieces under the loads of pretty florals

@augustcalifornia for our handbags

@glossier for the makeup station

@katespadeny for the gold pens

@latavolalinen for the velvet pillows and poufs 

@studio.noel for our TTTT stir sticks and photo booth prop!

@snapfiesta for the photo booth

@packedparty for the disco ball cups

@foryourparty for the custom Take Time to Toast cocktail napkins

^^^Be sure to give them some social media love!

In attendance was @annewilner, @allsetevents, @lmmrks, @flutterevents, @rebeccareateguiweddings, @2shaina, and @napavalley_celebrations.

You can give them some love too by clicking on their names!

This event was a huge success and so much fun.                  

Moving forward, we plan to make Take Time to Toast a DGE staple and we can’t wait to partner with more brands and make this happen on a larger scale.

XOXO