3 of Dallas’ top event planners were asked to design a soiree they would throw for close friends. No rules. All imagination. Feel free to get inspired.
Dinner For Eight
Todd Fiscus gets intimate at his Oak Cliff home.
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One would expect tents, acrobatics, Parisian chefs, thousands of exotic flowers, and a guest list of 500 at a party thrown by Todd Fiscus, owner of todd.event design.creative services. He is known for designing lavish weddings, such as the one for Kimberly Schlegel Whitman, husband Justin, and 2,000 of their close friends. Todd has also planned chichi galas for Two by Two for Aids and Art and the Dallas Museum of Art’s annual Art Ball. But for him, a perfect evening would be more intimate: a few close friends, some bottles of bubbly, a home-cooked menu, and tunes chosen by his music-fanatic partner, Rob Dailey. Dailey’s hundreds of records line the entire wall of their dining room.
“I want someone to be so comfy at my party that they can take off their shoes in my living room and take a nap on my chair,” Todd says. A traditionalist by nature, he mails a hand-written note on his monogrammed stationery to party guests. “Phone calls for a party less than six, a handwritten note for less than 25, and printed invites for more than 50 guests. And no evites!” After friends arrive, they are encouraged to relax, nosh on caviar and potato chips, and indulge in good conversation. At the end of the night, some have been known to end up in his backyard, cuddled up with pillows on his outdoor canopy bed.
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| Custom-made brown cashmere, wool and linen tablecloth. Riedel stemless wine glasses. Robert Isabell dinner lights in a rosemary, basil, sage, and white pepper scent. |
TODD’S DOS AND DON’TS
DO keep it simple. Do not try to be what you are not.
DO trust others when it comes to suggesting wines. The guys at Central Market always suggest interesting choices based on the menu.
DO subscribe to Bon Appétit magazine. Everything I cook is from there.
DON’T hire live music for a party of less than 50 people. It can be very awkward.
DON’T try to do more than what you can. If you are known for flipping hamburgers, be the best flipper you can be.
DON’T use more than one scented item per 1,000 feet. Always burn the same scent. Too many candles and scents can be overwhelming.
Oh Baby! After Shower
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Robyn Wise mixes it up for 35 people by the pool.
Robyn Wise, Cymbidium’s spunky party planner, florist, and owner, can’t spit out fast enough her ideas for her baby after-shower for best friends Anna and Adrian White. “This is the party for the mom who has everything,” she says. “Why not change it up and host a party after the child is born and invite men, women, couples, and singles?”
The zealous Robyn has turned her little Mockingbird Station flower store into a one-stop boutique for the ultimate bash. Customers can plan their events from start to finish as well as pick up everything from china, flatware, and fresh flower centerpieces to posh invitations designed to correspond with décor and theme. For this party, Robyn mixes old and new designs from Cymbidium, like contemporary Missoni china, ’70s geometric shapes, Greek-style columns, and trendy glitter to create a cozy vibe with an edge.
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| Traditional mini ferns in glass vases filled with purple glitter; ferns in spray-painted columns; stemware, chairs, tables, and tablecloths rented from Livewire Special Events. |
Guests arrive and drop off their unwrapped gifts in a see-through gift station so the Whites can view their loot. London-based deejay James Vear spins tunes while guests mingle around cocktail tables at the pool. The huge spotlights designed by David Wiltshire from Livewire Special Events serve as the perfect glow against the night’s backdrop while dinner is served. And, of course, the big-thinking Robyn has covered everything. A nanny support system relieves couples from parent duty so they can focus on the guest of honor: baby Jack.
ROBYN’S DOS AND DON’TS
DO spoil the people you love.
DO be upfront and honest with yourself and your event planner about your budget.
DO (always) write a hand-written thank you note to the host.
DON’T set a tone with your invitation that is incompatible with your event.
DON’T invite guests without allowing them the option of bringing someone with them.
DON’T skimp by giving some guests a formal invitation and others an evite.
I WISH FOR GIFTS
Robyn, known for lavish gift bags at her own fetes, shares her wish-list for baby-shower guests.
For the ladies:
Spa package at Bliss Spa; Malo cashmere travel set; Cymbidium candle; Fashion Bag Vase by M Glass; Mouawad, The Heidi Klum Collection necklace
For the men:
Dallas Cowboys suite tickets; a day of golf; Malo cashmere travel set; elite status in Cymbidium’s Forget-Me-Not program to fill ladies’ Fashion Bag Vases; Dunhill engraved cocktail shakers; Dunhill cufflinks
For the kids:
Bugaboo Cameleon stroller
Midnight Campfire
Mike Thompson stargazed with 10 close friends at his M Street abode.
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Mike Thompson, event planner, stylist, and owner of Sticks and Stones, has designed parties for the fabulous and famous. A cocktail party for friend and author Candace Bushnell for the launch of her latest novel, Lipstick Jungle, was one of his personal favorites. And if you didn’t attend the Tom Ford book launch party at Neiman Marcus Downtown, you most certainly heard about it. Mike did that one, too. But when it comes to planning what he wants on his turf for his friends, he ditches the Hollywood glam for a modern and adult spin on a favorite childhood pastime. The campfire’s décor, a mix of mid-century modern, Mediterranean, and antique pieces—mostly available at his store—is a reflection of his style at home. “I literally took things out of my house and put them in my backyard,” he says. Guests have their own bottle of Veuve and can visit the bartender of the Scotch table. Antique and high-tech telescopes are placed throughout the backyard, encouraging attendees to stargaze and find their favorite constellations (also a great conversation starter). Huge fire pits heat up the fall night, allowing people to relax and shed their wool scarves, fur coats, and cashmere ponchos.
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MIKE’S DOS AND DON’TS
DO make it your own. Even if you have to hire everything out, let it reflect your personality.
DO be ready and relax. You can be a great host and a great guest.
DO be gracious and give each person your attention. Focus on the person you are speaking to.
DON’T make your guests wait for anything. Hire plenty of bartenders and staff to accommodate.
DON’T spend more money than you can afford. If necessary, reduce your guest list or purchase less expensive items.
DON’T overindulge. Have a good time, but stop short of the lampshade on your head
