Tell us about a favorite holiday event that you have planned.

The room looked stunning with silver linen, white draping, and icy blue lighting that gave this hot holiday party a chilled winter feel.

A few years ago, we were given the rare opportunity to work with a client who gave us full creative freedom and a healthy production budget. The result was a “Winter Wonderland” party we had only dreamed of – and it finally came to be. Guests entered on a blue carpet surrounded by barren trees and balloon clouds. After exiting a draped tunnel, they were greeted by a snowstorm and two incredible ice bars. The room looked stunning with silver linen, white draping, and icy blue lighting that gave this hot holiday party a chilled winter feel.

For the last 4 years, the event industry in Vancouver Canada has collaborated on putting together a holiday party for each other.

For the last 4 years, the event industry in Vancouver Canada has collaborated on putting together a holiday party for each other. This wonderful collaboration of the event associations MPI, PCMA and ILEA brings together value-in-kind sponsorship from all planners, suppliers and the venue to work together to show off their award-winning skills. In fact, this annual event itself has been award-winning each year and we anticipate that 2019 won’t be any different!

I was pleased to be the Executive Producer for the first 2 years’ events with “Through The Wardrobe” in 2017 being the most exciting opportunity to work together with my peers in the industry.

I wouldn’t have been able to produce this magical winter wonderland event if it hadn’t been for the connections I made through the International Live Events Association (ILEA) NY Metro Chapter.

I produced a holiday event last night (December 9, 2019) for the Council of Protocol Executives (COPE). I’m a board member for this event association and it was a wonderful night!

The location we held it at, Studio 525, is a former art gallery and a raw space. I had no budget and was able to get everything sponsored by local vendors. I wouldn’t have been able to produce this magical winter wonderland event if it hadn’t been for the connections I made through the International Live Events Association (ILEA) NY Metro Chapter. Nearly all the sponsors were members.

It’s hard to plan an event for event planners so the pressure was on and my team pulled through beautifully!

What I love most about designing holiday parties and winter-season weddings is the opportunity to feature lots of texture.

What I love most about designing holiday parties and winter-season weddings is the opportunity to feature lots of texture. From vegan leather and fur to raw-edge silk runners, to plush Persian rugs and crystal-encrusted accent pieces, there are so many ways to wrap your guests in a feeling of cozy celebration. My favorite holiday gatherings also place special emphasis on food as a design element. Talented chefs like those at the Four Seasons Las Colinas know how to create dainty desserts bursting with festive holiday color and texture. When the food is almost too pretty to eat, you know the holidays are here!

Planning and Design by Meggie Francisco Events (http://www.meggiefranciscoevents.com)
Photography by Tracy Enoch (https://www.tracyenoch.com/
Floral by R Love (http://www.rlovefloral.com/)
Location and catering by the Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas (https://www.fourseasons.com/dallas/)
Design by Design Roots (https://www.designroots.com/)
Cake by Sugar Bee Sweets (https://www.sugarbeesweets.com/)

My favorite holiday party I have planned would be a private party in a client's home for Thanksgiving.

My favorite holiday party I have planned would be a private party in a client’s home for Thanksgiving. We called it a Modern Thanksgiving Soiree. The holidays are a time to be thankful for all that we have been given. Sharing our lives and blessings with those we love. 32 people were invited to this Modern Thanksgiving Soiree and the host carved 32 mini pumpkins to serve soup out of. The color concept was deep plums and rich harvest colors accented by gold. I provided the color concept, the centerpieces, and the hand-calligraphed gold escort cards. Everyone had a great time and that client has become a repeat customer from the positive experience. We are planning another Thanksgiving event this year.

I had the opportunity to plan a wedding for a wonderful family at the InterContinental Chicago on New Year's Eve.

I had the opportunity to plan a wedding for a wonderful family at the InterContinental Chicago on New Year’s Eve. Something about the excitement of New Year’s Eve mixed with the blessing of uniting a great couple makes for a spectacular night. This holiday is one way to get your guests to stay past 11:00. I enjoyed every minute of their celebration, even though I was working. It was a very festive night!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year and some of our favorite events to plan are private, family affairs throughout the holiday season!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year and some of our favorite events to plan are private, family affairs throughout the holiday season!

With elegant calligraphy place cards, heirloom photos, and adorable Annalee characters uniquely marking individual guest seating, as well as luscious linens, watercolor menus, and exquisite holiday florals from hand-selected preferred partners, creating magical tablescapes to delight and awe.

With each year bringing new color palettes, patterns and themes, lively conversations over festive libations with cherished family and friends create memorable experiences to last a lifetime!

PC: PhotoGabi exclusively for The Huestudio + Company.

Our favorite part of the holiday is creating intimate celebrations where people come together to toast the holiday season while supporting a great cause.

Our favorite part of the holiday is creating intimate celebrations where people come together to toast the holiday season while supporting a great cause. At a private dinner party we produced a couple of years ago, each guest brought a gift that they specifically picked out as their favorite toy as a child. The gifts were all donated to Toys for Tots and it was a great conversation starter over a delicious 3-course meal. We also LOVE decorating for the holidays, so their 12-foot tree was truly something special!

The venue, the food, the fun ugly sweaters, made for a memorable evening!

My favourite holiday event that I have planned is for the Vital Health Naturopathic Clinic. They are a smaller organization and had always gone to restaurants for their holiday parties, but they hated how once dinner arrived they couldn’t really mingle with each other or have a conversation with those at the other end of the table. I found a small intimate venue, Kitchen by Brad. Kitchen is designed so you can relax and enjoy the comfort of amazing food in a kitchen setting that is as comfortable as home. They were able to be up walking around, chatting with each other, and just enjoying each other’s company and amazing food. They indicated it was the best party they have ever had! They loved the evening so much that they are continuing with the same venue this upcoming December.

The venue, the food, the fun ugly sweaters, made for a memorable evening!

My favorite holiday event to plan was a Christmas Lights Trolley.

My favorite holiday event to plan was a Christmas Lights (BYOB) Trolley. The clients invited about 15-20 of their friends. They met at a local bar where they enjoyed a bowl of soup and a drink, then they jumped on a trolley. On their way to see popular Christmas lightings around CT, they sang Christmas carols and drank their merry way through it all. They went to a Christmas tree lighting event and thoroughly enjoyed it. Topped off with a Christmas favor bag to include an ornament (made by the client) for all. Round trip was about 5 hours.

On December 21, 2019, I will be a vendor at a Taste of the Bronx and I recently applied to be a vendor at Bronx Night Market.

One of my marketing objectives for De L’or Cakery Corporation is to grow our brand organically and locally. On December 21, 2019, I will be a vendor at a Taste of the Bronx and I recently applied to be a vendor at Bronx Night Market. I am super excited to tap into the Bronx. Most of my clients are from Long Island, Queens, and Brooklyn as I use to reside in Brooklyn. For fun, I will be attending the By Faith Gala hosted by GeannasWonderCreations. Geanna is my Sugar Sister (baker friend) located in the Bronx, New York. She hosts a yearly gala that benefits a youth program in the Dominican Republic. The local cake community supports her project. She is making a significant difference in the lives of others. This is also another wonderful opportunity to connect and reconnect with other Sugar Artists.

One of my favorite holiday events that I planned was a Children's Holiday Party for my first corporate job.

One of my favorite holiday events that I planned was a Children’s Holiday Party for my first corporate job. It was so much fun coordinating it and it resonated with me because that’s when I discovered how much I really love event planning and that I was also naturally good at it.

We had a lot of fun activities for the kids such as the usual face painting and an elf that was making balloon animals. One thing I incorporated was having the kids decorate their own Cheryl cut-out cookies with frosting and whatever other decoration they wanted to add to it.

I really enjoy coordinating something special for children because they’re easy clients who just want entertainment and sugar and they’re happy. I look forward to future opportunities to plan more holiday events and I definitely want to hone in on my skills for different religions/cultures with events surrounding Diwali, Hanukkah, etc.

Holiday parties are our favorite because they are so stress-free and everyone is happy and ready for celebration and fun!

Our favorite Holiday Event we have planned so far was for the County Bar Association!

This group was such a great group to work with. We picked a favorite local restaurant that had a private space located above. They went with simple chic decor such as glassware, lights and Christmas bulbs. We hired an amazing 3 piece pop band and the event was lively all night long!

Holiday parties are our favorite because they are so stress-free and everyone is happy and ready for celebration and fun!

I've planned a lot of really fun holiday events for local non-profit organizations, but when I think of the holidays, my favorite events are the ones where I can spend quality time with my family.

I’ve planned a lot of really fun holiday events for local non-profit organizations, but when I think of the holidays, my favorite events are the ones where I can spend quality time with my family. My niece and I love to get in the kitchen together to bake dessert for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and I always have a ton of fun playing Santa’s helper on Christmas morning.