Wizard of Oz

I'm pretty excited to join the Gala Committee in the decor subcomittee for the Women's Club 

Raleigh. So far I've heard nothing but amazing things on execution and since it'll be my first 

one, I can't  wait to see how we spend the decor budget. There are a few ideas I shared with

 the commitee for consideration. It's a Wizard of Oz Theme...I've presented this theme for an 

annual holiday party once, so I'm excited to see what decisions are made to bring cohesion to

 the event. 

Centerpieces/TableTop Decor 

-Ruby Slipper Centerpieces  

-3 Different types of Centerpieces (Witch Hat, Tin Man Silver Bucket, Scarecrow straw hat)

-3D printers open us up to literally any object with Red Poppies (that’s a pink game controller).

 I took this pic at Marbles last year at one beautiful big budgeted event I hosted. 

Displays/Back Drops

-Hot Air Balloon Display 

-Good Witch Bad Witch Balloon Display 

- There’s No place like home marquee letters 

-Yellow Brick Entrance 

We meet next month...I hope I didn't scare them away with any of my grand ideas.

 I love it here.  

-Response so far...fantastic ideas, but let's look a bit more; at cost, etc. I will find out our

exact budget and we can go from there.  I will email everyone in the next few days with the 

budget and other pics of the committee's theme/vision.

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Room Full of "Carers"

Major impact begins in a room full of people who care. 

I’m bringing people together for an upcoming book signing and community engagement event designed to connect, uplift and create real impact for those suffering through Dementia and Alzheimers. That means I’ve been connecting with sponsors and speakers who want to be apart of something meaningful. Support helps turn a vision into real, lasting impact.

I’m most excited to host a safe space where lives have an opportunity to be transformed. If someone learns a new technique, shows up more gentler with their person or adds a new soul to their village to walk along beside them…WHEW. BIG SUCCESS. BIG. I don't have direct experiences but I know what they’re going through it tough through my indirect ones via family and friends…it's unimaginable. So having anyone in the room make a solid connection would not only make me cry but would be considered a successful event to me. If you or your company are interested in sponsorships with this cause or any of the nonprofits I serve,  contact me. 

3 things most people don’t know about event sponsorship:

In-kind vs. monetary sponsorship: Monetary sponsors provide direct funding, while in-kind sponsors contribute goods or services (like catering, venues or media support). Both reduce costs—just in different ways—and many events rely heavily on in-kind to stay financially viable.

Most nonprofit events don’t actually make profit from ticket sales. In fact, tickets often just cover baseline costs (venue, permits, insurance). The real impact and revenue comes from sponsors, donors and long-term partnerships built around the event.

Post-event data is a huge driver of future funding. Organizers track metrics like attendance, engagement, demographics, and community impact reports—then use that data to secure bigger sponsors, grants, and partnerships for future events. A well-documented event can unlock opportunities long after it ends.

Candlelight done right!

Okay, so I’ve planned a few events in 20 years—but this one? This one felt different in the best way.

From the second you walked in, it was like… wait. Just candlelight! EveryWHERE. No flowers, no over-the-top installs—just clusters of pillar candles in different heights, glowing and doing exactly what they needed to do. It was giving romantic. It was giving intentional. 

I was obsessed with the smallest things. 

The space itself had that raw, rustic feel—cement, beams, bricks, a little edge—but then softened with low lighting and those beautiful chandeliers that just pulled everything together. It didn’t try too hard and that’s what made it so good. People were mingling, drinks were flowing and the whole night felt super chill but still really special.

Now me? I was working, not drinking (despite the groom’s best friends trying real hard to change that 😂), but what I did commit to was the food. The chicken—specifically from Beasley's Chicken + Honey—was my food moment. Just… so good. Between that, the chicken and waffles, the hand pies, the dips—everything felt fun, easy, and made for people to actually enjoy and not just adorn the tables.

No formal toasts, just a natural feel flowing night. Nothing forced, nothing overly structured. Just people showing up, loving on the couple, and being present.

As the planner, I’ll say this: you can design something beautiful all day long, but what really makes an event land is the feeling. And this one felt warm, intentional, and full of love in a really grounded way. It made me excited—not just about the event, but for them. And my genuine prayer for them? That this next season is full of the real stuff—date nights that don’t get skipped, accountability that keeps them growing and a kind of love where they carry each other in spirit when one feels weak.

That’s the good kind.

Here’s to a lifetime of happiness, adventure and unwavering support.
Congratulations on this beautiful new chapter, Christian & Kristin. You are so loved.

        

                  

                           

                          

                             

                                     

                                                                    

                                                                    

                                                                 

~Sincerely Yours