Reaching New Heights

This event was very close to my heart, as it was the 20th anniversary celebration for my amazing manager. After taking so much time to help me adapt to a new company culture and encouraging me to pursue more creative roles, it felt right that I was entrusted with designing a celebration to honor her. For me, themes are essential to event planning, as it helps root not only the design and decor but language, food, and atmosphere. “Reaching New Heights” was no exception, as the mountains were the honoree’s favorite place. We were able to use this imagery to curate a trail mix menu of healthy and sustainable foods and a fitting location — the park with a view just a block away from our building. Unfortunately, a wildfire broke out in the local mountain range and the air quality rapidly declined, forcing me to make a decision: postpone the event or relocate. The team had worked around the clock to get this to happen, so I opted for the latter. We moved the event inside on an hour’s notice, collaborating in secret and causing diversions to ensure the guest of honor would still be surprised. Everything went off without a hitch and the party was a true success.