I believe, now more than ever, events are incredibly important. As humans we rely and thrive on shared social experiences. It’s how we deepen our connections, mark life’s milestone moments, make the everyday events in our lives -- like family meals, playdates, and spontaneous dinner parties -- memorable and meaningful.

Celebrations, no matter how simple, are what remind us we’re alive!

As we officially enter the season of celebrations see below for my personal formula for how to take your guests on a unique journey, my six signature touches and details to elevate any event immediately.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been planning parties and events. As a child I was always coming up with detailed birthday party ideas for my parents to execute.

One year I wanted a dim sum dinner in Chinatown, followed by a dessert bar in Little Italy. For my 14th Birthday, I orchestrated an island themed dance party, with all sorts of tropical decor. In high school, I was known for my epic New Year’s Eve parties, secretly thrown in my mother’s empty TriBeCa loft, while she was living in California. Sorry mom! A far departure from wine coolers and cheap beer, we would have a full bar, tons of themed decorations and highly curated playlists.

While in college theater school, I famously threw a carnival themed party to raise money for a side-show themed play I was producing. We had kissing booths (remember those?) where lower classmen could pay to kiss seniors, plus a sliding scale entry fee. Needles to say, the party was a huge hit and we raised tons of funds for my play.

After college I transitioned from performing to pursuing a career producing. I loved creating unique experiences for people to fully immerse themselves in and enjoy. I loved focusing on all the details that make an experience memorable whether it was a play or a party.

It’s how I show love.

Even when we were in the heart of the pandemic lockdown here in New York City, I made sure that my daughter’s birthdays were still thought out and special. “A party for four people can still be a party,” I’d say. Break out your special place settings, make or order your favorite meal and put on a fancy dress. Life is worth celebrating.

I believe that no two events should ever be the same, and that as long as decisions are made with care, anything goes!

To me, event planning is all in the details. My intention is to take my guests on a journey. A good event always tells a story. A first act, an intermission and then a second act, followed by a big closing number.

Creating a memorable experience or event is all in the details. Nothing should ever be generic or one size fits all. When planning events it truly is the thought that counts.

My Six Signature Touches: How to Build an Event Reputation

1 or 2 activities or activations to inspire guests
Great, carefully thought out food
Beautiful decor
A nice take away a really well throughout party favor
A signature evergreen touch -- SJM always gives away a book --- a book involved is a signature SJM touch, always going to get it
Nothing is a throwaway, everything has a purpose in the planning. Nothing is arbitrary… everything is decided.

My TOP Favorite Details to Elevate Any Event Immediately:

Hiring an illustrator to draw each of the guests at my 40th Birthday Party. She was able to capture them without them knowing and each guest got to go home with a frame worth custom piece of art.
Monogrammed hair bows with each child’s initials on them as a place card at a Valentine’s Day party.
A DIY flower bar where each guest gets to create their own arrangement from a beautiful display of flowers that are reminiscent of a french floral market.
Having each guest bring a book they love to a holiday lunch. After eating we put all the books in the center of the table and each guest got to pick a new book to take home with them.
No matter what the event you are hosting, the most important tip I can give is to really pay attention to your guests and create special moments for them to enjoy. I find that one to two special touches or activities at a party can turn it from run of the mill to unforgettable.