01/17/2026
1. A COMPLEX gathering. 🧩
Is your event characterized by a rigid schedule or timeline and lists for your lists? While this can work with a large team, it often makes personal gatherings feel rushed, strained, or anxiety-inducing for guests. Instead, aim for a start point and an end point, and then those two or three hours in between, have an order of events rather than a specific timeline. This leaves breathing room for errors, which will always happen, and relaxes your guests.
Don’t forget that they likely have a demanding schedule just like you do, and you want your gathering to be a sanctuary, not a prison.
2. A LARGE gathering. 🎤 When thinking about your guest list, think more exclusively instead of “more the merrier”. When people don’t have the capacity to have meaningful conversations with a few fellow guests, it’s often because there’s simply too many people—who have little in common with each other— invited. It overwhelms the nervous system for some when they walk into a room and it’s such a sea of humanity that they can’t let their guard down. This goes for fundraising events, corporate events, and of course, private social gatherings. Sometimes the kindest action is not inviting everyone.
3. An EXTRAVAGANT gathering. 💴 Big budget, opulent events may look terrific on camera, but it can sometimes isolate your guests, leading them to keep their guard up rather than putting it down. However, when people walk away, saying, “I had the best time visiting with so-and-so and now we’re meeting next week…” you’ve had a successful event. Connecting is the point, not spending.
While every function needn’t be a pared-down child’s activity that’s minimalistic and juvenile, so much ENJOYMENT can be had by all when casual, simple, unrushed gatherings allow for moments where people truly can laugh, connect, and remember fondly.
