The Art of the Party: Design Ideas for Successful Entertaining

This is the best entertaining book I have ever seen. Not to mention the gorgeous photography. Each section goes thru the most important aspects of having a party and the things that must go into it. You will love this book!

Do you ever wish you could attend one of those upper crust parties? Well you can thanks to "The Art of the Party"! "The Art of the Party" is a wonderful resource to make any get together even more special. Most of us can't afford to hire Mr. Renny Reynolds, but we can afford to buy his book! I have used the book to transform my modest home and backyard into magical places on many an occasion, whether I'm setting an elegant table for a Holiday meal or creating just the right mood for a celebration. The photographs are simply gorgeous. The photographer, Mr. Edward Addeo, is extremely gifted at conveying the mood and energy of each party. Many of his photos depict that time just before the guests arrive when you survey the table, candles, lights, decorations, etc., let out the sigh of relief, and then wait with happy anticipation for your guests to arrive and the party to begin. "Search Inside This Book" however doesn't do them any justice. Take my word for it; the photos are beautiful.

I love this book! It offers fantastic ideas for making even the simplest party a feast for the eyes. The pictures are so large and colorful. Although many of the events pictured were held in massive spaces, you can easily scale down the decor to your own sized venue. Anyone can use Mr. Reynolds' themes to pack some punch into their party decor: Mexican,Oriental,Beach Party,Birthday, etc. There is enough content in this book to assist you in designing a long remembered celebration. Mr. Reynolds' nine foot tall golden candleabra caught my eye, they were spectacular. Then I purchased another book - by an Australian event designer, and found them used again. She gave him credit for the idea. I know that someday I will find a way to make use of them at a party, possibly in a smaller version. I applaud Renny Reynolds for his artistic acumen...his events are truly ART!

Renny Reynolds is a true artist who was trained as a landscape architect. His party-design firm has been featured in Bon Appetit and House Beautiful. He has designed more than 2,500 events. Elaine Louie is known for her "Currents" column in the New York Times and Edward Addeo is a New York photographer whose work appears in Vogue, New York Times Magazine and in the book Cherished Objects. Together, they have created a luxurious feast for the eyes. Not only are there ideas one could only imagine in your most exotic culinary setting dreams, there are a few ideas for intimate parties you could actually reproduce in your own home or outdoors in your favorite setting. Whether you are seeking ideas for an extraordinarily expensive fundraiser or a meeting that speaks of a casual elegance, you will find ideas that will inspire you and encourage you to create a very memorable setting. Some fabulous party ideas include: A Night in the Stars - A canopy of lights was created with white Christmas tree lights. The entire scene looks like it is floating out in some magical galaxy. You could probably recreate this on a smaller scale with tiny lights. I adored this idea. Imagine actually attending such a function. A must-see picture! Down-Home Dinner - Firelight and candles in an eighteenth-century stone house. The idea is comforting and if you have a fireplace, you could recreate this at home. Beauty and the Beast - ideas for decorating your home for romance. Summer Poolside Lunch - now this anyone can achieve. Simply pack a picnic lunch and bring vases of flowers and colorful napkins. The highlight of many of these parties seems to be the candlelight. At least, that was what I noticed the most. Candles around bowls filled with peach flowers, candles in wine glasses or hundreds of votive candles surrounding pools, candles flickering in glass bowls swaying overhead in a tent. I mean, if you love candles, you are going to find unique ideas in this book. The more expensive ideas include dinners for hundreds of guests. The settings are places like the Carlyle Hotel in Manhattan, Lincoln Center, the Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City and the Four Seasons, Manhattan. One of the most beautiful pictures was taken in the New York Public Library. There is a vast dome over the tables that is glowing in a soft lavender light. The chairs are gold, the tablecloths have a golden/pink sheen to them and towering vases of flowers are overflowing with lavender delphinium, white dendrobium orchids, pink lilies, purple lilacs and spiky golden eremuirus. Apparently the entire area was highly scented with lilac branches and the goal was to make everyone feel like they were actually outside in nature. Whether you are planning a wedding, intimate brunch, a dinner party or an indoor beach party, you will find ideas that your guests will never forget. A highly memorable book of spectacular party ideas. ~The Rebecca Review

Great Book with lots of great ideas. Also gives insight to the core principles of event planning.