Planning an event that’s photo-shoot worthy! This episode is all about inspiration and aspiration as Graham and Kirsten chat with one of the country’s most recognized and celebrated event planners, Calder Clark! Calder shares her tips and tricks for creating swoon-worthy events, but also readily admits that for the everyday, nothing beats pizza and beer at home with a great group of friends!

Links we mention on the show:

* Calder Clark: Gorgeous website of our gorgeous guest!
* Sferra: One of Calder’s go-to spots for beautiful table linens
* Roost:  Champagne Flutes
* Juliska: Calder’s everyday dishes
* Shag! The best movie ever made (*According to Calder, Kirsten, & Graham)
* Bite by Bite: Peter Callan’s cookbook that helped start the mini-food trend

Among her dozens of accolades, Calder Clark has been named a “Best Planner” by Vogue and a “Top Planner” by Martha Stewart Weddings. In her incredible career Calder has planned events ranging from the 2001 Presidential Inaugural Luncheon, to the Bloomberg News/White House Correspondents’ Dinner After Party, to some of the most elegant and photographed weddings across the country. However today she’s catching up with The Home Hour about how she entertains at home as a wife and a mother.

We learn that at her home, it’s always casual and it’s more about eating pizza on your lap and less about being fussy! However, Calder does share with us a few tips to elevate our everyday events such as linen napkins.  She also says that the juxtaposition of casual and fancy always makes for a great atmosphere so don’t be afraid to serve fast food burgers on fine china and champagne in Dixie Cups!

When it comes to parties at home, Calder says it’s less about the fancy, detailed schematics and more about the life-lessons:  be ready for your guests, have enough food, make sure you have great lighting, and keep a comfortable temperature in your home! She also says that a party at home is never the time to try a new recipe. Always go with your favorite tried and true recipes and remember that they will be new and exciting to someone!

Calder says the newest trends to look for are “80’s peach” and dark racing green with lacquered brass accents. She also says “Farm to Fork” healthier eating is really hot as is anything paired down to a mini-version of the original, as popularized by Peter Callahan.