Inspire Yourself

It’s easy to say, “I want to plan a party.” But once most people get to the drawing board, they are completely stuck. Not everyone instantly has a vision of what they want, from the theme and décor to food and invitations, some ideas simply cannot be pulled out of thin air. Finding inspiration can be the key to making your event a success, and it can be executed in so many ways.

This process can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few weeks, depending on your design aesthetic and resources. The key is to have a wandering eye, an open mind, and the ability to find beauty in the abstract items surrounding you.

The thing about inspiration is that you never know when it’s going to show up. The first tip is to always have a camera ready. If you’re really serious about this, and want clear photos that you can upload and show others digitally, throw your digital camera into your bag every morning. The various settings can really allow you to focus in on the details that you find inspiring. Maybe it’s a flower that you passed while you’re walking your dog, or a piece of graffiti you came across while waiting for the train to come.

This inspirational piece of graffiti can be found in San Francisco, CA.

If you don’t have a digital camera handy, whip out your cell phone and snap a pic. If you check out our Instagram, you can see that Jes is quick to share with the world the random pieces of inspiration she finds while simply living her daily routine.

Jes found inspiration in this beautiful art installation in NYC on a walk one day and posted it on Instagram!

Which brings us to the next tip: break away from your norms. An awesome way to discover something new is to switch things up a bit. Do you walk the same route every day? Make a left, go down two blocks, and see what happens; you could open your eyes to a whole new world. Perhaps there’s an awesome bakery that would fit perfectly with your child’s birthday party that you’ve never heard of. There’s a whole world out there waiting for you to discover it.

Window displays are another great way to visualize concepts. They do so much in a small space that could capture the entire essence of what you’re looking for in a single snapshot. If you’re in a big city like New York, take a walk down a busy street that has a variety of stores from furniture to clothing and more.

We wanted to inspire others to not be afraid of their inner RockStar with our 2012 Macy's Flower Show window display!

For others who may not have the hectic city life to explore, we’re huge on landscape and architecture here. Check out the attention to details in ceilings, facades, and the cobblestones in the sidewalks. Pull colors from the ocean - the hues of blue and neutral tans match up beautifully.

As a last piece of advice, don’t be afraid to see what others have done and make it your own. We love to share all of our work on our Facebook Page and our jesGORDON Website.

And, as always, check out Jes' book, Party Like a Rock Star. It has tips on everything you'll need for a party. EVERYTHING. Lighting, decor, location, food, etiquette and a whole index of other topics. If that doesn't inspire you then 2012 must really be the end of the world!

By pulling from all of these resources, you’ll be able to create a unique event that fits your personality. Combine a piece of street art with a chair that you came across and BAM, a whole new showpiece has been born. Be wacky and take chances; with an open mind, the opportunities are infinite.