The Secret to Hosting Events That Guests Rave About (and Remember Forever)
- Lemontine Design
- Jul 18
- 8 min read
Updated: Jul 18
Hosting is an art. And just like great interior design, the best events are deeply personal.
I bring the same philosophy to hosting as I do to design, always aiming to give my guests an experience.
So what is it that separates an event from an experience?
It’s (you guessed it) the Lemon Twists.
If you've been around here a while, you know I love to sneak in something unexpected-- a little detail that makes the space feel special, even if you can't quite put your finger on why. That moment when a room just feels good? That's what I call a Lemon Twist.
The music that sets the mood (HELLO curated playlists--- yes, I actually have a Lemon Twists Playlist on Spotify, check it out- it's my go-to playlist.)
The flowers that evoke a feeling with their scent and color.
The personal touches—the handwritten place cards, the framed heirloom recipe, the way the lighting hits the glassware just right.
At its heart, great hosting is about storytelling.
The goal isn’t perfection. It’s to create connection, spark delight, and make your guests feel seen, celebrated, and fully immersed in the moment.
And this spring, for me, that philosophy was truly put to the test:
Through my role as Portland's Interior Design Society's (IDS) Portland chapter president, I helped lead a design event in Portland for over 200 guests—this was an incredible, collaborative effort with our IDS board to bring together Portland’s design community that also helped raise 15K to support a local nonprofit, ReFit, who supports keeping the elderly and disabled in their homes longer.
I planned a bridal shower for my daughter at a local winery.
I had a cancer scare and underwent major surgery, and then just a few weeks later…
I watched my daughter walk down the aisle at the same church where I got married.
(Oh—and my other daughter’s bridal shower and wedding are just around the corner in August! Yes, my twins are BOTH getting married 3 months apart from each other!) We are in full planning mode as we speak. So as you can imagine, my months have been full, to say the least.
Interior Design Society Portland: Design Competition, Silent Auction, Everett West Event Space
It’s been a season of beauty, joy, uncertainty, chaos, nostalgia, and resilience.
Being on the “client side” of so many milestones gave me a whole new appreciation for communication, visual storytelling, and the importance of small, thoughtful details. Here are some of the most impactful takeaways—and the “lemon twists” that helped us turn each event into an unforgettable experience.
1. Personal Touches Make the Biggest Impact
My daughter wanted a wedding that felt traditional, vintage, and a little unexpected. In planning her bridal shower and helping her with her wedding, we stayed true to her vintage/80s, classic theme.
Her words: “Kind of like the 80s.” (Yes, that made me feel ancient.)
Every choice, from the location, to the getaway car, told a story. The ceremony took place in The Old Church in Portland, Oregon, complete with a live organist. It’s the same church my husband and I were married in years ago, and seeing her light up over the same architectural details I once loved felt like coming full circle.
She even skipped the traditional bouquet toss and instead, gifted her bouquet to me, her mom, in a heartfelt tribute I’ll never forget. We are still waiting for the formal photos from our photographer, so I don't have an offical photo, but trust me when I say, I was completely caught off guard and yes, I was in tears. As for the bridal shower, it was all about embracing spring and 'May Flowers" right down to the dress I wore. Every detail was intentional, just like my designs.
Wedding Bells and Bridal Flowers with all the heartfelt smiles
A few of our favorite personal touches:
A red circa 1966 Galaxie convertible for the couple’s exit—her dad’s old car (with a lot of car decorating help from her sisters).
Ice sculpture swans at the reception from Ice Ovation (yes, swans are trending—who knew? I now see them everywhere I shop).
Plantable seed paper favors with a heartfelt message—because in today’s wedding world, forgettable trinkets are out, and meaningful, usable mementos are in.
Vintage-inspired votives and cylinder vases to reflect the candlelight because lighting is everything in my book.
Pro tip: If you’re not sure how to make something feel “you,” start with one symbol or reference point (like swans, a car, a song, or even a decade theme, like the “vintage” 80s 😉) and build around that.
2. Think Like a Designer—Even When You’re the Client
As a designer, I’m usually the one with the vision board, the samples, the answers. But this time, I was the one asking the questions.
Stepping into the role of client was humbling—and incredibly clarifying. It reminded me how vulnerable it can feel to have a vision in your head and struggle to express it out loud. How hard it is to trust someone else to bring it to life. And how essential visuals are when words fall short.
Take the ice sculpture. My daughter asked for swans—graceful, elegant, timeless. I went deep down the rabbit hole, researching swan images to strike just the right balance between vintage charm and modern edge. I didn’t want anything overly Victorian or cliché. (Who knew I'd become a swan connoisseur?)
But in that process, I found a renewed appreciation for what my clients experience.
The need to be seen.
The need to feel understood.
And the power of visuals to bridge that gap is a must.
Whether you’re designing a living room, a bridal shower, or a wedding reception, being able to show and express your vision is half the battle.
It also reminded me how overwhelming it is to manage all the moving pieces from the other side. When I say communication and coordination matter, I mean it. Now I get that even more than ever!
A great planner—or a great designer—makes it feel effortless.
Our day of wedding coordinator, Marisa Lysinger of Century Décor Studio, was a lifesaver. She handled everything from vendor calls to last-minute details—coordinating with the photographer Joelle Dardis Photography, the pastor, the venue, the content creator, and more.
Much like hiring a designer for your home, a planner is a non-negotiable if you want to enjoy your day.
The Best Part?
Our planner even packed up all the decor at the end of the night so it was ready for us to take home the next day so we could, instead, continue celebrating after the wedding was over instead of laboring over clean up. It felt like the event equivalent of a white glove design install day. White glove delivery is a beautiful thing. Trust me, you want that.
3. Content Creators Are the New Must-Have Vendors
Here’s something I wish I’d known sooner: hiring a content creator for your event is a game-changer.
We hired Always Forever Content to document both the Portland Design IDS event as well as for my daughter's shower, and it was one of the best decisions we made. Unlike a traditional photographer, a content creator moves through the event like a guest—capturing the laughter, the details, and the little behind-the-scenes moments you want to remember.
The best part about this? You can put your phone away and enjoy the moment! She captured everything without us having to pause to snap a photo.
The next best part, we had beautiful, ready-to-post videos and photos the very next day, which meant we could relive and share the celebration almost immediately. This was amazing because we had an instant folder of captured videos and photos while we waited for the photographer’s professional gallery.
A content creator is one trend that’s here to stay—and I can’t recommend it enough.
4. Curated Details = Elevated Atmosphere
At the bridal shower, we wanted to go beyond pretty florals and create an experience guests would remember. Here’s how we did it:
Venue: Oswego Hills Winery in Lake Oswego, OR
Florals: Sara’s Flowers created a DIY bouquet station where guests made their own take-home arrangements
Production/Event Coordinator: Good Union Co.
Decor Highlights:
Mercury gold vases for sparkle and intimacy
Flameless candles for easy ambiance (the more mood lighting, the better)
Acrylic tiered dessert stands with lights (adds height to the dessert table without making it feel overcrowded)
A floral backdrop for the perfect photos and ambiance.
Guests making flower bouquets, mercury gold vases, acrylic light up dessert trays
Floral canvas 5D backdrop, acrylic signage and dessert tiers, flowers for guests to make and take arrangements home
5. A Note on Resilience (and Mother-of-the-Bride Dresses)
Somewhere in the middle of all this, I had a major surgery to remove a possibly cancerous mass and underwent a full hysterectomy at the same time. It’s not something I talk about often—but it deserves space here because we often don’t acknowledge how much our bodies carry us through seasons like this.
As women, we move through so much—physically, emotionally, hormonally—and we still show up for the people we love. No matter what that looks like, I know I am not alone in this sentiment. That said, I am forever grateful to my family and friends for helping me get through such an emotional time. I could not have done any of this without them. That is truth.
In the middle of all the chaos, I had the "stress" of finding a Mother of the Bride dress, something I had never done before (and I thought swimsuit shopping was hard? ha)
However, I managed to find the perfect dress for the occasion. This Mother of the Bride dress felt like the perfect fit. Simple, elegant, and strong with just a hint of sparkle. Just like the season itself.
Final Thoughts: Designing With Heart
Whether you’re designing a room or planning a milestone event, the goal is the same: make people feel something.
That might mean a nostalgic venue, a candlelit dinner, a quirky 80s reference, or a swan ice sculpture that steals the show.
Whatever it is, lead with heart.
Think like a designer.
Communicate your vision.
And don’t forget to hire people who help make it all happen with joy.
There’s something to be said for hiring support—so you can focus on everything else it takes to bring your vision to life.
Want to create your own elevated guest experience?
Here’s where to start:
Choose one “lemon twist” that tells your story—like a family heirloom, signature scent, or nostalgic venue.
- Speaking of signature scents— inspired by those unforgettable hotel lobbies that instantly transport you into vacation mode, one of my favorites, this diffuser with "escape" oil scent. It takes you on the best staycation ever.
Hire a professional who understands how to blend beauty with logistics (think: designer or event planner). I am here for you if you are thinking you are ready to hand it over to someone who lives and breathes this sort of thing- let a professional take it on so you can focus on all the other details happening in life. I am sure glad I did this for my own projects.
Don’t overlook the power of a content creator to capture the magic—and make the memories shareable in real time.
Although I am not an influencer (let's take a moment and laugh together at that thought,) I do like to share things that I find and would purchase myself. If you are interested, you can shop this link. I update it constantly as I find new things that I think are worth endorsing.
Consider this your bestie text thread where I send you all the items I love.
Shop my saved links of all the items that I find as I shop online. You will find items that inspire me for the home, accessories, jewelry, fashion, skincare and more!
And as always, if you are interested in learning more about how I can help you with your design projects, I am just a click away! You can follow me on instagram or you can jump on my website linked below and learn more about what I offer--- don't forget to sign up for my newsletters while you are there. I promise I won't bombard your inbox, but I will share tips and ideas for your home designs!
Zestfully yours,
Nicole
Comments