It was a perfect evening for an outdoor reception to celebrate Larry Livingston's 25 years at the USC Thornton School of Music. I'll admit, rain is my worst enemy as an event planner, and the downpour the previous weekend had me praying for clear skies. Thankfully, there was nothing to worry about as the ninety-degree day cooled off to a comfortable temperature for everyone.
The beautiful cafe lights strung from the Moreton Fig tree created a classy ambiance for the reception. Simple floating rose centerpieces and votives added an elegant touch. Moreton Fig restaurant served a delicious assortment of tray-passed appetizers -- my personal favorite was the wild mushroom arrancini with a roasted tomato fondue. The staff were so helpful in setting up, so they made my job easier! Part of putting on a successful event is having an awesome team (it's far from a one-woman show).
The event concluded with a few remarks from Larry Livingston and of course the evening wouldn't be complete without cake (a massive strawberry shortcake cake from Porto's Bakery). Special thanks to my boyfriend for graciously helping me carry that (extremely heavy and large) cake safely from my car to the highest shelf in Moreton Fig's refrigerator.
I'm going to be honest -- I wish the event lasted a little longer (despite working a 13.5 hour day -- yes, I'm serious). It seemed like the event ended just as quickly as it began, guests only enjoying a reception I started planning a month and a half ago, and setting up on the day-of at 1 p.m. It'd be easy for me to feel like all my efforts were wasted, or not fully appreciated, but I have to remind myself that my job is not just about the results or what I've accomplished, but also about the journey, and the things I learned in the process. It's easy to become so focused on the outcome and the goal that I miss the little blessings along the way. I love the opportunity to work with new vendors and develop new relationships, as well as the chance to serve a different group of people.
Yes, it's a little insane that the length of the event was just a fraction of time it took to actually make the event happen, but it was just a reminder that although to the guests the outcome is all that matters, to me there's so much more to my job that I can find joy and purpose in.
Below are some detail shots of the event! Thanks for looking!
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