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By Pauline Parry
Continuing my series on interesting people in the industry and what makes them tick, I interviewed wedding and event designer, David Pressman over a long lunch. His background in fashion, art and entertainment makes him a wonderful lunch companion and of course a meticulous designer. A quote in his bio says it all: "It was designer Mary McFadden that introduced David to some of the most high-profile women in the world, telling him that intelligence and a quick wit would serve him well in a world dominated by women." Of course, that combination took him far in the New York fashion world, then later the event world. When he transferred his center of gravity from New York to Los Angeles and started David Pressman Events, it served him well here too!
In the spirit of our long lunch that meandered from subject to subject, I am doing something different with photos of David's work in this post and have placed them between questions. Think of each as a delicious bite of good taste!
How would you describe your home?
Having moved here from Manhattan, I wanted to find a place where there was an active walking street life – not found in every neighborhood in LA. West Hollywood has just been named as one of the Top 5 cities in America for walking. I’m fortunate to have soaring ceilings, a fireplace, two full baths, a large kitchen, my own laundry room and not enough closet space.
What is your favorite object in it and why?
In an apartment filled with piles of books, art leaning against walls, and counters covered with magazines (who actually has time to read all of them?), it has to be my two cats – please don’t tell them I referred to them as objects – Aja and Dr. Wu. Invariably when I get home from an event, a long day of meetings, or a destination wedding, they are patiently waiting by the front door. One problem is that they don’t always listen to me, but then I’m used to that.
Do you have a lucky shirt or something you wear when you are going into a big meeting?
The short answer is no. The longer version is that I try to dress to send a message to whomever it is I’m meeting with, i.e., after almost ten years in fashion, I think about every article I put on (and I actually know every single piece of clothing I’ve bought in my adult life) and know that how I look can send a very strong message about my attitude towards whom I’m meeting with. French cuff shirts don’t really work all the time.
Do you have a design style?
Less is more. Both personally and professionally I believe I can create elegance with subtlety, i.e., the right choice of fabrics, lighting, tabletop décor, flowers. When I was a kid starting out with Mary McFadden and selling gowns to woman regularly on best dressed lists, Mary taught me one thing that has remained with me to this day – my job is not to visually interfere with what I’m doing. It’s pretty simple, I don’t want anyone paying attention to what I’m wearing (that I know and that I’m comfortable that I won’t be calling attention to myself is key). As for my design aesthetic, I want guests to be surprised, slightly amused by my choices, and understand that their visual experience has been considered.
What is your favorite reality show obsession and why?
No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain. He is brutally honest about what he eats, where he finds himself and isn’t afraid to look into the camera and just say words to the effect of “get me the f**k out of here.” And twenty some years ago I was a regular at Les Halles in NYC when he was the chef – and that was always a party, aside from great frites, beautiful women and chilled French reds.

What is one restaurant that we will never find you at?
Taco Bell

What’s your favorite meal after a long event?
A pint of Ciao Bella Key Lime & Graham Gelato.


What is your favorite beverage?
Macallan 18 over one perfect rock; preferably two.
In this past year, what was your biggest accomplishment professionally?
An 8-page spread in Martha Stewart Weddings Destinations with another 24 pages online and an invitation to write 5 blogs to accompany the online pages. The wedding was at Babington House in Somerset, UK and shot by the incredible Aaron Delesie.
What have accomplished the most personally?
Three years ago I enrolled at UCLA and completed their Certificate Program in Nonprofit Fundraising and Institutional Development. I was petrified of going back to school and found it to be a life changing process.
What’s been your favorite event to design and why – of your career?
Christmas Eve dinner, Christmas Day supper and Black Tie New Year’s Eve for the same client – multiple times over the years. My client does the majority of cooking herself, goes with me to Costco, The Cheese Store in Beverly Hills, The Wine Merchant on Canon, Al Gelato on Robertson and other local spots. The table seats 22, although somehow I find a way to make it seat 26 or more. It’s a house that her presence fills with her extended family, friends, and the occasional friend of a friend with nowhere to go. It reminds me that no matter how much money someone might have, it’s the personal touches that make an event the most successful and fun. And there’s always a place set for me at the table.
What have you learned from your father?
Passion, not being afraid to reinvent myself and that finding the right mate should be about love first and no one else’s business.
And from your mother?
An eye for beauty, my love of peanut butter, and sarcasm.
What is always in your fridge?
Fage 0% yogurt, crème cheese icing (from Joan’s on Third), sliced mozzarella, English marmalade and seafood bisque made for me in batches of 10 quarts by Bristol Farms. And in the freezer Trader Joe’s peanut butter cups (dark & milk), Vodka, Gelato, and Peanut Butter & Jelly Ice Cream from Rori’s.
What type of art affects you?
WPA (Works Progress Administration); Art that comes from a time when our government supported art in America, put artists to work, and supported public art projects. Art that can be gut wrenching in it’s honesty and art that can be seductive in its’ beauty.
What irritates you the most about modern life?
The failure of the American educational system to offer kids the range of knowledge to learn that my brothers and I were given; hunger in America (the lack of fresh food in low-income urban populations; the paucity of school lunch programs; seniors going without food); and the ridiculous politics in our country where some people believe government shouldn’t help its citizens while others fail to help maintain social programs and complain about paying a fair tax rate.
Do you think you’ve grown up yet?
Not quite ready!

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BY AARON KANIECKI
It was that time of year again, the one that every caterer and planner in the world looks forward to… Catersource and Event Solutions conference in Las Vegas!

Good Gracious! was heading to Vegas this year with a total of six nominations – five for the ICA CATIEs and one for the Event Solutions Spotlight Awards. These are internationally recognized awards for excellence in their respective categories.
Catersource has taken on a life of its own; it is a haven for designers, chefs and planners alike where they can be inspired, educated and network to their heart’s content. With the fantastic array of seminars and inspiration zones, you are guaranteed to find something, somewhere that is going to help you leaps and bounds.
It’s not all about the frilly fun stuff; owners can also learn more about the “dos” and “don’ts” of running a business, maybe learn more about sales, how to set targets, how to manage your staff. There is something for everyone.
Attending the 2012 Catersource would be for me, my third time. I remember the first time I went when I was meeting all these big names and not knowing who they are, stepping into a seminar and thinking how HUGE this thing is, and not to forget the parties… that was something else.
Year by year the conference grows, there are new ideas, new themes, new speakers, new feel-good stories about how a small mom-and-pop caterer has made it. It really is an inspiration.
But after all that, the 2012 conference meant more to me than usual. This year I, yes ME, GG!’s Young Brit, was nominated for an Event Solutions Spotlight Award for Rising Star Male. To be nominated for this award, in such a short amount of time in the industry, is a real honor, especially when I was against such amazing competition.
All week I had butterflies in my stomach, wondering if my name was going to be called, how I would feel, would I be able to walk?! I also had random people coming up to me saying that they voted for me, wishing me luck, shaking my hand… I felt like someone important!
So the night of the CATIE and Spotlight Awards arrived. It was a fantastic show with amazing staging, lighting and dramatic operatic opening. I shined my shoes, ironed my shirt and trousers and made sure I looked spiffy for such an occasion -- if Mum is going to see photos of me on stage, I didn’t want her commenting on how I looked… Mums will be Mums.
The show began, and Liese Gardner came out to get the show off with a bang.
Then first presenters came out, and the award for Rising Star Male was the first one of the night.
“The nominees for the Spotlight Award for Rising Star Male are…!”
The lights dim slightly, and a grand voice announced the nominees, and their names appeared on the gigantic screens on stage, among them…
“Aaron Kaniecki, Good Gracious! Events”
Pauline made me sit on the end of our row just in case I won, but as my nomination was read out all the GG! crew, among others, screamed their hearts out… I felt like I had already won!
The rest of the nominations were read out from the announcer, then the lights brightened just a tad for the winner to be announced.
“The winner of the 2012 Spotlight award for Rising Male Star IS……”
You hear the tear of the envelope in the microphone….
Pause….
“AARON KANIECKI OF GOOD GRACIOUS! EVENTS!!!!!!!!”
My head just dropped in disbelief, I then looked to my left to see everyone leaning over and looking at me, screaming my name, shouting “oh my god!”
I then had to figure out how to work my legs, and remember how to put one in front of the other to walk towards the stage.
Now the time between me standing up and walking to the stage, to sitting back in my seat is a bit of a blur… I remember the sound over man giving a brief history about me, saying how “Aaron grew up in England and came over to Good Gracious Events two years ago to pursue a passion in the events industry…” The rest is blank…there were some more words said, but I cannot recount them for the life of me.
I wobbled up the steps to the stage to overlook 1,000 people. I shook hands with the presenters, they gave me the award (which is pretty heavy) then I had to strike a pose with them so the photographer could do his thing. Sadly there were no speeches this year, so I just had to make my way backstage where I would then have more photographs with me and my award.
I made my way back to my seat and I was still staring at the award in disbelief. My short-term memory started to fade and I could not remember where I sat… as the English would say, I was a right mess.
Following the ceremony, a good old fashioned mixer was being held by the ICA. I had people from all over coming up to me, shaking my hand, saying congratulations… of course I had no idea who they were. I think it is best to describe me as a deer in headlights for most of the night.
I am truly honored to win such an amazing award, I thank every single person who voted for me, and Pauline Parry and Good Gracious! Events for their commitment to me, and shaping me into the person I am today.
I just need to find a place to put my award now….
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Pauline Parry

Founder Good Gracious! Events

About Pauline

Educated in the prestigious British hotel and restaurant management tradition, Pauline is the renowned and highly sought after founder and president of GOOD GRACIOUS! Events. Professional event planners, private clients, and corporations - both nationally and internationally - seek out her innovative expertise and imaginative concepts.


GOOD GRACIOUS! Events was established over three decades ago and is an award-winning full-service LIFESTYLE food and beverage company that has earned the trust of a diverse set of clients and has a reputation for being a trendsetter in producing unique, quality and fabulous presentations in all aspects of weddings and events.


Pauline has been inducted into the Catering industry Hall of Fame for Events and Weddings and has published a book called FOOD FUN LOVE Party Styles.


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Joanne Purnell

Joanne Purnell
Vice President

About Joanne

Joanne Purnell is a graduate of the California Culinary Institute and before joining GG! Events worked and traveled in England and Paris to gain working experience.


Joanne has been Chef de Cuisine for nearly 20 years at GG! Events and during this time she has won numerous awards including Chef of the Year. She has been published in magazines on various food topics including presentation, trends and all aspects of cooking and is a contributor for, “Inside the Recipe Box of Catering Chefs”


Joanne is an educator in the catering industry and is regarded as a leader. Today, Joanne is Vice President at Good Gracious! Events.


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