DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT on… Jes Gordon

At Jamali Garden, we love our designers, (and designers love us!)  So we’re getting together with our favorite event specialists and top stylists to find out their favorite design moments, can’t live without event accessories, and last minute must-haves.  For our first designer spotlight, we sat down with event guru and celebrity party producer Jes Gordon, to get a behind-the-scenes peek of how she makes her events memorable and how to ‘party like a rock star!’

With her keen eye for design and a big burst of personality, Jes stumbled into the industry at just 13 years old, and has been throwing bashes ever since.  Jes has produced weddings, birthdays, and parties; even corporate events for companies like Target, Nissan, Budweiser, Swatch, Tommy Hilfiger and more.

And expect the unexpected from a jesGORDON event!  Jes explains, “I don’t want people to walk into events and say ‘oh this is a jesGORDON event’.  I want them to walk in and say, ‘Wow, this party reflects the host on their best day ever!’  All of my events have a slight sophisticated sense of humor to them with an eclectic balance and I love mixing genres to create a multi dimensional ambiance. “  At a jesGORDON event, her team focuses on creating a feel good vibe for everybody.  “Folks should feel comfortable and sexy and beautiful, everyone walking in should feel like a rock star!” says Jes.  As for those crazy moments may that pop-up, the more the merrier, “We were recently doing a Bat Mitzvah and the room was set really beautifully.  When the kids came into the room they were so excited they literally started breaking and throwing everything.  It was terrifying but hilarious!”

While Jes has her own team to help, (along with special guest stars, like her sweet pup, Ruckus,) you can get your own edge with some of Jes’ party production tips.  Throwing a bash yourself and don’t have time to sweat the small stuff?  Put together an event emergency kit like Jes, including items like: a first aid kit, extra candle lighters, a steamer, double faced Velcro, zip ties, led candles, extension cords, windex, paper towels, and a ton of garbage bags.  (“Don’t forget power bars and a martini!” jokes Jes.)
Some items the jesGordon team can’t get enough of from Jamali?  “We love all of the LED light selections at Jamali; the submersibles, strings and the specialty vase and votive selections that always keep us very fashion forward with our clients.  Right now we are gravitating towards the cut glass items such as candelabras and vases!”  As for event and party trends coming up for 2015?  “I love designing through the five senses,” explains Jes, “meaning it’s not only about how it looks but more about how the event feels through the food, music, visuals, textures and aromas…”

Want more from Jes Gordon?  Shop Jes’ pick for This Week’s Special, our set of Antiqued Ribbed Votive Holders, or pick up a copy of ‘Party Like a Rock Star’, her approachable, non-intimidating and knowledgeable book about event design and production.

“We’re showing how to entertain from the inside out.  A great party not only looks great but it FEELS great too!” –Jes Gordon of jesGORDON