The Art of Celebrating-
Well named! David Monn takes celebrating beyond art form to the realm of fantasy. Few people have the visionary talent to touch the level of creativity that Monn brings to a party. Past Monn events include state dinners at the White House, once in a lifetime birthday or anniversary celebrations, even funerals and memorial services. Client list includes social leaders across the country as well as a Who’s Who of brands and institutions.
photo credit: Allan Zepeda
As we see in the above photo of a young girl’s quinceanera, his events begin at the exact moment you arrive, setting the tone from the outside in to the actual party location. One senses a theatrical vibe to the way his details pull guests into his magically detailed themes, which draw from his background in theatre, interior design and fine jewelry. Which brings me to his wedding event for two producers (television and theatre)… in a THEATRE! Events of evening were segmented into Act One, Act Two, and so on – the photos are breathtaking- starting on page 146. Another unforgettable Monn creation for De Beers diamonds (page 230) invites guests ti an evening at the home of an imaginary couple who resided at the Time Warner Center. The photos of this apartment, split into completely white and completely black decor, will have you begging Monn to go back into interior design on your behalf.
photo credit: Daniele Nalesso
Vendome’s The Art of Celebrating invites readers to experience twenty-six fabulous events created and orchestrated by Monn, with over 245 photographs (drawn from his personal archive of 20,000 photographs) of amazing experiences that promise to inspire. For each event, he explains how he puts his ideas to work.
“Celebrate life. It’s not folly, it’s taking time to actually do it… It’s about turning a day into something special. It’s not reckless abandon; stopping to make people feel good. We should celebrate as much as possible.” -David Monn
photo credit: Bob Frame
His intricate level of detailed planning incorporates all of the senses, insuring that his events are “shared, lived and felt” by all who attend. Any venue is fair game for Monn. His enthusiasm for life is apparent in the handful of photos that he is in.
photo credit: Brian Dorsey
This event was a laid-back summer dinner for sixty, in a backyard tent designed with screened sides, suggestive of a porch venue. The details of this “laid-back” dinner were anything but casual, with a carefully choreographed color scheme, and glorious food served in picnic baskets to decrease the idea of formal service. Monn planned this with his trademark broader perspective:
“I lit the pine trees in the distance with an amber incandescent light, which brought the background into the experience. I feel that to be truly engaged we must connect to what is as far as we can see and as near as we can touch.” -David Monn
photo credit: Lynn Saverese
Who wouldn’t want a wedding cake like this? Monn’s details are sensational. This winter wedding was in New York’s Neo-Gothic High Line Hotel, conducted in two languages, uniting families who spoke no English and no Italian. Monn shows us that the details of hospitality overcome any language barrier. The rest of this event is a must-see in his book, starting on page 136.
Monn’s designs are more than just events: they are inspirational architectural showpieces as well as tributes to classical design. He has surprisingly simple lessons to share in this volume. As he likes to say, it starts with “not just looking at, but really seeing” the world around you.
Just in time for the holidays, this 360 page book is a great gift for anyone who loves to entertain.
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