Boldfacers at Saks charity shopping event…
Party planner Bryan Rafanelli was among the pretty people at the kickoff of a charity shopping event hosted by Saks. The month-long event benefits the AIDS Action Committee, the Greater Food Bank, and Rosie’s Place. Guests included Barbara and Jonathan Lee, Tiffany and J.B. Dowd, Bill Emery, Susanne Hatje, Marilyn Riseman, Lisa Pierpont, and Dan Mathieu.
*Click the photo to visit the article on Boston.com.
This Valentine’s Day, set a “playful” tone for your night –reflected in your invitation, menu, décor, and gifts. Use a color palette of boldly combined reds and pinks, contrasting with black and white. Bryan Rafanelli shares fun, simple and affordable ideas that work fabulously for a decadent gathering for 20 or a romantic rendezvous for two!
*Click image below to view video clip
BRYAN RAFANELLI: PLANNING WITH A PURPOSE
Event producer Bryan Rafanelli is largely known as the creative genius behind Chelsea Clinton’s wedding and high profile charity galas across the country. But, he’s also a champion for the AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts. Saks POV chats with the Boston-based master planner about the organization that so dear to his heart.
SaksPOV: How long have you been involved with the AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts and what drew you to the cause?
Bryan Rafanelli: “I have been involved with AIDS Action for over 20 years. I became a volunteer in the beginning of the AIDS epidemic after losing a friend to the disease. I joined the special events committee and volunteered for all sorts of great fundraisers. The experience helped me to create my own events company, and today, we offer our services to many worthy organizations.”
FROM JULIE SKARRATT PHOTOGRAPHY’S BLOG:
“A few weeks ago I flew down to Florida for the wedding of Lesley and Rob. They had chosen to get married at Mar a Lago. The location is spectacular. I was thrilled when they told me they using Bryan Rafanelli and his team. I knew that it was going to be amazing. Lesley looked fabulous in her Vera Wang gown. The couple met before the ceremony so that we could take the family photos before the sun went down.
Check out the dress she changed into for the after party. It was HOT.”
Short on tiaras, long on elegance, International Red Cross Ball marks 55th year
Sunday, Jan. 29, 2012
So this is what 55 gala years looks like elegant, bejeweled and all done up in red. The 55th annual International Red Cross Ball took place Saturday at The Mar-a-Lago Club -coincidentally, also all done up in red.
Mary Ourisman, former U.S. ambassador to Barbados, served as chairwoman for the event. The evening began around the pool — sheltered by a clear tent with open sides to keep the balmy breezes moving — with cocktails, food stations, a raw bar with an ice sculpture in the shape of the Red Cross symbol, and trays and trays of passed hors d’oeuvres.
Learn what the high-profile wedding planner (he did Chelsea Clinton’s) wants for his own big day…
For each flawlessly executed affiar to remember, a behind-the-scenes mastermind juggles the details. If you’re lucky, that person will be event planner Bryan Rafanelli, who did Chelsea Clinton’s hush-hush nuptuals. Rafanelli’s known for combining warm, personalized touches with stylish bravado. Here, he divulges the particulars of his own dream wedding.
BryanRafanelliOUT
FROM THE PERSON + KILLIAN BLOG:
“Last weekend was a spectacular Boston Bat Mitzvah. Julia’s big weekend kicked off on her birthday at Congregation Or Atid in Wayland, MA. There, we were able to capture Julia, her parents and siblings practicing for the next day’s big ceremony. After some great candid and group shots we headed out to nearby Pine Brook Country Club in Weston for a formal family dinner.
The celebration began Saturday night at WGBH Studios in Boston. The studio was decked out in fun and interactive decor that the guest of honor along with her family and friends could enjoy throughout cocktail hour including the fun candid photo wall with Julia’s signature logo. We love that Rafanelli Events was able to customize the event with the logo in everything from walls, straws and even the cupcakes. After cocktail hour, guests headed into the theater for a special video created for Julia. Guests were wowed when the doors of the studio opened to revealed the dinner and dancing portion of the evening.”
At BizBash Boston Expo, Bryan Rafanelli Stresses Importance of Relationships
The first BizBash Boston Expo took place at Fenway Park on Thursday, drawing 800 attendees and showcasing new products and ideas from more than 50 vendors. The day included panel and town hall discussions, 15-minute educational sessions from the Event Leadership Institute, and the presentation of the first local Readers’ Choice Awards. Bryan Rafanelli, founder, president, and C.E.O. of Rafanelli Events—who produced Chelsea Clinton’s wedding last year—delivered the keynote address.
First BizBash Boston Readers’ Choice Awards:
Readers Picked Bryan Rafanelli, Mike Amado, Erin McEvoy, and More…
The winners of our inaugural Readers’ Choice Awards were announced during an award presentation at the first BizBash Boston Expo on Thursday at Fenway Park.
Bryan Rafanelli, Ken Oringer and Ricardo Rodriguez demonstrate the art of entertaining in style.
“Entertaining at home has to be one of the most stressful things for me. Just ask my husband Michael. All the worrying about the food, the drinks, the guest list, and the perfect ambience. Believe me, I live to put together a party, but only once in a while. Now, add the holidays to the list and then we are talking about quite the undertaking.
So for this holiday season, I recruited the help of two amazing friends and asked them to show us how the pros do it.
My dynamic duo is none other than internationally acclaimed and award-winning chef Ken Oringer (Clio, Uni, Toro, Coppa, La Verdad, KO Prime, Earth) and the real deal in party planning, the uber-extraordinarily amazing Bryan Rafanelli (the party designer to the starts, including Chelsea Clinton’s wedding, White House state dinners and more…)
To get the two of them together is quite the lucky extravagance, so I made sure to get as many helpful tips and how-to’s. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. Felices Fiestas!”
-Ricardo
SPIRIT MAGAZINE Holiday2011