View the show recap and photo montage on the Martha Stewart Weddings website.

Friday, April 13th we headed down to The Westin Copley in Boston to cover The Epiphany School’s annual fundraising gala. Epiphany is a private, tuition-free (for students) school dedicated to serving Boston’s most vulnerable youth. The Event was designed & coordinated by Boston’s own Rafanelli Events. 

Seth & I were extremely impressed with the teachers, staff, and students that make up the community of this school. With a 12-hour day intensive schedule, it takes a HUGE commitment from all to find success in the program. It was an inspiring night. To learn more about Epiphany and how you can make a difference and support a child’s education, CLICK HERE.

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With an elite clientele that includes presidents and celebrities alike, event producer Bryan Rafanelli knows every event has to be exceptional. Watch as TheKnot.com shows you some of the elegant events that he’s created to reflect his clients’ style.

*Click photo below to view full video on theknot.com

He’s the man behind major galas like President Barack Obama’s inaugural party and Chelsea Clinton’s lavish wedding. He’s the Clark Kent of event planning – by day he hides behind Ray Ban frames and a Windsor knot, but at night he’s host to the decade’s best parties. He’s Bryan Rafanelli: event-planner to America’s best, brightest and most powerful.

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BECOME YOUR CLIENT:
“Think like the customer. Go where they go. Eat where they eat. Play where they play. The more you understand their ‘normal,’ the more you can create something that is extraordinary in design, in service and in execution.”

THE GOOD, THE BAD:
Rafanelli is most proud of: “My common sense and ability to always present value to the client.” And not? “I wish I could learn to say ‘no’ more often.”

TRUST TECHNOLOGY:
The most important trend? “Technology, technology, technology. The more that technology identifies a guests’s likes and dislikes, the more customized we can become, the more service we can offer, and the more innovation we can bring into the room.”

‘NO’ DOESN’T MEAN ‘NO’:
“If someone says ‘no, it cannot be done,’ find out why. Never take ‘no’ for an answer.”

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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.

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.”

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“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.”

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By SHANNON DONNELLY

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.

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