RHOBH star Crystal Kung Minkoff just turned 40 (HBD, Crystal!) and threw the most incredibly glam birthday party imaginable, filled with meaningful personal touches, memorable activities and a stunning location in the Hollywood Hills. Didn’t get an Evite to it? Well, here’s your chance to take a peek inside her party and read her exclusive Q&A with us about the planning and execution of this epic evening.
I was actually really excited to turn 40! I knew I wanted to celebrate with all my friends and family, and I needed a venue big enough so everyone could attend. Yamashiro is one of the oldest and most iconic properties in Los Angeles, dating back over 100 years. I knew it would be really special to celebrate my birthday at a site with so much history. In the 1920s, it morphed from a private residence to a secret clubhouse for the 400 Club, where Hollywood royalty gathered.
I love a themed party, but I didn't want this to become a costume party. So my Evite simply said, "Glam," and it was my guests' interpretations of that. And trust me—my friends really did dress fabulously glam. LA is a rather casual city, and it's always fun to find an excuse to really dress up!
I love sharing the traditions of my culture, and most parties I've thrown have some type of Chinese activity or artist. This year, I had renowned Chinese artist Zhuang Jinghui painting everyone's names in calligraphy, often translating it to Chinese characters when possible. It was truly a special and unique presentation. I also had Ming, one of the most important artists in Chinese dramatic opera, perform Bian Lian, an ancient Chinese dramatic art. Performers wear brightly colored costumes and move to quick, dramatic music. They also wear vividly colored masks, typically depicting well-known characters from the opera, which they change from one face to another almost instantaneously with the swipe of a fan, a movement of the head, or a wave of the hand.
I think what makes a great party is allowing different experiences to be revealed. I had everyone in one room, a beautiful open-air courtyard, for cocktails by Real Coco and Casa Del Sol. Guests were invited to take pictures in the photo booth with a dramatic red rose backdrop by Century City Flower Market. Along with the artists and dinner, it felt like the evening was complete. But we then opened the doors to the "after party," where my favorite DJ, Agent Smith, spun '90s hip hop in this gorgeous historical building. I loved the juxtaposition of time periods.
My brother, Jeff, surprised me and performed a new song that truly wowed every person in that room. I especially loved that he sang a Mandarin song—to see so many of my friends loving it was a true highlight of the evening.
I really believe in spending money where it counts, and at the same time, not wasting money where it doesn’t! Decor is always important to create a vibe, but spend it smartly. Generally, good lighting, a few small floral centerpieces and a bunch of candles can do the trick! I also love a photo booth because it replaces having a photographer (everyone takes photos on their camera anyway) and then you have professional photos and memories that your friends love and get to keep. I love a well-stocked bar, but having too many choices can add up. I always have a fun cocktail menu and make sure to have a few staple liquors at the bar. All you need to do is add red and white wine options, and you're good to go!
You only live once, so have the party of your dreams. Don't wait another 10 years to celebrate all the good in your life!
Developed hand-in-hand with community organizers, PTA presidents, parents and teachers, Evite's signup sheets are designed to make organizing volunteers a breeze. Here are a few ways SignUp Sheets are different than other signup tools:
Choose Evite SignUp Sheets for the easiest, most streamlined way to get volunteers and signups for your next event!
Signup sheets are the perfect way to streamline scheduling, volunteer recruitment, class parties, snack duty, potluck organization, parent-teacher conferences and more! You can think of them as your digital assistant for coordinating events and tasks and ensuring that your event is a success.
Evite SignUp Sheets offers parents, teachers and event planners customizable online forms that organizers and volunteers can access and update effortlessly. Volunteers can choose their preferred time slots, sign up for tasks or indicate what they'll bring to the event. It only takes organizers a few minutes to create a signup sheet and send it out with a shareable link, so they can get the word out via text, email or social media—whichever way they prefer!
Long story short, SignUp Sheets save everyone involved tons of time, avoid scheduling headaches and ensure everything runs smoothly before and during the event.
Creating a signup sheet has never been easier than with Evite! Here’s how to create a sheet that’s sure to make your event an absolute success:
When it comes to signup sheet information, there are some essentials to include regardless of what you’re organizing:
When adding your slot information, clearly define what people are signing up for, especially for a what-to-bring list or role assignments. If you want someone to bring healthy snacks for kids to enjoy after a game, specify that. You want your volunteers to feel confident in what they’re bringing and to make it easy for them to know what’s expected of them. It will save them time and stress (and you, too!). That being said, if you make your ask too specific (for example, asking for a hard-to-source item or something expensive), you may not end up with a volunteer for it. So be clear about what you expect, but also be reasonable!
Aside from providing the basic signup information, you can also add optional descriptions to both your entire signup sheet and individual slots. While not required, they can help guide your volunteers further and provide more information. You can add information about allergies, preferences and general info about the event. You can also add a wish list to make it easier for your volunteers to bring exactly what you need!
Signup sheet templates offer a ton of advantages for both organizers and volunteers and with Evite SignUp Sheets, you'll enjoy even more benefits than other digital and paper signup sheets! Some benefits our signup sheet templates offer include:
With Evite SignUp Sheets, you can enjoy organizing and coordinating all your events with ease. Signup sheets streamline the signup process for everyone involved, ensuring that everything will go to plan on the day of your event while saving you precious time in the process.