Known around the world as one of the industry’s most celebrated event planners to celebrities like Justin Bieber and Hailey Baldwin, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, Russell and Nina Westbrook, and the Kardashian family, this January, Mindy Weiss, will team up with non-alcoholic spirits brand Seedlip to celebrate dry January and host a Seedlip Soirée. 

A survey from CGA, a food and drink research firm, found that in January of 2022, 35% of legal-aged U.S. adults skipped alcohol for the entire month. Because that often leads to missing out on social gatherings leaving people feeling isolated in the new year, Weiss and Seedlip will offer the chance to win a Seedlip Soirée through a social media sweepstake, which has a grand prize of a 30-minute consultation with the party planner to the stars, a $5,000 cash prize, and a suite of Seedlip product to help usher in a healthy New Year.

Mindy Weiss

Mindy Weiss and the Espresso MartiNO (Dennis Kwan Photography)

“For a successful party, the first thing you have to get in your mind is that even though it’s your party, it’s not all about you,” Weiss tells L.A. Weekly, who has 35 years of event planning experience under her cummerbund. “You have to be conscious of the guests you invited, even with your food choices. If you’re inviting people over to eat, you have to make sure if your friends are vegan or vegetarian, gluten free, etc., and incorporate that into your menu choices. This makes you a great hostess. It makes people feel good that you thought about them. The music choices are important. If it’s a holiday, it’s great to have holiday music, but you have to remember to change it up a bit.”

“I will always offer great drinks, as well as mocktails for those that don’t drink or are designated drivers,” says the grandmother of three, who is already booked up for 2023 and 2024. “And watch your weather. If you have planned this amazing party, and you have it outside, and it’s freezing cold that night and you don’t have enough heat to keep your guests warm, when somebody asks them how the party was – all they remember is  that it was freezing.”

For a shot at winning a Seedlip Soiree, head to Mindy Weiss Instagram and tag your @Seedlip soirée VIPs. Follow @Seedlip, set your profile to ‘public,’ and tag the Seedlip soiree guests you want to celebrate dry January with. The sweepstakes ends Friday, Jan. 13, 2023 and the winner will be announced on Monday, Jan. 16, 2023.

“With all my events now there’s been this huge emphasis on the guest experience,” Weiss says. “It’s not just about the couple getting married anymore, it’s all about how your event is going to stand out from all the others you’re invited to. My goal is always to personalize these events so guests leave with great stories, great ideas. I’m constantly trying to change it up.”

And speaking of changing it up, here’s a recipe for a sober twist on the espresso martini:  

Mindy Weiss

Dennis Kwan Photography

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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