Sofia Coppola’s favorite event planner, Rebecca Gardner, shares tips for the perfect New Year’s party

When the introduction to a book dedicated to your work is written by Sofia Coppola, you know you have entered the company of creatives par excellence, regardless of the industry you belong to. “My dream would be for Rebecca Gardner to run the party committee for my life,” Coppola writes. “With an eye for detail, the elegance of a hostess from another era, and always ready for a mischievous good time, Rebecca knows exactly how it’s done,” Sofia wrote in the introduction to the book A Screaming Blast: Exceptional Entertaining (Rizzoli), dedicated to the career of this event planner known for her camp aesthetic and eccentricity that constantly pushes the boundaries of “good taste,” but never crosses them. “My book, A Screaming Blast, is conceived as a source of inspiration and pleasure. It is not a classic how-to manual, but rather a big ‘why not?’ It is full of rich, juicy visuals and an abundance of practical tips that encourage the creation of parties that are not only beautiful, but truly, truly fun,” Rebecca Gardner tells me in a brief conversation we had amid her jam-packed December schedule.

Her words are echoed by the pink-hued pages of the book, filled with photographs of the retro 50th birthday celebration Gardner organized for Coppola, complete with pink ruffled tablecloths, champagne bowls, peonies, and silver baskets filled with moss. “I thought it would be charming to design a party that exuded the spirit of the 1980s, Tina Barney, and Watch Hill,” Gardner told Vogue, describing the mood board for the celebration of the Marie Antoinette director.

Turning the pages, we come across a “traveling circus” party inspired by an early 20th-century Barnum & Bailey caravan, as well as a countryside wedding with a mechanical bull in the Cumberland Gap. “If something is worth doing, it’s worth overdoing,” Gardner tells Vogue about her hosting style. “Either you go all the way or not at all. Maybe that’s because I’m a Texan who grew up on hairspray.”

In short, the book invites us to “crash” twenty of her parties, from weddings to intimate dinners at home, finding lavish inspiration at every turn. Dive down the rabbit hole of elegantly eccentric celebrations and opulent tablescapes, where ceramic snails hide beneath flower petals and chandelier girls covered in Swarovski crystals lure guests onto the dance floor.

I asked her whether she sees any trends for 2026 when it comes to event planning. “I’m the last person you should ask about trends,” she laughs. “I’m not someone who follows them. But I do appreciate the return of the classic martini and the popularity of the espresso martini. Nothing gets guests onto the dance floor faster than an espresso martini and James Brown.”

This book is a decadent feast for the eyes, with photographs by Adam Kuehl that present never-before-seen scenes and radiate the surprise and joy of my somewhat hyperbolic hosting style. From a brass band leading guests to dinner along the tracks of the Napa Wine Train to a holiday party themed around pink poodles with an abundance of retro sweets, the pages burst with fun, generous pours of drinks, and flattering light, as all the elements merge into a perfectly orchestrated yet seemingly carefree whole that makes it impossible for guests not to have a fantastic time.

Finally, I asked her for the most important tips for planning New Year’s events. “Ring in the new year with a real firework display of fun. Wrap the trees in front of your house with white string lights so guests feel welcomed from the moment they arrive. Offer good champagne and martinis with a twist, along with plenty of caviar. Start the new year generously. Serve a lavish seated dinner with lots of romantic candlelight at different heights (everyone looks better by candlelight). Turn up the music, hand out silly party hats, and encourage an old-fashioned countdown.” That sounds like a good idea.