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Cooking Up Memorable Events – Why Planning is Like a Recipe

What do cooking and event planning have in common? More than you might think.

The Secret Ingredients to Stress-Free Events

 

What do cooking and event planning have in common? More than you might think. Both require creativity, presence, and a recipe to follow. Miss a step, and the results aren’t what you hoped for.

 

For me, cooking is creative and a meditation.  You have to be present when cooking and pay attention!  Miss an ingredient, or a step, and the results won’t be what you imagined. If you don’t add enough sugar when making jam, you will end up with moldy jam as sugar is the preservative.

 

The same applies to events. In over forty years of designing, planning, and producing all kinds of occasions, I’ve learned there’s a recipe to follow, and a process and a plan that must be implemented with great attention to every detail. Skip a step or leave out an ingredient, and you risk serving up chaos instead of a memorable experience.

 

That’s why I wrote my book, Everything is an Event: A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Memorable Occasions for Today’s Lifestyle with 15 Principles Revealed. It outlines a recipe anyone can use to create events with ease, joy, and no stress.

 

Because here’s the truth: not everyone knows the recipe. Many event planners, corporate teams, and administrative professionals are handed responsibility for an event without ever being taught the process. The results can be stressful – for them and everyone involved.

 

But once you learn the recipe, just like learning how to make jam or bake bread, the steps become second nature. With practice and attention, you’ll be ready to cook up events that leave people talking long after the last guest departs.

 

The beauty is that every event—big or small—has its own flavor. When you know the principles, you can adjust the recipe to fit the occasion, add your own creativity, and trust the process. That’s when planning shifts from stressful to joyful, and from routine to art.

 

Stay tuned as I share the principles – the recipe – plus tips, strategies, and new ways of thinking about events with these bi-monthly posts.

 

What’s one “secret ingredient” you’ve found that makes any event more memorable?

About
Marinda Freeman

Marinda Freeman is an Event Consultant and Designer with over four decades of experience creating impactful events—from large-scale corporate conferences and nonprofit galas to festivals and product launches. With a background that includes Executive Director of Martha Stewart Catering, Marinda guides organizations, businesses, executive and admin assistants how to design, plan, and produce annual events with clarity, structure, and ease—transforming complex logistics into smooth, successful experiences. By teaching clients and their teams proven practices they are able to confidently produce future events.  Her consulting style is hands-on, strategic, and empowering, ensuring every event reflects purpose, connection, and joy.

As a bestselling author, accomplished chef, and licensed spiritual counselor, Marinda brings a mindful, holistic approach to every project. Her book, Everything is an Event, reveals fifteen enduring principles for creating meaningful gatherings in today’s world. With a personal motto of “If you’re not having fun, you’re wasting time,” Marinda believes every event is a chance to build community and create unforgettable moments—with grace, intention, and a whole lot of fun.