LaShawn Lancaster calls herself a “passionate planner.” The D.C.-area resident owns A Gracious Occasion, an event planning company, and her services include etiquette consulting — apparently much needed in Washington. Lancaster also is active in charitable causes, notably the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Event planning looks fun, but it must be really hard work, yes?
Yes, and yes! There are lots of pieces to the puzzle in planning an event. Some things are not necessarily noticed by guests — unless something goes wrong, which is how it should be. It’s great to see all of the elements come together in the end and how that creates great memories for those in attendance.
Does Washington have terribly gauche manners?
There are times when I think many of us could use a refresher course in Etiquette 101 — and I’m not talking about sipping tea with your pinkie out or knowing which fork is used for fish — just the basics. For example, responding late, if at all, after receiving an invitation to an event. Society as a whole has gotten so casual that sometimes we don’t even realize that it can cross the line into bad manners. It all comes down to treating others the way you would like to be treated, which is what I try to tell my 3-year-old.
What is your favorite spot in Washington for a special event like a wedding or party?
Washington has so many beautiful venues, but one of my favorites for a social celebration, like a wedding, is the Dumbarton House. The beautiful outdoor space and gardens give you a lot to work with when designing an event.
How is this terrible economy affecting your industry? Are people having parties but scaling back, or just not having parties?
Unfortunately, the economy is definitely impacting the event industry. I’m finding that many of the corporate events are not happening and some of the social events, like weddings, are being scaled down in size, which can have the positive effect of making it more intimate.
