Article by Margot De Boer for Scarsdale Moms
Need help planning a blow-it-out-of-the-park party or elevating any type of event with incredible festive touches? We may have just the mom for you this week! Quaker Ridge mom Allison Commeau has spent years doing just that – having orchestrated everything from a baby shower for a certain Royal power couple to producing the most beautiful weddings and fashion events for designers including Chanel – and now she’s sharing her talents with Westchester through her event design & planning company, Confetti by Allison.
1. Tell us about your family and life in Scarsdale, please!
My husband and I moved here in 2019 from the city when I was pregnant with my daughter, Camille (now 3). My son Tristan, is turning seven in May. We love being able to hop in the car and go explore the towns, parks and beaches all throughout the tri-state area.
2. Can you tell us a little about your background and career path prior to starting your business?
I’ve loved planning parties ever since I was young; my mother had an innate attention to detail that amazed me and growing up I was always the event organizer among my friends. I worked in the fashion industry for many years producing runway shows and parties for designers such as Marchesa, Valentino & Vivienne Tam. After about seven years, I turned a 26,000sq ft photo studio in Chelsea into an amazing event space where we started producing weddings, charity galas, and all kinds of events. I really enjoyed this work and wanted to learn more about event and floral design, so I went and trained at Floralia Decorators – who at the time was the exclusive in-house floral-design company for all Waldorf Astoria weddings & events – and from here I started producing more of my own events throughout the city.
Recently, I was also the Director of Events at The Mark hotel on the UES, working with the owners as well as Jean-Georges (who operates the restaurants). Since then I have been growing Confetti here in Scarsdale and I am really grateful for every opportunity I get to work within the community.
3. What kinds of events do you specialize in planning? What is your artistic process and how do you work with clients?
I specialize in creating a customized visual experience for you and your guests. I strive to take a theme or concept and turn it into something personal and memorable just for you. It’s all about the visual experience from the moment someone enters and the feeling you and your guests receive as a backdrop to the memories you’re creating.
For example, I love incorporating small vignettes for guests to get involved with. Creating activation stations – whether it be a cocktail tasting or floral arranging class for the adults or hair extensions, glitter tattoos and nail stickers for the kids – ensures everyone at the party is having fun and making memories! I love planning everything from small, intimate dinners to kid’s parties to large-scale weddings and charity galas.
As part of my process, I need to visualize every element of the event in order to create the full design experience. This starts with a ton of research and then developing a multipage storyboard of visuals to share with my clients and discuss their individual needs and preferences.
4. Event planning is always on the list for one of the most stressful jobs out there! How do you find balance with your family life?
I believe in the motto about finding what you love to do and making that your work. My kids love when I am creating a party and they get to be part of the creative process. I’m inspired by them everyday but it can be challenging when I work on the weekends or late at night. I try to only plan to work one weekend day and spend the other with them doing what they want to do. Also so thankful for the grandparents!
5. Are there any trends or favorite themes for kid’s parties you are seeing right now? Where are your favorite places to plan or host a
party?
Tee pee sleepovers are so big right now; I also love a bounce house relay race party in the backyard, a painting or slime party with individual stations and I really want to do a fun roller skating party!
The HudCo event space in Dobbs Ferry is cool, Cafe Alaia on Garth Road has the best Italian Food and I also love Red Hat on the River in warmer weather. For weddings or bar/bat mitzvahs, I love The Delamar Hotel (Greenwich), The Inn at Pound Ridge and the Glenmere Mansion (Chester) is amazing. For kids, these venues are always great for birthdays: Sportime, Central Park Dance Studio, Weinberg Nature Center, and RPM raceway.
Can you spill the tea on your favorite…
Book you’ve read recently or Bingeworthy TV show: The Nightingale book
Fav workout: Melissa Wood Health and eat Sakara
Date night spot: Cafe Alaia
Fav Gluten Free pastries: BTW bakery (multiple locations) or Noglu (NYC)
Ladies night out destination: Happy Monkey or Le Fat Poodle in Greenwich
Meal out with the fam: Bareburger in Rye
Place to treat yourself to something nice: Numint mani/pedi
Outing with the kids: long walks at Rockefeller State Park or Rye Beach, go-cart racing/arcade/bowling, we also love the Scarsdale pool!