Bronson van Wyck Fêted His New Book With an Intimate Cocktail Party

How does event planner extraordinaire Bronson van Wyck celebrate the launch of his first book? With a party, of course! On Tuesday night, Lauren Santo Domingo, Veronica Swanson Beard, and Prabal Gurung attended an intimate cocktail party at Moda Operandi’s Upper East Side flagship to fête van Wyck.

In Born to Party, Forced to Work, out this week from Phaidon, van Wyck documents 20 years of unforgettable events. Under the production company Van Wyck & Van Wyck, he has orchestrated celebrations for the likes of George Lucas, Gabriela Hearst, Beyoncé, and former President Obama. From gilt nights evoking those enjoyed by the ancien régime at the Palace of Versailles to fantasy weddings set under a lush canopy of flowers, photos from his best hits are presented in a manner that celebrates generosity and good cheer.

Tuesday’s was an intimate affair, with van Wyck greeting longtime friends, collaborators, and his mother and sister, who also hold the respective titles of co-founder and partner at Van Wyck & Van Wyck.

No matter the size, “A party is about the interaction,” van Wyck told Vogue. “Don’t forget the human touch; don’t forget, also, that something always goes wrong—for big parties, for small parties—but you can always turn it around with a smile, another drink, or a dose of humor. And, everyone who’s coming to your party is on your side.”

Though it wasn’t technically a “van Wyck party,” the planner did have a hand in some of the evening’s touches. Tablescapes from Moda Operandi’s homewares line were curated by the expert planner, creating an eclectic and playful atmosphere for the festivities. Rounds of a Van Wyck signature drink, spicy cucumber margaritas, found its way into everyone’s hands and added to the buoyancy of the evening.