The Art of Celebrating Is Here: A Guide to Meaningful Gatherings

Photography by Kenneth Cooper Photography

Today feels deeply personal.

After years of dreaming, writing, editing, refining, and trusting the process, The Art of Celebrating: Inspiration and Ideas for Meaningful Gatherings is officially here. This book is more than a launch—it’s the embodiment of a philosophy I’ve lived by long before it ever had a name.

At its core, The Art of Celebrating is a reminder:
celebration is not about excess, perfection, or performance.
It’s about intention. Connection. Presence.

Photography by Eric Kelley Photography

I wrote The Art of Celebrating because I believe we’ve forgotten something essential.

In a world that moves fast—where gatherings are often rushed, overproduced, or reduced to content—we’ve lost sight of what truly makes a celebration meaningful: how people feel when they’re welcomed, cared for, and remembered.

Celebration isn’t reserved for milestones alone. It lives in everyday moments—shared meals, thoughtfully set tables, intentional toasts, and spaces that invite people to slow down and connect.

This book was written to bring us back to that truth.

Photography by Kenneth Cooper Photography

A Guide Rooted in Intention, Not Trends

The Art of Celebrating is not a rulebook or a checklist. It’s a guide—meant to be returned to again and again—as you host, gather, and mark moments big and small.

Inside, you’ll find inspiration and ideas around:

  • Setting intention before planning

  • Creating gatherings that feel personal, not performative

  • Thoughtful menus and shared meals

  • Signature drinks and meaningful toasts

  • Florals and tablescapes that invite connection

  • Music, atmosphere, and flow

  • The art of welcoming guests with care

Each chapter is designed to help you celebrate in a way that feels aligned with your life, your values, and your people.

Photography by Kenneth Cooper Photography

This book is for:

  • Hosts who care deeply about how their guests feel

  • Creatives who value beauty with purpose

  • Anyone craving more meaning in how they gather

  • Those who believe celebration is a form of love

Whether you’re hosting an intimate dinner, a milestone celebration, or simply setting the table for a quiet evening at home, The Art of Celebrating meets you where you are.

More Than a Book—A Philosophy

Everything shared within these pages reflects the heart of The Art of Celebrating platform itself: a belief that meaningful gatherings don’t require more—they require intention.

This philosophy has shaped my work, my home, my career, and the way I move through the world. Writing this book was an invitation to put language around that belief—and to share it with you.

A Moment Worth Celebrating

Releasing this book is, in itself, a celebration. One rooted in gratitude—for the stories, the lessons, the people who have gathered around my table, and the readers who now hold this philosophy in their hands.

If this book inspires you to host more thoughtfully, gather more intentionally, or simply slow down and savor the moment—you’ll understand why I wrote it.

Order The Art of Celebrating on Amazon

Thank you for being part of this journey—and for celebrating beautifully.

Akeshi Akinseye

Akeshi Akinseye is the founder and CEO of Kesh Events and is the leading expert in the wedding and event industry on all things celebrations.

She is widely regarded as One of the best Wedding planners in America by Brides, Top 5 wedding vendors in the world by WEDLUXE, top wedding planner in Chicago by PartySlate and more. 

Her insights and work have been featured in national publications like Brides, PartySlate, Modern Luxury Weddings, Inside Weddings, Yahoo, ESPN, New York Times etc and she appears regularly in media outlets like ABC, The Tribune and more.

She is the author of the best-selling book, The Art of Floral And Event Design” and founder and editor of celebrations and lifestyle magazine, The Art of Celebrating. Her creativity, keen eye, attention to detail and knack for perfection is what her clients love about her. She brings the art of creativity and personalization to every single event making her the best at what she does. Akeshi honors the individual styles of her clients and she continually strives to make every experience one to remember.

http://www.akeshiakinseye.com
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