What My Grandma, Yummy Taught Me About Hosting with Heart

There was something magical about how Grandma, Yummy made everyone feel at home. She didn’t need Pinterest boards or seating charts. She had folding chairs, good food, and the kind of warmth you can’t teach. Every visit to her house felt like a little celebration—paper plates stacked high, music playing low, and hugs that lingered long enough to remind you how loved you were. She taught me that the heart of hosting isn’t perfection. It’s presence. It’s making someone feel seen, heard, and full—literally and emotionally. I remember how she’d quietly notice who needed an extra plate or who didn’t like onions in their potato salad. She had a way of reading the room before anyone else knew something was off. Hosting, for her, was love in motion. And now, whether I’m styling a luxury wedding or planning a child’s birthday party, I carry her spirit with me. I want every guest to feel that same warmth. That same care. That same welcome. Yummy didn’t just teach me how to host—she showed me how to love out loud.

This is an ongoing weekly series that lets you in on a little more of our personal lives. Everything isn’t all about business, but yet it all ties in together!