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The Answers to Questions You Never Knew You'd Have

On our blog, you'll find everything from handy Thanksgiving turkey guides to rental checklists, bar setup ratios, timeline templates, and all the first-hand knowledge we've gathered from two decades of professional event planning. 

This blog is a labor of love that we hope will help give you more of the confidence you deserve and a whole lot less frustration.

Hello Everyone! It is great to be back! It is a practice of mine to always Begin in Gratitude, so I thought I would start the New Year and this series of Newsletters with a note of Gratitude! For the past two years there has been an emphasis on what we can’t or should not […]

Event Planning

Begin in Gratitude

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Our winters are usually long and cold, but I have already noticed that the days are getting longer- the afternoons are brighter, which always makes me smile and brings me hope at the end of the day. The news of the COVID vaccine is also promising that we will eventually be able to gather together […]

Event Planning

INTRODUCING SMALL BUSINESS GIFT BOXES: PEACE/LOVE/GRATITUDE & APPRECIATION

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We Love what we do! And Miss you, Too! We Love what we do! And Miss you, Too! There is no doubt that we all started 2020 with high hopes. We had audacious plans- College, Weddings, Travel, Milestone Anniversaries and Birthdays and more. The world seemed unstoppable. As 2020 unfolded, those plans were disrupted, postponed, […]

Event Planning

Reflections of an Unfinished Year-Anticipating Hope in 2021

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By now most of us have finished our decorations and are focused on last minute shopping and waiting by the door for the mailman, UPS, FedEx, or now Prime Trucks. With every online order, there is always a disclaimer that says, due to the pandemic, delivery times may vary or be delayed. I don’t think […]

Event Planning

Home for the Holidays, Part 3: Favorite Recipes and Traditional Dishes

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For most of the fall, our weather has been mild and I noticed many neighbors and businesses got a jump on Holiday decorating. Many people dislike early Holiday displays, however, this year I think we all can use that extra dose of Joy that we get when we see the lights and Holiday decorations. I […]

Event Planning

Home for the Holidays, Part 2: Twinkle, Sparkle, and Shine

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December is here! One of my favorite Holiday traditions is decorating a gingerbread house. For the past few years, a girlfriend and I have attended a fun and festive event to kick off the Holiday season at the Hyatt or Darien CC in support of the Rowan Center. It was always an exciting event filling […]

Event Planning

Home for the Holidays: A few of My Favorite Things

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Thanksgiving is upon us and we are all preparing to celebrate a little differently this year. Even though this has been a year like no other, there are still plenty of things to be grateful for, as well as ways to make the day special, even if we can’t all be together as we normally […]

Event Planning

Thanksgiving

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We have all heard of Farm to Table events. They grew to be quite popular before the Pandemic. The concept is to cook and serve only fresh ingredients directly from a farm or the farm where the event might be taking place. There are a lot of variations on the theme. I attended one once […]

Event Planning

Farm to Table to Farm

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Nothing says Fourth of July more than a Pool Party and a BBQ. The question is, how do you host your celebration and practice responsible socializing while being mindful of the contactless style of service that COVID 19 has created and still have a fun and safe time? One way is to provide a Grab […]

Event Planning

Grab and Go Pool Parties and BBQs

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There is a saying that goes, “Things come in Threes.” The idea seems to derive from the Latin phrase, “Omne trium perfectum” (Everything that comes in threes is perfect, or every set of three is complete.) Generally people refer to bad things happening in Threes. The same can be said for good things, but we […]

Event Planning

Daily Disasters!

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Download Our Helpful Planning Tips Guide

With years of experience and hundreds of events, our team has learned a thing or two about hosting an incredible and positively memorable event. Download our guide for our free tips on making sure your event goes flawlessly.

Your team in planning excellence.

Our team leads with logistics, builds genuine relationships with our clients and vendors, and believes that doing things right and ethically is what matters most. 

Marylee Santoro, founder and owner of Events by Marylee, has been creating seamless events since 2007, and officially launched Events by Marylee in 2014 after years of planning on the side while working her full-time career. For more than 35 years, she's worked as an environmental analyst and educator, doing work that requires the same obsessive attention to detail and procedure-driven precision she brings to every wedding, gala, and celebration. What started with planning themed formals in college has grown into a full-service planning and staffing company with a team of 95+ certified professionals, built on a simple philosophy: it's not just about the event, it's about the people celebrating it. 

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“The absolute best team I’ve ever had at a party. Truly awesome.

- Roslyn

“Party was great. The staff was amazing - don't know how they took over our kitchen and figured everything out.

Thank you Mary Lee for the guidance, and I loved the blue and white striped straws - made the party vibe. Looking forward to the next one!”

- Barbara

“Thank you for a wonderful party last night. The food was absolutely delicious and all the little details were taken care of so (my wife) and I were able to enjoy ourselves.“

- Larry

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