This society A-lister shares her tips for elevating at-home entertaining

An invitation to a Gigi Whitman event is highly coveted and for those fortunate enough to have attended one or more of these gatherings, it quickly becomes evident she possesses professional caliber party-planning skills.

“I want people to have a great time and let their hair down,” she states.

Her passion for fun shines through in surprising, often hilarious, details along with delicious food and her must-have rosé champagne. Her jumping off point? “It starts with a theme and then everything flows from there,” she says of her inspiration for decorations, flowers, menu and entertainment.

Gigi’s husband of 25 years is Randy Whitman, managing partner at Bal Harbour Shops, the family business. They have four grown children with whom they travel to their summer home in Aspen, Colorado, or to the Bahamas on their boat. Gigi was born in New York, grew up on Miami Beach and her love of art led her to majoring in fashion merchandising and interior design in college. Her talent for decorating is everywhere throughout their 10,000-square foot home. Built in 2018, it’s a grand, modernized version of an old Florida vernacular house and has the elegant, breezy feel of a home in the Hamptons.

“When we built it, we added more space for entertaining, but I simplified. I used to own 10 sets of china and silver, no more! Now it’s easy,” she says. The home has a full-size custom bar with a gleaming, black marble top, worthy of the finest restaurant. “The one in our old house was too small, yet everyone crowded around it,” she says. “This one’s perfect for any party, no matter how big.”

Gigi’s 60th birthday theme was “60 SUCKS,” a point made by five-foot-tall letters covered in masses of hot pink balloons spelling it out on the back lawn and a three-foot-tall replica of a lollipop “sucker” as big as a basketball as the main centerpiece. The Fourth of July/birthday party in Aspen was next with a Mexican food theme.

“I wanted a food truck, a tent with multi-colored flags, Karaoke and neon margaritas,” she explains and deadpans, “the cake was topped by a big taco with a face that said, ‘I’m turning 60 and I don’t want to TACO about it!’”

Then there was the 1960s psychedelic bash called “Randy’s Groovy 69th,” with guests in mini-dresses and mod boots and long-haired hippies in Woodstock T-shirts and tie-dye jeans, dancing on a clear dance floor (placed over the pool) which changed colors to the beat of the music.

“The point is for my friends to have a great time,” she says, eyes twinkling. “It’s a good party when it’s supposed to end at 10:00 p.m. and people are still there at midnight!”

GIGI’S GO TOs

Pick a theme with bold colors and carry those colors throughout the house. Here’s more tips:

SIMPLIFY: Use white china. You can completely change the look of a table

by using different color napkins, chargers, flowers and accessories.

MIX HIGH/LOW: Combine expensive heirloom silver flatware with fun, trendy accessories.

RELAX: If the host is nervous it’s not fun. Don’t overthink it! Enjoy!

BEST FLORIST: ZBliss Shop Miami. They can do anything I come up with. @zbliss.shop.

BEST CATERER: Sara Sharpe. Consistent, great quality.

BEST CAKES: Cake Lounge Miami. I’ve used them for 30 years. @cakeloungemiami.

BEST CHAMPAGNE: Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé champagne. It’s light and goes with everything.

This story was originally published February 10, 2020 at 1:15 PM.