Katie Dietrich is the WOTV 4 Women party planning expert, focusing on private dining events for special occasions and business functions. She is the General Manager of Cygnus 27, a stylish restaurant located on the 27th floor of the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in downtown Grand Rapids.
Katie plans parties held in the restaurant’s private dining spaces, including the Sky 1 and Sky 2 rooms. She also plans parties for larger groups that take up the entire restaurant. Over the last six years, she has planned nearly 1,000 private parties.
Katie’s favorite thing about event planning is seeing the personal touches her clients are able to incorporate into their events.
“Even if two events have the same menu and set-up, the small personal items can make the events entirely different,” Katie said. Katie believes that it is those personal touches that separate a good event from a fabulous event.
“If you find a venue like Cygnus 27 that already provides the “wow” factor with amazing views, it is easy to have a successful and impressive event,” she said. “But adding simple touches like flowers, décor, and customized food items helps your personality to come through too.”
Katie helps her clients create memorable, personalized events by guiding them through the menu selection process, and showing them all the possibilities available – like offering a specialty drink upon arrival, passed hors d’oeuvres, or creative food stations.
“Every menu item has a story,” Katie said.
When she’s not planning parties, Katie enjoys spending time with her husband, Kurt, and son, Augie. She and Kurt love to entertain guests at home and dine out – as she is always on the look out for new ideas.
Some of the experiences Katie has treasured most during her time at Cygnus 27 include learning the special touches of the trade (like butler folded linen), seeing wide-eyed brides enter their rehearsal dinner or reception, and watching staff members blossom into wonderful hosts for the restaurant’s guests.
Cygnus: http://www.amwaygrand.com/cygnus27_private_dining.html
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/cygnus27
