Cottages & Gardens Required Reading: Fall Books That Will Entertain and Inspire“Rebecca Gardner is the hostess with the mostess.” — Vogue“Rebecca Gardner is the South’s doyenne of entertaining.” — Garden & Gun"If you can't score an actual invitation to one of Rebecca Gardner's legendary parties, reading the expert's book on entertaining just might be the next best thing. This gorgeous coffee table book-with photos by Adam Kuehl and a foreword by Sofia Coppola-shows off 20 of her events and shares time-tested advice on how to be a great host, how to be a great guest, and how to turn any event into an unforgettable one." — Town & Country"A Screaming Blast: Exceptional Entertaining by Rebecca Gardner invites readers to 20 get-togethers organized by the founder of the online shop Houses & Parties, from lavish weddings to intimate dinner parties, and breaks down the anatomy of a successful celebration. — Publisher's Weekly"...the book offers a peek behind the planner's proverbial party curtain-where giant fiberglass toads, spirited brass bands, sultry chandelier dancers, and miles upon miles of tulle-drapedint riors await. — Texas Monthly“Gardner is a woman with a devilish sense of humor. And whether you’re throwing an intimate dinner or a gala with a head count in the hundreds, Gardner’s got ideas.” — Garden & Gun“Gardner’s ideas are often other-worldly—giant red tassels hanging from ceilings and cascading paper butterflies on tables topped with hundreds of candles. Truth be told, she’s the real-life fairy godmother of the design and event world, a woman who makes the seemingly impossible, totally possible.” — Over the Moon "Rebecca knows how to have a blast and how to throw one. She has a special gene that enables her to do this better than anyone else. Part of that may come from being born a Texas girl. She threw me a party for my seventieth birthday and I am still hung over. I am now 79. Her gift is to show others how to get down and have a good old time. No one does it better." — Candice Bergen"On the pre-order front, I’ve never ordered a book faster than when I learned that Rebecca Gardner (founder of Houses & Parties) wrote a book. She is the queen of entertaining, and if this book helps me pull together a party that is even 1/10th as stylish as hers, I can die happy." — The Stripe"Rebecca knows all the rules, and more importantly how to break them." — Derek Blasberg"Hats off to Rebecca Gardner who’s a screaming blast if there ever was one. Her debut book is a delicious journey through some of the best parties thrown over the past decade. Rebecca’s southern roots are on full display as she entertains with elegance, wit, and boundless beauty. She simply knows how to have a damn good time and is willing help others do the same. Most importantly, she recognizes that memories are our most cherished possessions — and with the help and inspiration of A Screaming Blast, you’re sure to make plenty!" — Ken Fulk"With an eye for detail, the elegance of a hostess from a bygone era, and always up for some mischievous fun, Rebecca knows how to do it!" — Sofia Coppola"Embrace your inner whimsy with Rebecca Gardner, founder of the event and design company Houses & Parties. In her first book, “A Screaming Blast: Exceptional Entertaining” ($45) Gardner tours 20 of her most memorable parties, all with the emphasis on embracing bold, beautiful design. Why wait for a special occasion to bring out the fun? The forward is by director Sofia Coppola, who knows a thing or two about crafting visual opulence." — Mansion Global (NYC)"There's a reason Sofia Coppola (who wrote the foreword for A Screaming Blast) works with entertaining extraordinaire Rebecca Gardner for many of her events. Gardner's debut book is like a Coppola movie: colorful, committed, and imbued with a sense of direction and perspective that is truly only her own. —Bebe Howorth" — Elle Decor"If anyone knows how to throw an imaginative, witty, wonderful party, it’s Rebecca Gardner of Houses & Parties. Gardner’s MO is best summed up in one of her chapter titles: “If it’s worth doing, it’s worth overdoing.” This romp of a book (with a foreword by Sofia Coppola) will get you in the party mood, and inspire you with whimsical, sometimes wacky, always lively ideas to ensure your party is a blast, with engaging themes—from a pink poodle party to a circus caravan to the Napa wine train—carried through from invitations and ice-breakers to elaborate decor and entertainment with aplomb." — Frederic"My new book, A Screaming Blast, includes a wild wedding in the Tennessee mountains with a grassy field inspired by Maya Lin's Wavefield,” Gardner says. “We let the grass grow all year to towering heights. The day before the wedding, her father orchestrated the mowing of a dramatic winding aisle for the bride and her guests.” — Rebecca Gardner for House Beautiful"Based in Savannah and New York City, Rebecca Gardner is an event designer and founder of Houses & Parties, an events, interior design, and retail collective. She’s thrown unforgettable soirees for clients such as Sofia Coppola, and her debut book, “A Screaming Blast,” came out from Rizzoli in fall 2025. We asked her for a few holiday decorating tips:-Gardner on garland: “I always use lush fir garland all over my house,” Gardner says.”I like to tie three garlands into one for a dramatic swoop. I use chartreuse satin ribbons (which are floppy) on top of a wider and wired ribbon to give the bows volume. My decorations are all green, which is a fresh backdrop for my collection of blown-glass ornaments.”-Adjust for the climate: Sure, it snowed in January 2025, but Savannah is often sunny in the winter. Accordingly, “Stay clear of heavy velvet fabrics and precious silks that will be destroyed by direct sunlight,” Gardner warns.-Don’t be intimidated: “I hope that my book will inspire a gathering this holiday season,” she says. “Make an effort to entertain, surprise, and delight. Go big and have fun.”" — Savannah Magazine
