Growing up, lots of life took place around our big wooden table that Dad had made.
We would spend hours there; hours of eating, chatting, laughing, crying happy tears, crying sad tears, cooking, reading, playing games, and gathering people.
This is where my love for tables stems from. I have always loved hosting events, and designing and bringing tables to life – taking time to create something magical; transforming occasions from logistical events into meaningful gatherings.
From Scotland to Scandinavia, Provence to Pennsylvania, Cape Town to Cornwall, I have spent the last twelve years building my own events company that seeks to bring guests together with purpose and beauty.
At the heart of each, I’ve sought to move away from simply organising an event, rather cultivating a space for gathering that the client is proud to host. Playing a part in making that magic happen is what I love.
Meet Ali.
I’ve recently created the By Ali Gillum umbrella and within that focusing primarily on Funeral Receptions. And this is really where my heart lies.
Having attended a number of Funerals, Memorials and Thanksgiving Services over the years, I have found they often can appear quite impersonal.
This is totally understandable given the nature of the occasion, when on the one hand decisions about flowers and food pale into insignificance in the context of someone precious and loved who has recently died, but on the other hand these details so matter.
It is in this tension that I find it a privilege to carry some of the load.
DONT JUST TAKE MY WORD FOR IT.
Testimonials are not really my vibe because they feel a bit sales-y, but they do help give you a snapshot into some of the clients I have worked with over the years, and a flavour of how I work, so here are a couple.
