Getting to Know Nikki Khan

See how well you know our Nikki Khan!



How did you come about creating Exquisite Events? It might sound cliche but I always had passion for throwing parties and entertaining since my teen years. The seed was planted firmly when I attended Swiss Finishing School and resided in Switzerland with my family. I was actually thrown into event planning by default when a good friend approached me for her daughter's 16th birthday party and the rest as they say is history.

What is your background – education, college, event experience, etc? I got my degree in nutrition from UCLA and pursued the career of clinical dietician and worked in a hospital for a few years. I always knew that was not my calling as I did not enjoy that.

What separate Exquisite Events from the rest? We are extremely detail oriented and have a passion for what we do. Our motto has always been " you are as good as your last event " and we never forget that. We are also an event design, planning, coordination and management company and are very involved with every aspect of the event.

What has been your favorite part about working with your daughter? It is amazing when you get to work with your daughter who is as passionate about events as you are. We constantly bounce ideas off of each other. She brings a fresh, edgy and young approach to the events whereas my design aesthetic is more classic. She is also able to connect with the couples and I connect with the parents so in many regards we make a perfect team.

What has been your most memorable event(s) to date? There have been many over the years but from recent memory there are a few we produced in the last few years that have become our all time favorites.

Tell us a time when you had to trouble shoot or had an emergency at an event? Client had insisted on hiring their own lighting company and the poles were covered in black vinyl. Luckily our linen company had extra fabric on the truck and crisis was averted. It is vital for clients to trust us with our vendors and understand the relationship we have built over the years to understand expectations and never disappoint.

For all the future brides out there, what is your biggest advice when planning a wedding? Enjoy the planning process! Hire a planner you can trust and remember the bigger picture which is the sacred commitment you are going to be making to one another. Breathe and have fun along the way. Don't get wrapped up in details that are not important at the end of the day. Focus on the big picture and enjoy your big day to the fullest.

If you could plan an event right now, what would be your dream event? My dream event would be to plan a wedding in many places but the two cities that personally mean a lot to me are Florence and Paris. I would love to plan a wedding in either of these two cities.

Favorites:
Flower? Any orchid and peonies
Color? Black in clothes
Vacation Spot? Many! Top few are Paris, Venice, Florence, Milan, Côte d'Azur
Restaurant? Many! Top faves are Bazaar, Cleo, Polo Lounge and Blvd in LA
Dessert? Love most desserts but fave is creme brûlée and good macarons
Movie? Midnight in Paris
Beauty Item? My Sisley cleanser and moisturizer
Fashion Designer? Karl Lagerfeld. Obsessed with anything Chanel
Thing to do when you are not working? Love spending time with my grand children