Emily is the founder of Alp & Isle, a creative studio rooted in designing and documenting intentional gatherings that feel calm, grounded, and deeply human. With over sixteen years of experience and a background in interior design, she brings a refined sensitivity to light, texture, pacing, and emotional tone, whether she is hosting a small dinner at home, shaping a multi-day Cocoon Retreat, or documenting mountain weddings alongside her husband and creative partner, Zach.

Emily’s approach to hosting is not about spectacle or perfection. It is about reducing friction so people can arrive as they are. From the way an invitation feels in the hand to the softening of light and music as the night unfolds, every choice is designed to support ease, nourishment, and connection. Her gatherings linger in memory because of how they make people feel seen, held, and at home.

Q: When you’re planning a gathering, where do you start?

A: I start with the occasion and think through the experience using all five senses, from how the invitation feels to how the space looks, smells, sounds, and tastes as guests arrive. Each element is designed to reduce friction and invite presence, with thoughtful details that help people feel at home.

This is a throughline in Emily’s work. Hosting, for her, is not about layering on more. It is about removing the obstacles that keep people from settling in.

Q: What are your favorite ways to break the ice?

A: Shared rituals like a simple welcome drink, a communal dish, or something tactile to engage the hands create ease without forcing interaction. I’ve learned through my photography that hands often reflect comfort or tension before anything else, and the same holds true when hosting. When people feel at ease, their bodies settle before conversation does. When guests feel unhurried, connection follows naturally.

Q: If you had a limited budget for a small dinner party, what would you focus on?

A: With a limited budget, I focus on creating a table that feels safe, nourishing, and human. I use simple, seasonal elements foraged from nature and reuse pieces from around the house or vintage finds to add warmth and history. Soft lighting, clean linens, nourishing food, and a high-quality drink create a place where people can slow down, take off their masks, and reconnect, not just with each other, but with themselves.

One of the books that most shaped how I entertain is Bread & Wine by Shauna Niequist. This passage stayed with me for over a decade and changed how I think about hosting.

“We don’t come to the table to fight or to defend. We don’t come to prove or to conquer, to draw lines in the sand or to stir up trouble. We come to the table because our hunger brings us there. We come with a need, with fragility, with an admission of our humanity. The table is the great equalizer, the level playing field many of us have been looking everywhere for. The table is the place where the doing stops, the trying stops, the masks are removed, and we allow ourselves to be nourished, like children. We allow someone else to meet our need.”

That idea guides everything I focus on when hosting. When the table supports ease, nourishment, and humanity, connection follows without effort.

Q: What makes a gathering truly memorable?

A: People remember how they felt. When guests feel seen, heard, and genuinely cared for, it stays with them. Thoughtful pacing, sensory comfort, and small moments of generosity shape the experience in quiet but lasting ways.

Q: What would you tell someone who feels overwhelmed by hosting?

A: I would remind them that hosting is about being present with the people you love. In a busy and often divisive world, creating opportunities to gather and be together matters more than ever. Don’t let overwhelm keep you from opening your home. Strip it back to what is human and humble, and start small. When the pressure lifts, creativity follows.

Q: What’s your signature recipe?

A: For a quick appetizer, I often serve potato chips topped with crème fraîche, arugula, and prosciutto. It’s simple, crowd-pleasing, and easy to pull together.

Crème & Prosciutto Crisps

Ingredients
High-quality potato chips
Crème fraîche
Baby arugula
Thinly sliced prosciutto
Fresh lemon
Shaved Parmesan
Freshly cracked black pepper

Instructions
Gently toss the potato chips with the crème fraîche until lightly coated, then spread them onto a serving platter. Layer the arugula over the chips first, followed by torn pieces of prosciutto. Finish with a squeeze of fresh lemon, shaved Parmesan, and a light crack of black pepper. Serve immediately, ideally alongside the first pour of champagne.

I love starting with a quality bottle of champagne, followed by approachable sparkling wines. For red, Belle Glos Pinot Noir is often my first pour, with Elouan to follow. I like beginning with something guests might not open on their own so the occasion feels special, then returning to familiar favorites.

Q: What’s your go-to dinner party soundtrack?

A: I’m an Enneagram 4, which probably explains why I build a playlist for each gathering. Music is one of the easiest ways to hold the emotional tone of the evening without saying a word. Seasonal jazz is my go-to backup.

Q: What’s your favorite party trick?

A: I use quiet cues to help guests settle without direction. One clear seasonal element grounds the space instantly. I start the evening with music louder and lighting brighter, then soften both as people arrive.

I also name the tone out loud. Saying, “I’m so glad you’re here. Everything’s simple tonight,” immediately puts people at ease.

My favorite party trick is creating an evening without a hard stop. Inspired by long European dinners, I let the night unfold slowly until all that remains is candle stubs, dishes in the sink, and the last few drops of wine.

Q: What do you love about Partytrick?

A: I love that Partytrick removes friction around hosting at a time when gathering feels more important than ever. The tools make planning approachable without taking the joy out of it.

Q: What’s the most memorable gathering you’ve experienced?

A: Two stand out. One was a wedding where the couple surprised us with a private dinner at sunset, thoughtfully accommodating my food allergy. It was deeply generous and made us feel so cared for.

The other is our Cocoon Retreats. Watching people arrive weary and leave softened and creatively full is unforgettable. Transformation only happens when people feel truly held.

Q: What are your favorite products or brands to use when hosting?

A: I gravitate toward functional pieces that support the experience rather than compete with it.

For stemware, I love Spiegelau Definition champagne flutes, and for all other wines I reach for my Camille wine glasses from Crate & Barrel. For plateware, Villeroy & Boch white dinnerware is a staple. It’s classic, durable, and lets the food and seasonal elements be the focus.

In the kitchen, I rely heavily on Le Creuset serving dishes, especially my Auberge braiser. I love that it can be pre-chilled or heated and holds temperature so well, which makes hosting feel more forgiving and less frantic.

For music, Sonos speaker systems are essential, with a Sonos Roam that can move with the flow of the evening as people drift between spaces. I’m drawn to handmade pieces wherever possible, especially hand-thrown pottery mugs, serving dishes, and ceramic taper holders, which add warmth and individuality to the table. I pair those with Williams Sonoma beeswax tapers for their clean burn and soft light, and Capri Blue candles for their rich, luxurious scents.

For linens, I love French market linens. They feel lived-in, unfussy, and beautiful in a way that immediately puts people at ease.

‍

To explore Emily’s calm, intentional approach to gathering, follow her on Instagram at @alpandisle or visit alpandisle.com to see her work across weddings, retreats, and creative spaces.

Feeling inspired to create a gathering that feels thoughtful, grounded, and ease-filled? Partytrick helps remove the friction with curated templates, smart tools, and expert guidance so you can focus on what matters most. Create a free Partytrick account and start planning your next moment of connection.