BRANDON PEYTON
Lead Event Curator
Spicy Southern Gent. Fun Uncle. Décor Wizard. Army Vet. Lover of the Country. Makes a Mean Gumbo. Cocktail Crafter. Tea Sipper. Plant Zaddy. All About the Details. Ancient Astronaut Theorist. Dance Floor Opener. Can-Do Attitude. Logistics Mastermind.
Brandon’s storied history starts in New Orleans and his childhood home was known as “the party house.” It seemed like just about every weekend his parents would host friends and family for cards games, formal dinners and dancing, full of good food, music, and sounds of glassware clinging. A veteran of the United States Army and hospitality industry expert, he has been inspired by the quote from the late Dr. Alan Watts, “Figure out a way to get paid for playing,“ which moved Brandon to begin to discover what does it look like to play while working.
Brandon earned a Bachelors in Hospitality from Kendall College, has worked a variety of different positions in hotels, giving him a broad understanding of the ins and outs of event logistics as well as hospitality back of the house details. He was part of the opening team of LondonHouse Hotel Chicago, and after 11 years working in hospitality, Brandon broke through a 54-year-old glass ceiling at the Westin Michigan Avenue, becoming the first African American man to work in the Westin corporate offices as a Sales Coordinator, which presented the opportunity to answer the question what does playing while you work look like. He knew he enjoyed making the processes easier for his clients and that there was something satisfying about corralling months of details, years of experience, and countless hours of editing into a document that would transform blank spaces into rooms filled with energy and excitement. And then, EUREKAH, he discovered what playing looked like and saw the most natural sides of him, and quickly work as no longer work but a true passion!
While planning weddings, brunches, mat mitzvahs, and his own family/friends’ events, he was reminded of those days as a kid in New Orleans watching his family host parties and seeing their home sparkle with candlelight, beautifully kissed tables capes, and fabulously dressed guests. Particularly creating stunning weddings, weddings, mitzvahs, he worked with some of the most esteemed local planning, Fortune 500, and globally connected companies. None more influential than when he meet Lauren Carter (wink).
What began as a freelance opportunity has culminated into becoming Lead Event Curator! Brandon found his playground here at Curate Plan Style as well as building out his own event rental company, AriLynn Events. Brandon’s combined creative side and exceptional project management skills, forged an elite professional who is grounded in a heart-centered approach to planning, production, and styling. There is nothing he won’t do to make sure his clients have the most incredible day.