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March 2-5, 2026
Los Angeles Convention CenterLos Angeles, CA

Catersource + The Special Event Schedule 2026

Demystifying Museum & Unique Venue Spaces for Events

Holly Gray  (Founder, anything but gray event)

Kari Al Edelbi  (Chief Operating Officer, My Beautiful City (London Based))

Sophie Westacott  (Director of Special Events and Filming, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County)

Location: 408B

Date: Tuesday, March 3

Time: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Pass Type: All Access, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass, TSE Conference Pass - Get your pass now!

Track: TSE-Event Mgmt & Production, TSE-Event Planning

Associations & Accreditations: WIPA

Vault Recording: TBD

Audience Level: All

Wedding Industry Professionals Association (WIPA)

Transform your approach to cultural venue partnerships in this dynamic session featuring three industry experts with unparalleled museum experience. Holly Gray (Anything But Gray Events) has planned over a dozen weddings at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, bringing creative storytelling expertise to institutional spaces. Karimah Al-Edelbi (COO, My Beautiful City) shares insights from executing NHM's inaugural Night of Wonder Annual Gala honoring The Duchess of Sussex, demonstrating luxury event production in museum settings. Sophie Westacott (Director of Special Events and Filming, NHM) provides insider operations knowledge, including her recent coordination of Machine Gun Kelly's "Vampire Dairies" music video with just one week's notice.

This interactive session breaks down operational barriers, reveals rapid-response capabilities, and showcases how museums accommodate everything from intimate celebrations to celebrity productions and royal galas. Learn practical strategies for navigating venue restrictions while maximizing creative potential, understanding security protocols, managing timeline compression, and leveraging institutional partnerships for extraordinary guest experiences.

Attendees will leave with actionable tools, real-world case studies, and insider contacts to confidently propose and execute memorable events in cultural venues nationwide.