Kim Jeyaraj is a photographer, host, and co-founder of DavidAnn, a wedding photography and videography studio capturing celebrations across Oregon Wine Country, the Pacific Northwest, and India. With a background rooted in art and storytelling, Kim believes the most meaningful gatherings are built on shared sensory experiences. Food that invites conversation. Music that sets the emotional temperature. Lighting that makes people feel at ease. Her hosting style is intimate and intentional, focused less on perfection and more on presence. Whether she’s curating a playlist or setting out handmade menus by her kids, Kim designs gatherings that feel warm, personal, and deeply human.

Q: When planning a gathering in your home, where do you start?

A: The menu and the mood, music. I believe that food and music are powerful unifying components of human relationships that transcend language, culture, or status. We come as strangers and leave as friends, hearts, minds, and bellies full.

Kim’s philosophy sets the tone for everything that follows. Hosting, for her, is less about visual perfection and more about emotional flow. The menu feeds the body. The music feeds the room.

Q: How do you like to break the ice or entertain guests?

A: A themed playlist of music at just the right volume so people get closer and talk to one another. Lighting matters too, because quiet and bright lights equal awkwardness. Welcome drinks and an impressive spread of finger foods always help. Since my husband and I are artists and photographers, we also have interesting art pieces and photo books around our living room that naturally become conversation starters.

This is a masterclass in subtle hosting. Nothing forced. Just thoughtful cues that invite interaction.

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

A: Handmade menus made by my two artistically inclined kids. They make great conversation pieces. A block printed tablecloth from Jaipur and some of my mom’s vintage cutlery with mix and match plates.

Kim proves that meaning always beats money. Personal details carry the most impact.

Q: What makes a gathering truly memorable?

A: Food, conversation, and of course the millions of pictures you take.

Q: What advice would you give someone overwhelmed by hosting?

Start small. Invite a friend or two and have them bring one new friend. Intimate gatherings are the best way to go. It doesn’t have to be lavish. Often, gathering around a simple meal has sparked connection and created lifelong friends.

This is hosting without pressure. Connection first. Everything else follows.

Q: What’s your signature recipe when hosting?

A: A beautifully laden charcuterie board from some of my favorite items at Trader Joe’s. Cured meats, soft and hard cheeses, a variety of crackers, dried fruit and nuts, olives. Something for everyone.

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

A: I curate playlists depending on the vibe. Anything from vintage holiday classics at Christmas to easy listening jazz, instrumentals, or world music like Persian jazz or Thai pop.

Q: What’s your favorite party trick?

A: Niching the atmosphere. A scent or candle that greets you when you enter. Toilet paper rolls wrapped in pretty paper in the powder room. Signature cocktails to welcome guests. A bowl of custom-designed matchsticks.

These are the kinds of details guests remember later, even if they don’t realize why.

Q: What do you love most about Partytrick?

A: The customizable moodboards and style guides. They’re a huge time saver.

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

A: My husband and I attended an Outstanding in the Field dinner on a working farm and vineyard in Oregon. We arrived as strangers and left as family. It was the most enriching experience we’ve had.

Q: Favorite hosting products or brands?

A: My 15-quart Le Creuset Dutch oven in Oyster that can feed a dozen. Thrifted hand-painted plates. Block print tablecloths and napkins made by local artisans in India. And the old Havana tea set from Anthropologie that was a wedding present. I love bringing it out when I host.

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Kim’s approach to hosting is a reminder that the best gatherings are built on intention, not extravagance. When food, music, and atmosphere align, something real happens. People connect. Conversations linger. Memories form.

To explore Kim’s work and her artful approach to celebration, follow @davidannweddings or visit her website at davidannweddings.com. And if you’re feeling inspired to host your own gathering, Partytrick makes it easier to bring your vision to life. Create a free Partytrick account to explore customizable templates, moodboards, and expert tools that keep all your hosting plans in one beautiful place.