For women in the workforce, it can be hard to prioritize female friendships. With chaotic to-do lists, overlapping appointments, and the endless longing for just a few more hours in the day… it’s easy to let busy days turn into weeks. Before you know it, months have gone by and your social life is a distant memory.

This spring, we’re committing to at least one great event with our gal pals. We’ll be taking inspiration from a group of powerhouse women in Santa Monica, who turned the “Ladies Who Lunch” concept into an opportunity to celebrate the meaningful friendships in their lives. Maire Byrne’s new restaurant, Local Kitchen + Wine Bar, set the scene and gave each guest a sweet gift (a jar of their homemade strawberry rhubarb jam wrapped up in a cute striped napkin). Chelsea Shukov and Jamie Grobecker – founders of Sugar Paper LA – crafted the invites, menus, gift tags and place cards. Finally, Shannon Wollack and Brittany Zwickl of LIFE.STYLE set the table – taking a normal weekday lunch to the next level. With Chef Stephen Murray preparing a memorable menu, it was a day for the record books. Click through the slideshow for a closer look!

To see the original story in our May issue, click here.