How Two Friends Turned a Wine Night Into No Reservations

People are always asking us how we started No Reservations and the answer is almost as fun as the brand itself! 

From Paris and Florence to 21st & 5th

Sabrina and I first met in our junior year of college while studying abroad. I was living in Paris, she was in Florence, and we had mutual friends in both cities. We’d meet up and travel to different cities like Barcelona and Venice. 

After graduation, we both moved to New York City and ended up working in the same office building on 21st and 5th. We’d run into each other in the elevator and catch up going about our busy NYC days.

A Chinese New Year Reunion

Years later, I had just had my second baby and moved to Cold Spring Harbor. On Chinese New Year (my favorite holiday), I posted a photo of my daughter, Andie, eating spare ribs at Hunan Taste.

Sabrina messaged me on Instagram: “Do you live out here?” Turns out, she lived in the town next to mine, and our babies were only a few months apart. We started having baby playdates, going to music class, and bonding over our shared love of hosting, florals, champagne, and all the little details that make a gathering special.

The Night That Started It All

I was planning a wine night at my house for the end of August and Sabrina and I had been toying with the idea of testing out our original set of napkins so we decided this would be the perfect occasion.

The group of 12 moms, many meeting for the first time, started picking up the napkins, laughing at the sayings, trading them across the table. They became instant conversation starters and icebreakers.

That night, we realized something: these weren’t just napkins. They were little sparks of joy and connection.

From Friends to Founders

We started selling to friends and friends of friends. Orders grew, word spread, and soon we were in retail stores. Along the way, we expanded beyond napkins into velvet napkin bows, wine charms, and other accessories that turn any table into an experience.

Today, No Reservations is more than a product line, it's a personality. We believe hosting should be fun, not fussy. We design for women who love to entertain with style and humor, not taking themselves too seriously.