Milwaukee couple bring holiday cheer to White House

Between choosing the right placement of ornaments and putting garland around all the door frames, decorating for the holidays can feel like an exhausting task — especially if you're decorating the White House.

Collin Falvey, 25, and Lukas Baker, 24, both Milwaukee, were two of 92 volunteers from across the country who helped decorate the White House this year with designers and the White House Executive Residence team and Social Office.

"We're both kind of Christmas-obsessed people," said Falvey, who described the couple's experience as "the epitome of Christmas."

Falvey works as an event planner for the Fred Astaire Dance Studio of Milwaukee and Baker was a field director for the Republican Party during the recent election.

"It's very humbling to be a young gay couple in America and in the White House, just putting political differences aside," Falvey said. "He's a Republican, I'm a Democrat, but when it comes down to the holidays, those issues don't matter anymore."

Falvey had taken part in the decorating at the White House last year. But it was Baker's first time applying for a volunteer decorator position, vying with thousands of other applicants.

According to Baker, the application process was similar to filling out a college application, complete with a portfolio of creative holiday work and an essay.

Baker, who found out he was chosen in October, said the weight of the experience didn't hit him until he was finally in the White House.

"It was pretty amazing finally coming to grips with that," Baker said. "I remember growing up watching Barbara Walters walk around with Laura Bush as she showed off the White House decorations. … It was an immense honor."

The two arrived in Washington, D.C., on Thanksgiving Day for a group orientation. They spent the next two days at an off-site location assembling decorations and putting them into labeled boxes. Then on Nov. 27, the group of volunteers went to the White House to begin a three-day decorating extravaganza.

"To me, it's not about the political agenda of who's in office, but about the history of America," said Falvey, the Democrat of the couple. "I've done it before, but it was still just as amazing. It's a quote, unquote once in a lifetime opportunity, even though I got to do it twice."

For President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama's eighth and final Christmas in the White House, the theme was "The Gift of the Holidays." Each room that was a part of the official White House tour represented a different gift.

According to Falvey, more than 80% of the decorations have been used in past years, and they were handling some ornaments and decorations that were passed down for hundreds of years.

Falvey was in charge of designing of the Palm Room, the entranceway into the Oval Office. Baker was in charge of decorating the State Dining Room.

The State Dining Room was themed "The Gift of Family." Lego built 56 gingerbread houses, one for each state and six territories, which were on display in the dining room.

The Palm Room, which is part of the private residence in the west wing of the White House, was not given a gift theme. It was decorated in a traditional, sophisticated Christmas look, in honor of Obama's taste for classic holiday decorations such as nutcrackers, gold garland and deep red and green tones, Falvey said.

Once the couple finished decorating those rooms, they also helped with other parts of the White House including the Diplomatic Reception Room, East Room, East Dining Room and a few others.

Although the two didn't get to meet Obama, the volunteers did get the chance to meet the first lady at a reception gala once the project was finished.

According to Falvey, Michelle Obama told the volunteers that the White House was not just their house but "the people's house" and having them help decorate it for the holidays was her favorite annual tradition.

Baker, who admitted he didn't vote for Obama in previous elections, said decorating the White House was more about the holiday and American history than politics.

"No matter the party, it's my president and it was an honor to just serve in that capacity," Baker said. "It's about celebrating Christmas and enjoying what's there in the moment and not looking at politics, because Christmas isn't political."

One volunteer told the couple he has helped decorate the White House for eight years, another person for 28 years. Baker and Falvey hope they, too, can make this a Christmas tradition.

ABOUT THIS FEATURE

This Is Us is a recurring feature in the Journal Sentinel Green Sheet, with stories on the people, places and things reflecting the spirit and heart of our community.