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Georgia is all about college football. That’s why when someone here says “bulldog,” people immediately think about the University of Georgia (UGA) football team. Admittedly, the Bulldogs are having a great season. And ok, we love football too. As proof – take a look at some of the events we’ve done with the Atlanta Falcons, for UGA games, or our acclaimed Super Bowl parties. The WM Events team knows how to tailgate.
But we get just as excited about the UGA Alumni Association’s annual Bulldog 100 event that celebrates the top 100 fastest-growing organizations owned or operated by UGA alumni. We’ve been honored to work on this event for several years now, and the award winners just amaze us more every time. For the most recent installment, we leaned into a galactic theme of stars as points of light and as luminescent nebulae to highlight the astronomical achievements of this year’s business champions.
A Stellar Start
The first fact to know about this event is that it took place at Sanford Stadium’s West End Zone, an upscale 120,000-sq.-ft. space featuring a home locker room, a special events space, a scoreboard, and a plaza. We had plenty to work with and made sure the honorees would feel like the stars they are from the moment they entered until the end of the ceremony.
We created an eye-catching entrance by installing four custom gobo lights with the Bulldog 100 logo outside the entry for both illumination and wayfinding. Inside the building, the registration area featured four 8-ft. metallic pegboards with space-theme graphics holding 200 alphabetized nametags, making check-in a breeze.
For the reception, which took place in the fresh air and recruiting lounge, we enchanted the space with 30 uplights placed around the perimeter. We added four 6-ft. black bars with Bulldog 100 logo fronts and black bar displays. We decorated the buffet table and added florals throughout. Pyramid heaters added warmth to this chilly evening event.
While mingling, guests had the chance to take photos at the massive black step and repeat, which featured tastefully executed white logos for Bulldog 100 and the University of Georgia Alumni Association.
An Alluring Atmosphere
The 350 guests at this annual event – 100 honorees and 250 C-suite execs, university higher-ups, and community leaders – enjoyed the awards ceremony within an out-of-this-world setting where we combined twinkling black backdrops with modern acrylic seating and bohemian floral displays that echoed the look of a swirling galaxy. One of our favorite features was the highboy tables with seamless graphics of twinkling nebulae edged with the words “Bulldog 100.”
In addition to the highboys, we utilized communal tables and large round tables draped in black velvet linens. We added nearly 150 frosted votives throughout the room to incorporate natural, flickering light with the electric ones that sparkled nearly everywhere.
Finally, sleek lounge groupings provided guests with a more relaxed seating option. Here, we played up the UGA colors and mixed luxe black sofas with black, circular tables featuring concentric grooves reminiscent of a solar system. We completed the look with clear globe table lamps and tactile toss pillows in red, white, and black.
A Shimmering Spotlight
The stage was where the real magic happened, where each Bulldog 100 winner received their award. We gave it a celestial touch with black twinkle drapery, a futuristic acrylic podium, and stage florals in clear vases. We surrounded the stage with black Lamour fabric and mirrors, generating a sense of the infinite. The Bulldog 100 logo floated above, creating an ideal backdrop for photos of the outstanding alumni and everyone’s favorite mascot Hairy Dawg, who wasn’t about to miss this event (or the photo opps – he’s not known for his modesty).
