Event Planning Ideas, Trends & Inspiration

At WM Events, Leigh Clemmons, CMP, holds the title of Event Designer + Communications, but she can literally do it all. Part of the team from the very start, Leigh has also seen it all. With her vast experience and discerning eye, she shares her vision for the ideal event, and all we can say, is how do we get an invitation?

If I were an event, I would be … a New Year’s Eve party!

My purpose would be … to celebrate Night Owls. I enjoy staying up late throughout the year, but this is the one holiday causes everybody to join me. On New Year’s Eve we’re all Night Owls. And because most people have January 1st off, we don’t need to worry about getting up to go to work the next day. So let’s make the most of it and say goodbye to the old year together!

I would take place … at a venue with a rooftop like Ventanas, so that guests could view all of the fireworks going off around the city through the venue’s two-story floor-to-ceiling window. They could also enjoy sitting by the fire on the outdoor patio.

My theme would be … “Bubbling Over into the New Year.” We would play off of champagne bubbles, balloons, calendars and clocks.

My format would be … a cocktail party with everyone wearing their glittery best.

My décor would be … a classic color scheme of black, gold and silver with super-modern furnishings to complement the venue. I would play with textures too and incorporate a variety of shiny, matte, sparkling and sequined elements.

My florals would … mixed textures of classic, white blooms like garden roses, Phalaenopsis orchids, dahlias, ranunculus and agapanthus. All of these flowers resemble fireworks or bubbles and would be perfect with my theme. I would also incorporate a lot of candles and mirror spheres and continue the black and gold pops with vases and votives.

My entertainment would be … DJ Mike Zarin because he is the best. And when he needs a 15-minute break, Girl Talk could sub in.

Guests would dine on … ice cream in its many glorious incarnations. I would include a milkshake bar where guests could build their own and pair with my homemade chocolate chip cookies and croquembouche. I would also have an interactive molecular gastronomy station with elements that tie into the bubble theme like margarita spheres and fruit caviar.

Libations would include … a champagne tower, of course! But I would keep it interesting with a variety of champagne cocktails, too. I would draw inspiration from Effervescence, a champagne bar in New Orleans, where you can find splendid bubble cocktails like Pom & Circumstance, made with cimmarón reposado tequila, pomegranate, lime, aperol, torres orange brandy, honey and mestres cava.

I would also be sure to have an espresso and coffee bar with all of the fixings to ensure guests will stay awake for the all-important countdown.

My guest count would be … based on the principle of the more the merrier! But if I had to quantify, a great number would be 321- as in “3-2-1 Happy New Year!”

I would invite guests with … hand-delivered balloons by cute guys and gals in their cocktail best. The invitation would be tied to the balloon string so that guests could keep the balloon at their desk or home in anticipation of the fun to come.

Special features would include …

• A balloon wall for photos and dancers in the disco suits for great photo ops.
• A live artist , like Yoyo Ferro, who would contour draw every guest at the party. Post-event, the images would be used for a follow-up thank you and social media posting.
• A dress-up station where guests could get outfitted with fun NYE- themed decorations like party hats, glasses, tiaras, and boas.
• A roving caricaturist would draw guests from across the room and surprise them with drawings of themselves. These would make great keepsakes from the event.
• A giant disco ball that everyone would help decorate.
• At midnight, our guests of honor Dolly Parton & Charles Barkley would lower the disco ball from the 15th floor of Ventanas to the 14th floor while the whole crowd stood underneath. This would double as a group photo and one heck of a way to remember the evening.
• And last, but definitely not least – helicopter rides around the city straight from our rooftop location.

I would incorporate the latest technologies with … LED screens on the elevator bringing guests to the 14th floor that would impart the impression of being a rising bubble in a champagne glass. I would have an Infinity LED dance floor to keep the guests on their feet.

My guests will go home with … custom champagne glasses or buckets and some funky, cool calendars to keep the memories fresh all year. I would also offer them take-home fireworks and, of course, hangover kits!

Our WM Events team has had multiple opportunities to work with the University System of Georgia Board of Regents and create décor for its annual event. A fundraiser for education hosted by the board’s foundation, this event took place at the elegant St. Regis Atlanta in Buckhead. For 2019, we were provided with storyboards based on the foundation’s 15th anniversary, which as it turns out, is the crystal anniversary.

Armed with the theme “Crystalizing Dreams + Transforming Lives,” we set to work honoring the pastel color palette inspired by rainbows, geodes and gems. We focused on creating an elevated opalescent event as we selected linens, created centerpieces, chose furniture and bar stylings, and developed sponsorship signage. Everything came together as a magical and celebratory experience.  

The 400 guests were welcomed through an elegant registration and entrance area featuring an acrylic welcome sign and luxe drapery. In the pre-function space, we highlighted the theme with cocktail tables featuring rosy and antique blue linens topped with floral and geo terrarium centerpieces. Mimicking the shape of crystals, polygon structures added another take on the theme. We styled the back-bar shelving with vases and small floral arrangements further enhancing the décor. Buffet arrangements were placed in tall, white vases for impact. A pastel rainbow met sophistication from top to bottom. 

In the ballroom, abstract leaves were projected on the drapery with lights, creating an atmosphere of sitting in a mythical, secret garden environment.

Guests were greeted with branded programs and gift bags in their reserved seats. We took care of the signage and sponsor inclusions, too. With blue peripheral uplighting, the room had an understated appeal that made the most of its dramatic chandeliers and otherwise muted tones.

One of our favorite areas was the terrace, where a tent of string lights rose above high communal tables draped with simple, white linens and surrounded with ghost stools. Interspersed with sparking golden votives, we filled rectangular glass vases with pink crystals and iridescent filler, floating candles within.

When it comes to getting events up and running, making sure everything is where it needs to be, and keeping our warehouse in shipshape condition, James is the one we count on. He’s like the wizard behind the curtain, and we couldn’t pull off the remarkable events we do without him. But how would James pull off his ideal event? Let’s find out …

If I were an event, I would be … a sports-themed watch party.

My purpose would be to … raise money for charity while celebrating the sports event everyone has gathered to watch.

My décor would reflect … the sports theme and focus on hues of blue, gray and black. The overall masculine vibe would be accented with sporty centerpieces paired with some seasonal florals.

My guests would be entertained by … first of all, watching the game. Go Braves! There would be plenty of other fun activities like virtual reality games, video games, a live band and a dancefloor.

My food and drink offerings would include … a variety of stadium fare from various regions, served buffet style. That could mean anything from 16.5-in. jalapeno cheddar sausages from Dodger Stadium to Buffalo Cauliflower Poutine from the Blue Jays’ Rogers Centre or Frito Pie with Brisket Chili from our own Mercedes-Benz Stadium. These sports-tastic eats would be paired with local craft beers and a signature margarita.

I would incorporate the latest technologies … with Jumbotrons that would allow guests to sit and watch the game as if they were courtside live.

The guest list would be … limited to a hundred or so diehard fans, and I would nominate Sarah to create the invitations and handle RSVPs. (Thanks, Sarah! 😉)

My guests will go home with … game-friendly swag like t-shirts from the competing teams and commemorative beer and margarita glasses. Keeping in mind that this is a fundraiser, guests would also receive prizes and gifts based on their donation levels.

Every year in spring, our royal friends in London host the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. From full gardens to creative installations, participants go all out in the name of florals. It’s an annual reminder that we are not the only flower-obsessed folks around and displays the depth and breadth of what florists and floral aficionados can achieve with them.

But when one of our team recently visited the UK capital, we were pleased to learn that floral décor went way beyond the gates of the flower show. In fact, Londoners seem wild about blooms and covered everything from doorway arches to balconies, windows, and exterior walls with arrangements. Some were bright and cheerful while others favored a more muted quality. And while we appreciate them all, we noticed a few that were in keeping with current trends on this side of the pond.

With the bleached flower trend on the rise, this retail space has it all – coffee, crepes and a beauty bar, plus a doorway framed in dried and faded florals.

We’ve seen a trend in using fluffy pampas grass in floral arrangements, and this quintessentially London balcony draped with pink and white called to mind the South American plant.

Instagram floral feeds lately have been replete with monochromatic floral designs using varying shades of the same color with little or no greenery and a lot of variety in the florals to provide texture. One London eatery took this trend to the max with bright orange and red blossoms backed by just a hint of green.

For a trend anyone can take home – literally – we spotted an abundance of flower boxes done right. Bright flower boxes adorn a mews house in Grosvenor and bring life to the famous Red Lion pub in Westminster near Downing Street, while the Pride of Paddington used nearly every inch as the right place for a few colorful blooms.

Even with the trend toward bleached flowers or lots of color, an appreciation for green was still easy to find. 

Just one final photo – we realize that technically this colorful installation is not made of flowers, but we love the Pride being displayed at Polo!

At WM Events, we have loved watching our team grow through the years – all 15 of them – and are thrilled to announce that events industry veteran Aaron Barba has joined us as inaugural + interim General Manager. Here to help us focus on the business of our business, Aaron is going to enhance operations and expand our internal and external relationships.

We’ve known and admired Aaron for a while – in fact, he previously worked with some of the most enduring companies in the Atlanta events industry, including Proof of the Pudding and Affairs to Remember Caterers. He brings more than a decade of experience in business operations, logistics and event management to our team. Most recently the owner of BarbaSCS a business consulting firm, Aaron has helped clients lower operational costs, increase profitability and grow market presence – exactly what we’re looking for as WM Events continues the trajectory of significant growth experienced the past two years.

With our 15th anniversary this year, WM Events continues to expand, and we have recently increased staff by 30 percent. Our goal is to continue providing the same personal, boutique-like experience to our clients even as we grow. In this effort, Aaron’s assistance is strategic, and it will enable us to build a healthy infrastructure to support our evolution. In his role as interim General Manager, Aaron will establish and develop the new position. He will then recruit and train his successor to re-focus on his consultancy.

In addition to his insight on business operations and the events industry, Aaron enjoys serving others, traveling, and tooling on anything with wheels, gears, or batteries.

See the Special Events magazine inclusion of Aaron in a recent weekly industry news roundup. We have enjoyed welcoming him to our WM Events team and look forward to introducing him to you!

Not many businesses make it to their 100th anniversary, and when we’re talking about a black-owned business in the South, that milestone becomes even more outstanding. WM Events was honored to design décor and manage the run of show for the Huntsville, Alabama-based Royal Funeral Home’s Centennial Celebration. A staple in the community for so many years, this family-owned business regularly hosts events for locals, and with this ticketed event, welcomed more than 300 leaders in the community and the local government for a night to remember.

Purple Passion
There was no need to deliberate about a color theme for this celebration – based on the client’s logo and the imperial name of the company, we immediately rolled out the purple carpet and coordinated all aspects of the décor around it.

We created a secret garden for the pre-function area, which gave a nod to the Royal Funeral Home cemetery in an elegant manner. After traversing the purple carpet, guests were greeted by boxwood walls decorated with flowers and greenery. Statues, columns, benches and park lamps enhanced the authentic feel. Branded boxwood walls served as the step-and-repeat for photo ops during this early portion of the event. When the reception began, guests entered through branded Royal gates into the main room.

While waiting for the royal procession, guests mingled in a reception area replete with highboys, cocktail tables and lounge seating – think velvety sofas and chairs, golden linens and lush toss pillows. Gold columns formed the perimeter, while crystal chandeliers floated above the space in the ballroom, imparting a luxe, elegant atmosphere. Guests enjoyed cocktails from the 16-ft. branded infinity bar, and the history of the Funeral home was on display for guests to read.

A Grand Entrance
In order to highlight the company’s legacy, a royal procession of the leaders and staff entered the room in grand style. The company had come down through the bloodline of the Queen Karen Smith, and she was resplendent in a crown of feathers, a dress with a long train and opera gloves. Her son and husband had aspects of her dress integrated into their outfits. After entering the dining room together, the staff sat at a grand table with custom print satin napkins and grand floral centerpieces, an arrangement intended to pay homage to the employees as part of the “family.”   

We planned the seating for the more than 300 attendees with a mixture of estate tables and variously sized round tables. Gold Chivari chairs with ivory cushions surrounded the tables, which were topped with specialty linens and extravagant place settings. A variety of centerpieces combining purple and green florals noted ticket levels in a subtle way. On stage, we continued the theme with a copper tile backdrop, purple drapes, a sparkling chandelier and lush vegetation. 

In addition to celebrating its own success, Royal Funeral Home honored the community during speaker presentations and by the incorporation of local artists into the event. While guests dined, they had the chance to enjoy live performances by Keke Wyatt and Kelly Rowland’s group June’s Diary before getting on their feet to show off their own moves on the dancefloor. 

Photography: AVO Communications

The expert on all things financial at WM Events, our accountant Catherine Cheely thinks numbers are a cause for celebration. Her special event concept would turn the annual deadline for filing taxes into a fun event people would actually look forward to each year. Just imagine – it’s every CPAs dream!

If I were an event, I would be … a Do Your Taxes Bash.

My purpose would be to … host a party for tax procrastinators who could bring their W-2s and other documents so that we can have a fun get-together where everyone can finish and file their taxes.

I would take place … at the co-working space Strongbox West.

My colors would be … chosen in honor of money, so green and gold.

My centerpieces would … eschew florals in favor of piggy banks stuffed with play money, while plastic gold coins would be scattered on the tables and throughout the room. Guests would wipe away their tax woes with 1040 tax form napkins.

My guests would enjoy … tunes from a money-loving DJ who would play a rotation of favorite finance songs. Here’s a sample of my playlist:

“She Works Hard for the Money” – Donna Summer
“Can’t Buy Me Love” – The Beatles
“Can I Have My Money Back” – Gerry Rafferty
“Money for Nothing” – Dire Straits
“Money, Money, Money” – ABBA
“Bills, Bills, Bills” – Destiny’s Child
“Working for a Living” – Huey Lewis and the News
“Rich Girl” – Hall & Oats
“Easy Money” – Billy Joel
“I’d Rather Be Rich” – Chicago
“Low Budget” – The Kinks
“Lap of Luxury” – Jethro Tull
“Take This Job and Shove It” – Johnny Paycheck
“Who Will Buy My Memories?” – Willie Nelson
“Just Got Paid” – ZZ Top
“Take the Money and Run” – Steve Miller Band

and of course…

“Taxman” – The Beatles

To work out tax form frustration, guests could participate in a rousing game of Pin the Tail on the IRS Commissioner. This adult version of the classic children’s party game involves guests being blindfolded and spun around before asking them to pin a tail onto a poster of the current IRS commissioner whose head has been superimposed on a donkey.

My food and drink offerings would include … a variety of food stations set up throughout the room, each named as a numbered Exhibit. For example, there would be an appetizer table, a finger food table, a coffee bar, a dessert table, a cookie bar, and a beer and wine table.

My signature cocktail … the Income Tax, would mix gin with orange juice, dry and sweet vermouth, and a dash of bitters, naturally.

I would welcome … up to 15 guests – it’s just a magic tax number, especially for the self-employed.

My invitation would … take the form of a fake W-2 made out to each of the guests. They would receive the invitation by mail and be sure to open it because it will look just like an official document.

Special features would include … an onsite tax professional who would be available to answer guests’ tax questions. Prizes would be awarded for:

• The first couple and first single to complete and e-file
• The taxpayer who owes the most
• The taxpayer who owes the least
• The person with the craziest deduction

While the DJ keeps the energy up for guests still ploughing through their forms, as people finish and file, they can sit back and relax at the movie marathon, where they will enjoy films like:

• The Blues Brothers
• The Adventures of Robin Hood
• The Untouchables
• It Could Happen to You
• The Producers
• Stranger than Fiction

I would incorporate the latest technologies by … setting up docking stations; printers; secure, high-speed WiFi, calculators and plenty of pencils (the original tech)!

My guests will go home with … a debt payoff tracker, money bags filled with candy like chocolate coin candies and fun-size PayDay and 100 Grand candy bars. Not to mention, the sense of accomplishment of making through another April 15.

When Butler Auto Group needed to plan the opening of its new Audi dealership in South Atlanta, the WM Events team was “auto”-matically a perfect fit for the job. With a hefty event guide from Audi corporate to direct us, we shifted what could have been a low-key launch into high gear and drove home the concept of Kundenbegeisterung – that’s German for “inspiring customer delight” if you didn’t know. Not only is our team well versed in Kundenbegeisterung, we had previously planned two events for another luxury German car brand, and to top it off, our founder William is an Audi owner.

Greeting some 200 guests at Butler Auto Group’s new state-of-the-art, high-design building, were nearly a dozen valets. Guests entered the building through the red-carpet-lined service department, an important focus for the dealership, where they received champagne and a tour from awaiting models. 

Upstairs, a reception featured heavy passed hors d’oeuvres developed by Affairs to Remember caterers offering a nod to both Audi’s German roots and the dealership’s Atlanta location with dishes like German-Southern Nachos and Pork Belly Smoke Stack on Fried Green Tomato. There was also a cheese selection accompanied by assorted meats and mustards, along with snacks like pretzels and cheese straws. Of course, beer was a must, and we served it from behind two Audi-branded bars, where guests also had the option of Audi Red Quattro cocktails.

Within the showroom, we placed highboy tables with elegant, white linens and Ghost stools. Tasteful centerpieces featured white florals and silver, black or red votives in keeping with Audi’s brand palette. Working with the dealership’s existing black lounge furniture, we added branded pillows to tie it into the theme. Overall, we kept the décor simple because the real showstoppers were the vehicles, including the Audi Le Mans Car, which was so cool – watch out, it could be William’s next ride.

For cutting the ribbon and making presentations, we set up an audio-visual package including uplighting and downlighting, a backstage area, an acrylic podium that complemented the Ghost stools, and a graphics package. Emcee Lamman Rucker kept the ceremony zipping along, and by the end of the evening, Butler Auto Group had not only cut the ribbon on its new location, the team had also been presented with an award from Audi’s German executives. Guests went home with embossed black coasters customized with their initials.

All in all, the event was ausgezeichnet, and we’ve already been back to the Audi South Atlanta dealership to help launch the Audi e-tron all-electric SUV.

At WM Events, Sarah Sadlock holds the title of Creative Synergist, which to us means that she’s an expert at blending color, style and design to eye-popping effect. She’s also known for her fondness for florals, so when Sarah imagines herself as an event, we know it’s going to be beautiful!

If I were an event, I would be … a wedding or vow renewal. I’m a sucker for love! My intimate ceremony, where not a dry eye would be found, would be followed by an elegant, seated dinner.

I would take place … in an industrial studio or warehouse space with lots of natural light and plenty of history and character. A blank slate is best when you have a specific look you’re trying to achieve … which “I do.”

My theme would be … boho-glam + romance.

My colors would be … moody, muted hues mixed with metallics. I would show off dusty neutrals, pinks, mauves and purples with touches of black and charcoal. A touch of mixed metals would bring the glam.

My florals would … continue the soft but dramatic palette with muted hues mixed with intensely dark purple and black. Some of my favorites that you could expect to find include ranunculus, anemones, tulips, orchids, antique carnations (swoon), scabiosa, blushing bride protea, anthurium, garden roses, pampas grass and other dried stems.

My entertainment would be … a live band that covers guests’ favorite songs in a fun and unique way. My RSVP card would ask guests for their favorite song so that the band has a good idea of what everyone wants to hear. A cigar bar complete with vintage boxes, accessories and custom wrappers will add to the vintage quality of the night.

There is no meal better than … a simple, refined, farm-to-table authentic Italian meal. This meal would include the many traditional courses: the aperitivo, which consists of a glass of prosecco or spumante, served with small dishes of olives, nuts and a variety cheeses. The antipasti, which would include dishes like prosciutto e melone and a simple but elegant bruschetta with fresh garlic and fava beans. The primi course would be a perfectly cooked risotto, followed by the secondi course with roasted veal or lamb. Dolce (dessert) would include an out-of-this-world caramel panna cotta. To finish up, guests would end with a strong espresso and grappa served with biscotti for dipping, to get them refreshed and ready to hit the dance floor!

Beyond dinner, my guests would partake in … couples cakes that perfectly match the décor- no traditional white wedding cake with a groom’s cake off to the side as an afterthought.  And to completely surprise guests and satisfy late night food cravings before they head home, a food truck from an Atlanta staple like the Waffle House or the Varsity would arrive just in time!

Cocktails for the reception would include … a classic Negroni along with expert wine pairings throughout the meal.

My guest count would be … limited to 50 or fewer so that the intimate quality of the event would be maintained.

I would invite guests with … a traditional, full-suite mailed invitation. For a modern, on-trend touch, I would utilize either acrylic or vellum as well as metallic foil. Matte black envelopes with bespoke calligraphy would finish the look.

Special features would include … a show-stopping altar with vintage brass lights, flowers and pampas grass; a distinctive seating chart featuring mirror, metallics and a witty tagline; a romantic altar lined with sleek, clean-lined glass lanterns in matte black or brass; a statement-making ceiling installation featuring pampas grass and painted metallic and black palms; acrylic chairs and tables mixed with soft linen for the ultimate contrast in textures; vintage glassware and place settings in matte black and shades of pink; and a plush, feminine lounge grouping with layered bohemian rugs, ornate velvet chairs, and fur and gold accents.

When it’s time for selfies … I would encourage my guests to unplug for the evening and instead enjoy a roaming photobooth. One of my favorite ways to get photos from the guest’s perspective is with a mirror photobooth, which would also be a perfect complement to the décor.

My guests will go home with … vintage handkerchiefs with their monogram. These throwback linens do double duty as a ceremony necessity and a thoughtful take-home gift.

Overall, my event would inspire … love! At the end of the day, a wedding or vow renewal should be all about the connection the two people share. With an intimate guest list, thoughtful and romantic design, live music everyone can sing along to, and a variety of personal touches from the couple, guests will definitely be feeling the love.

Our WM Events team was thrilled to work with TechBridge again this year to plan the organization’s Digital Ball. The 2018 event we designed won an Allie Award for Best Non-Profit/ Fundraiser, and we knew we had to outdo ourselves for the 19th-annual installment. Inspired by this year’s theme “Achieving Bold Transformations,” we set about to transform the Hyatt Regency into a place of light and magic to captivate the 800+ savvy guests and keep them talking until 2020.

Bewitching Branding
While our design begins with a theme and a color palette, branding an event to highlight the host organization is also key. In the case of the Digital Ball, in addition to incorporating TechBridge’s messaging, we needed to seamlessly introduce a variety of corporate sponsors into the evening’s program. We started in the pre-reception with features like logo gobo lights on the lobby floor, a custom box environment including sponsor graphics, and a rotating cylinder promoting TechBridge statistics. The step & repeat was branded with the host logo, and guests had the chance to choose from messaging props to rev up their selfies.

Because this organization and many of the guests are part of the technology world, we also brought in some more high-tech displays like the 80-in. seating chart monitors and two 60-in. monitors showcasing sponsors and the evening’s honorees. We included plenty of branded signage throughout, directing guests to registration, the pre-reception VIP, and later to the ballroom.

Dazzling Décor
Within the ballroom, 95 round tables draped with TechBridge green, blue and turquoise linens featured pops of color from warm orange florals in modern glass bowls or lighted spheres reminiscent of gyroscopes and the event’s theme graphic. Keeping the tablescapes low maintained sightlines throughout the large ballroom. With such a spacious area, we added table wayfinding signs directing to numbered table sections so that guests would not need to scout an entire room before locating their seat.

Throughout the ballroom, we continued honoring sponsors and transformed the space through the use of light. Gobos directed sponsor logos along the walls, while the stage was lit up with LED tubes and LED spandex cubes. Combined with four giant monitors, which displayed multiple images and messages, the stage lighting and twisted, glowing cube formations imparted a definite high-tech vibe.  

Enchanted Entertainment
The stage was set for a spectacular program, and we brought in emcee and auctioneer TiWanna A. Kenney to kick things off – and help raise plenty of money, of course! After wowing the Digital Ball guests with a little bit of magic provided by a mentalist last year, we upped the ante with The Digital Illusionists who combine digital technology, sleight of hand and psychological surprises. Coming to Atlanta all the way from the U.K., Keelan Leyser and Matt Daniel-Baker make magic with the use of today’s technology like smart phones and LED walls. Their jaw-dropping act filled with virtual reality, augmented reality and reality we don’t even have a name for proved the be the perfect fit for the TechBridge audience. 

This year’s Digital Ball was capped off with an after party with DJ Tim DeGroot with Rare Form DJ Crew spinning tunes that inspired magic on the dancefloor. Guests who were more interested in relaxing could kick back on glowing cubes and white leather furniture like round sectionals and a double-sided serpentine lounge – tossed with branded pillows, of course.  

Before The Digital Illusionists headed back to the U.K., we asked to take a look into their magic crystal iPad. We’re happy to report that we foresaw a wondrous future for TechBridge.

Event Planning, Management & Design: WM Events
Venue & Catering: Hyatt Regency
Photography: PWP Studio

When WM Events floral designer Mark Good imagines himself as an event, it will be everyone’s cue to go “dog” wild. Anyone ready for fun would be welcome to join in, including partygoers of the four-legged variety.

If I were an event, I would be … a Fantasy in Flashy Blinky with the chance to dance the night away.

My purpose would be to … raise money for the homeless, and that includes people and pets!

I would take place … in Atlanta’s Piedmont Park so that dogs could join us. I would wait until after dark so the lights would be seen flashing all around, and it wouldn’t be too hot for the drag queens.

My colors would be … Rainbow Bright!

My florals would … complement the theme of bright colors and flashing lights with arrangements of shocking blue and orange crush limbo roses accented with coral charm peonies.

My guests would enjoy … all of the best booty-shaking music and drag queens, a performance from Miss Shawna Brooks, and a kick-ass high school band. It’s important to support youth arts programs, after all.

My food and drink offerings would include … Salty Dogs with Tito’s vodka for the humans and handcrafted treats for the dogs.

My guest count would be … unlimited – everyone who promises to donate money and dance would be welcome.

My “invitation” would … include a light-up feature to give a preview of the illuminating party to come.

Special features would include … glow sticks for everyone! I would also have lots of balloons in rainbow colors and noiseless fireworks (so we won’t scare the dogs).

My guests will go home with … photos with friends, glow-in-the-dark tattoos, and the warm feeling that comes from having fun and helping others.

They say you can’t go home again, but rapper Quavo begs to differ. To celebrate his hometown pride and do something special for his community, Quavo hosted Huncho Day at his former school in an Atlanta suburb. Did you know that he was actually a record-setting QB back in the day at Berkmar High School?

For Huncho Day, Quavo called upon his friends like Migos mates Takeoff and Offset, as well as football greats Colin Kaepernick, Cam Newton, Saquon Barkley, Alvin Kamera and Julio Jones, and Von Miller to play a game of flag football for local children and their families. Rappers Gucci Mane and K Camp, along with a who’s who of music-industry producers and DJs rounded out the renowned roster. If this star-studded game weren’t enough, the spring day also offered attendees the chance to participate in an Easter egg roll and hunt, eat snacks, play midway games and hop aboard a gigantic Ferris wheel.

Pulling together this level of event was an athletic feat, but WM Events was up to the challenge! Our team set up a tented check-in area with tables, linens, signage and cloudbuster balloons at the nearby Gwinnett Place Mall and created all of the various spaces and activations onsite at Berkmar High School, including organizing parking and decking out the field house entrance with balloon pillars and a modular carpet runner in Huncho Day colors.

Inside the field house, the VIP and Family Lounge featured chic white seating with branded pillows. Signage announced Quavo’s birthday, and the red, black and white color scheme was maintained throughout with touches of referee-themed and red drapery to enclose the space.

Nearby, the custom-carpeted locker room was set up for Team AK – led by Alvin Kamera – and Team Huncho – with Quavo as captain – with their respective teammates divided on two sides. Quavo actually used the same locker for this event as he did in high school, bringing the whole experience full circle. Our team printed and hung “big head” cut outs of all of the players faces from the ceiling, adding a touch of whimsy and fun to the otherwise sleek locker room.

We developed a full carnival outside with tents, picnic tables and lots of midway games like Fat Cats and Pop-a-Shot Basketball. For younger children, there were three inflatable bounce houses, and it’s possible that the 47-ft. Ferris wheel was filled with riders throughout the whole event.

On another area of the school’s greenspace, we created a massive Easter Egg Lawn in beautiful spring colors. This was our chance to show off our WM Events floral skills, so we constructed a garden setting with benches, ferns, ficus trees, and a wheelbarrow cart. A delicate white gazebo and lattice walls coordinated with the giant mesh QC – as in Quality Control, Migos’ record label – that we lined with purple, pink and yellow flowers. Kids loved the competitive Easter egg roll, and the burst of color was even enough to entice the Easter Bunny to stop by.

At game time, everyone headed to the field to watch rappers and NFL greats go head to head after running onto the field in glory beneath 6-ft. balloon archways. We printed signage for all areas of the field, including the big Team AK and Team Huncho banners the players were happy to burst through, and installed a branded DJ booth at the edge of the field.

Quavo got almost everything he wanted for his birthday, but Team Huncho fell to Team AK, and Alvin Kamera was named MVP. However, Quavo did prove that you can go home again, it’s just best when you are amazingly successful and can invite lots of celebs and a few thousand of your closest friends to join the party. Thanks to our friends at The Vanity Group for bringing us in on this winning project!

Event Planning & Management: The Vanity Group
Event Design: WM Events
Photography: PWP Studio