Event Planning Ideas, Trends & Inspiration

At WM Events, we plan everything from small gatherings to massive functions for thousands of guests. When it comes to design assistant Latoya Johnson, bigger doesn’t always mean better. A chef and world traveler, Toya’s take on the perfect event is intimate and personal.

If I were an event, I would be … a dinner party! I would welcome guests to a relaxing seated dinner and offer them the most attentive table service.

My purpose would be to … celebrate an annual occasion like an anniversary or birthday.

I would take place … in a warehouse, garden or courtyard. The venue itself would not be as important as the décor, which would begin with market lights strung across the ceiling to create that impression of a European bistro.

My colors would be … rich. With market lights in place, it would be time to choose décor colors. I would go for deep hues like blue and purple and complement them with warm copper. This combination of lighting and color would impart the intimate atmosphere that is key to my celebration.

My cuisine would honor … the tastes of the Caribbean. To complement this flavorful and sometimes spicy fare, I would offer a crisp sparkling wine.

My guests would enjoy entertainment, including … tunes from a special playlist I would create with my guests in mind. During dinner, I would offer topics of conversation to make sure there would be no lulls. Perhaps everyone would offer answers to the Proust Questionnaire. Following dinner, guests would have the opportunity to get to know each other and themselves even better with activities like psychic readings and henna body art.

My guest count would be … just eight.

My “invitation” would be … formal. My eight special guests would receive a beautiful, handcrafted invitation in the mail.

Special features would include … a surprise location. I love events that astonish and delight guests with the unknown and take them on a journey through the experience of the event.

I would incorporate the latest technologies by … actually, no technology would be allowed. Sorry, Instagram and Snapchat, but my guests will talk to each other and smile for each other.

My guests will go home with … a custom bottle of wine or spice mix kit imparting the flavors of our dinner to remember the event during future meals.

To thank them for the support they show all season, the Atlanta Hawks players invited their super premium ticketholders to Taste of the Hawks at the Southern Exchange’s new event space The Cellar in downtown Atlanta. We knew that the 600 guests, used to living large, would have high expectations, so we went deep into our playbook to develop a winning event production strategy. In the end, the three-hour party earned a triple-double with points for on-theme décor, fare and entertainment.

Slam Dunking the Décor
Taking the sporting concept to the next level, we mixed basketball-inspired features and the Hawks’ signature red with luxury elements and ambient amber lighting to create a warm welcome in the industrial-style Cellar. A new take on the red carpet, we placed hexagon tiles outside the door, and guests were greeted by 6-ft. letters spelling out HAWKS, just in case anyone forgot whose party it was.  

Basketball hoop chandeliers and glowing red orbs hanging from the ceiling put a twist on court style, while plexiglass bars backed in mirror and filled with balls and mylar balloons spoke of infinite shooting space. We wrapped the venue’s concrete columns with player posters and created a “trophy” wall of basketballs. Seating maintained the sense of warm luxury with a variety of metallic linens draped on cocktail tables, and communal highboys were dotted with Ghost stools. The elegant, understated centerpieces incorporated red or white florals that were paired with inconspicuous votives. Guests more inclined to kick back and relax had plenty of options with lounge areas featuring comfortable sofas and chairs tossed with Hawks pillows.

Full-court Fare
We kept up with the basketball theme in naming food stations, which were placed throughout the main event space and identified with coordinating graphic signage. After starting off the evening with yummy passed apps like Shrimp and Grits Shots and Donut Hole Mini Burgers, we got the players in on the action by tasking them with helping to serve at the food stations, which enabled them to easily mingle with the majority of the guests. Station names like Swish Southern Nacho Bar, Pick and Roll Sushi and Point Guard Peppered Beef Poutine added an element of fun.

Overtime Entertainment
With a guest list of high-end basketball fans, we knew we had to bring it with the entertainment. Working with in-house DJ Big Tigger, we branded the DJ booth with a glowing “Taste of the Hawks,” so the music piece was an automatic win. We brought in a photo booth with a backdrop of gold and silver spheres and with social media capability so guests could post and hashtag with abandon. To add street cred, a local graffiti artist spent the evening creating a mural as guests watched. By the end of the night, it became a favorite photo spot.

No one went home empty handed because we hosted a coaster-making activity, which featured pre-stamped leather coasters with the Hawks logo. Guests had the chance to get them laser engraved with their monogram onsite.

A party fit for the kings of the court, we were thrilled to inaugurate The Cellar with this high-profile event.

Venue: Southern Exchange
Catering: Affairs to Remember
Design: WM Events
Photography: Jack Parada Photography & Kat Goduco Photography

Kicking off the series, event planner Rachel Smith is all about the details when it comes to organizing experiences and handling client logistics. A music superfan, Rachel’s event type of choice should come as no surprise.

If I were an event, I would be … a three-day music festival!

My purpose would be to … showcase a variety of music and provide a fun environment that could be relaxing as needed thanks to incorporating pockets away from stages. But there would also be a big dance party at every stage to get everyone head bobbing and jamming out. I would offer a little bit of fun for all attendees.

I would take place … outside in May, maybe in a park, on the beach or even in the woods. My guests would love the opportunity to be in nature, just wander around, and find the music and party organically.

For dining options, I would have plenty of … food trucks, and they would serve all of the great handheld foods that are greasy and delicious like tacos, chicken fingers, barbecue, French fries, and especially pork rinds with vinegar. To complement hot fare, refreshing frozen lemonades, ice cream, popsicles, and a smoothie or Italian ice stand would be included, too.

My signature beverage would be … a specialty brewed beer that would be just perfect with the food truck fare.

My guest count would be … based on ticket sales. I might be an intimate festival with just a couple hundred people and one stage, but the interesting logistical challenge of hosting at least three stages and managing multiple schedules could be equally possible.

My “invitation” would be … digital and consist of lots of consistent social media promotion. I would work with social influencers to reach my perfect audiences.

Special features and activations would include … sponsor lounges and installations, meet & greets, and epic photo ops (I want to be everywhere on social media!). Branded swag would need to be useful and not just another item to carry around, so pieces like fanny packs, hats and koozies. All of these special features would be included in the initial ticket price.

I would incorporate the latest technologies by … featuring a 360-degree photo booth and creating Snapchat filters. Social media is vital for public and private events these days!

I hope my guests … make this festival experience what they want it to be. With crowded areas, quieter pockets, fun festival fare, ice cold treats and brews, great people watching, and of course, all of the live music, my free-flowing, sometimes chaotic, always entertaining event would be an overall exhilarating weekend.

The arrival of virtual reality technology has created a completely new type of guest experience at corporate events. With the ability to transform an event space using a huge range of virtual environments, experiences, videos, and more, brands are figuring out exactly how this new activation can work for their specific needs. With so many different variations available, it can help to know how VR is currently being incorporated into event plans. Having developed VR activations for a wide range of events, the VirtualRealityRental.co team has a few options to consider to get the most out of your VR event rental.

Working within your space
The physical space available at your event will always play a part in the guest experience you create. The good news about using VR is that it can turn almost any space into a completely new virtual world. Using a small table, some chairs, and a few VR headsets, you can take your guests on a trip around the world, have them play through really fun games, create entire team building experiences, or even take them on a tour of your home headquarters.

However, if you have more space to work with, you have the option of creating a fully interactive virtual space where your guests’ head, hand, and even foot movement can be tracked. Imagine walking up to a soccer ball and kicking it in VR, reaching out to grab a virtual object and it really being there, or moving around a giant obstacle that wasn’t there before you entered the experience.

Achieving your event goals
Your specific event goals will impact the final VR activation that you choose for your guests. For example you might want to drive leads, maximize foot traffic, build brand awareness, have fun at a holiday party, or create an engaging team building experience. While all of these goals can be achieved with virtual reality activations, you’ll likely want to choose different experiences to make them happen.

Events geared toward driving leads often choose experiences that draw a crowd while using their guests as a billboard for their event space. This includes activations that create guest reactions that are easily seen or heard throughout a large area. VR simulators are great for this purpose because they get guests moving and allow them to things they’ve always wanted to do in real life such as hit home runs in major stadiums, test their fear of heights above city buildings, or drive a Ferrari on a professional course.

Alternatively, if an event is designed to build brand awareness there are other directions to take. Not only can VR equipment be branded, but the actual VR experience can be customized to showcase products, logos, or other designs. For example, you can bring your new product into a virtual space and allow your supporters to add their own flare through a VR painting experience. This not only promotes your brand inside-and-out but also gets people excited to share your event experience with others.

Choosing the right VR experience for you
In the end, a VR activation should fully utilize your event space to create a guest experience that meets your event goals in an unforgettable way. Thankfully, the range of VR activations already available, along with the steady increase of new options popping up, has put virtual reality within the grasp of anyone looking to bring it to their corporate event.

Written by:
Mitchell Adams
Marking Manager
VirtualRealityRental.co

ATLANTA (March 15, 2019) – With nominations in five categories, Atlanta-based event planning firm WM Events brought home two wins from the 29th Annual Allie Awards on Sunday. Earning honors for Social Event Under $50K and Best Non-Profit Fundraiser, WM Events also served as part of the event team for additional winning projects this year.

Established in 1991, the Allie Awards recognize local event companies performing at a global level of excellence.

“It’s our 15th year in business, and winning the Allie Awards is a great way to kick off the celebration,” said William Folger, principal of WM Events. “Being recognized by other professionals in our industry is a special honor, and we are grateful for the acknowledgment.”

For their Surprising 60 on a Rooftop event, a surprise birthday party, the WM Events team earned a Best Social Event Allie Award. Held at Ventanas in downtown Atlanta, this super-chic event was kept on the hush throughout the planning. Hosted by a Los Angeles resident for her girlfriend in Atlanta, the logistics came with plenty of challenges. It was all worthwhile when the birthday gal’s helicopter landed on the rooftop of the venue to be greeted by 200 friends and family she had no idea would be there.

WM Events earned Best Non-Profit Fundraiser for Part Science, Part Magic: A High-Tech Gala, the 18th-annual Digital Ball benefiting TechBridge. Welcoming nearly 1,000 tech-savvy community leaders, the Digital Ball required the WM team to go high-tech with décor and incorporate innovative features like virtual reality and a virtual assistant named Bridget. But to really wow the guests who were in the know about the latest developments in technology, WM Events brought the magic with an emcee and entertainment highlighting amazing mentalist capabilities. This combination of science and magic in one spectacular evening enabled the event to raise more than $1 million.

In addition to the firm’s wins, WM Events contributed to awarded events in multiple categories.

“We celebrate the honors of our strategic partners who brought home Allies this year,” said Fogler. “We are excited that our team supported these winning events by contributing the design and floral elements.”

About WM Events

Celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2019, WM Events was founded by award-winning designer, planner and consultant William Fogler. WM Events is a nationally recognized, full-service event planning and design firm based in Atlanta that specializes in corporate events, fundraisers, meetings, tradeshow design and private affairs. WM Events is located at 767 Trabert Avenue, Atlanta, Georgia 30318 and can be reached at 678-251-6363 or by visiting https://wmevents.com.

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When the best teams in the NFL go head to head in the season-ending game of champions, the host city floods with international VIPs. That’s exactly what happened last month when Super Bowl LIII, that’s 53 to you non-Romans, took place in Atlanta. Pitting the zillion-time defending New England Patriots against the Rams from sunny Los Angeles, this year’s matchup brought Maroon 5, Big Boi and even Gladys Knight to perform at the acclaimed Mercedes-Benz Stadium. For the WM Events team, the week of Super Bowl was taken up with doing what we do best – producing events. Here are two that we think really scored.

Sumptuous Speakeasy
On pre-game Friday evening, WM Events secured admission to one of Atlanta’s best-kept secret locations for NBCUniversal’s 40 dinner guests. Within the award-winning Italian steakhouse KR SteakBar, The Bureau is a private speakeasy with a nod to the 1920s and a rich, masculine vibe. It proved to be a fitting location for these sports execs and fans who dined on a five-course meal served family style in this intimate atmosphere.

To accommodate guests, we created two long tables and topped them with arctic velvet linens in seafoam then lined them with a mixture of tall and short moody centerpieces in heavy silver vases. With the addition of 40 mercury glass votives, a sumptuous impression was created. Oversized versions of the centerpieces were placed in the room, which was illuminated with uplighting. The evening’s sole branding, embroidered napkins displayed the NBCUniversal logo.

Completing the prohibition-era theme, the evening’s entertainment included songstress Kayce Grogan-Wallace and pianist Judy Cole. Paired with Chef Kevin Rathbun’s menu, which featured dishes like Pappardelle with Duck Confit and Wagyu Spinalis, the décor, music and surrounding leather banquettes ignited all the senses.   

Pre-Game at Paschal’s
For a much larger Super Bowl party, we decked out event spaces at the famous Southern restaurant Paschal’s where a corporate client welcomed 150 guests during the hours before the big game. In the historic downtown space located just blocks from the stadium, we again incorporated a masculine décor that was brightened with metallic accents and crystal, gold and brass chandeliers.

Guests entered the venue through the Carousel Lounge courtyard and were greeted by all the fresh kettle corn they could eat. Inside, we used drapery to transform space and meet the needs of the event, constructing a coat check and registration area with tall sheers. By lining the tunnel into the larger event space with satin drapery and projecting colorful lights onto it, we created an impactful, celebratory entrance.

The main event space featured a variety of seating, always maintaining a rich, Southern traditional feel, with subtle gridiron accents like mini footballs in hexagonal centerpieces and helmets serving as planters. Other sports were honored too with antique equipment placed throughout the perimeter. The historic, sporting theme was apparent yet not overdone.

Combining brown leather sofas, wood tables and metal accents with gold and jewel tones imparted a total sense of richness from the seating to the farmhouse food tables. Muted, spiny greenery and succulents provided an on-theme exchange for floral centerpieces. Nevertheless, the sparkle was omnipresent in the form of golden, lit votives placed everywhere. 

Now on to Miami in 2020 for Super Bowl 54!

Photography: PWP Studio

After a refined luncheon at Watershed on Peachtree featuring tea sandwiches and salads, the Winter Olympics of mitzvahs kicked off at the trendy, industrial King Plow on Atlanta’s Westside. For one night, the spare, gallery-style venue was transformed into a winter wonderland for snow junkies that brought a 13-year-old girl’s love of Montana’s great outdoors to life. From the entrance of Libby’s Big Sky Adventure Ski Lodge to the 72-by-30-in. snowboard sign-in poster, the theme was honored to the smallest detail.

Fresh Mountain Air

To set the scene, we created an entrance with split-rail fencing, multiple displays of white snowy trees rising out of puffy “snow” and a rustic directional sign showing the way to the event’s many adventures. A carved wooden bear and vintage Silver Streak sled welcomed guests to the main event.

On tables, we established the mountain ski retreat atmosphere with green and red plaid or fur linens. For centerpieces, we created cylindrical votives floating with tea lights, cranberries and spruce sprigs or lighted spruce displays under globes surrounded with tree cuttings and pinecones. Sitting atop the plaid linens and flaked with “snow,” these tablescapes provided a true mountain feel in the reception area where lounge seating with cozy toss pillows offered mature guests a haven. Tables in the Big Sky Adventure room presented a sportier theme with hockey sticks standing in the snow in large glass vases, ice skates, and hockey sticker-wrapped votives. Here, gobo light snowflakes surrounded “Libby” on one full wall, while snowflakes and a disco ball dangled from the ceiling.

Game On

We packed in plenty of entertainment knowing that a great DJ and a team of dancers are de rigueur at a mitzvah celebration today. We added dance cubes and our special “flashy blinky” package that is much in demand at most of our recent events. But we didn’t stop there! This was a sporty-mountain-winter celebration after all. To keep everyone entertained nonstop, we set up bubble dome hockey, an Alpine skier racing set, and air hockey games.

The Grub

We began the evening with passed hors d’oeuvres, and adults were able to partake of dinner stations like a carving board and sautéed baby spinach served by chef attendants. But when it came to kid-friendly fare, we rustled up favorites like fried chicken tenders, pizza, BBQ brisket sandwiches, mac and cheese, and Southern-style coleslaw. The menu also included French fries with a variety of dipping sauces. Nothing says Big Sky like cooking over an open fire, so for dessert, the chef was replaced by a “firefighter” who assisted kids with roasting marshmallows and making s’mores. 

Make It a Mitzvah

Even with all of the décor, entertainment and food, it wouldn’t be a bat mitzvah without …

A grand entrance. To welcome Libby, guests lined up in two facing rows and created an arch with raised hockey sticks.

A Nicki Minaj cutout? This kid knows what she likes, ok? And it’s winter sports and Nikki Minaj. Nicki was the perfect addition to everyone’s selfies, anyway.

A photo booth. In addition to posing with Nicki, guests headed to the photo booth to don hats, glasses, and other gear to make memories.

A personalized Snapchat geofilter. Where else would attendees under the age of 20 post their pictures and selfies? 

A candy bar. Of course! We decorated the candy table with origami snowflakes and let the kids – and more than a few adults – have at it.

Socks. Because kids don’t really want to walk around in those fancy shoes they had to wear, trading them in for some gift socks usually happens right away. In keeping with the mountain resort theme, we selected comfy cabin socks. To complement the socks, guests also received a t-shirt with the Big Sky Adventure logo we had designed for the celebration.

The hora. Everyone’s favorite dance gave Libby, her mom, and her dad the chance to be lifted above the crowd and hang on for dear life. Do we need to mention that Nicki Minaj got in on this action too?

Overall, this trip to the mountains was (pick one): fun, gnarly, sick, or a bomber. We’re not actually sure what some of those skier terms mean, but we’re definitely ready for an après-ski.

Venue: King Plow Arts Center
Catering: Bold Catering & Design
Design, Coordination & Management: WM Events
Entertainment: Yvonne Monet Events
Photography: Lyndsey Wright Photography
Photo Booth: Button It Up
Rentals: Monte Carlo Productions, Collection Event Furnishing & AFR

Through the years, our WM Events team has designed and planned its share of weddings. From chic to contemporary to rustic, we’ve been expert at bringing every couple’s vision to life. Once, we even planned an entire wedding around the simple theme of purple. But whatever the inspiration, one factor always remained the same – romance.

We have such a thing for romance here, that we don’t think it should be allowed only at weddings. Recently, our team got the chance to pull out all of the romantic stops at a 70th birthday party for one lovely lady whose celebration for 30 guests was a night to remember. And the birthday gal even wore white.  

On the gorgeous lawn behind her private home, we created an outdoor experience reminiscent of the Italian countryside. Stringing market lights across the space, we added grapevine balls to provide an air of rusticity. One hundred LED candles lined the pathways through the space and twinkle lights and lanterns added more ambiance as well as illumination.

Below, weathered estate farm tables were stretched into a single row and topped with a runner of live moss. This verdant feature welcomed low, floral centerpieces filled with lush, white and pink ranunculus and roses – garden and standard – golden votives, and greenery.  Encircled by mossy twigs, place settings maintained the midsummer forest feel. Elegant, cushioned dining chairs lined the table, and the birthday honoree sat in a throne-like, high-back arm chair.

We added wedding-style accents throughout the reception area, like framed family photos and chilling champagne. The table centerpieces with their delicate rosy blooms were repeated throughout the entire space. With so much romantic style, the birthday cake could not disappoint. The three-tier beauty iced in light pink featured a diamante base to each layer and live florals that complemented the décor. At the top, a sparking “70” disclosed the reason for the celebration.

Following a dinner marked by emotional speeches, guests enjoyed a multicolored fireworks display before trying their luck at the mini-casino, which included craps and a poker table. 

This elegant affair showed that weddings aren’t the only cause for infusing romance into events. Because love never goes out of style.

Event Design & Floral: WM Events
Catering: Affairs to Remember
Photography: PWP Studio
Casino: Monte Carlo Productions
Rentals: Collection Event Furnishings, I Do Linens 

When a hotel management company brought us on board to design its annual sales team meeting, we took inspiration from the New Orleans location to create a festive two-day event with a Mardi Gras theme. And just like the city’s annual anything-goes celebration, we pulled out all the stops.

The fun atmosphere started with registration where colorful signage and a jazz band welcomed guests who had the chance to partake in fresh, fruity cocktails and shrimp & grits. We branded the check-in booths and the bars to make the public space feel like the client owned it.

At the general session, WM Events created the overall look, which subtly presented Mardi Gras colors. The stage backdrop mixed tiles in the brand’s logo with a stylized floral design reminiscent of French Quarter tin ceiling tiles. With stage lighting in purple, green and yellow and a branded podium, both the theme and the client were honored. Break time meant socializing and a creative interlude with an optional painting activity.

After two days of team building and informational presentations, it was time to party – New Orleans style. As the final general session came to a close, our Leigh Clemmons waited backstage with a second line band. Playing New Orleans jazz, the brass parade marched off stage to lead participants to the waiting buses outside. During the bus ride, guests enjoyed a video of fun facts and features of The Big Easy.

It was destination Mardi Gras World, and guests exited the buses to be greeted by a carnival-friendly bevvy of jesters, stilt walkers and a Louis Armstrong big head. Mardi Gras World is a New Orleans venue that lets visitors get a carnival-like experience year round. Its origins are steeped in local history. Initially Kern Studios, it was home to a father and son team who built Mardi Gras floats and were instrumental in helping to develop the monumental scale and lavish ornamentation the city’s floats are now known for. Kern Studios, where Krewe floats and decorations are made and stored, opened to the public as Mardi Gras World in 1984 and offers a behind-the-scenes look at a key element of the city’s parade style. We knew it would be the ideal setting for a true NOLA bash.  

Guests were paraded into the den where the spectacular, gigantic props are stored, through the warehouse for the floats, outside, and finally into the ballroom. On the way, an outdoor tent offered a low-country dining experience with a crawfish boil served on newspaper. Farm tables and market lighting enhanced the authentic experience, while a female jazz band provided more music. At WM Events, we’re known for our floral presentations, but in this case, we focused on the local fauna and included an alligator meet & greet. One thing this event didn’t lack was interesting photo ops!

Inside the ballroom, the big party featured a progression through atypical entertainment that was all about N’Awlins, like a zydeco band, a bottle walking performer and unicyclists. Mardi Gras Indians offered a nod to history with their extravagant costumes and feathered headdresses. It wouldn’t be Mardi Gras without beads, and we brought them in by the pound, and we’re proud to mention that they were recycled. In addition to offering strings of beads to guests as wearable art, we created an interactive art project that invited revelers to glue beads into an image that was provided to the client afterwards.

There was plenty more fare to enjoy in the ballroom with local favorites like gumbo, a tapenade bar, and of course, beignets. Eclectic Victorian-style furniture completed the look. To add a final bit of panache, we dubbed each area of the massive party, so guests at the Royal Party meandered through “neighborhoods” like Dixie Den, Bayou Boil and Parish Party.

Event Planning & Design: WM Events
Photography: PWP Studio
Venue: Mardi Gras World
Rentals: Collection Event Furnishings, CORT Events, Monte Carlo Productions, Your Event Delivered

Without question, interactive features are a “must have” at today’s corporate events. Like massive icebreakers, onsite activities appeal across generations and company positions. Using games to add entertainment and excitement to an event offers a proven method of getting attendees moving and talking, and by adding a dose of nostalgia, games and activities that recall a bygone era might even encourage the swapping of childhood stories.

Rev Up the Competition
Can you name the game that consists of dropping red or black discs into a structure in an attempt to create a straight row of four discs before your opponent? Games like long-time favorite Connect Four or the block stacking and balancing game Jenga offered hours of entertainment as a kid and still provide a challenge for adults. The important factor in choosing games for an event is to select options with simple rules that anyone can play with or without experience.

Most of these are best in giant versions that turn a little competition into a fun spectacle. Another favorite is the surgery game inspired by Operation that asks players to use tongs to remove everything from bones to a broken heart without touching the sides.

In addition to board games and those focused on dexterity, other throwback features like giant tricycles can get guests moving and letting go of their reserve. Turn these trikes into a competitive race, and see who laughs all the way to the finish line.

Get Crafty
For guests whose childhood activities leaned toward arts & crafts rather than sports or games, provide a hands-on craft experience that will allow them to create a souvenir from the event. Select a project that is easy and quick enough to be completed in 30 minutes or less, and watch creativity soar.  Iron-on chain stitch patches on a bandana or t-shirt offer a crafty endeavor for guests who might never be tempted to pick up a paintbrush.

In the spirit of teamwork, present guests with a collaborative mural or giant coloring book. Create a black-and-white drawing that relates to the company’s products, services or core values. This can hang on the wall with a foam core backing of be presented horizontally as a canvas draped over a table. Provide markers, paints, or other coloring implements that allow guests to fill in the line drawing with their favorite hues and style a memorable piece of art. Post-event, the client can use the resulting “artwork” as décor for the lobby, break room or other company spot.

With games, activities and snacks that harken back to the halcyon days of youth, your guests will rekindle old memories while also creating new ones. A corporate event that generates its own sense of nostalgia has a powerful and long-lasting impact.

Each year, Atlanta-based consulting firm BDR Partners hosts a surprise event for its employees and their spouses. For the special 10th-anniversary celebration, the company wanted to host a big splash that would top the previous year’s rooftop party with helicopter rides. Armed with a directive to pull out all the stops, we incorporated lots of our favorite event elements plus a few new ones to design a party that progressed through the evening and into the night with a constant flow of surprises.

To kick the evening off in style, and to ensure an air of mystery surrounded the event, we sent cars throughout the city to pick up guests and deliver them to an elegant cocktail reception at 103 West. Outside this private event venue, guests were greeted by an eight-piece brass band before enjoying deluxe cocktails and charcuterie.

While the setting could have easily accommodated the entire celebration, guests were soon ushered back outside where the brass band stepped it up with NOLA-style tunes as a police escort arrived with a procession led by Baton Bob atop a vintage convertible Buick, three branded trolleys and a truck displaying the message “We’re Just Getting Started.” For both the company and the party, that could not have been truer.  

Guests boarded the trolleys, each of which featured a singalong host who got riders energized for their next stop on the journey. Caravanning down Peachtree Street, the parade of police, Buick, truck, and trolleys ended at KR SteakBar where guests were greeted by bright white, 6-ft., 3D BDR letters (great for photos!), stilt walkers, a step show and a drumline. Of course, the brass band had more music in them, and Baton Bob joined in the fun. After the step team taught the crowd a special BDR chant, the antics culminated at the 24-ft. round, red carpet, and guests settled into KR SteakBar’s garden for a seated dinner. The pallet-wood walls imparted an intimate atmosphere for the party of 50.

During a dinner of the restaurant’s notable Italian fare, guests enjoyed the sounds of a jazz trio interspersed with congratulatory speeches, a spoof marketing video, and a visit from award-winning Chef Kevin Rathbun.  

Because the host had reserved the entire restaurant, the group next moved inside for the “after party,” with today’s latest must-have party features like a social media photo booth, LED sunglasses, lighted boas, and other fun partywear. Platinum Band performed the hits everyone likes to dance to – ending with “[The Ceiling] Can’t Hold Us,” and guests enjoyed what they thought was the final piece of the program. Until…

“Wheeet! Wheeet!” Four sexy “cops” entered the restaurant shouting, “Raid!” The officers pushed guests through the kitchen into the Speakeasy where white leather lounge furniture and red branded pillows awaited them. An upbeat yet relaxing end to the celebration, the “after-after party” featured vibe music from DJ Mike Zarin, BDR-branded pashminas and flip flops, and late-night snacks like sliders and fries to keep the big bash going until the wee hours.

Venues:  103 West & KR SteakBar
Event Planning, Designing & Coordinating: WM Events
Photography: PWP Studio
Transportation: Cooper-Global Transportation 
Entertainment: Lee J. Howard Entertainment, The Off-Centered Project & DJ Mike Zarin

Halloween may be over, but the season offers many additional opportunities to dress up, and we’re talking costumes, not gowns and tuxes. With the coming of Super Bowl LIII to Atlanta, we think a look at football fashion is in order. In addition to reviewing the apparel of dedicated fans throughout the country who show their colors every Sunday, we’ll consider some of the best Super Bowl outfits we’ve seen at the NFL championship game parties we’ve produced.

We love a good cheese, but Green Bay Packers fans are known for taking things to extremes with their signature chapeaux en fromage. Did it sound any better in French?

 
Photo: AFP – straitstimes.com                                                                          Photo: REUTERS – straitstimes.com

A lot could be said about Raider Nation, fans of the Oakland Raiders, but we’ll just let the pictures do the talking.

Photos: Getty Images – foxsports.com

When your team is called the Saints, and you hail from a cool, historical city like New Orleans, football fan costume creativity is a must. These outfits do not disappoint. How about that Joker?

Of course, we cannot leave our home team, the Atlanta Falcons, out of this conversation. Our local hero the Bird Lady was even chosen by Bud Light as a Super Fan. We’ll take it!

Photo: myajc.com

Like beer, fandom and football haberdashery are not limited to what goes on at the stadium.

When Super Bowl LI kicked off in Houston, we designed a space-theme party for celebrants in Atlanta. The décor included a full solar system and a ceiling with cloud and slinky treatments, but the costumes were out of this world. Guests suited up in foil minidresses, wacky sunglasses, and colorful, blunt-cut wigs blasted our theme to new heights. The good news is that revelers had so much fun hanging out at the glow bars and channeling space-age style that they survived the disappointment of the Patriots win.  

Photos: PWP Studio

The following year, the Minnesota location of Super Bowl LII demanded a theme that would celebrate the state’s most beloved son. We turned the Fairmont in West Midtown into a purple palace and installed more than 50 umbrellas across the ceiling and added “raindrop” diamante chandeliers. Despite the Prince-ly décor, the costume contest stole the show, even upstaging Justin Timberlake at halftime. 

We hope you’ve enjoyed this look at super football fashion. And if you are lucky enough to have your team make it to Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta, you’d better review these tips for becoming a super fan from Wix.