Event Planning Ideas, Trends & Inspiration

The WM Events Team specializes in creating  advanced and interactive concepts for each of our clients – social, corporate, or weddings. What better way to find your seat than to pick up a glass of champagne along with it? What better way to collect data from your employees or clientele better than an interactive survey? The world of events is constantly being transformed with custom pieces and activities, and Ideation Towers are only a small part of it! Stay tuned for more innovative activities for your next event! 

Ideation Towers
We have created original pegboard Ideation Towers for a variety of events recently. For a non-profit event, we designed an Ideation Tower to act as a decor piece as well as a place for students to share their “spark” on dry erase boards and sticky notes. For an internal corporate event, we built 2 of these Towers with the intent to survey the crowd with a variety of questions and ways to respond in an interactive and custom designed way. 

Other than being a fun and interactive activity for guests, these towers can easily be customized no matter the objective of the event! The pegboard Ideation Towers can be used strictly as a decor element or can be utilized to gather feedback from the audience. Talk to us about your next event and let’s create a one-of-a-kind Ideation Tower!

Photography: PWP Studio

For 6 years now Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta has hosted it’s annual Let’s Lunch for Hughes Spalding. Hosted at the Sweet Auburn Curb Market, this two week celebration will be going on till Friday, May 12th, each day from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. All you have to do is purchase a $1.00 Children’s icon from your favorite Market vendor and all proceeds will benefit Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s in-town hospital, Hughes Spalding.

Did you know some succulents and cacti are edible? Aloe and Dragon Fruit are probably the most well-known. Aloe is most commonly known for it’s help with those nasty sunburns and cuts, but did you know adding it to your smoothies or drinks can give you a great boost of antioxidants?  Dragon Fruit is another beautifully colored cactus that can be added to smoothies or eaten whole – they’re high in protein, fiber, vitamin C, iron, and calcium.

While they can make great additions to salads, drinks, and stir-fry, what if they could make an incredibly sweet impact at your wedding or any other event? Succulent cakes are a huge trend right now, and Indonesian baker Ivenoven is creating some of the most delicate and alluring cakes we’ve ever seen. Each of her sugary creations is complete with intricate details that make the cakes look like life-like succulents!

An Atlanta local Charity, Community Concerns, Inc., and a Tampa based Charity, The Cigar Family Charitable Foundation, banned together to throw the most memorable fundraising weekend Atlanta has ever seen. Since 1988, Community Concerns, Inc. has been utilizing it’s flagship program, Odyssey III, to provide housing, case management, and supportive services to the homeless. The Cigar Family Charitable Foundation’s mission is to “provide a significant humanitarian impact to communities in the Dominican Republic resulting in a better quality of life to those who experience a lack of education, poor access to health care and nutrition and who have little or no sustainable employment. 

This charitable weekend’s festivities began Saturday night at a private residence. The night consisted of wine pairings and dinner by the famous Kevin Rathbun. There was even a surprise live auction for a private dinner catered by Kevin himself! But that’s not all, guests oohed and aahed when fire toddies performed after the auction. The WM Events team also designed tablescapes for farm tables and rounds dressed in designer linens. A guitarist filled the night’s air with ambient sound.

The second night was even more special. Hosted at the Delta Flight Museum, guests began their night at a grand step & repeat photo opt with flight attendants and a cocktail hour paired with an extensive silent auction. Following the silent auction was dinner. Guests enjoyed a program hosted by Yvette Monet expressing why everyone was there- to raise money for two incredible charities. Tables were dressed in thematic linen and topped with bright florals. Place settings were set with a trio of rare cigars. After dinner, OJ Anderson, a former NY Giants player, hosted a live auction. After the live auction, guests were invited to a Cigar Tent to enjoy a variety of rare cigars, caricature artist, a latin jazz trio, and a donut truck! Even with the rare cigars, the real stand out of the cigar tent was the elaborate ceiling installation twinkle lit and dripping in greenery!

Event Planning & Design: WM Events
Private Residence Photography: Dominique Edwards
Delta Flight Museum Photography: PWP Studio
Private Residence Catering: Kevin Rathbun
Delta Flight Museum Catering: Affairs to Remember & Simply Done Donuts
Delta Flight Museum Bar Service: Legendary Events
Delta Flight Museum Audio Visual: Active Production & Design 
Private Residence & Delta Flight Museum Entertainment: Absolute Entertainment
Delta Flight Museum Rentals: Collection Event Furniture Rentals & Peachtree Tents & Events
Delta Flight Museum Casino: Monte Carlo Productions 

This year’s SalesLoft Rainmaker Conference was hosted at the Loews Atlanta in early April. This year’s conference was bigger and badder compared to last year’s conference, with a STOMP conference kick-off and a unique stage set incorporating sponsors.

Day 1 of the 2017 Rainmaker Conference consisted of registration, a training session and a welcome reception. The conference truly kicked off on day 2 with sponsor booths, complete with branded counters, and a STOMP performance! Attendees settled in for an intense general session followed by three breakout sessions and lunch. After their continued breakout sessions, attendees filtered back into the pre-function space for happy hour. Day 3 started back up with a general session of panels and a keynote speaker, the CEO of SalesLoft.

Photography: PWP Studio
Planning, Design & Consulting: WM Events
Venue: Loews Atlanta

One of the world’s largest flooring suppliers, celebrated 50 years of business this year. To celebrate, the client wanted its attendees to be immersed in its core values in order to create a better future for its company. WM Events had the pleasure to work with Shaw to plan, design, consult and execute this remarkable celebration! This event was full of custom branded pieces and innovative activities, something the WM Events team excels at!

After a week long install of at the Dalton Convention Center, this 40,500 exhibit hall was completely transformed. Guests were greeted by the reputable 72′ custom wrapped tractor trailer. Once inside the venue, attendees were greeted by a 125′ long red carpet runner and a step & repeat flanked by custom built turf walls. Branded registration counters allowed guests to register for attendance and for a chance to win $1,000 at the top of every hour! 

Attendees were welcomed into the main space by a 16′ W x 10′ H map of the show’s experiences atop resilient flooring and carpet rug. Lush ferns and palms completed this entrance piece. After viewing the map, guests wandered throughout the space to find each distinct area was covered by 8′ H branded columns and specific flooring, showcasing the client’s incredible and unique flooring capabilities. 

A double-sided hoop over 20′ in diameter hung in the center of the exhibit hall. Three-dimensional letters in their font sat atop laminate boxes as a dramatic statement and fun photo opt! White lamour drapery at 18′ H with soft up-lighting added the final touch around the perimeter and completely transformed the trade center.

Guests enjoyed breakfast, lunch and snacks throughout the day in tailgate fashion. Picnic tables and standing farm tables sat atop turf. There was even a custom putt putt hole for a quick wind down in between activities and speakers. Specialty wrapped candies and branded fortune cookies hit the perfect sweet spot for guests. Succulent centerpieces adorned the tables throughout the space.

The main stage engaged guests with a 10 minute talk every hour from executives, including their President & CEO. Bellini Chairs sat atop 12 different carpet runners, all various shades of grey. Grey & blue carpet tiles created a custom stage floor for their well-known and respected executives to speak on. 

A donation for every $5.00 spent on branded swag allowed attendees to give and receive all at the same time in the pop-up shop. Illuminated counters with custom branded blocks created the perimeter of the shop. The client’s newest flooring concept had their own booth to showcase their unique modular flooring capabilities. 

Executives weren’t the only ones to share their experiences with and goals for the company. A 20′ W x 8′ H vinyl wrapped wall showcased the company’s past 50 years on a timeline. The other side of this wall was an elaborate listening wall where guests were able to hear a total of 5 stories from employees who experienced the company’s ground-breaking moments first hand. If inspired by the listening wall, guests were able to record their own stories in a recording booth. Two photo booths allowed guests to gather and share memories together and on social media.

Attendees were able to indulge in company core values with two 4-sided ideation towers. From voting and writing on hang tags to a coloring wall, each side of the towers posed a question to encourage employees to think about where they want their company to be in the future. Underneath the branded hoop, a 12′ W x 8′ H wall of string art became the focal point of the room. Guests were encouraged to connect the dots for a visual representation of who makes up the company. The opposite side of this wall allowed guests to share what they where they want to see the company go in the future. White leather lounge groupings provided a comfortable place for guests to discuss their innovative ideas.

Virtual reality wrapped up the event’s experiences with tours of 6 different company plants. Glow highboys and tall signage designated each virtual reality tour. 

Planning, Designing & Consulting: WM Events
Venue & Catering: Dalton Convention Center
Photography: PWP Studio
Audio Visual: Active Production and Design
Drapery: Event Drapery
Rentals: AFR Event Furnishings, Collection Event Furniture Rentals, Exhibit Expressions, Monte Carlo Productions & Peachtree Tents & Events

WM Events kicked off the end of February with a week long install preparing for Shaw Industries’ 50th Anniversary at the Dalton Convention Center. For a sneak peak of this elaborate event, check out this time lapse of our intense install and dismantle! Stay tuned for more blogs on the intricate details of this event.

Video provided by: Active Production and Design 

Peachtree Tents & Events recently celebrated their 10 year anniversary and the WM Events team had the pleasure of designing their stunning celebration. Typically hosted in their warehouse, this year’s Pink Party was the first one ever to be hosted at an off-premise venue, the Atlanta History Center.

Guests were welcomed to the Atlanta History Center with soft pink up-lighting, a pink runner and vases full of pink water with floating candles and green apples. The atrium of the venue played homage to Peachtree’s logo with 3 tents. Two tents hosted luxurious lounge groupings from Collection Event Furniture Rentals while the center tent housed a perfect photo opt. – a 6′ rose gold painted 10 in honor of the anniversary.

After passing through the atrium, guests wandered through the museum where they were served pink champagne in between 8′ tall columns branded with Peachtree’s core values. A pink runner lead everyone into the main space.

Bubble tiles and sheer drapery, provided by Quest Events, created a grand entrance. Soft pink up-lighting and bubble break ups where shining throughout the space and even on the ceiling, courtesy of PPI. A 16′ diameter round white trim bar sat at the focal point of the room with an extravagant floral arrangement in it’s center. Lavish and lush floral arrangements and eucalyptus runners topped the tables in the space. Music from Lilac Wine filled the air throughout the night while guests enjoyed caterings from 103 West. The photo booth even had life-size rental props, like a fork and champagne glass! As guests were leaving for the night, their take-away was a little bottle-shaped bottle opener.

The night could not have been as big of a hit without Peachtree’s incredible partners & friends: 103 West, Atlanta History Center, Collection Event Furniture Rentals, Button It Up, Connie’s Coat Check, Lilac Wine, Party Tables, PPI, PWP Studio, Russell Dreyer, and WM Events.

For years, this group of fellas have been throwing the hottest Super Bowl party Atlanta has ever seen. What makes their parties stand out is designing the party around a theme of where the Super Bowl is located that year. This year, Super Bowl LI took place in Houston, Texas, and you know what that means – “Houston, we have a problem!”

We transformed The Stave Room at American Spirit Works into an out of this world space! Guests arrived in either football jerseys or space themed attire to the main event 2 hours before the big game started. Once passing through registration, football fans were able to go straight into the courtyard space to find a 16 foot screen projecting what would soon be the Super Bowl.

VIP guests had the luxury of the main room. This room was true to the space theme with 9 planets and a sun hanging in the ceiling! Two lounges paired with funky pillows and glow cubes created an intimate space for guests to cheer on their Falcons. LED highboys and communal lit highboys were great for fans to perch on while still being able to dance during the commercials. DJ Mike Zarin filled the air with Atlanta’s best and fresh beats while stationed at a custom branded glow bar overhung with space clouds. Slinky ceiling treatments and thematic movie posters kept the room full of fun decor. 

Even though our Atlanta Falcons lost, this intergalactic event was able to raise money to support sickle cell research for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Hughes Spalding Hospital. 

Venue: The Stave Room at American Spirit Works
Event Design: WM Events
Entertainment: Mike Zarin
Catering: Palate
AV: Magnum
Photo Booth: TapSnap
Photography: PWP Studio

At WM Events, constant learning and adaptability is one of our main priorities. For each new event we take on, we conceptualize design elements that uniquely “wow” attendees. When it comes to linens, centerpieces, perimeter décor, and entertainment, we never fear thinking outside of the box.

The Museum of Design Atlanta, one of our community partners, has shared our commitment to innovation for close to 25 years. Each quarter, MODA enlivens the Midtown Atlanta area by bringing a new design exhibit to their museum. Unlike other local museums, MODA is the only Southeastern museum that focuses exclusively on design. Their exhibits span fashion, graphic design, industrial design, architecture, and more.

MODA’s philosophy is that “design changes everything,” and firsthand, WM Events has seen the truth of these words. Our event designers channel inspiration from anywhere and everywhere! We gain inspiration from media, furniture, art galleries, magazines, the list is infinite. Channeling that creative energy into our events is what keeps our clientele excited about working with us, and similarly, the creative energy that flows through MODA is what keeps people of all ages coming back.

Being a German company that has been around for over 60 years, celebrating their first 25 years of manufacturing and calling the United States its new home is a big deal!

Guests traveled from all over the states and Europe to come to the host and home city of Atlanta to commemorate the last 25 years. They began with a tour and reception at the warehouse and office. Floor graphics and custom signage directed guests throughout the warehouse where employees could give more incite to the company’s success over the years. After the tours, a small session took place in front of a custom modular backdrop and a company blue stage. There was even a graffiti artist creating a specialty piece of art and industrial drummers to keep high spirits!

The night consisted of a family style dinner party at Summerour Studio. In the courtyard, stilt-walkers cut down champagne glasses for guests to enjoy a celebratory drink. Once inside the venue, escort cards could be found on decorative shelving only to reveal the company’s logo once all of the cards were removed. Farm tables were dressed with runners, succulent centerpieces and blue accents from napkins, place settings and water glasses. Custom pillows dressed up lounge groupings but they weren’t the only personal touches that night. A custom printed canvas provided guests with endless entertainment of coloring all night long. There were even hundreds of miniature cupcakes that created the logo as well! As the night ended, guests picked up thank you bags of custom leather bound and logo-ed notebooks with matching pens paired with miniature champagne bottles with the company’s logo etched on.

Venue: Summerour Studio
Caterer: Affairs to Remember & Baked by Melissa
Photography: PWP Studio
Rentals: Collection Event Furnishings and Peachtree Tents & Events
Entertainment: CoResonance, Absolute Entertainment, The Off-Centered Project, DJ Mike Zarin

Usher’s New Look is passionate about helping our disconnected youth find their own “spark.” With the help of S.T.E.A.M., UNL has created individual Labs for students to learn, work and grow within to help find a career path derived from their passion.

From the UNL Cafe, where students can “create, taste and test new culinary creations,” to the Game Loft, where students are able to design and test games and apps. Studio B4 is a digital creator’s dream with visual storytelling and working with online media hubs, while the Spark Tank allows for “testing new concepts, contemplating issues an developing culturally relevant solutions.” The last Spark Lab, The Hangar, is the ultimate training space “for UNL Academy classes, Music 101 classes, ACT/SAT prep, speakers, tutoring, mentoring, and poetry slams.” With each Lab, students have progressed as individuals, in their classes and in their families- some being the first to attend and complete education at a university level.

Hosted at The Stave Room at American Spirit Works,  the purpose of Usher’s New Look “The Start The Spark Experience Gala” was to allow sponsors and followers to explore these Labs on a personal level.

Guests began their night at Registration where large, custom signage and branded bars atop blue carpet allowed guests to obtain their credential badges. Lanterns and glow orbs guided attendees up the stairs towards the entrance down a blue carpeted aisle. A peg-board displayed color-coordinated bracelets for guests to choose their “Spark” based on S.T.E.A.M.

Once inside the breezeway entrance, an LED step & repeat provided a photo op for media and guests to have a red carpet entrance atop more blue carpet. Our favorite ice cream entrepreneur, Lil Ice Cream Dude, set up his cart, sold ice cream and told his story throughout the night. Studio B4, complete with camera and green screen, held a home base at the end of the breezeway.

The main space opened up with a custom GOBO and 6′ 3D letters of UNL. A 4-side peg-board “What’s Your Spark?” wall created a central point for attendees to share their “spark” for guests to see and chat about. Food stations and the remaining Spark Labs lined the perimeter of the room, captivating guests throughout the night.

The main event began with a countdown video leading up to a unique performance of UNL Students presenting their own song and dance they created while at UNL. Throughout the program, guests enjoyed a keynote from Simon Sinek, TED Talks speaker and author, and a live auction! Two disruptivator awards were presented that night and the night closed with another dance from the students, this time in LED shoes, shirts and gloves!

Venue: The Stave Room
AV: Magnum Co
Caterer: Dennis Dean Catering
Chalkboard Artist: Kate Turner Studio
Florals: Chelsea Floral Design
Rentals: AFR Event Furnishings, Chelsea Floral Design, Peachtree Tents & Events & Monte Carlo Productions
Signage: The Special Projects Group
Photography: Bowtie Photos, Donna Permell & PWP Studio