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During the past 20 years, we’ve produced holiday events from annual corporate parties to private celebrations and event grand public parades. As we continue through this most festive season, we’re taking a look back at some of our favorite holiday fetes. Come along!  

Atlantic Station Light the Station Tree Lighting and Parade

There’s no parade like a holiday parade! We’ve been fortunate to work with Atlantic Station for several years, producing the annual holiday event that draws thousands of attendees, including jolly old Saint Nick himself! Here are images from a few of these years.

   

   

Starry Night at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta

A corporate holiday party at the Fox Theatre provided the perfect backdrop to bring Van Gogh’s iconic Starry Night to life. This event subtly yet effectively highlighted the painting’s inspiration. Emphasizing the starry theme, we infused the space with an abundance of light candlelight, creating a dazzling, magical evening.

      

A Holiday Polar Express 

We assisted the Westin Buckhead with celebrating employees by producing an annual holiday party inspired by the Polar Express but perfect for discerning adults. 

   

A Very Glitzy Holiday

For a high-end celebration for the Entrepreneurs’ Organization Atlanta (EO), we channeled the Harlem Renaissance and went full Gatsby at the Puttin’ on the Glitz holiday event. 

   

Themes From the Slopes to Holiday Lights

We brought an après ski theme to a corporate party at Whitley Hotel.

   

Nothing says holiday lights like disco, and we loved this throwback party at the Four Seasons.

   

Meanwhile, at Atlanta’s High Museum, we designed this Twinkle Lit Holiday event.

   

When the Holidays Brought Us Together While Apart

During the pandemic, we shifted gears to create a holiday parade that brought togetherness even while distanced. Check out the pre-parade event, then keep going through the full event (don’t miss the sizzle reel at the end!).

   

A Ghost of Christmas Past

And going back to the WM Events vault, here are some holiday looks we designed for the Affairs to Remember showroom in 2011!

   

Even More Holiday Trimmings

Need even more holiday inspo? Take a look at our 2020 holiday style recap here. 

And if you are totally in the mood for Santa’s arrival now, check out this year’s Holiday Playlist, specially curated for WM Events by DJ Mike Zarin.

Happy holidays!

 

New Landmark Adds Excitement to I-75:

WM Events Unveils Headquarters Minutes from Atlanta Downtown and Airport  

 

ATLANTA (Dec. 1, 2024) – Locals and visitors have a new landmark to behold on I-75 South just 15 minutes from downtown Atlanta with the opening of the WM Events headquarters in Hapeville, Ga.

Visible from I-75 and making a bold statement along the route to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the branded 13,000-sq.-ft. commercial building includes offices, warehousing, meeting/conference space, a floral department, future event space and more.

Located at 280 Mt. Zion Rd. Atlanta, Ga. 30354, the headquarters’ exterior reflects WM Events’ new brand identity, introduced earlier this year when the company reached its milestone 20th anniversary. Forest and vibrant green hues combine to form the logo, while playful, colorful confetti pieces add zest.

“Purchasing and renovating a commercial building was the next right step for WM Events,” said William Fogler, founder and principal of the full-service event house. “It was a two-year labor of love with many challenges along the way, but I learned a lot, and we grew as a team as we persevered through the experience. I am thrilled with what we have achieved.”

A Multifaceted Headquarters

Home to the WM Events office, the new headquarters includes enough space to comfortably house the current team of 25 and welcome another dozen or so in the future.

Visitors enter through the lobby, complete with a WM Events green sofa and Instagrammable suspended midcentury modern “Parrot” chairs. A spacious open-plan office is adjacent to several private offices, a conference room and guest work areas. A large kitchen with signature green cabinetry accommodates staff daily and offers possibilities for future on-site events.

Like a true design house, the building features a showroom where the company displays its range of inventory, such as linens, décor, furniture and lighting. The showroom allows both staff and clients to get hands-on with the elements used to create their event atmosphere – like a mood board brought to life.

And of course, space was set aside for hosting small to medium-size events. With the ability to connect to adjacent rooms, as well as two entry points, event space options are flexible enough to welcome 10 to 100 guests for workshops, meetings, receptions and more.

Warehousing It All

The back-of-house areas were strategically planned for efficiency. Within the massive warehouse, stocked with rows and rows of inventory, a charging wall ensures hundreds of specialty lighting fixtures are always ready to get an event glowing.

Known for its award-winning floral arrangements, WM Events now has a dedicated floral department. A giant built-in cooler provides holding space for flowers, arrangements made in advance, and storage for florals after events, allowing for better recycling and reuse in keeping with the company’s green theme!

The warehouse opens to two loading docks, making packing all the goodies into WM Events’ signature trucks a total breeze – or at least convenient for its expert operations team members.

For two decades, the Atlanta-based firm has provided sky-high standards and leveraged creative partnerships to plan, design and produce corporate events, weddings and social events, nonprofit fundraisers, meetings and conferences, tradeshows, festivals and more. With a diverse and multidisciplinary team, WM Events has focused on personalizing events to give its clients the experience of couture.

With the launch of its new building, the event house is dramatically expanding its capabilities, positioning itself for significant growth in staff and services.

About WM Events

WM Events is an elevated event house led by award-winning designer-turned-founder William Fogler. Launched in 2004, WM Events orchestrates every moving piece of the consulting, planning, design, and production of corporate events, fundraisers, meetings, tradeshow design and private affairs. With a reputation for creative and logistical prowess, the firm has been trusted by hundreds of clients, such as the major Atlanta professional sports teams — Braves, Falcons, Hawks, and United — as well as Delta Air Lines, Google, NCR and University of Georgia. https://wmevents.com.

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Have you seen Atlanta’s newest landmark?

Just 15 minutes from downtown Atlanta and visible from I-75 South, our new WM Events headquarters makes a bold statement. You can’t miss it when you are headed to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport!

Our branded building faces the highway and features City in the Forest green and vibrant Echeveria green hues that combine to form the WM Events logo. Additional sides display playful, colorful confetti or our green logo on a neutral background. The entire exterior reflects our new brand identity, introduced earlier this year when we celebrated our milestone 20th anniversary.

 

What’s Inside?

This 13,000-sq.-ft. commercial building includes offices, warehousing, internal meeting and workshop space, a floral department and more.

We have enough space to comfortably house the current team of 30 and welcome another dozen or so in the future.

 

 

Take a Tour

We welcome visitors to enter through the lobby, complete with a WM Events green sofa and Instagrammable suspended midcentury modern “Parrot” chairs. A spacious open-plan office is adjacent to several private offices, a conference room and guest work areas. We spend time every day eating and relaxing in our large kitchen with signature green cabinetry, which also offers possibilities for catering during future experiences.

    

Like the true design house that we are, our building features a showroom where you’ll find our range of inventory, such as linens, décor, furniture and lighting. The showroom allows us and our clients to get hands-on with the elements we use to create event themes and settings – it’s like a mood board brought to life.

Warehousing It All 

We strategically planned the back-of-house areas for efficiency. For example, within our massive warehouse, stocked with rows and rows of inventory, a charging wall ensures hundreds of specialty lighting fixtures are always ready to get an event glowing.

Known for our award-winning floral arrangements, the WM Events headquarters boasts an inspiring floral department! A dedicated studio and giant built-in cooler provide all the space we need to create our signature florals.

 

The warehouse opens to two loading docks, making packing all the goodies into WM Events’ signature trucks a total breeze – or at least convenient for our expert operations team. 

For two decades, we have maintained sky-high standards and leveraged creative partnerships to plan, design and produce corporate events, social events, nonprofit fundraisers, meetings, conferences and more. We are so excited to see where we’ll go in the next 20 years with our new home base providing a firm foundation from which to take on Atlanta and the world!

Our new home is located at 280 Mt. Zion Rd. Atlanta, Ga. 30354. Please get in touch if you’d like to come by!

 

When we hear the phrase, “the sky’s the limit,” we tend to believe it. And when we’re working with an extraordinary client and a spectacular venue, the stage is set for us to create an event that reaches new heights. In the case of the Delta Lead Conference at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, we had the opportunity to transform 2 million square feet of space to create multiple environments that were exciting from within and looked even better from above.

Welcoming 3,000 attendees who are part of Delta’s international leadership team, this all-day conference kicked off early with a breakfast served throughout the stadium’s concourse. Breakfast was followed by presentations from the fully designed stage on the field, easily visible from a section of the stadium’s 75,000 seats. Finally, a globally themed closing reception featuring a variety of enticing installations took place on the field.

   

Transforming an Event Venue in Atlanta

In recasting the well-known stadium as a Delta conference space, we took full advantage of existing video technology and supplemented it with a variety of signage, brand-inspired drapery and promotional materials. For example, to create a consistent backdrop and hide unused spaces – as we already mentioned, Mercedes-Benz Stadium has a lot of space – we used drapery to hide walkways and hallways for a cozier feel in the dining area.

Because guests flew in from around the world, we provided a dedicated coat check and luggage storage, also privatized behind black drapery. And we installed four Delta step and repeats to accommodate photo taking and sharing by thousands of guests. Television screens already part of the venue displayed the conference logo.

By creating this encapsulated, branded backdrop, we were ready to take off.

   

Dining and Seating for 3,000 Guests

Before the speakers and conference activities got underway, guests had the chance to enjoy some early morning Southern hospitality. We knew airline employees would feel right at home roaming a concourse, so we utilized Concourse 100 as the site for the welcome breakfast. Throughout the level, which circles the entire building, we positioned 3,000 seats with a mixed collection of round and estate tables, communal highboys, and square and round cocktail tables. Chairs, ghost stools and metal counter stools offered a variety of seating options.

For the concourse dining, we used linens in Delta blues, both matte and metallic, complemented by silver, gray and pewter. Rustic centerpieces featuring succulents in bleached wooden boxes topped the tables. And because the same seating would be used for lunch, we utilized overlays to refresh the tables.

   

An International Reception

From stadium seats, attendees spent the day focused on the stage, which had been set up at the edge of the field. Behind the stage, blue drapery dropped from the ceiling, obscuring the view of the site of the evening reception, which was to be the main attraction.

To produce the reception décor, we collaborated with New York agency Engine Shop and designed multiple large installations for the field. Divided into dedicated sections based on international regions, the reception space provided a worldwide tour of food, each area with built-out sets. Fare was served buffet style from vignettes representing Asia, Europe, Latin America and the United States. There was a special dessert space, and multiple bars to serve the thousands of guests.

   

The entrance to the Asia area was flanked by bamboo trees, and paper lanterns hung from 12- and 15-foot trusses with pipe covered in bamboo. We highlighted hues in black and brown with pops of navy silk patterns and featured Japandi-inspired furniture groupings with themed pillows and bonsai centerpieces. It all sat atop green turf, creating a calm, indoor-outdoor atmosphere.

Diagonally across the field, we really brought the boiserie to create the Europe area, offering a nod to movements from classicism to the Renaissance. Trusses were covered in a stone column graphic and hung with metal lanterns. Columns and busts flanked the entrance, and bare marble cocktail tables were topped with luxe centerpieces of white and pink roses.

   

Then we went bold in the Latin America area with a palette honoring bright tropical flowers – yellow, purple, green, fuchsia and turquoise. We didn’t hold back! The entryway frame was enclosed by a display of colorful floating umbrellas, while an egg swing chair grouping added a special touch of comfort. We chose terracotta pots for eco-friendly centerpieces of blooming cacti.

   

   

The final culinary space honored the healthy USA by including a presentation from an Olympian nutritionist who explained how to embrace a better diet. Here, we incorporated natural touches like trees, wooden columns resembling trees with hollows, and boxwood walls dripping with moss.

   

Not to take the healthy eating to an unhealthy obsession, the dessert bar was fashioned as a storefront – think café, bakery or sweet shop. It featured marble cocktail tables with bistro chairs, curved white bars with custom graphics and an 8-foot chalkboard menu. Two dessert carts were also set up at the far end of the field for guest convenience (it is 100 yards away, after all).

    

First-Class Seating

With the food areas and bars installed at the ends of the field, we placed all guest seating within a large middle circle. That totaled 1,450 seats at a mixed collection of tables and lounges, so there was a seat that would suit everyone.

Linens displayed Delta colors of navy and red with silver, pewter and graphic metallic accents. To add a beautiful glow, we placed nearly 500 votives among the tables. The field also included four large and four smaller lounge groupings with mid-century modern sofas, stools, end tables and round wood coffee tables. These were paired with a variety of decorative pillows in whiskey leather and white fur, as well as those branded in navy, red and the Delta logo.

In the center of it all, a DJ was elevated 15 feet in the air on a truss structure.

   

   

   

The floorplan made service and seating easy for guests, and the setting offered something to see from every direction. But the best view of the field could be had from the stands where the full layout was visible and graphic – just the kind of 30,000-foot view an airline would appreciate.

WM Events Celebrates 20th Anniversary with New Logo & Brand Identity

 

ATLANTA (June 10, 2024) – In celebration of 20 successful years in business, full-service event house WM Events today introduced its new logo and brand identity.

For two decades, the Atlanta-based firm has provided sky-high standards and leveraged creative partnerships to plan, design and produce corporate events, weddings and social events, nonprofit fundraisers, meetings and conferences, tradeshows, festivals and more. With a diverse and multidisciplinary team, the company has focused on personalizing events to give its clients the experience of couture.

“Launching WM Events as a newcomer to Atlanta 20 years ago took a leap of faith – one that I was excited to make,” said William Fogler, founder and principal. “Today, I still feel that same excitement as our team continues to grow, we get to know new clients, and we continue learning and innovating to stay at the forefront of what this thrilling industry has to offer.”

The team worked with the powerhouse NYC brand strategist Ryan Lynch to update the company identity. Alicia Terry developed the 2024 brand voice, and graphic designer Isabella Ossott redefined the logo. Honoring the company’s evolution and growth with three thicker lines, slanted and joined by thin up marks, the shape of the. new logo represents both the W and the M of WM Events, with a more graphic impression that expects recognition over reading.

While the brand palette remains among green hues, they are simultaneously bolder and darker and accompanied by colorful confetti that honors both the milestone anniversary and the company’s function.

The refreshed WM Events look is appearing now on the company’s website, additional owned media, uniforms and more. It is already making a big splash on the exterior of the new company headquarters in Hapeville, Ga., slated to open later this year.

About WM Events

WM Events is an elevated event house led by award-winning designer-turned-founder William Fogler. Launched in 2004, WM Events orchestrates every moving piece of the consulting, planning, design, and production of corporate events, fundraisers, meetings, tradeshow design and private affairs. With a reputation for creative and logistical prowess, the firm has been trusted by hundreds of clients, such as the major Atlanta professional sports teams — Braves, Falcons, Hawks, and United — as well as Microsoft, Chipotle, University of Georgia, and Delta Air Lines. https://wmevents.com.

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In 2004, William Fogler arrived in Atlanta with a massive dream and a lot of gumption. He brought with him a deep knowledge of event design and planning, as well as a fantastic sense of style and the ability to anticipate the next big thing. Already recognized as an emerging legend in his home city of Denver, William quickly made a name for himself in his new city, launching WM Events and leading it through two decades of success.

In honor of reaching this major milestone, we’re introducing a refreshed brand identity, including a new logo and an exciting new palette. We’ve updated our signature green because we’re going to keep growing, so now we have a combination of “City in the Forest” and “Echeveria” with the addition of “Mountain Top Ivory”. To that we’re adding the celebratory colors of Hydrangea, Champagne, Orange Zest, Golden Hour, and Party Pink.

Take a look!

 

 

All this excitement has launched us on a trip down memory lane, so let’s start with a recap of our logo and where it started, and then we’ll take a look at some of the media coverage William and the WM Events team have received during the past 240 months.

 

 

 

Here’s where it all started!

William engaged Atlanta personality Baton Bob to help him announce the launch of the company.

Even so, William was still making waves in Denver, and he was featured in the Style section of the Denver Post.

Quickly known as a trendsetter on the East Coast too, William was asked by Brides magazine to share his top-pick products in his favorite color. For Southern Seasons, he also suggested best options for a welcoming guest gift basket.

So many weddings

And speaking of weddings, the Northside Neighbor sat down with William to learn how the WM Events team made sure even the father of the groom expressed his joy … in a pink boa.

 

There were a lot of weddings in those early days, and we were even featured on the prestigious Grace Ormonde website, while one of our favorite celebrations was featured in Jezebel magazine.

 

Even while WM Events was aiding so many couples in achieving wedded bliss, the team was also handling plenty of other types of events like nonprofit fundraisers, corporate events, social events and more. The team was featured in BizBash more than once, including this feature “5 Ways to Rethink the Standard Benefit Gala,” and our director of sales + design Leigh Simpson (née Clemmons) offered important event planning advice for pros in Special Events magazine. Most recently, William was featured on Canvas Rebel sharing his secrets to success.

 

 

Numerous award recognitions

For these, the team was honored with multiple Allie Awards like Best Themed Event Decor for a Microsoft event and Best Floral for the Tuscan autumn wedding, Best Corporate or Association Event for the Centennial Yards groundbreaking, Best Social Event for a Savannah chic anniversary, another Best Social Event for a rooftop 60th birthday celebration, and Best Non-Profit Fundraiser for TechBridge’s Digital Ball. We also earned a nomination for a Gala Award from Special Events Magazine, and William was recognized with the Dale Riggins Humanitarian Award in 2021.

 

 Now that we’ve looked back, we are even more enthusiastic about moving into the future. Here’s to the next 20 years! 🥳

And we’re back with 10 more event trends to share from the hundreds of projects we have taken on during our 20 years as a full-service event house. 

10 More Top Picks from 20 Years of Events Trends

Get ready to reminisce with us, and if you haven’t read Part 1 of our event trends recap, be sure to take a look!

Disco

This trend it about taking it way back but elevating the funky 1970s with a dose of contemporary pizzazz. From holiday parties to fundraisers and even award shows, everyone has got disco fever.

    

     

Photo booths

Whether corporate or social, events are all about making memories. Most of our clients want to make sure memories get captured too. Over the years, we’ve come up with plenty of creative ways to incorporate fun photo ops into events from those managed by a professional photographer to DIY photo booths.

     

 

 

Instagrammable moments

Social media had been growing in popularity when Instagram burst on the scene in 2010 and made amateur photographers of all of us. This platform forever changed the way attendees interact with events too. “Instagrammable” moments became de rigueur, and we’ve had a ton of fun creating branded, themed and interactive vignettes to be posted and shared.

    

    

Games

Not only have psychologists recognized the importance of play for adult well-being, but they have also been shown to improve memory and aid in retention. With these scientific findings in mind, we’ve incorporated a variety of games into events like giant Jenga and Operation, virtual reality sports, and gamification to enhance message memory at conferences.

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COVID-Era virtual and drive-thru events 

Not so much a trend as a necessity, we expanded our event formats during the pandemic by adding virtual and drive-through celebrations from corporate conferences to birthday parties and baby showers. Although we’re glad to be back together in person, we’ve been able to continue developing many of these skills to make the most of what we learned. Video production, hybrid events and simulcasting are all firmly within our wheelhouse now, giving our clients the flexibility to connect attendees near and far.

      

    

Specialty lighting

Lighting is probably the No. 1 décor feature for shifting mood, appearance and theme. It’s so impactful that we’ve used lighting to completely alter the look of a space with a flick of the switch (following lots of detailed installation, of course). The best part is that there are so many options when it comes to specialty lighting like gobos, uplighting, suspensions, tubes, mood lighting, candles – we could go on, but how about showing you?

     

    
     
    

     

Neon 

One type of lighting we did not mention above also happens to be one of our obsessions – we’re talking about neon. Used to impart an 80s glow, a honky-tonk sensibility, an urban look and so much more, neon is also our go-to when we want to elevate signage or branding.

    

    

Jazz Age parties

When the fourth film adaptation of “The Great Gatsby” was released in 2013, it brought the Jazz Age into the spotlight once again. We’ve highlighted the music and style of that enticing era in multiple ways from a Harlem Renaissance holiday party to an Art Deco celebration and even a risqué burlesque birthday. The Jazz Age has also influenced the popularity of speakeasy settings, no Prohibition needed.

   

     

Market lights

This lighting and décor trend is a blend of two other popular elements – nature and specialty lighting. For outdoor events or to bring the outside in, market lights and globes of vines dotted with tiny lights have enjoyed favor for many years. We love how they bring a rustic, Old World feeling to any setting.

       

      

Farm to table + farm tables

Eating local, seasonal menus – known as farm to table – is better for the environment and more delicious for humans. Not only has this type of cuisine gained in popularity during the past two decades, although it got started in the 1970s, but the prevalence of the farm table has come along with it. Aspects of the “trend” toward more sustainable events, we expect both of these to take permanent root.

   

     

   

 

And that’s a wrap, a recap, a snap(shot) of some of the styles, technologies and movements we’ve noted and promoted during the two decades since WM Events was founded. We are excited to see what the next 20 years have in store! Come along for the ride!

 

It’s been two decades since award-winning designer-turned-founder William Fogler arrived in Atlanta and launched WM Events. Since that time, we’ve seen many event trends rush in and sometimes go just as quickly. 

In fact, you could say we’ve seen it all. From Atlanta to Denver, Boston to Orlando, and plenty of trips to Las Vegas, we’ve designed and produced weddings, bar and bat mitzvahs, anniversaries, corporate events, awards shows, fundraisers, retail events, product launches, real estate grand openings, groundbreakings and so much more. 

10 Top Picks from 20 Years of Events Trends

As we have stayed on top of the latest event innovations, we’ve noted those that have waned in popularity, as well as others that still look fresh today. Take a walk with us down memory lane as we review some of the top event trends that have popped up during the past 20 years – Part 1 (in no particular order). 

Futurism

We’ll start our trip to the past with a look into the future. Space age style has often been on the top on our clients’ wish list.

 

    

Sustainability

There is no chic like eco-chic. More than a trend, this is an ethos we have brought to events for a long time, as well as one we work hard to take into consideration today. It’s always a great time to go greener at any celebration, and it never has to mean giving up on fabulous style.

      

 

Nonfloral centerpieces

While flowers are often the go-to option for tablescapes, bridal bouquets and entry décor, there are plenty of other possibilities. This is one area we’ve enjoyed pushing the envelope. Our belief about centerpieces is that really, anything goes!

  

  

Casinos

If it seems our love of Vegas has spilled over into our Atlanta events, we can only respond that it sounds like a safe bet. That’s because fun-only casinos have continued to be popular from the last decade to this one.

 

 

Statement pieces

Why go standard when you can go BIG? From ceiling installations to sculptural effects, we have employed a variety of materials, such as ribbons, balloons and paper, to create event décor that wowed clients and their guests.

   
  

Giant letters

Speaking of going big, our clients have loved seeing their name in lights, but it’s even better in massive letters. The same goes for mottos, hashtags and special messages. This décor feature looks great and doubles as an appealing social media photo spot.

   

   

Boho chic

Interior design has the farmhouse look made exceedingly popular by the likes of Joanna Gaines. At weddings, that design trend has translated to an affinity for boho chic style. Natural elements and materials combine with romance to give these weddings a signature look.

    

   

Boxwood walls

Along the lines of the trend toward sustainability, eco-events and natural décor, we’ve seen a huge rise in the popularity of boxwood walls. These offer not just a biophilic burst but also serve as an excellent backdrop to other décor like neon signs and event logos.

     

      

Interactive features

Rather than having guests sit, listen, and possibly absorb, give the people something to do. For many years, we’ve intentionally added interactive aspects to many events. These are especially beneficial at corporate events, trade shows and conferences, where information transfer is the goal. We always made the activities fun and focused on engaging multiple senses to enhance memory.

   

   

Custom everything

From anniversaries to corporate events, everyone likes to see their brand or theme reflected in the event. We have made this happen in many ways during the years like shining gobo light logos or creating a custom dance floor, branded pillows, take-home gifts and more.

     

   

   

Did you notice any of your favorite event trends in our first half of the top 20 from the last 20 years? If there is another one you expected to see, be sure to stay tuned for the Part 2 blog to find out what else made the list!

We’re so glad WM Events Sales + Design Coordinator Alex Roberson left Alabama for Atlanta and found their way to our team. Since joining us in 2023, Alex has been indispensable — from keeping us informed about the latest AI technology to ensuring events run smoothly in advance and on-site. And no one we know has been luckier on their first trip to Vegas.

But when it comes to knowing Alex, the luck is ours. Now here is your chance to find out more about this GSU Panther and savvy event pro:

• Hometown: Anniston, Alabama
• How long have you lived in Atlanta? 2.5 Years
• Favorite Atlanta music venue: Coca-Cola Roxy
• Best place to take out-of-town guests: Bar Taco

   

• Favorite Atlanta TV celeb: Ciara
• Best place to meet someone for coffee: Bellwood Coffee in East Atlanta Village
• One thing to change about Atlanta: The traffic, naturally!
• Favorite flower: Sampaguita 

    

• Most craveable party food: Chips + Guac
• Drink of choice: Old fashioned
• Sit down or buffet? Sit down dinner
• Dancer or conversationalist: Conversationalist
• Earliest party memory: Little sister’s Blue’s Clues-themed second birthday with backyard bounce houses and flyaway balloons
• Favorite WM Events party: Lovette’s 60th Birthday Party

     

   

As part of an effort to make downtown Atlanta more welcoming to residents and visitors, Centennial Yards developers hosted a 404 Day celebration last year by reopening the former Nelson Street bridge that connects the Castleberry Hill neighborhood to the city. Previously a vehicle bridge, it is now dedicated to pedestrian traffic. With its new purpose, it also got a new name — The Steele Bridge — and a new look. Totally rebuilt, the bridge features a colorful painted walkway, planters, wood benches, and mesh guardrails.

We worked with our client and multiple partners to plan the celebration, an event that was open to the public and heavily promoted to encourage attendance. To attract attention to downtown Atlanta, we organized speeches and the unveiling of the dedication plaque. We also brought in a variety of fun activities, entertainment, festive décor, local vendors, and more to hype up the bridge and the neighborhood on Atlanta’s 404 Day — April 4.

   

Atlanta in the Spotlight 

The event welcomed local dignitaries, area residents, and plenty of attendees who were new to downtown. We highlighted the walkability and livability of the neighborhood while commemorating the work of Atlanta hero and trailblazer Carrie Steele Logan, for whom the new bridge is named.

To make the colorfully painted bridge even more festive, we hung pennant flags across it and added several balloon sculptures using a bright palette of red, turquoise, black and silver, which coordinated with the 404 Day logo. We added 404 Day graphics to the planters along the length of the bridge. To host guests, we brought in high-top tables with sleek metallic spandex liners topped with silver orbs and red umbrellas, then added a stage with an acrylic podium, also featuring the 404 Day logo. In addition to setting the stage for this celebration, we managed all AV needs on-site for the speeches and entertainment.

We also booked the entertainment and made choices that emphasized what makes Atlanta, and particularly, the Castleberry Hill/downtown neighborhood, vibrant. A drum academy got the event started and brought an air of excitement and energy – we needed it because the sky was overcast. Atlanta Hawks cheerleaders were on-site mingling with the crowd and offering photo ops. We brought in ink and watercolor artist Jamie Calkin to paint the event in real time, capturing the memory forever. The colorful finished painting was given to our client to be shared with the community.

   

 

Local Leaders and Businesses   

Following speeches from the hosts and local dignitaries, Mayor Andre Dickens unveiled the plaque dedicating the bridge to Carrie Steele Logan. The fun continued thanks to DJ Rasyrious, and attendees spent the remainder of the day getting to know the local vendors and community organizations we had scheduled to be part of the celebration.

With so many nearby small businesses, the bridge dedication event would not have been complete without having them participate. We created an on-site market with stands and food stalls to welcome local restaurants and community partners who were able to promote their businesses to attendees. On one end, the bridge leads into the building where Wild Leap Atlanta, a brewery and event space, is located, and their participation was highlighted with a special $4.04 brew for the day.

   

A Ray of Sunshine 

It was extremely windy that day, which was made more noticeable because this event took place on a bridge. Nevertheless, with the flags blowing, we forged ahead and doubly secured the balloons. We weighted the umbrellas, secured the linens, and had rain gear on hand for staff. The upbeat entertainment and positivity of the bridge dedication brought an optimistic vibe to the event despite the weather. And by the afternoon, the sun had come out – was it our positive vibes that coaxed it from behind the clouds? Who can say for sure?

   

When our Colorado client Debbie turned 70 years young, we were thrilled by the request to throw her a risqué Roaring 20s birthday party. This evening-into-night event included many nods to the jazziest decade, and a big part of the fun was seeing all guests arriving in full costume. But what truly created the sense of being immersed in the Jazz Age was the entertainment, which set the stage and continued throughout the evening, culminating in a burlesque performance with a surprise ending. 

Décor and So Much More

This party took place at Debbie and Tony’s sprawling mansion in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. After taking photos at a vintage Rolls Royce with characters in costume in the driveway, some guests were given a secret password and escorted to a back hallway where they were greeted by a Prohibition-style bouncer, who requested that password then gave them access to a private speakeasy down a staircase where they encountered a bathtub of bottled and corked gin drinks.

In the main party, two enormous spiral staircases were hosted by costumed greeters, as a piano player tickled the ivories with jazz and ragtime tunes. 

    

   

Roaming Roaring 20s Performers

We engaged a dozen on-site entertainers to create this Gatsby-style house party atmosphere. The performers and actors mingled with guests throughout the event, participating in photo ops and providing dance lessons — Charleston, anyone? These interactive features like live music and roaming character performers enhanced the decor and food & beverage choices to impart an authentic 1920s feel. 

If the entertainment had ended there, this party would have been deemed really swell, but there was much more to come.  

   

Burlesquing the Bday

The entertainment, which kept ramping up throughout the evening, culminated in a spectacular performance that started on the second-story balcony facing the pool. The hosts had wanted to push the envelope and asked for a show that would be a bit risqué and a lot surprising. We delivered with customized entertainment that featured three original songs performed by two singers, who were backed by four dancers.

   

Oh My!

With each new song, the dancers shed pieces of their costume, offering a classic burlesque performance that brought them down the exterior spiral staircase to the poolside where guests stood to watch the show. This burlesque performance was truly the cat’s pajamas.

Because the hosts are grandparents, no one expected this type of show. In fact, no one expected a show at all, so they were dazzled when the singers and dancers appeared on the upper balcony. As the songs progressed and the performers started their classic-style striptease, the crowd went wild. As a final unexpected gesture, the singers and dancers jumped into the pool, which was festooned with silver orbs.

   

How We Did It

Spectacularly choreographed custom entertainment like what guests enjoyed at this event takes a lot of effort, and for our team, one of the biggest challenges was coordinating the creation, development, and rehearsal of it from 1,400 miles away.

In partnership with the singers and dancers, we developed the custom burlesque show, which was fully choreographed and scripted, and ensured it would fulfill the client’s request for entertainment that would be risqué and surprising without going beyond propriety. That meant we needed to straddle a fine line.

Plus, it had to be a memorable performance, which led to the idea of ending the show with the singers and dancers jumping into the pool. It was completely unexpected because we had also decorated the pool with silver spheres, so it appeared as a decorative feature rather than an opportunity for late-night swimming. 

As much as the clients knew what we up to, the final performance surprised and delighted them. And we got a surprise of our own. A couple of the guests were so excited, they jumped into the pool too! 

Ready to see more?

 

At the end of a major multi-day corporate conference in Nashville, our client wanted to show attendees an even better time. We had designed and planned the events at the conference hotel, and we were called upon to make the party happen too. We got everyone out of the city to enjoy the beautiful Tennessee countryside, but we brought urban style with us. 

Welcoming 700 guests to Diamond Creek Farms, an expansive property with 100 acres and an indoor-outdoor event venue, we combined Nashville neon with Broadway glitz, treating the client’s top customers and sales reps to the best Music City has to offer just 10 miles away. 

From the concept to the flowers, this party kept a cohesive look with the early conference days but revved it up with over-the-top and oversized features. We had so much space to play with, one of our biggest challenges was maintaining a level of togetherness, which we accomplished through the use of dedicated vignettes and activity areas. And because it wouldn’t be Tennessee without a nod to the Queen of Country, the Smoky Mountain Songbird, the one and only Dolly Parton, we included a special inspired performance too.  

      

   

Destination Farm Country 

We handled every aspect of the event from scheduling transportation from the conference to the farm, event design and execution, entertainment booking, and catering coordination. This started with transportation, as we needed to get the 700 attendees from Nashville to Diamond Creek Farms. We reserved 12 Motor Coaches and picked up the participants at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center where the conference had been taking place. The short, scenic drive to the farm set the tone for an outdoor celebration that highlighted the fresh Southern air.

Outdoor Decor 

Using the same bright color scheme we had incorporated into the conference, we brought colorful neon décor to the beautiful farm, which included many, many flowers. From centerpieces with bold combinations of red, pink, yellow, and orange surrounding mini neon music notes to wall-scaling arrangements more intense than a peacock, the farm was bursting with color.   

We decorated an existing outdoor frame (think skeleton of a tent) by suspending multiple groupings of variously sized disco balls and stringing market lights around the entire perimeter. Beneath this elevated structure, we centered small round tables draped with brightly colored metallic linens and surrounded by Ghost chairs, while high top tables in sequined fabric lined the perimeter. We brought this same colorful, glitzy look to the venue’s covered patio, topping each table with lusciously hued centerpieces.

     

A Splashy Interior

Inside the venue, seating options were extended to lounge groupings featuring bold velvety sofas and chairs, and we never held back on combining colors – fuchsia chairs paired with an emerald sofa were dotted with pillows in black, white, and deep purple. More high-top tables draped with glittering black and silver linens faced the stage, which maintained the look with its fully sequined riser. 

To complement so much saturation and bring in a dose of sleek, Broadway-style glamor, we also included seating areas with silver sofas and mirrored coffee tables, as well as tall white communal tables with Ghost stools and lines of single-bud centerpieces in slim glass vases. Bars were unobtrusively black with black linens on the back bar, which provided a perfect backdrop to boldly colored florals and numerous neon signs depicting cowboys, boots, and the Nashville skyline.

   

   

Green Acres

Having splashed color throughout the venue, we set our sights on the acreage surrounding it. Across the lawn, we created similar settings to those we had placed within the structures – there were small groups of communal tables with Ghost stools and lounge groupings with royal blue velvet sofas and Ghost armchairs holding fuchsia pillows. To light these outdoor spaces, we used glowing orb lights that appeared to defy gravity as they extended from their pyramid bases. 

The goal with the outdoor areas was to create special vignettes and seating to allow for small group conversations and bonding even within the massive open space. A second stage was set up outside and dotted by a handful of tables, highboys, and white Adirondack chairs. We added market lights to the stage and used the same bright linens and centerpieces on the tables.

     

Photo Op Glam

In addition to the many decked-out functional spaces, we included a variety of photo ops that strongly highlighted the location and theme of the event. Complementing the references to cowboys, musical images were featured throughout, such as the neon music notes in the centerpieces. We also included multiple guitar images, beginning with the overall event logo, which offered a variation on a theme from the conference event graphic – that graphic had also driven the colors selected for the design of this event.

One of the favorite photo spots was a sculpture feature on the lawn crafted from a giant disco ball surrounded by many smaller ones. To these, we added a neon guitar and a cowboy boot, massive fronds painted in bright colors, and a bevy of roses in pink, red, blue, yellow, and orange. Taking the idea of this sculpture mobile were two performers in mirrored catsuits with silver cowboy boots and disco ball headwear. Another much-used photo spot was the massive existing frame the size of a goalpost on the farm’s lawn. We dressed up its corners with colorful florals and a disco ball arrangement.

That’s Entertainment

We included a variety of types of entertainment to take people through day into evening – a dance hall, a dueling piano club, a lounge, and a firepit where a guitarist played old country songs. Each of these aspects added to the visual appeal and authentic feel, as well as providing entertainment. Perhaps nothing accomplished that dual purpose more than the Dolly Parton impersonator, who reminded everyone that Nashville was very nearby. The evening ended with a fireworks show we designed, which was the perfect final note for this high-end neon extravaganza.  

  

   

 

The neon, bright colors, disco balls, sleek furniture, and market lights looked great when the guests arrived in the afternoon. But when the sun set, it was truly spectacular – glowing features and colored lights were everywhere. Nashville and Broadway had truly made it to the farm!