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Choosing the right vase can be more complicated than you think. Color, size, silhouette, and material should be perfectly paired with whichever florals you choose. Below we’ve compiled a few of the newest, most innovative vases around to show that you don’t have to settle for a clear, glass cylinder. What is your favorite, unique vase to use?

1. Lace Vase by Milk Design

2. Mondrian 3 in 1 Vase by Frank Kerdil

3. Floating Vase by oodesign

4. Cantine Vases by Veronique Maire

5. Thin Black Line Vase by Nendo

-William Fogler
WM Events

Here at WM Events, we love delving into the mechanics and techniques of creativity to help give us a better understanding of what can be done. So when someone asked us, “what exactly is die cutting?” we couldn’t wait to show them the ins and outs.

Die cutting is the process of trimming shapes out of flat materials like rubber, paper, cloth and plastics, and is a great way to produce multiples of the same shape. Different types of die cutting are used depending on the material being cut, whether there is a backing on the final product (such as stamps), and the desired number of objects.

Flatbed die cutting is used for smaller quantities and simpler shapes. The machine brings together a sheet of material and a plate die to cut, crease or emboss the material.

Rotary die cutting involves rolling a material between two cylinders. One of the cylinders is the die cylinder, and the other is a smooth anvil cylinder that receives the creasing and cutting blades of the die cylinder.

Check out these incredible die cut designs we’ve used for events. The first one is the front and back of an invitation for the Opera ball that took place in Washington, D.C. Following, a custom photograph place card in a die cut cardboard frame is a cute and personal detail. (Check out Spectacular Stuff for tons of cool die cut stuff.) And lastly, the exquisite details of the  invitation on the far right is something your guests are sure to remember from your event.

The star on top of the roses is made from multiple die cut piece of sintra board, a type of plastic. Thanks to our friends at the Special Projects Group for helping us create these great designs for the Regent’s Gala. Wm Events has the design ability and resources to help you create great custom details for your next event

-William Fogler
WM Events

S’mores are not just for camping trips anymore! This summertime treat of graham cracker, chocolate, and marshmallow goodness has moved out of the backyard and into events and eateries all over the country. Check out four of the latest trends for this gooey dessert favorite.

1. S’more Making Stations

Guests will love the chance to make their own s’more creations, especially when they’re inside a ballroom. We recently set up a s’mores station for a camp-inspired bat mitzvah. Guests loved roasting their own marshmallows.

2. Sublime Doughnuts- S’mores Doughnut

With flavors like Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup and Maple Bacon Cheddar, Sublime Doughnuts takes this delicious morning treat to the next level. The s’mores doughnut with its marshmallow filling and graham cracker crumble will make you feel like you’re sitting around the camp fire.

3. S’more Making Kits

Whether you’re looking for a fun welcome gift or a festive party favor, s’more making kits are a lovely  way to give your guests a delicious takeaway.

4. S’mores Cocktails

From s’more shots to s’moretinis, this summertime treat is a delicious addition to the bar at your next event.

Last Friday afternoon, the WM Events team took a trip down the street to visit the city’s newest brewery, Monday Night Brewing. This brewery was founded by a group of guys who met at a Bible study a few years ago, started brewing beer together, and eventually turned their hobby into a full-time endeavor.

In addition to having some great beer, this West Midtown brewing company is also a pretty awesome event venue. With a mix of eclectic furniture, a funky wall of ties, and a patio space that makes you forget you’re in the city, this place is perfect for rehearsal dinners, corporate parties, or guys (and gals) nights out.

We’re happy to have such great neighbors!

Happy Earth Day! Today is the 43rd anniversary of the day that reminds us all to be a little friendlier to Mother Earth. With activities happening in Atlanta and all over the world, we thought it would be a good time to reflect on some of the environmentally friendly events we’ve done here at WM Events.

Sustainable Wedding- Boulder, CO

From the organic farm setting to the vintage silver pieces and the organic welcome baskets, this wedding was a truly eco-friendly celebration.

Organic Awards Show- Atlanta, GA

Earth University promotes sustainability and education in North and South America. WM Events planned their organic awards show that featured tropical centerpieces and organic gift baskets.

Green NACE Table Design- Atlanta, GA

For the 2012 NACE Table Design Competition, we partnered with Peachtree Tents and Events to bring the garden inside with a lush living table.

So, whether you want to have an urban garden party or your very own terrarium, WM Events can help you celebrate Earth Day in style!

The Children’s Hospital of Atlanta at Hughes Spalding provides pediatric care to thousands of Georgia’s children. The organization offers high-quality care regardless of a family’s ability to pay, and I am a proud member of the hospital’s board.

The second annual Let’s Lunch for Hughes event happens on Friday, April 26th from 11:00 a.m-2:00 p.m at the Sweet Auburn Curb Market. Vendors will donate a portion of their proceeds to Hughes Spalding. Please join me and the rest of the WM Events team is supporting this amazing organization. I look forward to seeing you there!

Last month we designed the event decor for an educational fundraising gala in the near 22,000 square foot Atrium Ballroom of the Marriott Marquis. Surely you remember the copious amounts of gel beads we made during production. Using 3 separate, yet coordinated table top designs, we featured the event’s logo using custom made midollino wood stars and die cut sintra board. Inflated stars hung from the ceiling and massive spandex kites flew in for the stage backdrop.

Check out the awesome photos by PWP Studios below, and be sure to visit our Gallery or Facebook page to see a lot more!

-William Fogler
WM Events

With the deaths of Margaret Thatcher, Lilly Pulitzer, and Annette Funicello, the world lost three iconic women this week. Each of these women left significant and unique marks on history and popular culture- especially in their contributions to fashion and style.

Margaret Thatcher

The Iron Lady’s fashion sense was defined by the motto, “never flashy, just appropriate.” With ever-present pussybow blouses, handbags, and pearls, Thatcher added a feminine touch to her signature skirt suits. Despite Thatcher’s divisive political and cultural presence, her style was a sign of female strength that paved the way for today’s most powerful women.

Lilly Pulitzer

“Style isn’t just about what you wear, it’s about how you live. We focus on the best, fun and happy things, and people want that. Being happy never goes out of style.” It’s near impossible to look at a Lilly Pulitzer print and not feel a little happier. In 1959, Pulitzer opened a juice stand in Palm Beach. To hide the stains from the fruit, she designed a brightly printed cotton shift dress that turned out to be the first piece in her prep empire. Pulitzer’s bold prints and bright colors changed the face of high-end fashion. We’ve certainly been inspired by her in some of our most colorful events.

Annette Funicello

As one of America’s first sweethearts, Annette Funicello went from adorable Mouseketeer to charming teen beauty. Her classic style and signature hairstyle made her an icon in 1950s Americana fashion. From bikinis to cocktail dresses, the charming girl next door helped shape fashion for an entire generation. I can only imagine how much fun we would have planning a Frankie and Annette beach party!

-William Fogler  WM Events

It’s no secret that social media has become a central part of our lives. With over 25 million users, Pinterest has quickly become as important as Facebook and Twitter for keeping us all connected. Pinners grab images from around the web or upload their own to create organized vision boards that others can re-pin on their boards. We use our Pinterest to find inspiration and to show off some of our work.

But with so many Pinterest users, finding the right boards can be a little overwhelming. Here’s our top six list of pinners you should definitely be following.

1. Garance Dore

Garance Dore and her husband Scott Schuman of The Satorialist have become a power couple in the blog world. From fashion and illustrations to stories from life in New York city, Dore showcases the classic style and the latest trends. Her Pinterest boards are full of ideas to make everyone’s life a little more beautiful.

2. BBJ Table Fashion

BBJ Linen is one of our favorite go-to vendors. Their linen collection is massive and includes a variety of elegant and trend-setting designs. Similarly, their Pinterest showcases some amazing schemes and unlikely tabletop inspiration.

3. Kate Spade

An icon in American fashion design, Kate Spade is known for her bright prints and exciting patterns. Check out her Pinterest and learn not only how to dress colorfully, but how to travel, charm, and think colorfully, too.

4. Affairs to Remember Caterers
If you’re looking for some mouthwatering images, look no further than the Affairs to Remember Caterers’ Pinterest. Their boards feature not only the most appetizing entrees and desserts, but also images from their events and the fresh produce in their chef’s garden.

5. Dior

It’s no surprise that one of the world’s top fashion houses would have an amazing Pinterest. Dior’s boards are full of gems, including adorably chic Baby Dior and a Dior Heritage collection of sketches and pictures.

6. The Georgia Aquarium

One of Atlanta’s favorite places, the Georgia Aquarium is not just a great place to spend an afternoon, it’s also a beautiful event space. Their Pinterest features some of the Aquarium’s biggest (and smallest) stars, exciting aquarium happenings, and sea-inspired DIY projects.

-William Fogler
WM Events

Last week, thousands gathered as the Supreme Court heard two cases related to gay marriage. One case argues that legitimacy of California’s ban on gay marriage, Proposition 8, and the other takes a look at the 1996’s Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Their ruling, set to be released in June, could change the face of marriage in the United States, and will certainly affect our industry.

No matter what the Supreme Court’s decision, the social landscape  is definitely changing.

How will gay marriage change the wedding and event planning industry?

• Economic Improvement: According the 2010 Census, there are 594,000 same-sex couple households in the United States. Imagine if all these couples could get married, spending an average of $28,427 per wedding according to a recent survey. Allowing more people to marry leads to more weddings- which means a lot more business for everyone from wedding planners, like us, to caterers, florists, and rental companies. GayDestinationWeddings even gives a list of LGBT-friendly retailers for your wedding registry.

• Innovative Venues: More gay weddings will mean more innovative spaces for ceremonies and receptions. Remember the ribbon treatment inspiration we showed you before from the Central Park Pop Up Chapels celebrating New York’s gay marriage legislation.

• New Wedding Fashion: A changing marriage landscape will lead to an update of the traditional white wedding dress and tuxedo to more innovative wedding style.

• Changing Popular Culture: As gay marriage becomes a bigger part of our culture, we can expect new popular culture niches to emerge.  “Say Yes to the Dresses” might be TLC’s new favorite show!

-William Fogler
WM Events

We’ve been curious about the origin of Midollino wood and it’s possible uses lately. This pliable wood product that can be used in a variety of ways, translates in Italian as “wicker” and is sold in just about every color. Though we mostly see it used in centerpiece designs,  Midollino products included baskets and furniture as well. Check out some inspiration and our personal Midollino creations below.

Accent Decor offers a the product in a variety of colors and suggests inspirational designs on their website.

Here are a few examples of how other designers are incorporating the wood into their designs.

This beautiful outdoor chair from Italian designers Promemoria is called Topazia in Midollino. The wrapping of the midollino is stunning compared to the weave of traditional wicker furniture. On the right is a ceramic and wicker bread basket by Davide Abagnale, Giulia Chiametti that recalls the rustic and natural elements of the bread.

Lastly, here is our go at the Midollino phenomenon, with special guest Robert caught in action.

-William Fogler
WM Events

Great designs have great precedents. Each member of the Wm Events team brings to the table a unique aesthetic and an affinity for a designer or artist that inspires us. We’ve compiled a listing below of our favorite designers and what they bring to the table. Who’s your inspiration?

William nominates Philippe Starck as his favorite designer. Starck is a world famous interior and product designer whose career began reaching new heights in the early 1980s. Items such as the Louis Ghost chair and Juicy Salif are not only important Starck designs, but are also icons of industrial design. William’s favorite element of Starck’s designs is the juxtaposition of contemporary and classical elements in hospitality spaces.

Leigh’s favorite designer, Thomas Paul, is a well-rounded artist with a background in the fashion industry. His degree in textiles and extensive work in the fashion has led to a successful career in the interior design world. From silk pillows to stationery and lamp shades, it’s quite possible to incorporate a TP design into every square inch of your home. Adorable patterns and prints are his signature, and it is no wonder Leigh loves him. By him, we mean his designs, but he’s a sight for sore eyes too!

Robert has always seemed to love a lot of design that originates from Denmark and Spain, so it’s no wonder that he loves Jorge Pensi. Pensi is actually from Argentina and originally trained in architecture, but he established himself in Barcelona in the 1980s. While Robert loves iconic designs like the Toledo stacking chair, it’s Pensi’s charisma and approach that won him over. He had the chance to meet with Pensi at his studio in Barcelona this past summer. It was no surprise that the space had great architectural features, unique Pensi designed elements and a studio for building full sized concepts.

Melissa’s choice is the illustrator and graphic design artist Barbara Nessim. From magazine and print media illustrations to mixed media collages, Nessim’s work posses an amazing versatility.  Nessim is a trailblazer not only for female artists but also in digital art and graphic design. Melissa most admires Nessim’s ability to transform common images and create complex social commentaries.