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You know those places that just feel like home? Or at least a home away from home? That’s exactly our connection to Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium. From its early days, we’ve been diehard fans, and we’ve been thrilled to return many times to plan conferences, outdoor events, festival-like lawn parties, birthday parties, company family days, and so many other events.

We couldn’t wait to head back to the stadium when our WM Events team was asked – for the third time – to design and produce the Football on the Front Porch event for the Atlanta Falcons, a high-end celebration welcoming 200 of the team’s most important partners. Guest experience was a big deal here, but so was branding, both for the NFL team and event sponsor Gallagher, the official insurance brokerage and risk management partner of the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United FC of MLS. We worked in the Gallagher logo throughout the event without letting it take over the style of the setting, which was sleek, vibrant, and welcoming — all at the same time. 

We planned for everything, including contingencies like the unpredictable Atlanta spring weather. When the rain clouds determined to run interference on this front porch event, we switched up our game plan and took this celebration indoors.

Hometown Palette

Entering the stadium, guests were greeted by a Falcons-black carpet, placed along the length of the 20-foot black wall featuring graphic event and sponsor logos and a neon Falcons sign. The wall was flanked by tall florals, and the area was delineated by a black and silver rope and stanchion set. This entrance set the stage for the sleek, modern décor that was to come. Everything boldly highlighted the Falcons’ signature colors – black, red, white, and silver. While these hues were predetermined, they offered us the perfect palette to create seating, floral arrangements, and decorative elements with eye-catching contrast.

To enhance the setting, we installed three large shadow box bars filled with color-blocking floral statements for drink service and five 8-foot black acrylic branded bars for food stations. Multiple gobo lights displaying the Gallagher logo, and we used a rectangular graphic to camouflage the electrical box. We planned for 600 feet of LED market lights to be strung above the setting, and this was the one element we were unable to bring inside when we turned to our rain plan.

Sophisticated Seating

For this indoor reception, we installed a dozen cocktail tables and eight communal tables, all of which featured branded floral centerpieces. To these, we added 16 highboy tables with branded tops, as well as contemporary seating from Ghost chairs to stylish chrome-accented bar stools.

In addition to the variety of cocktail seating, we set up six lounge groupings of modern sofas, loveseats, and poufs in red, white, and black – showcasing luxe materials like velvet and leather – tossed with textured accent pillows in on-palette mohair, metallics, marble pattern, and velvet, along with branded pillows – two dozen in all. Glass side and coffee tables with chrome finishes and more than 100 votives completed the space.

Photo Opps and Extra Fun

The setting was a perfect complement for the giant Atlanta Falcons helmet that served as a favorite photo opp. Guests also enjoyed non-stop entertainment, custom hors d’oeuvres, and a cigar rolling station. This upscale event delighted attendees even after we were required to recreate our vision inside the stadium instead of al fresco.

In the South, we are known for our porches, but no Southerner had ever seen a porch party like this one before!

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Maybe the word “conference” does not automatically elicit visions of health, wellness, and self-care. Maybe it makes you think about networking, speakers, and corporate communication. But conferences have been getting more interesting, more engaging, and just more fun for years, especially when we have anything to do with planning and designing them. 

Recently, we took the idea of an engaging and enjoyable conference to the next level when designing an event for the Black Mamas Matter Alliance. This was a totally different style of conference and one that is really on trend right now. It started with a smaller number of attendees that allowed for a more intimate atmosphere. The all-day event included Instagrammable moments of affirmation, local vendors, a technological showcase, and even a healing sound bath. 

Getting to Know This Organization 

The Black Mamas Matter Alliance is a national network of Black women-led and Black-led birth and reproductive justice organizations and multi-disciplinary professionals, working across the full spectrum of maternal and reproductive health. Through events held in different cities, the organization aims to raise awareness of issues Black women face during and after pregnancy. Events also highlight mom-entrepreneurs (aka mompreneurs), especially those working in the tech realm – more on that coming up.

Plenty of Pampering 

This year’s conference took place at The Gathering Spot and conceived it as a spa-like retreat that focused as much on well-being as providing information. The décor palette included creamy neutrals, rosy pinks, and soothing lavender paired with rich, deep purples and greens. From the perimeter décor to the step-and-repeat, we featured nature-inspired pampas grass, palm fans, and greenery with light floral accents, all complemented by mauve carpet runners. 

These soothing design elements were repeated on the stage, where plush lounge seating met rounded end tables. The table curves were mirrored in the stage décor, which was also accented with Art Deco lines and gold finishes. Behind it all was a branded backdrop featuring the same calming palette.   

Seeking Joy 

An important goal of this conference was to engage and uplift attendees, so there were numerous interactive features that allowed everyone to be part of the day. 

In addition to the floral step-and-repeat, guests were invited to take photos at the Black Mama Joy Affirmation Wall. There, we placed another mauve carpet runner and created a coordinating 8-by-8-ft. custom printed layered backdrop with words of positivity. There were about three dozen smaller painted signs for attendees to pose with, offering words like “radiant,” “resilient,” and “revolutionary,” allowing guests to choose what brings them joy and capture the moment with photos that could be shared on social media. In the Podcast Listening Lounge, guests relaxed within velvety seating and chose from featured podcasts. This space included a 12-by-8-ft. custom printed backdrop with a curving top – think bubble bath – and natural greenery and pampas grass.

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Delightful Sounds 

During the conference, BMMA showcased many apps that are available to assist mothers with challenges they face. We promoted these with custom tabletop signs featuring QR codes that were placed on highboys draped in soft linens and accompanied by on-theme florals. A local vendor market offered the chance to shop for one-of-a-kind products. 

While the event honored Black mothers and encouraged celebrations of joy, it also highlighted Black maternal health issues. Following an intense session that included a panel on maternal mortality, we reset the energy in the room with a sound bath. This hour of healing included a group sound bath with Tibetan and crystal singing bowls and shorter individual sound baths provided by Ottavia Tay Lang.   

Was it a conference or a spa-like day highlighting well-being? Perhaps it is time to expect both.

When choosing a party theme, many hosts come to the drawing board with a specific color or palette in mind. They might base it on the corporate logo, the wedding couple’s favorite colors, or seasonal hues. Through the years, we’ve had numerous opportunities to brush a special blush on social gatherings, nonprofit events and corporate celebrations. Whether incorporating a soft pink palette or a bold #e0218a – that’s the official HEX code for Barbie Pink – these events got the client’s stamp of approval, and we’re pretty sure they would also please one Barbara Millicent Roberts – that’s Barbie’s full name.   

In honor of all that is Barbie, and especially Greta Gerwig’s new interpretation set to be released this weekend, here’s a look back at some of our most pinkaliscious parties from the past several years – we were into this color trend before it even was a trend.   

  

For a beloved friend and client’s 60th birthday party, we pinked it up at The Electric Room in West Midtown. From pink and red florals to a bright pink velvet sofa, the guest of honor loved the colorful touches, especially the pink neon sign with her nickname that made the perfect photo spot for the evening.

At the AmericasMart, we brought in a fresh look for the launch of fashion line LDT. We added a blush photo backdrop with the new brand’s logo and surrounded it with pink and natural floral arrangements, some atop a cute white flower cart. 

Romance was in bloom and roses were pink on the gorgeous lawn behind a private home when we created an outdoor experience reminiscent of the Italian countryside. Weathered estate farm tables topped with moss featured floral centerpieces filled with lush, white and pink ranunculus and roses – garden and standard – and golden votives. For this 70th birthday celebration, a three-tier cake iced in light pink featured a diamante base to each layer and live pink florals to complement the décor. The sophisticated outdoor celebration was capped off with a fireworks show. 

For the Pinkalicious Anniversary in celebration of the 10th anniversary of our friends at Peachtree Tents & Events, we designed and installed blush pink décor from the tables to the floor and the walls to the ceiling. Then we lit up the whole space with pink lighting that cast a soft glow all evening.

Then there was the time we transformed a warehouse into the ultimate disco for the Pink Fever party. With a 1970s theme and hot pink votives, glittery fuchsia streamers, and many disco balls to reflect it all, this festive event was hot, hot, hot.

When it was time to produce a bat mitzvah dinner for a young Denverite, we put a fresh spin on I HEART NY to create a Soho-chic celebration that brought Central Park to the West. Instead of going with the standard red, black and white, we paired scarlet with magenta, added hot pink uplighting, and the kids were ready to party.

For another bat mitzvah dinner in Denver, we planned a CSI-themed celebration – think Agatha Christie dinner theater with a 21st century upgrade. Complete with dress-up clothes for the photo booth and crime scene photographers, this intriguing event took place within a setting decorated with bright pink neon and bright rose accents.

Maybe the most perfect pink party of all was the one we produced at the High Museum of Art. It welcomed 400 guests to pamper and honor eight breast cancer survivors named as Pink Power Moms, along with 32 Legacy Moms, during a five-year anniversary weekend celebration. It started with a pink carpet entrance staffed by pink-dressed greeters. We lit up the exterior of the museum and the white atrium with a palette of pink striking enough to make Barbie blush.

Our Director of Operations Eduardo Ramirez came to WM Events after he spent a dozen years honing his behind-the-scenes event skills, culminating in the position of logistics supervisor in the industry. Since 2022, he has brought his extensive know-how to keeping our events running smoothly from setup to strike.

Ready to get to know more about this event operations pro? 

• Hometown: Mexico City
• How long have you lived in Atlanta? 20 Years
• Favorite outdoor Sunday activity in Atlanta: Biking
• Favorite hiking spot near Atlanta: High Shoals Falls near Helen
• Favorite place to take out-of-town guests: World of Coca-Cola, Georgia Aquarium and out on the town.
• Best place to meet someone for coffee: An Atlanta original — Waffle House

• Favorite Atlanta date night spot: Eclipse di Luna
• Favorite nightlife spot: Tongue & Groove
• Most memorable event ever attended: My wedding (aww!)
• Wall flower, extrovert or party animal? Definitely a party animal   
• Dancer or conversationalist? Both

• Favorite ice breaking line at a party: Turned up, turned up, turned up!
• Favorite flower: Who can choose just one? Roses and tulips!
• Most craveable party food: Tacos
• Drink of choice? Again, who can choose just one? Whiskey and beer
• Favorite Atlanta music venue: Any of these mid-size venues — Terminal West, The Tabernacle and the Coca-Cola Roxy
• Favorite WM Events party: Fun with the Falcons and any other Falcons events too

What else should everyone know about you?

• I can’t get enough of 92.9 Falcons Sport radio. Rise up!

Changing for dinner takes on a new meaning during the Masters Golf Tournament week. Not only do the guests freshen up before an evening meal, but the hospitality spaces often do too. For WM Events, that meant creating multiple dinner looks for the 20+ events we produced and executed at this year’s tournament. 

In case you’ve never attended the Masters or another golf tournament, let us begin by explaining how the hospitality works. First, organizations secure temporary housing in the lovely city of Augusta, and we’re not talking about hotel rooms or Airbnb. In this case, only really luxe, really big, really stately homes will do the trick. Some of these homes might be used as accommodations, but the truly grand spaces become the site of the organization’s invite-only dinners. 

Because some guests come back for more than one dinner, we were asked to change the looks from night to night. So like we are big time Hollywood producers, we go in and get everything camera ready, then do it all over the next day. 

For our team, this year’s Masters included 20 dinners at three houses, décor at a fourth space, and ongoing set-up and strike throughout the week. Was it a hole in one? Absolutely. 

Read on to find out what we did in each house.

At a stunning home on a peninsula jutting into the Savannah River, an American multinational investment bank hosted four nights of dinners for 40 guests each night. Every event featured a distinct look right down to the napkin fold, which meant we developed four special designs for the cocktail hours and dinners. Looks were classic with farm tables and neutrals paired with hints of copper, verdigre, gold, jade or emerald, depending on the night. 

The dinners took place outside on a 30-by-30-ft. platform we created with flooring, and guests also enjoyed a fireside chat at each event for which we fulfilled the audio-visual needs. The dining space next to a pool with floating decor was surrounded with lanterns and florals, while market lights and grapevine spheres were strung overhead. The fully outdoor nature of these dinners called for a rain plan, which we developed — deemed a winning task when it stormed one evening, and we were able to quickly adjust the dinner to a location inside the house. 

We brought in a personal chef to create the dinners. She also provided breakfast and lunch every day in this busy hospitality house. At all hours, visitors were welcomed by a variety of white floral arrangements with hints of green and rustic succulents. We provided floral decor for the client’s additional properties too. 

It was double the fun at the hospitality home hosted by a multinational shipping & receiving company that held eight dinners during the tournament. The number of guests started at 20 with earlier events then ramped up to 40. These dinners also took place outside, but in this case, we brought in a giant tent with glass walls, power, air conditioning and flooring. Smaller tents were added for catering.

The tent was dolled up with boxwood walls and plants, while three chandeliers hung from the ceiling. We created a farmhouse look with wooden tables and natural linen runners, as well as florals with warm spring hues like yellow, mustard and orange. To this context, we added three complete table looks, which were rotated throughout the week — all designs featured shades of green, white and metallics to easily coordinate with the overall look of the tent.  

For this house, we also created the fireside chat setup, such as seating and AV equipment. It needed to be top notch because speakers included figures like Condoleezza Rice, UPS CEO Carol Tomé, Jack Nicklaus and more. 

We had a rain plan for this house too, and when the skies opened, we moved dinner to the covered patio we had previously used for cocktail receptions. 

The host of the Pool House dinners was a newcomer to the Masters and pulled out all the stops for eight intimate dinners and fun throughout the day. We started by placing a 30-by-30-ft. tent in the driveway to bring in a golf simulator and lounge. In the lounge, we incorporated homey foliage and a combination of highboys with stools and living room-style seating with coffee tables and branded pillows. 

We decorated the entrance to the home with lanterns, LED candles, and an orange and white floral archway. To bring in the look of the client’s retail offerings, we used pieces supplied by the company like furniture and a pergola then added on-brand potted plants and wood elements. This theme continued into the backyard decor, which also featured a large floating logo in the pool and multiple boxwood backdrops with logo graphics.

Here, the dinners took place in a pool house, and guests first mingled in the backyard during cocktail hour, enjoying a whisky tasting. We created three total tablescape and floral looks for the numerous dinners, which were rotated each night. All looks leaned into the client’s brand by highlighting wood and natural elements. For Easter dinner, shell and ceramic plates were paired with peachy florals for a lighter style. 

There was a lot to do at this house, even beyond the golf simulator. Guests had the option of stopping by the oxygen bar and lounge to sample flavored pure oxygen. Musicians provided entertainment each evening, and a cigar roller was on site for select events. For the fireside chats, we again provided the setup and AV, and we styled the entire home with large- and small-scale bright white floral arrangements paired with succulents. Our updates to the home also included pillows, table runners, shelf accessories and more to bring everything in concert with the client’s brand and look. This extended to the piano room and tournament ticket pick-up area too. 

Our fourth project at this year’s tournament was for a sports marketing agency that needed assistance with creating a modern look in a home that was more traditional. We removed the existing furniture from the house and stored it on our truck then brought in pieces that were more contemporary. We styled the tables, chairs and bar to produce just the look the client desired.

We pulled all of this off by importing more than a dozen staff members from Atlanta. And of course, we relied on many great partners and vendors to supply just what we needed when we needed it. Come to think of it, this wasn’t just a hole-in-one, it was more of a Grand Slam. 

We’ve all heard that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. But our WM Events team has been doing our fair share of visiting the Neon Capital of the World during the past several months, and we’d prefer to tell you all about it. From hosting a major corporate event beneath the world’s second-greatest Eiffel Tower to Venetian inspiration at a professional development conference and plenty more, we’ve taken Vegas by storm, and we’re not looking back.

When it comes to Las Vegas corporate event planning, almost anything goes. In this city of more is more, the hardest part can be narrowing the options. That meant the sky was literally the limit when we headed to the Chateau Rooftop at Paris Las Vegas for Deceuninck’s annual corporate retreat.

Welcoming 200 VIP guests, this event was branded from top to bottom – and in this case, “top” meant all the way to the top of the Eiffel Tower. But more on that in a minute.

Arriving attendees walked a Deceuninck-blue carpet to be greeted by registration attendants at tables draped with blue linens. Oversized white letters spelling the company name stood out against a blue drapery backdrop.

Inside the event, which took place beneath the graceful curve of the tower, the theme continued. We added branded pillows to existing gray lounge seating and placed blue linens on highboy tables, which were topped with floral arrangements featuring white roses and hydrangeas with periwinkle accents in white or silver vases. A roaming champagne skirt and complimentary cigars upped the ante.

From custom napkins to coozies and multiple types of signage, we transformed the venue into a thoroughly branded space. Not stopping at eye level – we illuminated the tower in the client’s bright blue hue, visible on-site and across the city!

Las Vegas is a great place to connect, so when Leigh, our Director of Sales & Design, and Kristy, our Director of Business Development, were invited to attend the Connect Meetings Hosted Buyer event this spring, they thought it sounded like an instant win. They headed west to party at Caesar’s Palace and basked in the April sunshine, then got down to business. 

As Hosted Buyers, these two high rollers attended professional meetings, met with numerous vendors, and enjoyed a private tour of Allegiant Stadium, the city’s newest state-of-the-art venue and home to the Las Vegas Raiders and UNLV. 

Leigh and Kristy came home much richer — in inspiration, that is — and full of ideas for many future events in the desert.

In fact, we’re already looking forward to our next Las Vegas event, which is coming up in July, and it’s huge. For this corporate leadership conference, we’ll accommodate 3,500 attendees at the Aria Hotel and Allegiant Stadium. The festivities commence with a pink elephant-themed welcome party that celebrates cocktails and imagination through décor by blending pink, neon, and optical illusions. At the stadium, we’ll lean into our talent with sports events and throw in a bit of disco to give thousands of guests something to cheer for.  

This is a city that never sleeps. It’s the marriage capital of the world and the entertainment capital of the world. You just can’t get the experiences you’ll find in Las Vegas anywhere else. With that in mind, here are …

Lucky Number 7 More Things We Love About Las Vegas Event Planning:

1.     Big theatrical dinner shows

2.     Scads of speakeasies

3.     Nightlife at The Cosmopolitan

4.     Old-style glam at the Mayfair Supper Club

5.     New, new venues, all the time that just keep getting better and better.

6.     So many luxury hotels, it’s hard to choose just one.

7.     The upcoming MSG Sphere at The Venetian – a 17,500-seat performance venue in the shape of … you guessed it, a big, round dome. It’s slated to open in 2023, and we’ll definitely be checking it out.

It’s always an honor to be recognized by other professionals in your field, so the WM Events team was delighted by our win at the recent Allie Awards. We took home the Best Corporate or Association Event at the 33rd-annual awards, for a winning project that had tasked us with producing a spectacular groundbreaking ceremony in an empty field under a bridge on what turned out to be an exceptionally cold day. If you think of breaking ground as mostly just a photo op, think again. We brought tech, we brought luxury accommodations, and we even brought charming, branded shovels to create a welcoming event that gave a who’s who guest list a taste of what’s to come with the project and development of the area. 

Come with us to the Gulch in downtown Atlanta and envision the future that is Centennial Yards.  

Conjuring Something Out of Nothing

This development is an exciting evolution for the city, as well as for residents and visitors. Beginning with the hotel and apartment building they celebrated at this groundbreaking, our clients are creating a neighborhood from scratch. So we needed to create a ceremony that reflected the monumental achievements to come – from parking to catering to an accommodating space for presentations, we brought it all. 

Our team leaned into our experience with outdoor events, festivals and technology to conjure up an enticing and comfortable space out of a raw construction site beneath an overpass. It started by making sure everyone had an easy arrival, despite the fact that parking in the area was difficult, and there was not enough of it. We commandeered what nearby lots we could, but some were too far for walking, especially on such a cold day. To help guests get from their cars to the site, we brought in two shuttles that ran continuously throughout the event.  

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We installed large directional signage, so no one lost their way even without that typical event feature – a front door. Instead, guests traveled a red carpet and were greeted by two registration attendants at the branded, magnetic registration walls before entering the main space, which we had delineated by wrapping bridge supports with graphics of skyline views displaying the future of the neighborhood.

Inside a large event tent, guests enjoyed hot cocoa and coffee and relaxed in theater-style seating among decorated highboys. Because it was an unseasonably cold day, we brought in many touches that warmed the site. The tent where the speeches and presentations took place was heated, we placed propane heaters outside, and we distributed hot beverages from the Frothy Coffee & Goods cart.  

Audio Visual Success in an Empty Lot 

To accommodate the day’s presentations, we created an elegant stage with skirting, steps, and a jumbo LED screen, and installed flagpoles bearing the flags of Atlanta, Georgia and the United States. Speeches celebrated the coming development of this historically vacant site in downtown Atlanta, which will become the residential-entertainment neighborhood Centennial Yards. This event boasted an incredible guest list, made up of celebrities, C-suite executives, sports team owners, and political figures. Speakers included Mayor Andre Dickens, Michael Russell of H.J. Russell & Co., and NBA great Grant Hill. Monica Pearson served as emcee.   

In addition to verbal storytelling from the presenters, with a jumbo LED screen, we provided guests with a vision of the future. We incorporated renderings of the hotel, apartments, and spaces beyond. These elements worked together to create a sense of place even from a vacant site that offered no inherent vision of it.  

And Finally, a Photo Op

Following speeches and presentations, it was time to break into the ground. Considering the gravelly terrain of the cold event site, we knew doing that with shovels would prove impossible, so we created a branded display — think grown-up sandbox — filled with sand and glowing red rocks and gave the development leaders and VIPs branded shovels to pose with. Yes, in the end, we did create an ideal photo op with the Atlanta skyline as the perfect backdrop, but the event was also so much more!

Afterwards, there was time for networking and dreaming about the exciting future of the neighborhood. The affair lasted just two hours, but like the landmark structures it will become, the memory of groundbreaking on the new site will last for decades. 

We’re proud of the part we played and know we’ll look back at this groundbreaking ceremony and remember – this was where it all began. 

Event Planner + Designer Tigest Gashaye joined WM Events in the fall of 2021, bringing with her a background that ranged from catering sales to nonprofit work to wedding planning and real estate. Before launching her professional career, she earned a degree in sociology from Georgia State University.

Here are some fun facts about this fun event pro!

• Where were you born? Ethiopia
• How long have you lived in Atlanta? 14 years
• Where did you go to high school? Cross Keys High School
• Favorite place to take out-of-town guests: Ponce City Market with a walk on the Belt Line
• Favorite Atlanta figure: Stacey Abrams is a bad ass.
• One hidden gem you think more people should know about: The Buford Highway Farmers Market — they have dedicated aisles for specific countries.

• Favorite Atlanta music venue: Center Stage
• Favorite Atlanta date night spot: The Gypsy Kitchen patio
• Best place to meet someone for a drink: Red Pepper Taquería in Buckhead
• Favorite Atlanta place to take your dog: The Works
• Favorite Atlanta art venue: Krog Street leading up to and through the tunnel
• Best ice cream in Atlanta: I like froyo, so Yogli Mogli.
• Best place to meet someone for coffee: If you like pastry, go to Sweet Hut on Buford Highway.

• What is your earliest memory about a party? My dad was a BIG birthday person, so I had the best birthday parties as a child. He made me feel like a princess.
• Most memorable event: I went to a friend’s wedding in Palm Beach, Florida. It was intimate and took place in a tropical hotel, where we all stayed that night.
• Favorite current event trend: Neon Lights, and I LOVE them.
• Favorite ice breaking line at a party: Who wants a drink?
• Drink of choice? Café Cubano
• Favorite Flower David Austin English Roses
• Family gathering tradition: Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony
• Favorite WM Events party: The Falcon’s Tailgate was awesome!

When it comes to stylish eras, you can’t beat the 1920s. There is a reason the jazz age is chosen as the theme for many a celebration and “The Great Gatsby” keeps getting remade for the silver screen. For a high-end holiday event for the Entrepreneurs’ Organization Atlanta (EO), we drew inspiration from the 1920s intellectual and cultural revival, the Harlem Renaissance, bringing that Cotton Club-Cab Calloway-Count Basie feel to Bishop Station in West Midtown. And because this was also the decade of Prohibition, we styled it like an exclusive speakeasy that went all out with spectacular décor, creative cocktails and a casino royale.   

Welcome to the Juice Joint 

First impressions matter, so we started the journey to 100 years in the past as soon as guests arrived. They walked a sleek, black carpet with black rope and stanchions flanked by statement florals and dramatic uplights to be greeted by a costumed doorman. The door was accented with a vintage frame and jazz-era graphic. 

Guests had photos taken in front of an elegant boxwood wall surrounded by tall, feathery palms. Then, if they knew the password, they proceeded from this stylized courtyard into the building for a jazz club-themed cocktail reception before heading upstairs where the main event took place in a room of exposed brick. It was an ideal location for an underground nightclub – even if it was just for one night in the 2020s. 

Stop Along 125th Street  

The cocktail reception welcomed guests to sip and savor among highboys draped in metallic linens. We topped these with thematic centerpieces – think gilded Art Deco – and multiple glowing votives. Luxe lounge seating was decorated with high-glam accent pillows, and large, gold-framed images of jazz musicians were placed throughout the room. To the bar, we added oversized black-and-white feathered arrangements and created a moody atmosphere with strategically placed uplighting.

With all the nods to jazz, we had to include live music, of course. During the reception, guests enjoyed the harmonious sounds of a live jazz trio, courtesy of our friends at Rare Formation Creatives.   

Visit the Club Casino 

Like alcohol, gambling was illegal during the roaring 20s, so a high-end casino was a must-have in our Atlanta speakeasy. We leaned into the concept of a backroom gambling den, and guests enjoyed craps, roulette and blackjack tables, complete with professional croupiers and dealers, playing for custom EO dollars. 

Adjacent to the casino tables, we dressed highboys and large round tables with luxury linens and topped them with a mix of short and tall centerpieces, as well as many candles to create a warm glow. We added jazz-age arrangements to the bars and buffet stations. The rustic walls, herringbone floors and chandeliers hanging from the venue’s curved, vaulted ceiling offered the perfect ‘underground’ setting for these touches of glamour. 

We continued this captivating look on the terrace, where highboys were draped with sparkling linens, and votives and uplights completed a sophisticated outdoor gathering space.

There was more jazz too, in this case a Rare Form DJ + live jazz combo, perfect for the dance party that capped off the evening.  

It ain’t bragging if it’s true, and what we know is that several members who attended the event told us it was the best EO event yet. We could even say, it was the cat’s pajamas.

We have planned lots of surprise parties over the years. In fact, they are one of our specialties. From celebrations on an Atlanta rooftop to a historic venue, and even a birthday party for our very own Leigh (which was absolute-leigh delightful), these events enchanted guests and thrilled the guest of honor. 

When we got the call to design and produce a surprise 80th birthday party on a grand scale for one of the city’s most important figures, we huddled up, brought our A game, and scored a winning event. 

Our goal was to tailor the 80th birthday party to the guest of honor, and most importantly, the entire event had to feel like him from start to finish. 

Planning began with the venue selection, which was one of our favorite spaces, Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The stadium has a capacity of more than 90,000, but we needed to make it comfortable and intimate for just 300 guests, so we set about transforming the massive venue into numerous intimate zones, each highlighting the guest of honor in multiple ways. For nearly six hours, guests enjoyed cocktails, entertainment, dinner, speeches, a meet-and-greet, and even a special appearance by Steve Martin and Martin Short.  

A Grand Entrance 

The celebration got underway when guests, who had walked a red carpet, waited to shout “Surprise!” from a hidden space near the stadium entrance as the guest of honor made his way to the well-known metal Falcon sculpture. A perfectly timed confetti cannon with streamers joined the exclamation from attendees, and the tone was set for a thrilling evening.  

We knew the Falcon statue would be a favorite photo spot, so we stationed a photographer there, and by the time guests were ready to leave, we had their printed and framed photos waiting for them to take home. We also created a step-and-repeat with the honoree’s likeness and core values, paired with the specially designed event logo. 

Stadium Crowd Control 

Mercedes-Benz Stadium has a lot of space to play with, and we took advantage of it by creating multiple environments guests enjoyed as the night progressed. One of our most helpful teammates in accomplishing this was drapery, which we used to define areas and create distinct paths through the spacious venue. We stationed black-tie greeters throughout to direct guests from one area to the next. Additionally, we brought the party to life through all five senses in each space. 

A cocktail reception in the Overlook Lounge celebrated the guest of honor through images projected on the LED walls and stadium roof Jumbotron. We also decorated the mega column with his birthday graphic and used blank spaces to feature a timeline of photos of him, paired with a massive “A” made of red roses. An on-site artist created a mural during the evening. Guests relaxed among lounge groupings in luxe red, black, white and gold while enjoying a live jazz band.  

A One-Night Only Performance 

Next, it was time to head downstairs to “Club 80,” the special name we gave the Delta Club for the night, where dinner was held. Guests collected their seating assignments, which were available as brass escort cards shaped like traditional hotel keys featuring the Atlanta skyline, and walked through a tunnel we created with drapery and uplights. 

We transformed the club into a mid-century lounge that would have made Frank Sinatra himself feel right at home. In fact, the birthday celebrant’s favorite song, “My Way,” was performed in different arrangements throughout the evening. Every aspect of the club, from the branded menus to the centerpieces, was cohesive with the ‘80’ logo branding in earlier stages of this progressive event. In Club 80, musical entertainment continued with a live band and a choir.  

The dinner menu was provided by a who’s who of Atlanta chefs, with each creating one course for the evening, and the chefs were chosen from the guest of honor’s favorite restaurants. As guests dined, the show continued on stage with a special appearance by Steve Martin and Martin Short! At one point, the guest of honor joined the duo on stage for a rousing rendition of the “Three Amigos” dance. Before the celebration ended, Mayor Andre Dickens presented the birthday honoree with a Phoenix Award.  

If attendees were surprised by the guest of honor’s turn in a sombrero, he was the one who had gotten the biggest surprise of all, as he kept repeating that he had no idea a few hundred friends had been waiting at the stadium to celebrate him that night. 

With football’s biggest day of the year coming up, we’ve started reminiscing about the many tailgates, Super Bowl parties, and events for the Atlanta Falcons or the Georgia Bulldogs WM Events has been a part of during the past several years. 

There was that time we planned the Falcons’ season kick-off for 2,000 of the team’s premier ticketholders. Or the one where a Prince impersonator got guests at a Minneapolis-themed Super Bowl Party to “go crazy.” And we’ll never forget the community football-themed celebration hosted by rapper Quavo. Plus, we’ve produced so many high-end tailgate events and know enough about the perfect game-day snacks that William appeared on television to share his top tips. 

To get you in the mood for Super Bowl LVII in Arizona, here is a look back at VII football parties we have loved!

I.           Fresh Air Fête with Falcons

One warm spring evening in Atlanta, 200 Falcons Fans headed down a red-carpet entrance to an outdoor celebration at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. A striking entrance featuring 16-ft. halogen light tubes and a champagne wall set the scene for an enjoyable outdoor, totally Instagrammable event.

II.          Tailgating for UGA vs. Notre Dame

When the UGA Alumni Association called on WM Events to gussy up its tailgate event for a matchup between the University of Georgia Bulldogs and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, we huddled up and pulled out our best plays.

III.         Spooky NFL Tailgate

This spooktacular event took place just before Halloween at the Georgia International Plaza of Mercedes-Benz Stadium and welcomed 5,000 attendees to the Atlanta Falcons-Carolina Panthers official VIP tailgate. Falcons black and red provided an ideal palette for inspiring our creepiest décor to date.

IV.        Super Bowl Tailgate at Paschal’s

When Super Bowl LIII headed to Atlanta in 2019, 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. We infused the historic downtown space located just blocks from the stadium with a masculine décor that was brightened with metallic accents and crystal, gold and brass chandeliers.

V.         Sumptuous Super Bowl

We planned a more intimate Super Bowl party the same year on pre-game Friday evening for NBCUniversal’s 40 dinner guests by securing admission to one of Atlanta’s best-kept secret locations, , The Bureau, a private speakeasy within the award-winning Italian steakhouse KR SteakBar. With its nod to the 1920s, it proved to be a fitting location for these sports execs and fans who dined on a five-course meal served family style.

VI.        Rise Up with the Atlanta Falcons

This one was a real team effort! To kick off the Atlanta Falcons 2021 season, we joined forces with multiple partners to deliver a high-end, high-energy, high-style event, playing host to 2,000 of the Falcons’ premier ticketholders. You could call it a tailgate because it was a pre-game celebration, but we elevated the concept to an exclusive outdoor festival, available for one day only, with two massive decorated hospitality tents, décor like giant football helmets, food trucks, lawn games, live art, and a stage featuring high-energy performances from the likes of Big Boi and Pastor Troy and Hero the Band.

VII.      Location-Themed Super Bowl Parties

We’re sneaking in two parties here because our clients – really fun fellas – liked to plan an annual fundraiser and Super Bowl watch party around the game’s location each year. We gave them a space party for the Super Bowl in Houston and a purple party when the game took place in Minneapolis.

Stay tuned for our basketball recap during March Madness – we’re not a one-sport pony.

We had already known her for many years when Floral Manager Sara Gagnon officially joined the WM Events team during summer 2021. She has had an extensive career in floral design and event sales, having worked with some of the city’s best-known companies. Sara has a degree from Atlanta College of Art and Design (now SCAD).

Ready to know more about this floral aficionado? 

• Hometown: Sumter, SC
• How long have you lived in Atlanta? 35+ Years
• What is great about living in Atlanta? It’s a diverse city that holds many cultures, traditions, and opportunities. Be open to the possibilities!
• Favorite place to take out-of-town guests: Willy’s Mexicana Grill. Why? It’s always fresh and tasty, and I had the pleasure of meeting the owner of the Atlanta restaurants – a nice guy named … Willy!
• A hidden gem more people should know about: Clay’s Sports Café – it’s known for the famous sauces and wings.

• Favorite Atlanta art venue: The High Museum of Art because it has a diverse art collection spanning several centuries, locations and cultures.
• Favorite Atlanta music venue: For its atmosphere and historical significance, the Fox Theatre. It’s a must see!
• Favorite hiking/walking spot in/near Atlanta: Kennesaw Mountain
• Best Atlanta attraction for families with children: The Atlanta Botanical Garden offers the chance to explore nature, and the many blooms fascinate the young and old.
• Best ice cream in Atlanta: Bruster’s! LOVE the White Turtle ice cream!  
• Best place to meet someone for coffee: Visiting Café intermezzo is like being at a cafe in Paris.

• Most memorable event: A masquerade ball at the Fox Theatre because I had just gotten divorced and wore my old wedding dress that I had attempted to dye black in the washing machine. It turned out a deep, mocha brown, but I received a lot of compliments! 
• Who are you at a party — wall flower, extrovert, party animal? Observer and conversationalist
• Sit Down or Buffet? Sitting down to enjoy having the meal brought to the table allows conversations to flow without missing the nourishment.
• Drink of choice? First choice: Cosmopolitan; Second choice: Margarita frozen and hold the salt! 
• Favorite Flower: Lily of the valley because its small and delicate but hardy enough to survive colder climates.
• Favorite WM Events party: The Rick Ross and Belaire Champagne event at Rick’s home. I had the pleasure of creating floral arrangements to fill and spill out two of his vintage Bel Air cars.