Event Planning Ideas, Trends & Inspiration

Who remembers the excitement of getting a birthday card in the mail? The knowledge that someone was thinking about you days before it arrived shows consideration and kindness that makes us feel cared for and important. Even if today we are more likely to be waiting for Amazon Prime delivery, it’s no secret that envelopes and packages symbolize possibilities.

During the era of COVID-19, social distancing and virtual events, sending guests a special delivery can immediately help them feel connected. Whether a package contains snacks or libations to enjoy during the event, a treat that will enable participation in a live event feature, or fun event swag that would typically be given out on-site, pre-event mailings let your guests know that they are part of something, not just watching TV at home alone.

Here are some of our favorite concepts for creating connections with virtual guests by sending advance deliveries.

Printed and Electronic Materials

This is not the time to skimp on any interaction you can have with meeting and event guests. Ramp up your invitations, confirmations, and anything else you send. It may be the only non-virtual opportunity you have. With everyone’s high-tech expectations these days, you could also explore sending recorded pieces with special messages guests can watch or listen to. Get them excited in advance about the virtual event offerings to come.

We crafted a proposal for a client to develop a video bi-fold brochure that looked great thanks to four-color, offset printing on heavy card stock. Event better, it had a built-in LCD video display that allowed recipients to see and hear the client’s messaging. The brochure included buttons to navigate the video, such as play, pause, replay and volume controls.

Noshes, Meals and Toasts

There is nothing like mixing, mingling and enjoying passed hors d’oeuvres. Or sitting down to a four-course meal prepared by a renowned chef. How about ambling up to the open bar and ordering a specialty cocktail? Just because your event has gone virtual, your guests don’t need to miss out on these culinary experiences.

Give your guests the luxury treatment with delivered prepared meals and cocktail kits. For a less formal event, send snacks. A bottle of wine to enjoy with dinner or even champagne for celebrating together will mark the virtual event as a truly special occasion. There are so many food and beverage delivery options available now, why not take advantage of them? And don’t forget dessert!

Interactive Items

Every host wants insight on the strategies for upping attendee involvement during virtual events. Shipping items in advance and dedicating a portion of the event to letting everyone use those items simultaneously offers an excellent chance to create host-guest connections. When it comes to adding interactive elements, you could send a puzzle to solve, a craft to make, or a game to play together. We’ve also noticed, and maybe you have too, that people love to eat. And drink.

We hit it out of the park when guests received gift cards for specialty craft beers before a national sales event. During the live webinar, our emcee hosted a tasting with each brew, asking guests to sip along. Although we chose beer for this baseball-theme event, tastings could include anything from bourbon to cheese to chocolates or any other delicious option that fits the event’s audience and theme.

Branded Swag, Baby

Did you know people really like receiving those fun and functional items from booths at conferences, check-in tables at events, and gift bags at the door? There is no better way to get your audience thinking about you and your event day after day than to have them looking at it on their coffee cup every morning. When virtual event gift bags are simply a digital page of clickable coupons, audience interest wanes.

Instead, pull together a fun mailing of the physical stuff people want and use – then ship it to your guests prior to the virtual event. You’ll get much more buy-in during the event. Think broadly from branded notebooks to write down information gleaned from the webinar to dress-up party supplies like feather boas for a fundraiser.

Parting Gifts

Providing guests with delivered goodies before an event can boost engagement, but don’t neglect the all-important post-event touchpoint. Every good hostess (and host) knows that you don’t send your guests home empty-handed. Mailing a physical thank you note or following up with a “hostess gift” provides a meaningful way to show your attendees you appreciate the time they spent with you.

It might be a while before we can all be together again. But in the meantime, let the USPS, UPS, DHL, Uber Eats, and maybe even Amazon, serve as your ambassador of connectivity. Of course, we can make it all happen for you! Learn more here.

What’s behind a flawless one-hour virtual live event? Weeks of preparation, storyboarding, script writing, costuming, rehearsal, stage direction and styling. And when your client is a major distributor of forklifts and warehouse equipment, there’s bound to be some sort of heavy machinery launch added to the mix.

We’ve been planning the National Dealer Meeting for Doosan Industrial Vehicle America Corporation for several years now. Typically, the event spans three days and welcomes guests from all over the world to a lovely space like Chateau Elan near the Doosan North Georgia headquarters. But in the midst of a pandemic, we strategized timely ways to bring everyone together in a digital space while providing the high level of event the many repeat guests had come to enjoy.

Guest Engagement

Our first order of business was to rally the invitees. Our client wanted to let them know that attending the virtual event wouldn’t leave them out in left field. Guests were sent pre-event mailers with goodie bags including the type of swag they could expect to go home with at the end of a face-to-face event.

Because Doosan has a partnership with Major League Baseball, our client decided on a date in the middle of the World Series and a baseball theme that was reflected in the pre-event gifts. It wouldn’t be baseball without a brew, so the bags also included gift cards for specialty beers. Guests were asked to have the beer chilled and ready at the time of the event so that everyone watching could participate in a tasting together.

Recording in Advance

Guests invited, we set out to collaborate with the client and use some of their existing collateral. This meant a recording of a beer tasting at SweetWater Brewery in Atlanta, coordinating an interview with Doosan CEO Tony Jones and MLB’s Dale Murphy, and heading to Wisconsin to film an inspiring dealer spotlight. We came in with our film crew to get drone footage and b-roll shots of their GIGANTIC warehouse, which provided engaging content shown intermittently throughout the live event.

Branding remained cohesive throughout thanks to a great graphics package and a consistent set with a table, chairs and baseball props.

Going Live

Finally, it was time for the opening pitch. The one-hour live event welcomed 150 guests who celebrated together even though they were scattered far and wide.

We had all of the recorded pieces perfectly edited and ready to mix in. For the live portions we worked with emcee, Jim Schaub, to determine ways to keep the event interesting. One fun concept  was having Jim change into a new baseball jersey for each scene. He used the costume changes to lead into each segment, which perfectly bridged the content and kept the guests on their toes.

We broadcast Jim on site at the Doosan warehouse, and he was beamed live from four locations to living rooms around the country.

All of the great recorded spots were intermixed with the live coverage for a seamless event that had the appearance of being 100 percent live. To boost audience engagement and a sense of connectedness, we managed the video conference chat features, polls and gamification throughout the hour. Additionally, we polled the audience to find out which of the two beers from SweetWater they preferred, and then revealed the results at the end of the broadcast.

The 72nd Emmy Awards had nothing on this corporate event. It was an absolute grand slam.

There are a lot of words we’ve heard enough of in 2020, but one of those words is not “party” (unless it’s attached to the adjective “political,” of course). With social distancing guidelines and lots of other COVID-19 safety recommendations, this has not been the year of parties.

And yet, our need for togetherness has only been amplified by the coronavirus pandemic. When some great clients came to us with a desire to hold a celebration to raise spirits during a dark time, and they had a large lakeside estate to host it on, we knew we could provide a setting that was not only the spectacular level of party we’re known for at WM Events, but also safe for guests.

After all, we’re still the life of the party, we just had to reimagine what that party looks like.

Here are the 5W’s of this safe pandemic celebration:

WHAT

We had been working with our clients to plan this celebration for more than a year. When COVID-19 began, we made some major pivots and kept the party going. After designing a custom logo for the family, we managed save the dates and invitations. Sometimes that means stamping and mailing, but in this case, it meant many, many calls and lots of follow-up with guests to discuss safety protocols, logistics and arrangements. We were inspired by the lengths our client went to so that guests would feel comfortable, safe and appreciated.

At the lakeside, link-side, poolside property in a private country club, we took advantage of the spacious outdoor area to create an event floorplan with plenty of room for guests to stay 6 feet apart from those outside their immediate circle.

A large tent and dance floor welcomed Rupert’s Orchestra, a nationally recognized band known for exciting performances at Rupert’s Nightclub in Atlanta. We decorated the lawn with strings of market lights, wrapped smaller bushes and trees with topiary lights and floated a dozen illuminated glow orbs in the pool.

Farm tables covered the existing firepit to create a large grazing station for guests, while chef-attended stations allowed guests to order dishes one at a time. Mixed outdoor furniture provided everyone with ample comfortable seating options, while a stylish topiary bar tied in with the party décor.

WHERE

In the case of this party, the venue took on heightened importance because the outdoor location and spacious property on North Georgia’s scenic Lake Oconee offered ample room to really stretch out.

Upon arrival, guests were greeted by glow orbs displayed across the lawn and trees wrapped in lights. We placed a self-service champagne wall near the entrance, and the pathway to the main event was illuminated with lanterns.

Potted plants and floral arrangements set the lush tone. We used a peach and orange palette to complement the natural surroundings and accented existing furniture with pillows branded with the family’s logo.

WHEN

 Although we had a rain contingency plan, we didn’t need it. The September weather that evening rested in the upper 70s, perfect for this outdoor affair.

WHO

In all, the party welcomed 120 family friends and relatives, all present to add some light and life back into the world. To commemorate the spectacular gathering, we added a photo op space with fun props at the end of the pool area. Guests also went home with custom stainless-steel wine glasses and tagged goodie bags overflowing with sweets.

WHY

This has been a difficult year. Our gracious clients wanted to recognize some personal milestones and celebrate with those they love.

It’s too easy to find negativity right now. So at WM Events, we thought it was time to spread some good vibrations all around the city. Since our WM Events truck hits the road on the daily, what better way to get our positive message out there than on wheels!

We called on Atlanta artist Yoyo Ferro, who is known for his bright, colorful street-art style, and enlisted him to re-envision the WM Events truck. We put our trust in Yoyo not just because we admired his vibrant artwork, but because we had worked with him before. In fact, for one event with our friends at PRA Atlanta, Yoyo filled a canvas edge to edge by drawing everyone who attended the event! We knew his attention to detail and artistic flair would be as exciting on our truck as it was on that canvas.

Yoyo lives in Atlanta today, but he was born in the countryside of São Paulo, Brazil. His colorful abstract murals, paintings and illustrations depict emotional situations lived by his characters. The tridimensional aspects of origami are always present in his studio work. That’s pretty deep, but what we love about his work is the bold use of color that elevates our mood every time.

Winner of the “Catalyst Award” for social discourse by ArtsATL 2018 Luminary Awards, Yoyo was recognized for his successful efforts in a lawsuit that halted mural regulations in the City of Atlanta, leading to a more free and prolific local street art and murals scene. In December 2019, his solo exhibition “Color-Full” took place at The Plaza at Ponce City Market. The show included a series of paintings that elicit sympathy through characters featured in an abstract world of bright colors, bold contour lines and whimsical shapes.

We are thrilled with the color-popping cityscape underscored with graphic shapes and characters Yoyo painted on one side of the truck. The second side features an abstract garden disco that is so stimulating, you can almost hear the music wafting out of the mural. Driving the truck through the streets of Atlanta, we know we’re putting a smile on people’s faces and spreading positivity. Shout out to his wife Kristin for her amazing photos of the work.

But wait – there’s more. Did you know we have two trucks?

Yoyo Ferro’s design turned out so well, we’ve decided to enlist another Atlanta artist to reimagine our second truck. Who will it be? Make your guess on our Instagram post!

There have been plenty of recent examples of how to take events virtual – from political conventions to television award shows. This year, the Corporate Volunteer Council of Atlanta (CVC) was no different.

When CVC typically hosts its Impact Awards each year, the event brings together business leaders, corporate sponsors and local celebrities, who understand the importance of making a difference in their community. As the date for the 2020 Impact Awards drew near, organizers knew they couldn’t choose to cancel and not recognize companies and individuals addressing social justice, leading skills-based volunteer efforts, and integrating volunteerism into business strategy and culture.

So they did what many organizations have decided to do and took the event virtual.  But to maximize the effectiveness and frankly, the impact, of the Impact Awards, CVC engaged our team at WM Events to pull together all of the speakers, presenters, and award winners into a cohesive program. We delivered the feeling of a live TV awards program with the option for roughly 150 attendees to communicate throughout the event. But behind the curtain, our secret to success was recording most of the content in advance then seamlessly organizing it for the one-hour event.

Recording Speakers in Advance

CVC had partnered with 11Alive to produce videos of the presenters and speakers and was excited to have weekday anchor Cheryl Preheim serve as emcee. After recording Cheryl’s content, along with videos from CVC President Cheryl Kortemeier and the keynote address from Xavier Ramey, 11Alive sent us the raw files, and created one seamless show video with a cohesive look.

We had been inspired by our experience with the 2020 Allie Awards to ask all nominees to send in thank you speeches in advance. CVC notified us of the winners, and we were able to incorporate those into the event video. And when Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms offered to send a message just two days before the event, we worked to get that included too.

Creating a Run of Show

 The video editing necessitated a thorough run of show and edited script, which we organized from start to finish. Our experience with live, in-person events prepared us to make these hyper-specific, and we used color-coded graphics to keep everyone on track and make sure things went as planned. One exciting factor that is typically not available with in-person events is that we were able to do a complete dry run the day be fore the event.

Pulling it All Together

Because of all of the prep work, the day of the event, we simply pressed play and made sure all of the features were working properly. By that time, only the pre-event 15-minute live volunteer project with Hands on Atlanta was not recorded in advance. All of the event videos had been compiled into one video file in the right order as per the run of show.

To provide the feeling of a live event, CVC had their crew and co-chairs manning the chat function, which was open to attendees for commenting, and sharing on social media was encouraged. Throughout the event, prizes were given to guests who were most active in the chat.

Pre-recording the event removed nearly all room for error. For us (and William’s pup, Missy), the experience was enjoyable and benefited from CVC’s partnership with 11Alive. For the client, putting together all of the content in advance resulted in total peace of mind – and you can see the proof in the comments on our Instagram post.

For years, everyone from socialites to marketers has expounded on the benefits and necessity of hosting in-person events. Whether it’s a conference, a dinner or a fundraiser, a live event can bring organizations and people emotionally closer to each other. But in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, many events have moved to a virtual format. And that can be a lot of fun. Consider the recent political conventions as an example of just how engaging digital events can be.

But sometimes, only the chance to be in the same space with other people will do. Celebrating milestones or reconnecting with clients certainly brings a yearning for at least the possibility of an elbow bump. So many of you are probably wondering – should I host an in-person event during COVID? We’ve put together a list of six questions and considerations to help you decide.

1. How many people do you want to invite? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends social distancing or physical distancing of about 6 feet from people who are not part of your household whether inside or outside. If you plan to invite a multitude of guests, it may be difficult to find a venue large enough to make social distancing possible.

Additionally, some municipalities or states may restrict or recommend restrictions on the number of guests at any gathering. Because these recommendations change, be sure to check the current allowances in your location.

2. Will your event take place indoors or outdoors? You’ve no doubt heard that people are significantly less likely to catch coronavirus outdoors than indoors. Although it doesn’t mean that the great  outdoors is a completely safe bet, especially when space is crowded, and guests don’t wear masks. But like outdoor dining, holding an al fresco event offers more options than moving it inside right now. Social distancing and mask wearing should still be practiced.

3. What kinds of food options will you offer? How you serve food in the COVID-19 era really counts! You may need to rethink the idea of buffet-style dining – even Whole Foods. But that doesn’t mean you can’t safely provide food at your event. After all, who wants to go to an intimate, BYOF wedding?

Instead, you can provide pre-packaged options that are self-serve but safely wrapped. Think about doing the same for drinks. Take a tip from the airlines and offer little sodas, mini bottles or alcohol or wine, individual water bottles or small juices. You’ll recycle it all afterwards, of course! 

4. How will you ensure guests are comfortable when many people have different social distancing practices? The CDC and WHO have provided guidelines, while local and state governments have issued mandates. But people have varying levels of comfort when it comes to being around others right now. You can help make each guest’s personal preferences clear in a non-confrontational way. One option is to have guests choose a colorful ID bracelet at the door. Post a visual key to decipher the meaning behind each color.

Red = no hugs
Yellow = elbow bumps only
Green = embrace me as long as you are wearing a mask

You get the idea!

5. Is the event program intended to create emotional connections or deliver information? You might feel like only an in-person get together will provide your guests with the interaction you desire, or you may try to convince yourself that it won’t make a difference if the only guests at your anniversary party are present via video conference. But really give this some thought.

If your event is intended to provide information, like you would at an annual sales conference or monthly meeting, there is a lot you can do at a virtual event to keep guests engaged. But when looking for more of an emotional draw, an intimate in-person event can make social distancing possible while giving physical meaning to we’re “in this together.”  

6. Are you willing to be innovative with COVID-19 safety guidelines? That the pandemic has led to sweeping changes in the event industry is an understatement. Since the coronavirus began spreading rapidly last spring, we’ve had to rethink many aspects of how we bring people together. Being creative has been more important than ever, and we’ve come up with ways to make staying safe an event feature rather than a detraction.

If you are willing to be a bit innovative, your in-person event and branding can benefit from some of the safety recommendations too. For instance, put your logo on a mask and ask all guests to wear it. Set up handwashing stations with the latest and coolest hands-free faucets. Provide a sensational array of soaps. Put up fun signage with social distancing explanations or provide guests with party favors to measure where to stand.  Mark areas of the floor or add directional patterns with branded shapes or colors rather than simple lines.

In-person events are not a thing of the past. But they are going to look different for a while. You never know, maybe some of our new event habits and features will make being in crowded spaces so much more pleasant that they will end up sticking around.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging in multiple and varied ways for everyone. But when WM Events founder William Fogler heard that it had put the work of Atlanta nonprofit SwemKids on hold, he knew he wanted to do something about it. SwemKids provides swimming and water safety lessons to children through schools with a specific mission to eliminate barriers that keep Black children from learning how to swim.

Did you know that nearly 7 out of 10 Black children do not know how to swim? Or that three children drown every day, and middle school Black children drown 10 times more than others?

Our friend Trish Miller decided these statistics were not acceptable and set out to do something about it. Already knowing that there are three main obstacles for Black children learning how to swim, she aimed to decrease the disparity in drowning rates in the Black community. To do that, her program had to address access, cost and hair.

Trish founded SwemKids as an in-school program that provides transportation to and from the school and the pool. The lessons usually take place during an elective period of the school day, and participation has been free for the school and the students. Thanks to a donation from Stitched Swim, so were the swimsuits.  To eliminate the barrier of hair, Miller created a patent-pending swimming cap to keep swimmers’ hair completely dry.

And things were going, well, swimmingly. SwemKids’ first cohorts dove in during early spring. Second- through fifth-grade students at Atlanta’s Dunbar Elementary School participated in lessons, and plans were underway for groups to participate through several public and community pools this summer.

Then COVID-19 caused SwemKids’ efforts to sink.

That’s when William stepped in to offer the pool at his home. Measuring 24 by 40 feet, the rectangular pool offers plenty of space for social distancing and has allowed SwemKids to continue its mission this summer. Not only have kids been making waves at William’s pool, SwemKids has been teaching some of the parents too!

Because the lessons take place outside of a school, SwemKids does charge a fee, but William has provided scholarships to children when cost has been an issue.

WM Events is known for creating impactful events, but when it comes to saving lives and benefiting the Black community, the change we help bring out creates a truly better world. And this is what we call real impact.     

A lot of people right now are reminiscing about the good old days – those times when we joined hundreds of friends, family and colleagues at spectacular events to celebrate successes and milestones. While the WM Events team has leveraged our planning and designing know-how to develop full strategies for virtual events and hybrid events, we have maintained our core mission of providing pitch-perfect orchestration, innovation, and discerning taste.

To illustrate these important characteristics, let’s take a look at the Delta Air Lines Summit Awards Dinner we planned, produced, and executed earlier this year. It was an evening of glamour at the Delta Flight Museum that nearly 500 guests will remember forever. And so will we!

Galactic Graphics

To ensure a cohesive look leading up to and throughout the event, we handled all of the graphic design from digital to printed pieces. After creating a special logo reminiscent of a collection of flight paths and determining the starry visual theme of the event, we designed the printed invitations, posters, name badges, escort cards, programs, and signage. We also developed announcement kits with Instagram photo frames that the client shared with attendees so that we could ensure social media coverage of the event.

The night sky theme was picked up in the gifts offered to award winners, as well as the event takeaways given to each guest. Ten Diamond Award Winners received gift packages that included naming a star, a meteorite piece, a telescope with backpack, and glass star coasters. And everyone who attended had been sent themed luggage tags in advance of the event.

Celestial Décor

From the hotel lounge where guests relaxed during the afternoon before the event to the pre-function and red carpet at the Flight Museum to the dining room and after party, we made the most of the astro-fantastic theme and Delta’s signature blue and red to design an out-of-this-world event. 

After boarding transportation, which we managed, guests arrived at the Delta Flight Museum via Police Escort to enter along a red carpet flanked by weather-resistant clear tenting with twinkling market lights. Inside, highboy tables were draped with blue linens and topped with white floral centerpieces surrounded by votive candles. Guests found escort cards here magnetically attached to a metal tower with custom graphics. And because the guest list included employees and spouses from many countries and cultures, we color coded the type of guest and indicated dietary restrictions on the cards with different star patterns.

Guests transitioned from the smaller pre-event area to the seated awards ceremony through the existing “boarding tunnel” we enchanted with a 40-by-6-ft. black dance floor with twinkle lights. In the larger hangar space, a white stage surround created a crisp, clean look that was highlighted by candles in oversized vases. Rows of estate tables surrounded the central stage for a more intimate experience for all guests to enjoy the award ceremony and an Earth Harp symphonic experience. Because the news of Covid-19 was just starting, our presenters took extra caution when congratulating the award winners, offering an elbow or hip bump in lieu of a handshake. 

The Delta Flight Museum hangar naturally astounds with its massive height and retired airplanes. We made sure we matched the setting with equally eye-catching décor, which included 60 estate tables surrounded by specialty chairs with white cushions. We lined the tables edge-to-edge, creating long, communal dining, and added alternating high-end navy velvet linens and patterned silver linens, sparkling silver and black charger plates, and deep-red linen napkins. Tables were topped with silver, wavy sculptures, mimicking the event theme graphic inside mirror cube centerpieces filled with red florals. We provided a candlelight atmosphere and kept it safe with glass hurricanes and a touch of sparkle at the bottom.

Astral After Party

We used drapery to split the hanger and separate the dinner awards ceremony from the after party. Here, guests found a 24-by-24-ft. Infinity dance floor, multiple cocktail bars, late night snacks, and the DJ they would recognize from the hotel lounge. He was joined by two disco dancers providing strolling entertainment and motivating guests to get on the LED dance floor.

Between dances, guests could kick back in any of four lounge groupings that provided cozy nooks for conversation or enjoy cocktails at any of the 15 LED highboys surrounded by Ghost stools. Thematic centerpieces incorporated mirrors and fresh florals.

Interplanetary Food, Beverages and Photos

In addition to creating the ideal homage to the night sky, our team managed the caterer and beverage vendors to make sure the offerings were stellar and met the needs of the international guest list.

Culinary highlights included vegetarian avocado stuffed vegetable rice paper rolls, gluten-free crispy chicken skin with blue cheese crumbles, a decadent tree of bacon, a vegan vegetable Napoleon, a dual-entrée of short ribs and Maine lobster tail, and a Krispy Kreme donut wall. Cocktails equally considered guests, for example, we featured both sparkling wine cocktails and sparkling cider mocktails with glittery dust to swirl and sip.        

ATLANTA (July 17, 2020) – Earlier this year, COVID-19 derailed the swimming and water-safety classes Atlanta nonprofit SwemKids provided in its effort to improve the statistic that nearly 7 out of 10 Black children do not know how to swim. With public pools throughout the metro area still closed, William Fogler, principal of Atlanta-based event design firm WM Events, has stepped in to provide a place for the lessons – his own backyard. 

By opening his home pool, which measures 24 by 40 feet, Fogler is ensuring that SwemKids will be able to continue its mission this summer and beyond. 

“Black kids are three times more likely to drown than white kids,” says Fogler. “Swimming is a life-saving skill, not just a recreation. I did not want the important work of SwemKids to be put on hold, especially while COVID-19 is making outdoor activities like swimming a top activity for families this summer.” 

SwemKids, an Atlanta-based nonprofit, provides swimming lessons and water-safety programs to children, typically free of charge as part of a school’s curriculum and with the help of community partners. The first cohort dove in during February of this year, but the organization’s efforts were halted in March. 

“States with school-based swim programs have half the drowning rates of states that do not,” says SwemKids founder and CEO Trish P. Miller. “But there are three main obstacles for Black children learning how to swim. To decrease the disparity in drowning rates in the Black community, a swimming instruction program needs to be culturally relevant, and it must address access, cost and hair.” 

To tackle access to lessons and cost, SwemKids developed its in-school program that even provided transportation to and from the school and the pool. The lessons took place during an elective period of the school day, and participation was free for the school and the students. Thanks to a donation from Stitched Swim, so were the swimsuits.  

To eliminate the barrier of hair, SwemKids needed to innovate a solution that would keep it dry – completely dry. So Miller created a patent-pending swimming cap that can do just that. 

SwemKids also focuses on intentionally addressing cultural awareness and seeks to increase representation in the water among both students and instructors. 

This summer, SwemKids offers the same level of instruction, but for now, it takes place at Fogler’s home pool rather than a community center. Although the SwemKids swim school charges a fee for non-school-based lessons, Fogler has offered to provide scholarships when cost is an issue for children swimming outside of school. 

“We greatly appreciate William’s willingness to open his home to our students and instructors,” says Miller. “We want to eliminate every barrier that keeps Black children and their families from having healthy and safe relationship with the water.”

About WM Events

WM Events was founded in 2004 by award-winning designer, planner and consultant William Fogler. WM Events is a nationally recognized, full-service event planning and design firm based in Atlanta that specializes in corporate events, fundraisers, meetings, tradeshow design and private affairs. WM Events is located at 767 Trabert Avenue, Atlanta, Georgia 30318 and can be reached at 678-251-6363 or by visiting https://wmevents.com.

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Since the COVID-19 pandemic drastically reshaped our lives, virtual connections have come front and center. There has been plenty of talk about virtual events, from conferences to fundraisers. But what does a virtual event really look like, and how can it actually be fun, interactive and just generally worth participating in?

We launched re:EVENT-ion, a digital and distanced event offering when the COVID-19 pandemic required that we maintain social distance. At that time, we knew that it would be vital to rethink the way large- and small-scale events are designed. We drew upon our many years of incorporating digital and tech-savvy elements into our events and created a new template.

To launch our virtual events offerings, we teamed up with our friends at Affairs to Remember and hosted a trial run of a hybrid event we called the Rosemary Awards, and we were off to the future!

Our emcees for the evening were our own William Fogler and Kristy Cook from Affairs to Remember. With a background soundtrack, attendees connected via video conferencing, and guest feedback made possible with social media and chat features, we executed a mini-event that shows how virtual events can keep us together and seamlessly disseminate brand messages.

Features of the Event
As imagined, the Rosemary Awards were streamed live from the fabulous Fox Theatre, where 200 socially distanced guests were joined by 500 online viewers. As the onsite attendees enjoyed a delicious catered dinner, including rosemary truffles, by Affairs to Remember, viewers at home partook of catered dinner and snacks that had been delivered. To maintain a cohesive event feel, home viewers were shown on screen and celebrated multiple times. In addition to their food delivery, those “guests” had also received programs and gift bags.

Being interactive also included the opportunity to submit a virtual photo booth photo and to participate in the challenge question in order to win a prize. These are just a few of the many ways virtual participants can remain part of the action.

Once the award ceremony kicked off, nominees were featured on video, and each winner was conferenced via a live remote to accept their award and make a short speech.

Despite not being in the same location, all event guests had a similarly engaging experience and were able to enjoy many of the elements they would have onsite. While this event was planned as a hybrid offering, it could equally be executed as a fully virtual event. It might feel like a big change to re-imagine your next all-team meeting, sales conference, award ceremony, fundraiser or corporate gathering without bringing everyone into the same space. But when it comes to virtual events, the possibilities are only limited by your vision and our creativity – which means they are endless!

As you probably know, June is Pride Month around the world, and it’s something we are thrilled to celebrate each year. In 1970, the first Gay Pride marches were held to commemorate the Stonewall uprising, which had taken place in New York the previous year. The name is said to have come from New York activist Brenda Howard, who was nicknamed the “Mother of Pride” and organized the first parade, according to CNN.

In Atlanta, our Pride Parade takes place in October, but we can still recognize and honor the importance of this month with a look back at some of the LGBTQ+ weddings and celebrations we have been part of over the years. Join us for this beautiful walk down memory lane.

Free Spirit Wedding
We’ll start with this Free Spirit Wedding during which our dear friends Philip and Robert tied the knot. After a two decades of romance and a dramatic proposal, these two celebrated with 50 close friends and family and 1,200 bright-orange Free Spirit roses at a ceremony and reception atop the Four Seasons Hotel. As rain spattered the windows, which had been decorated with the couple’s logo, the weather only added to the moody, sophisticated atmosphere.

Tabletops were simple and resplendent with specialty linens and embroidered napkins. We accented the white and silvery palette with branded elements like cocktail napkins, matchboxes and custom chocolate bars. A cake like no other mimicked the cityscape location. With a live jazz band followed by a DJ, there was plenty of dancing, and, of course, a hora.

The Brides Wore White
At a private home on Lake Spivey, Blanca and Nguyen welcomed 50 guests for an elegant wedding that paid homage to their elevated taste and style. We can’t say enough about the chicness of this event, which relied on white florals in glass and silver vases, white linens and white napkins under a large tent with a classic crystal chandelier.

After the happy couple said “I do” at a picture-perfect spot overlooking the lake, they adjourned for the tented reception. We provided life-size altar arrangements, estate dining, sunglass stations, and relaxing lounge furniture in addition to the stunning table settings. The reception ended with a sparkler send off to their happily ever after.

Modern Southern Wedding
Looking to create a wedding that honored the “New South,” Michael and Brandon took their vows in the heart of Midtown Atlanta at The Peachtree Club on the 28th floor. They benefited from a perfect view of the Atlanta skyline, and guests enjoyed a relaxed outdoor wedding where music played, and dancing was encouraged.

The dual themes of the South and Atlanta were carried throughout the décor (yellow and blue), the drinks (custom bottles of Coca-Cola), and the cake (decorated with the city’s skyline). The grooms shared a romantic couples dance to open the floor, and soon, everyone was joining in on the fun. The only thing missing was the couple’s dog Queso, but they brought him along as a cutout who requested that everyone sign the guest book.

Anniversary in the Virgin Islands
It’s been a few years since we planned the destination anniversary celebration on Necker Island, BVI, but our memory of this amazing event has not faded. At this love-filled weekend, Tommy and Aaron hosted family and friends to recognize their 20th anniversary. The four-day event featured an elegant hot pink and navy blue color palette and offered a tropical oasis combining beautiful florals and personal touches.

We maintained a detailed and cohesive event scheme throughout all of the celebrations. Highlights included custom luggage tags, monogrammed napkins, nightlight room drops, specialty linens, custom sarongs, and engraved oathing stones. As a final touch, we created thematic hangover kits to keep all guests looking and feeling their best under the sunny island skies.

ATLANTA (June 1, 2020) – Atlanta-based event design firm WM Events is ready to lead clients and the world into digital and distanced events with the launch of re:EVENT-ion, the next evolution in event planning. 

With re:EVENT-ion, the WM Events team remains a pioneer in the field by offering online, hybrid and in-person events. The newly concepted strategies provide solutions for small, large and massive events like conferences, meetings, social gatherings, weddings and more. 

“When the COVID-19 pandemic began, we recognized a need for adaptation in the events industry and welcomed the challenge,” said William Fogler, principal, WM Events. “With an eye on the present and the future, we now combine the latest in event technology and innovation with our established planning, design and execution skills. We are able to make sure our clients’ events continue whether their guests are near, far or both.” 

By considering all scenarios, the team can develop appropriate response plans and ensure clients achieve their goals and those of all stakeholders. With the variety of contexts in which events will now be planned and executed, WM Events has brought together solutions to keep distanced guests connected, keep in-person guests safe and leverage resources to keep all guests comfortable. 

The re:EVENT-ion of the events world looks different based on client goals and expectations, guest count, venue needs and many other factors. Today’s events may include onsite distancing features, recording booths for virtual events, touch-free event elements, physical barriers, ongoing sterilization, multi-site streaming, contactless catering or social media solutions – just to name a few. 

Whatever is happening today, with re:EVENT-ion, WM Events is prepared to provide the experiences of tomorrow.

About WM Events

WM Events was founded in 2004 by award-winning designer, planner and consultant William Fogler. WM Events is a nationally recognized, full-service event planning and design firm based in Atlanta that specializes in corporate events, fundraisers, meetings, tradeshow design and private affairs. WM Events is located at 767 Trabert Avenue, Atlanta, Georgia 30318 and can be reached at 678-251-6363 or by visiting https://wmevents.com.

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