Every day event designers and producers pour their creativity, experience, and know-how into creating fresh event concepts for their clients, constantly thinking about brand identity and messaging. But what do parties hosted by industry professionals look like?
Throughout the summer and early fall, decor and production companies around the country hosted their own fetes, showcasing what they can do for clients, potential (or former) clients, and the public. The experts took a no-holds-barred approach to the occasions, from an engagement party in Toronto with a floral installation that took four days to craft and an all-neon birthday bash in Miami to the unveiling of a new headquarters and brand in Baltimore. Here's a peek at how event designers celebrate.
Baltimore's Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and Fandango Productions, which recently rebranded as Revolution Design and Productions, originally planned to host a client and vendor appreciation event, but instead used the opportunity to announce the new name and headquarters. The August 27 Tattoos and Tassels party was hosted in the company's new 100,000-square-foot office and design center and had 46 theme areas, including the Love Spell Bar showcasing one of its wedding design concepts with white draping, furniture, a gold bar, and gold accents throughout. Bartenders served cocktails, or "Love Spells," in potion-shaped glass bottles.
Photo: Rodney Bailey Event Photography
On August 15, Miami PR pro Nick D'Annunzio of Tara Ink hosted an all-neon birthday bash poolside at Thompson Miami Beach. While many parties happen on a pool deck, D'Annunzio incorporated the pool itself into the bash with neon clothing strung up on a line above and inflatables floating within.
Photo: WorldRedEye.com
D'Annunzio (pictured) provided neon paper fans with his likeness to help guests beat the heat at the summer party, which was dubbed the "Neon or Nothing Night Swim."
Photo: WorldRedEye.com
Revolution's creative director, Katie Kirby, and owner,Erin Cermak, took advantage of the party's warehouse location to showcase all the company's stock and partnerships with local vendors like DC Rental, Party Rental, and Linen Hero. Oversize decor pieces, various styles of bars and rentals, as well as thousands of yards of drape turned the warehouse into the 46 separate event spaces with maps along the way to direct guests to the next thematic area.
Photo: Rodney Bailey Event Photography
The Tattoos and Tassels name came from the creative team's desire to have tattoo artists on site for guests to get inked. The company's tattooed employees inspired Cermak and Kirby to bring the unconventional art form to the event to enhance the messaging of Revolution's creative thought process for its events.
Photo: Rodney Bailey Event Photography
Bella Christie and Lil Z's Sweet Boutique provided a dessert station for the Tattoos and Tassels party, incorporating the pink, black, and silver colors of the event space into sweet treats like cake pops, mini cupcakes, and cookies and milk.
Photo: Rodney Bailey Event Photography
In addition to showcasing decor, the Revolution team set out to create areas for engagement in each of the theme spaces. One of the most popular experiences of the night was the Who's Your Granny? game, inspired by Hollywood Squares with Revolution employees' mothers dressed up as the grannies.
Photo: Rodney Bailey Event Photography
When it came to her own engagement party, Toronto-based floral designer Michelle Tran of With a Flower sought to create a secret garden within a suite at the Ritz-Carlton, Toronto on July 18. Birch trees adorned the corners of the room with roses and gloriosa lilies on tables, suspended from the ceiling, and incorporated into the chandeliers. The installation of the 25,000 gloriosas and 2,000 pink floyd roses took nearly four days.
Photo: Rebecca Wood
Tran suspended strings of gloriosa lilies to cover a wall of the suite and create a backdrop for photos.
Photo: Rebecca Wood
![Los Angeles-based Sterling Engagements hosted its 10th anniversary party on September 12, inviting former, current, and prospective clients to the private residence of client, and Lakers player, Jordan Farmar. 'We tried to keep it intimate while still incorporating all those [clients] that were near and dear to us along our journey of the first 10 years,' said Alexandra Rembrac, the company's principal and creative director.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2015/10/sterling_6.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
Los Angeles-based Sterling Engagements hosted its 10th anniversary party on September 12, inviting former, current, and prospective clients to the private residence of client, and Lakers player, Jordan Farmar. "We tried to keep it intimate while still incorporating all those [clients] that were near and dear to us along our journey of the first 10 years," said Alexandra Rembrac, the company's principal and creative director.
Photo:Â Courtesy of Sterling Engagements Inc.
Rembac utilized the driveway of the house to set up a step-and-repeat, created with hedges that aligned with the event's garden party atmosphere. Signs hung on the hedges displayed the company logo as well as the event hashtag, #SterlingTurnsTen, which Rembac promoted among invitees prior to the party resulting in 75 posts—a satisfying number for the boutique firm.
Photo:Â Courtesy of Sterling Engagements Inc.
Performers from Zen Arts entertained guests from in and around the pool. "We really wanted constant interaction and visual wonder, and the pool was the perfect place to create that," said Rembac.
Photo:Â Courtesy of Sterling Engagements Inc.
Developed by Chicago event designer Tom Kehoe, event venue the Geraghty debuted with a splash on August 6, attracting nearly 1,000 local business influencers, socialites, and event industry professionals to a grand opening party. Perhaps the biggest moment of the evening was when four stuntmen and Kehoe himself repelled down from a 22-foot-high skylight.
Photo: Courtesy of We Create Media
For the opening of the Geraghty in Chicago, Kehoe Designs' artists painted an outdoor mural along the entryway to the venue. Also outside, BMX bikers and skateboarders performed tricks for the crowd.
Photo: Courtesy of We Create Media
In lieu of a traditional step-and-repeat, Kehoe designed a large floral sculpture supported by three wire framing panels; a hand-painted mural served as the backdrop. Elsewhere, Kehoe utilized the models and greeters as an additional branding opportunity with temporary tattoos on their bodies.
Photo: Courtesy of We Create Media
Multiple unique lounge groupings offered guests respite from the stage and dance floor. Oversize floral arrangements matching the step-and-repeat installation adorned the vignettes and added to the immersive experience of the event that Kehoe sought to deliver.
Photo: Courtesy of We Create Media
