Looking for a new catering partner or a standout floral design firm or gifting idea? Look no further. Here, we asked event industry professionals throughout North America to share their go-to collaborators for events of all types.
Anika GrantPhoto: Courtesy of Anika Grant
Gifting: “The COVID era of virtual events has made sending gifts to event attendees at home a must-do. Bifties is one of our favorite gifting companies as they source the best gifts from Black-owned brands and can create custom gift boxes to fit the client and event theme.”
Event Cleaning: “Anozine Cleaning Services. The event business can get dirty fast—have a good cleaning crew that can come in and make everything sparkle after hours of fun! Nowadays and for years to come, ensuring that our events are not just safe but sanitized will be of utmost importance.”
Staffing: “We truly believe in staffing the best and brightest, from brand ambassadors to executive producers, and CRTVE has been a great partner for us to ensure we're finding the top diverse candidates. All of our networks are so much smaller and less diverse than we think, and having a strong staffing partner helps us ensure we are continuing to expand our networks and provide unique employment opportunities to creatives at all levels."
Legal: “When negotiating with talent on behalf of a client for an event appearance or performance, having a strong entertainment lawyer such as Gerard from The Anthony Law Group in our corner has been a godsend! Gerard has helped us to negotiate favorable terms for both our clients and talent, and has the entertainment industry background that ensures all parties feel confident about the engagement.”
Christopher ConferoPhoto: Adam Linke, The Decisive Moment Wedding Photojournalism
Floral Design: “I consider myself a creative person, but my masculine-driven design can often stand some feminine touches. I rely on CeCe Designs to bring the perfect balance of softness to my usually symmetrical and linear approach to events. CeCe and her team always serve as an extension of Confero as they produce my design plans.”
Production & Fabrication: “I was raised on the stage, so my first time on-site at Revolution Event Design & Production felt like I was stepping through the doors to Wonderland. They have a tremendous team of artists who build, paint, vinyl or upholster absolutely anything. If you can dream it, they can make it. And to boot, they load it up, install and then haul it away when the clock strikes midnight.”
Catering: “Not only do you not need salt on the table with Constellation Catering, but their service and presentation elevate the guest experience beyond comparison. From the intake process, through the tasting, to the grand finale of a perfectly choreographed plated meal for 40 served seaside, every touchpoint and detail was flawless.”
Linens: “I am a hemline aficionado. There is nothing worse than a linen that is too short or ill-fitting, and Nüage Designs shares my obsession with perfect linens. They boast a broad range of styles, colors and textures matched with impeccable customer service.”
Photography: “When it clicks, it clicks. (See what I did there?) With Donna VonBruening, it clicks. She captures a wedding day from a caring and intentional perspective. First and foremost, she's an artist with a keen eye for emotion and connection. I know she always has not only my clients but my best interest at heart.”
Adeola Damie FowoduPhoto: Nana Annan Photography
Design & Decor: “The design and overall look of a wedding or event is what showcases the entire production to the attendees and clients. We love to work with Sheer Elegance for their modern and elegant designs and professional delivery. Working with the Sheer Elegance team is always a pleasure. She gets me and their design team always delivers the brief and consistently produces excellence.”
Photography: “After helping create a memorable experience for our clients, the ability to relive the experience through pictures is an important element. F10 Photography captures those very moments so beautifully. The F10 Studio team relates so well with the clients, evokes emotions with their personality and captures those moments through their lens that makes us swoon all over again.”
Props & Fabrication: “I have a love for personalized props and decor elements that create a personalized experience. Marquee Letters Toronto is my go-to for all things marquee props and unique items such as safari animals, oversize objects, colorful shapes and personalized names or numbers for social and corporate clients alike. The ability to fabricate and customize the look for my clients makes them one of my favorite vendors.”
Nicole OsiboduPhoto: Courtesy of Nicole Osibodu
Marketing: “Splash is our go-to solution and partner for event marketing done the Haute way (which usually involves embedding Zoom, too). Funky-yet-foolproof design templates are really helpful for me as a foundation, then I can go in and bedazzle the design a little because I am not an order-off-the-menu girl."
Photography: “Patrick MacLeod Photography for genius photos that make you swoon—sometimes over yourself! Everyone should have Patrick in their life; we’ve flown him all around the world to shoot our events because he understands how to capture the perfect moment, and his technical and creative eye is unparalleled.”
Production: “[Our sister company] Haute Rock Creative. Seriously, I don’t even think we’re being partial here, but they are my go-to company for execution of our most creative and complex programs. I like to call them my human-to-human black ops team.”
Keri MillerPhoto: Phil Crozier
Event Decor: “My personal and professional relationship with the team at Decor & More is a long and integral one! When you find a team or person that can translate your vision and join you on a wicked creative journey, you stick with them. I love that we can collaborate and create with them anywhere in the world! The creative team at D&M have been a part of the secret sauce for my entire career; they have to be on my list because they are a huge part of my life and success.”
Entertainment: “The name ‘fuze’ says it all for the team at Fuze Entertainment. Some of the largest, high-profile events that I’ve produced or designed have had an element of their creative fusion. When we bring them to the table, their custom choreographed entertainment elements are perfectly aligned and executed.”
Lighting: “I'm a huge advocate for working with a creative lighting designer. Lighting can tell a story; it can elevate every detail and every element, and it can create the most breathtaking moments in live—and digital—events. Using a lighting supplier is different than collaborating with a lighting designer, so find one like Pierre Marleau at Orange Frog Productions and your work will ‘sing.’”
A version of this story also appeared in BizBash's spring 2021 print issue
