Christmas time!

It has been an extremely busy and productive fall here at A Party Apart.  Winding down later in summer were great outdoor weddings, ceremonies and events.  With the warmer weather, we have continued setting up tents late in the season.  Just last weekend we did a 40' x 120' for a wedding in Ohio.  No matter what time of year, let us know what you want and we will try and make it happen.  The Christmas season has also been jammed packed with company parties.  Awesome events at the Coliseum, Grand Wayne, Eddie Merlot's and all over town! Casino's have also remained popular for company themes.  We can provide tables, chips and also dealers. Providing a complete casino experience at any venue.  Making a trip to Chicago was also in order.  Cheryl was a finalist for Event Designer of the Year at the BizBash IdeaFest in Chicago.  While she didn't win, being nominated was great recognition.  Be sure not to miss us in a few weeks at the Fort Wayne Bridal Spectacular.  The event is held at the Coliseum on Saturday and Sunday, January 5th & 6th from 12-4.  This two day show is a great chance to talk to our designers face to face.  We typically run specials at these shows on popular wedding rental items.  January also marks the 10th anniversary of A Party Apart.  So be on the lookout for fun events marking this grand occasion!  As always, be sure to checkout the links below for the most current news, photos and ideas.  Merry Christmas, Happy Holiday's and Happy New Year from A Party Apart!

http://www.facebook.com/apartyapart

http://www.twitter.com/apartyapart

http://www.instagram.com/apartyapart

 

Transform This Space - from "oh well" to "WOW"!

Retirement Redefined...
“Make it fun; make it different; make it a WOW.” Those were the parameters we were recently given for transforming the Grand Wayne Center in Fort Wayne into something special for a corporate retirement party. What started in one room with a small pre-function area quickly grew until the week prior to the actual event, plans changed enough to switch spaces for both the main event and the pre-function gathering. With the great staff at the Grand Wayne Center, the simple response is always "no problem" — and soon both areas were re-configured to accommodate the new requirements.

Simple and sophisticated kept the overall look clean, yet still fresh and different. Silver metallic spandex covered the chairs, picking up and reflecting the color of the lights, and presenting a streamlined look when paired with black table linens. The white spandex over-sized discs on the ceiling created a "wow" backdrop when lit with color, and the shapes mimicked the lighting patterns and colors that were used in the overall video presentation and rest of the decor.

LED lights were used in the clear centerpieces on the dinner tables in the main room, looking beautiful with the lights up, but drop-dead dramatic when the lights went low. The front hall pre-funtion area changed its mood and color palette as the LED lights shifted from reds and purples to blues and greens, creating dramatic walls of color to surround guests as they mingled and congratulated the guest of honor. And while it was a warm occasion inside, you could see hints of an open flame through the glass doors to the outside as rib eyes and salmon steaks sizzled over hot coals on grills and heating stations provided by A Party Apart. Click here to view more photos. Congratulations and Happy Retirement to Keith Busse.

"Yeah, Baby!"
A winning paddle raised at a local fundraiser — and the next thing they knew, the bidder and his guests found themselves transported to another place and time when they walked down Berry Street in Fort Wayne last week and entered a glass door discreetly marked with the outline of a bunny decal. As guests entered into what earlier that day was a lobby, they could have just as easily been on North State Street in Chicago in 1960 at one of the most infamous night clubs of its time — the "Playboy Club". The original clubs of the 1960s were upscale and international in scope, presenting members and their guests with a respectable and professionally run entertainment venue.

The first step in transforming the all-glass lobby was using black draping to completely cover everything, changing the look and creating a blank canvas for adding decor. Large groupings of white discs and LED color lights created that cool, hip, clubby “60’s” vibe on the new "walls" and flooded the ceiling in hot pinks and purples. Intimate individual table lighting, silhouette dancers on a big screen, maribou feathers, pink bunnies, and the electric glow of the fictitious name in color in the middle of the "club" — all these accents combined to create that "sizzle" and "pop" and really bring the room to life. Guests were heard whispering as they departed "this was THE party of the year!” Click here to view more photos. Lighting by Rick Browning. Catering by: Honey on the Table.

THAT Space is a Gymnasium? I Don't Think So!

Sometimes a special event is special because of the venue it is held in; sometimes you don't have a "party" space and transforming unusual space into a magical environment takes a bit of work. Here's three recent examples - all with good "bones" in school environments - all with very different results...

"Vintage Concordia"
The challenge for "Vintage Concordia" — a recent silent auction, dinner and fundraiser at Concordia Lutheran High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana was not only to transform the entry through the hallway and into the gymnasium, but the gymnasium itself. This was a large event with over 400 guests and a variety of spaces to create. Hallways and entry ways became pathways to Italian wine country, complete with colorful backdrops of the Tuscany region. Wine barrels and grapevine arches created registration areas and check out tables. Silent auction displays surrounded and helped define an elegant and sophisticated atmosphere reminiscent of the Italian countryside, complete with candlelight, views, hanging chandeliers, billowy draping overhead, and the feeling of dining al fresco in a vineyard. La Dolce Vita! Click here to see more photos.

"Winter Wonderland"
Maple Leaf Farms, of Leesburg, IN, recently purchased and completely renovated the former Leesburg Elementary School into a modern world headquarters with offices for more than 80 employees. The $4 million renovation kept the former gym intact, painting only the walls and bleachers, and refinishing the floor. To transform this space into a truly "winter wonderland," we first protected the floor with carpet (thank you Hamm Event Services) to quiet the space (think how that first snowfall sounds late in the middle of the night). Next, all the lighting was turned off — creating atmosphere, intimacy and a big-city holiday feel for the 200+ guests using uplighting and gobo projectors of snowflakes. Lounge areas and cocktail tables around the lounge area were all lit with LEDs – creating a hip, clubby, upscale and "techy" vibe. The tables and chairs were "dressed" for the evening with glittery silver, pewter, and white; with glowing snow-white bright centerpieces. Guests were in awe and amazed that the space could be transformed so dramatically.

For the following weekend, carpet, tables and chairs were removed, and the space became party central for a 16th birthday party. The kids used the bar and lounge areas for snacks and beverages, and played basketball in one end of the gym. Not one, but two unique transformations — to satisfy all ages! Click here to see more photos.

"Red Carpet"
Homestead High School's 2011 winter dance was the talk of the town — if you count the backdrop paparazzi flashing cameras and the buzz of excitement from the "local" celebrities when they walked into the transformed space. Each year, A Party Apart comes up with unique themes for both the winter dances and Homestead's annual proms. This year's "Red Carpet Night" had all of the glitz and glamour of the Hollywood version — lights, cameras, action, the red carpet walk, a staging area for "celebrity" photos, and a trendy hot setting that rivaled any awards show. Be a "star" in your own setting! Click here to see more photos.

Time to De-Stress Your Holiday Planning

December kicks off this magical season - the spirit of Christmas, holiday parties and festivities with family and friends – isn’t that what this time of the year is for when we entertain? Why then do so many people get stressed out for planning a party?

Gone are the days when most people would just quickly plan a get-together; or call a few friends on the spur of the moment, make some easy snacks and have a casual evening. Times have changed, and today, society demands it is all about the type of food, the look of the party and getting the right group of friends together at the same time, instead of just letting everyone mix and mingle.

Everyone has their idea of what the perfect party will be. Holiday parties are no different than any other special event, including weddings. Houses are decorated from traditional to ultra-modern and contemporary to the current popular "rustic elegance." Look at the décor all around us — anything goes. And the most common request? A "wow" factor when guests walk through the door. Today's holiday decor knows no right or wrong. It's hard to even remember when turkey was ONLY for Thanksgiving and Christmas — or shrimp cocktail was a New Year’s Eve or day treat? And Christmas colors were ALWAYS red and green?


Here's a couple of our favorite looks for this holiday season:
Winter Wonderland – all white and glitzy, full of crystal and snow. Centerpieces include white floral, candlelight; refreshments include sparkling champagne with butler-served appetizers.
Rustic Elegance – plenty of natural fabrics; centerpieces with cranberries, nuts, and greens; comfort foods and spiked wassil.
Timeless Traditional – familiar reds and greens as color scheme; evergreens and pine cones; buffet with a variety of timeless favorites like wings, meatballs and creamy dips.
Modern Sophistication – Contemporary blacks and chrome with a strong pop of color (think turquoise or lime green); spandex table coverings; martinis and tapas food stations; centerpieces of vases filled with shiny ornaments and metallics.


Our tips for having a stress-free, enjoyable event?
#1 - Have the party that makes YOU comfortable; when you are relaxed, your guests are going to enjoy the evening as much or more because they'll take their cue from you.
#2 – If you aren’t the person that loves to prepare food - call on your favorite caterer – there are many out there offering items to fit every like and taste. Pick the perfect menu and check it off your list.
#3 – Whether it is a decorator, a party rental company or extra servers to help you – depend on someone you trust for their expertise, knowledge and advice. Don’t cause any additional stress by wondering if the linens are going to be perfect or the delivery on time.
#4 – If you are using a rental company – schedule the delivery early and request set-up of items instead of just drop-offs.
#5 – Renting makes sense - it saves you time and energy – and at the end of your party, you pack it up and send it back (no storing and less trash and clean-up).

Most importantly, create a comfortable, warm inviting environment where guests will have fun and enjoy themselves, with you doing whatever makes you comfortable. With the right help and approach, you'll enjoy your party from the beginning to the end — and that's what entertaining this season is really all about.

Corporate Events and Sales Conferences Don't Have to Be Boring (Looking)

The end of summer and early fall for some means start thinking about trade shows, sales meetings and conferences and events for customers, so the time to plan is now.

Take a look at these fun photos of a sales conference setting for Matilda Jane earlier this summer. Such fun to help create the ambiance and add to environments for their Trunk Keepers (sales reps), Art Fair (customers) and a smaller pre-conference event the night before at the Grand Wayne Center.

Linens and extra decor items from A Party Apart blended nicely with so many of the elements of their fabrics. We loved working with Denise and Lynette and their wonderful group of women.

What could we help you with for creating the mood, theme or environment for YOUR next sales meeting, trade show or fall conference?

Hot Town; Summer in the City...

...and as the song goes, the back of everyone's necks is "getting dirty and gritty" from putting up what seems like thousands of tents for events already. Festival season is in full swing in Fort Wayne and northeastern Indiana — and if it's hot, you need a tent (for shade); if it's raining, you need a tent (for cover); if you have vendors, you need tents (for what they're doing), and if you have beer, you need a tent (to define your beer garden). So we have had A LOT who have needed tents for a variety of reasons.

If you attended RiverFest last weekend at IPFW in Fort Wayne, you saw much of what we do for festivals. Besides the large tenting, tables, and chairs, we also did the stage area for the bands, and the decorative large paddle balloons and sky lanterns. The large balloons, sky lanterns, and large balloon arches are all the rage for weddings this summer too - a dramatic finishing touch and attention-getter for weddings and reception sites. Tie the color into your overall wedding theme, and these really create a "wow" for guests and wedding parties alike.

BBQ RibFest, Germanfest and Greek Festival in downtown Fort Wayne at Headwaters Park used A Party Apart tents of varying sizes, tables, chairs and ceiling decor. And don't forget about making food prep easier - we can supply propane cooking stoves, ovens and warming cabinets for your next event, regardless of the size of your crowd. Thirsty too? Our margarita machines are flying out of here when the weather heats up.

For Three Rivers Festival (Fort Wayne's Biggest Summer Party since 1969) next week in downtown Fort Wayne, we're ready with set-ups for staging, tents, the parade, park set-ups and children's fest activities - when you see our trucks all over town, you know it's festival time in Fort Wayne, Indiana and the A Party Apart truck fleet is on the move!

Company picnic? Reunion? Backyard bash? Special birthday? Pool party? Fireworks this weekend? Big or small; week-long event or an hour or two - we can help you make your next event easier and special. Be sure to browse our online catalog of over 150,000 items - great for ideas and to check things like tent sizes and layouts before you come in to see us.

Fall/Holiday Party Planning - in full swing!

As the weather turns colder, colors go bolder and color is everywhere this season for both fall and winter. Use traditional colors, but add a bit of sparkle, or go for it with a bit of bold (either size, color or both) for added punch and drama.

For table-settings, add a bit of shine when you dine - what about pumpkins or gourds with colored glitter, or glazed white with a hint of silver? Combine bold oranges, reds, yellow-golds with a strong touch of silver, gold, or bronze.

Use elements of nature - leaves, sticks, stones, natural river rocks - or textures like burlap - for tablecloths, centerpieces or individual table settings. Be sure to incorporate candles - high or low, votive or a cluster - candlelight makes everything and everyone look better and the flicker of a candle catches that sparkle and makes everything a bit more bright and festive.

Anything natural with a bit of metallic and color is very modern and very "now" and will immediately turn "ho hum" into "how fabulous!"

Corporate event planning made simple

Sometimes corporate event planning can be hard — paying attention to all the details, shopping price, working with various vendors, and picking the best venue.

Did you know we can help with:
• Customer appreciation events
• Employee events
• New Product Launches
• Fundraisers
• Festivals
• Sales Training Meetings
• Board Meetings
• Investor Meetings
• Trade Shows

Maybe you just need ideas for a theme and the décor. Or maybe you've always held your event at the same place, and want help with a new venue selection. Having help with the pre-event planning AND managing the on-site logistics can free you up to concentrate on what you need to pay attention to - before and during the event. And knowing where you are in terms of budget is always important.