August 20, 2020

An Intimate Private Estate Dinner in the Hills

This week we are bringing some serious intimate event inspiration with an Italian influenced “cena all’aperto” (outdoor dining party) in the East Bay. From the stunning florals, to the elegant rentals, and the exquisite detailed menu, this event was truly dreamy. Take a look for yourself to see how stunning an intimate dinner in a private home can be.

The evening began with cocktail hour serving fine wines, champagne, and a gorgeous grazing board by Charming Fig.

We provided serving utensils and bamboo individual plates so guests could create their own mini board (not to mention they are also eco-friendly!).

Pleasanton Event Rentals supplied the rentals as well the linens which worked perfectly in the backyard setting. The weather was warm, but comfortable; perfect for an evening of dining al fresco.

The overall inspiration came from the host’s Italian background. We wanted to create the feel of a Tuscan Villa, transporting the guests to the Italian countryside without actually leaving their home. To tie in the backyard, garden setting, broken pieces of terra-cotta pots were used as guest place cards.

The florals for the intimate dinner party were provided by Nicole Ha Design, adding an extra touch of color and providing even more secret garden vibes throughout the space. Additional loose florals were added to the desserts as well.

The catering for dinner was thoughtfully provided by Giannis Italian Bistro. Guests were served three plated courses featuring fresh ingredients creating an amazing Italian menu.

Guests safely indulged in a delicious meal in the comfort of a private home, and even enjoyed a show when a heard of cattle wandered by in the background.

We love seeing families able to continue to celebrate important events together, safely.

Does this post have you ready to commemorate an important milestone coming up? Let us help you plan a safe event for all. If an intimate event is not right for your needs, you may consider a hybrid virtual event to get the party started. Whatever feels right, we can guide you through the process with ease.

August 12, 2020

Virtual Events: 40th Birthday Party Inspiration

It became clear 2020 was not going to allow the celebration originally in mind, which is why we are so honored to still throw Shannon an incredible 40th birthday party. The event took place in the client’s home while California’s shelter in place orders were in affect so there was a very small in person attendance while the majority of the guests participated virtually. This party was an absolute blast! From the custom cookies delivered to guest’s doors, to the live DJ requests, and virtual wine tasting, this was not your average hybrid event.

Take a look below to get a closer glimpse at the details of this memorable night.

The balloons provided by Party Fiesta were the perfect pop of color and festivity to make the space feel like a true party. Additionally, they provided some great photo opportunities for the in person guests that evening.

Despite the intimate in person guest count, we still wanted to make sure there was a small yet special cake for the birthday gal. We loved this creation by Jen’s Cakes. Take a closer look at those details!

Snickerdoodle Sweets & Events created these incredible custom cookies that were (almost!) too cute to eat. The majority of the guests celebrated virtually, but we didn’t want them to miss out on these tasty treats. The morning of the celebration our team safely delivered cookies, along with the wines for the wine tasting, to each attendee’s home. This thoughtful touch made the guests excited and included even if they were unable to celebrate in person.

Guests attending, whether in person or virtual, were able to participate in a live tasting offered by Vandella Vineyards. The sommelier was live streamed as guests followed along with the tasting allowing for a great hybrid event experience.

JL Imagination handled all the audiovisual needs for the event, including a live stream DJ set from AVL Entertainment from their remote studio. The DJ set featured large LED screens with custom birthday graphics, musically synched lighting, as well as a platform for guests to submit live song requests. It was truly an impressive performance that naturally kept the party going all night.

Thanks to the help of our trusted vendor partners, we successfully, and safely, celebrated another important milestone for our clients. With so many moving pieces, vendors and AV needs to coordinate for a virtual or hybrid event, it can often seem overwhelming. Contact us today so we can bring the professionalism and ease to your next virtual event.

August 3, 2020

Industry Insight: Planning an Event Post COVID

By now you have seen that events are still happening for us; even if they aren’t quite like they used to be, we are active in the pursuit of celebrating life’s best moments. If you’re uncertain about how to navigate events these days, consider this your blueprint to planning events in 2020 and beyond.

Picking a venue, considering safety first.

Safety, gathering sizes, and appropriate distancing have all become a greater concern in the recent months, directly impacting how we conduct events. Whether you choose to celebrate at a stunning outdoor venue in the Bay Area, or inside a beautiful church, always consider guest count before picking a venue. You’ll want to be sure the square footage provides enough space for guests to distance if they’d like.

Photo: Danny Dong Photography

Additionally, elements such as safe access to clean water, catering procedures, frequently sanitized restrooms and dining locations are now on the forefront of minds now more than ever before. Even if you do not attend a traditional walkthrough, make sure to address these items when speaking with a venue representative. If they do not provide in house catering, you may ask if they have a preferred list or recommendations.

If food is involved, you must hire the professionals.

The importance of safety is crucial when it comes to food serving and consumption. Professional event caterers know this and take it very seriously. Your guests deserve to enjoy the evening without worry. If food is part of your event, it should be provided by a professional considering the health and wellbeing of all in attendance.

We’d suggest having a catering team that is willing to safely prepare plates in the kitchen to serve to guests individually. If you’d rather enjoy the meal station style, we recommend hiring attendants to assist, prepared with the tools to serve and monitor.

Photo: Augie Chang Photography

If there is a dessert bar, or favor table, consider offering the goodies individually wrapped so guests can grab a serving without contaminating others.

Cookies: Snickerdoodle Sweets & Events

Provide no touch entertainment that keeps guests engaged.

Yes, you can absolutely keep guests engaged without offering traditional lawn games, or a self serve beer tap. If that is your desire, of course you can add an element of class to the event by providing someone to service the beer wall. However, we can’t hire someone to play corn hole for us, so you may consider offering alternative entertainment instead.

For a less traditional guest experience, consider something like Pour Girl Bartending. They offer made to order craft cocktails safely through an exceptional bartending experience for guests.

Live music has become even more meaningful these days, allowing bands and DJ performances to become more sought after than ever before. Music sets the mood, lifts spirits, and offers an unmatched element of entertainment to events, whether or not there is a dance floor present. It can also be a wonderful way to tie in culture into an event.

If you really want to wow your guests, aerialists are sure to leave an impression! AVL Entertainment provides a wide range of entertainment from disc jockeys to aerialists. All of these entertainment options can be broadcasted live for a virtual or hybrid event, which leaves a very different impression and experience for all of your guests beyond just watching it on TV.

Offer a way for guests to attend the event virtually.

Offering the option for guests to attend virtually is almost a given. Even if you plan to invite a small, safe group to join in person, having an option for guests to still participate remotely allows people to attend within their own comfort level.

Check out the full blog post outlining our audio visual recommendations to stream your event, if this is something you are interested in providing for guests.

It’s an honor to continue to provide the same exceptional service.

Whether it’s for an intimate dinner party to safely celebrate a 70th birthday, a virtual baby shower for a first time mom, or an elopement for a couple deeply in love; life’s worth it. There’s clearly so much to celebrate, but there’s also a lot to consider when planning events in 2020 and beyond. We are here to help you do so, safely.

Author: kelsiva