Shabby Chic’s still a hit this year! A local couple went all out with loads of burlap, fresh pine accents, tons of rustic furniture and accent décor. The idea was to create a truly theatric and engaging, old timey, pine forest ceremony and reception. Adding even more to the event design was the venue; the remnants of a 1900′s turn-of the century ranch. The compound contains original barns, garages, farm equipment,  machinery, and buildings housing artifacts depicting the life and times  from the era.

The ceremony was held outside in a courtyard between the old wooden garage and antique tack room. Mahogany chiavari chairs were arranged in front of the garage. Country throw rugs created the aisle runner accompanied by pine creek style row accents. The alter area was backdropped by the large, weathered barn doors and a furniture grouping of a vintage dresser, wall mirrors and two petite pine trees in burlap wrapped pots.

The cocktail area utilized more vintage furniture. Wood tables with themed tablescapes atop more throw rugs were set up for cocktail hour.

The reception was help inside the venues banquet hall.  Equally accented as the ceremony and cocktail areas, the round and rectangle tables were all tablescaped with the same decorative elements as the rest of the event; centerpieces were built of woodcraft items, pine cones, white candles, antique books, and more burlap. Round silver chargers and gunmetal grey napkins with flatware and accompanied by a burlap and pine name tag made up each table setting.   The grandiose head table had the most elaborate of the décor and set directly behind it was rustic furniture grouping that looked like a scene from a warm, cozy forest cabin.

Entering into a lifetime commitment with that special someone you have decided to spend the rest of your life with calls for an unforgettable celebration which called for a custom installation.

Building a wedding reception from the ground up creates a truly custom and unique event design. This grandiose reception was held atop a grassy knoll overlooking the city below. Out front of the 100′x 80′ pole tent, guests enjoyed cocktail hour amongst a garden themed reception area with picket fencing, shrubberies, crisp white floral arrangements and lounge groupings.

Upon entering the tent guests were met with theatric sight of the tent’s captivating white satin ceiling liner; which was pleated and emblazoned with wedding swirl patterns blasted by red Leko lights. Wall to wall flooring covered the entire tent floor and white satin drapery ran the perimeter of the sidewalls; creating a beautiful backdrop from floor to ceiling.

The head table sat atop a 2-foot skirted and draped stage adorned with white floral arrangements and a white rosette table linen.

Guests sat at square, round, and banquet tables tablescaped with an ornately dressed Manzanita trees,  atop maroon rosette table linens with Belmont chargers and Kent silverware.

Trussing encompassing the white dance floor came alive with intelligent lighting blasting colorful led shapes and patterns all around the room.

After 12 years of dating, 2012 was the year this party’s happy couple made it OFFICIAL! To celebrate the match made in heaven, the bride-to-be’s family hosted an intimate and fancy engagement reception at her parents beautiful hillside home.

Black and white decor with vibrant royal purple lighting set the color scheme. The family room provided  a dining area and a live harpist performance.  On the back patio, two canopies with sidewall enclosed the main dining and buffet area. Both inside and outside dining areas consisted of round garden tables, topped with the black and white swirl linens, black napkins and fresh rose arrangements. The custom tiered cake was adorned with intricate black, Victorian swirl piping and topped with sparkling monograms.

Clear sidewall at the rear of the tent provided insulation from the chilly evening while granting a view of the nice, neatly landscaped and up lit pool and lawn area.

The crowning jewel at the event was a giant 3-tiered, 21-light, 5′ chandelier hand-built from over 200 pieces. The behemoth lighting fixture hung in the peak of the tent and was complimented with purple up lighting.  

The events head table donned silver solid table drapes with a swirl runner down  its length and was surrounded by silver chiavari chairs with black cushions and topped with a floral centerpiece.

This photo-centric couple had some inspiring decor and engaging ideas. First, they had printed and mounted photos of favorite memories together all around the tent for guests to enjoy. Second, the tech savvy couple added some social media fun to the dinner with Instagram! Each table had a place card encouraging the guests to snap photos of the event with their smart phones and label them to a specific #hashtag.

Check out a short vignette of some of the fabulous event designs A1 Party has made a reality. Let this quick video montage of this past season’s events inspire you!

From Cocktails to concerts, A1 Party can provide all the utilities, and decor for your next event. Whether throwing a private, backyard celebration or a corporate event for hundreds, or even thousands, let us help you! From design to install, our professional and experienced coordinators and seasoned field crew can help you make your next event radiate with elegance!

It’s no secret, the better the venue, the less ‘covering up’ you have to do in the prep work. With a view like the one at Vista Manor in the calm foothills of Glendora, Ca, the last thing one would want to do is drape the backyard perimeter. Instead of the problematic trashcan area, unpainted wall, or unkept neighbor’s backyard which would usually require sidewall or drapery to mask; this venue’s back yard sits hillside 250 feet above the Glendora Country Club’s back 9. Nothing but an unobstructed view of a beautifully landscaped golf course makes for a wonderful view, and a picture perfect sunset. If you would like to celebrate your wedding or special occasion at this spectacular venue call our showroom for details.

There’s nothing better than dinner and a show. And what better way to host a fundraiser (to encourage guests to donate) for a good cause than with a fancy, theatrical, ballroom setting; over the top catering; and an elegant orchestra to entertain.

This annual college scholarship fundraiser included over 850 guests. Attendees were welcomed outside the venue at custom sign-in and hors d’oeuvres canopies. The custom tents were draped and ruched with grey voile satin with complimenting Onyx chandeliers. The canopies were grey by day, while LED’s illuminated them vibrant reds and blues after sunset.

The adjoining cocktail area had gunmetal grey linens on hi-boys and tables with black chiavari chairs. The tables were dressed with floating tea lights and fresh cut roses atop mirrors. Later in the evening during intermission, the foliage surrounding the outside cocktail area was up lit a vivacious green and large block letter spelling out ‘DINNER RALLY’ lit crimson red.

Inside the venue, guests were meant to feel as if they were part of the show. The live performers setup ground level in front of the venues stage giving the dining and performance a sense of being one and the same. Engaging and vibrant stage lighting accented both performers and guests alike. Giant Roman centerpieces adorned with ivy and roses sat atop the outer most tables.

Upon arriving at their tables, an almost overwhelming plethora of picture perfect culinary delights greeted guests.  All the tables were dressed with Nova silver swirl linens, burgundy crush satin napkins, and silver and black chiavari chairs. To give the floor layout a uniform look, the 72 66″ round tables and over 850 chiavaris were meticulously arranged exactly 5 feet apart from each other. VIPs got a bird’s eye view of the event at equally ornate and catered banquet tables atop the mezzanine.

The spectacular dinner rally had a great turnout. The expected attendance number was only two thirds of the final count. A great time for a good cause with an awesome turnout always ends on a high note.

While less traditional than a modern, polished and shiny wedding, a rustic chic theme adds nostalgic chimera of country weddings past. Going this route gives the planner (whether it be the happy couple or a coordinator) the fun DIY  task of perusing boutiques, craft and antique stores for aged decor and accessories for their big day.

This hillside wedding went the homespun route not for the fun of the money saving do it yourself part, but because they were fortunate enough to have access to a venue already themed as such. A quaint community of homes on  a local hillside shared a communal grassy meadow already decorated with dream come true country style furnishing; items that production companies rent for big bucks, this couple hit a homerun.

The couple’s ceremony was held right smack in front of the glade’s scenic view of the valley below. Lined in rows in front of the a rural wrought iron wedding arch draped with weeping willow branches were fruitwood folding padded chairs with reclaimed china used as ‘reserved’ signs.

The wining and dining was held off to the side of the ceremony area. Guests dined at round garden tables donning a complimenting blue/pastel blue dotted linens and white, tulip-backed bistro chairs. Rustic furniture accents dotting the event included an old mail box, an old wooden outhouse (the one with the little moon shape on the door), and the bar was fashioned out of a aged turquoise workbench. The head table was a weathered country dining table with spindled and coved legs and tufted padded antique chairs.

The 1950′s inspired pastel blue scheme on the tables and aged turquoise furniture decor paired well with the mid century black and white checkered dance floor

If you’re lucky enough to have a private venue a friend or family member can lend you to use save; some bucks and use it! And if that venue happens to be decorated with this one of this season’s popular themes, tell anyone who asks, that  was EXACTLY why you chose the place.

What do you get when you cross an awesome hillside backyard with an up-and-coming event designer?…….An AWESOME silver, sparkly, and unforgettable wedding reception setup.

A beautiful estate played host to a young couple’s sensational after party. The dining area sat poolside under a 60′ x 20′ canopy with twinkle light and sheer white swagging; a 3-tiered faux crystal chandelier; and LED up-lighting. The dining arrangement used silver chiavari chairs with turquoise organza sashes, round silver chargers,  turquoise napkins, and silver swirl linens. Center pieces made of white and cream flower arrangements in matching turquoise and silver, sparkly boxes and topped with a Manzanita tree gave the tablescape dimension and height.

Setting the sweetheart table atop a small stage gives even the farthest seated guest a clear view of the VIP’s. Helping draw more focus to the newlyweds were sheer draping and faux crystal strings illuminated by a LED light bar.

The versatile wooden arbor can match any event color scheme with a quick change on the draping and make for excellent lounge vignettes. Fancy receptions can mean fancy high heels ; and having a little nook with soft seating to relax on can be a life saver. The event had an all-white draped arbor. Inside was a square faux chandelier, long chairs, ottoman and coffee tables. Accenting the seating were turquoise pillows and a vintage vase and cigar box. The light up libation station served drinks from under a second, matching arbor. The silver and turquoise color scheme made for a very Southwestern feel.
Across from the lounge was the cake and buffet stations. Donning their own wedding dresses of sorts, the venue’s patio awning was dolled up and draped with foofy white sheer and table bunching; atop with a color-coordinated candy buffet, a one-of-a-kind- wedding cake, and sleek roll-top chafers sat.

Amongst the Southwestern silver and turquoise backyard transformation, the blissful couple had a great night. Young children ran energetically amongst the legs of socializing, bolo tie and cowboy hat wearing gentlemen, dolled-up damsels danced poolside, and the sound of festive, tuba-heavy Banda music bumped heavily into the chilly hours of the night.

Finding the equilibrium between sensible and ideal can be a challenge; especially when planning one of the most memorable days of your life. As the economy continues on the upswing, budgets still, always were, and always will be a factor in final decisions.  This wedding’s groom struck gold when he got the OK from his parents to use their decked-out backyard. We’re talkin’ gorgeous swimming pool, clean landscaping, giant granite wet bar for catering, enough space to seat 130 comfortably, room for a dance floor area and a lily pad filled Koi pond encircling the live band area. Additionally, the super long drive way was more than accommodating for the ceremony tent.

Ta -Da! Ceremony AND Reception venues, on the house. Thanks Mom and Dad!

Yellow, black and charcoal grey were the color scheme for the big day; an unlikely combo, but a great balance of shade and color. Padded, black polywood folding chairs sat in rows before a custom made wedding arch and under yellow velon swagging. The crowning touches were adorable, tiny mason jars filled with bouquets of yellow baby’s breath tied with twine to each aisle seat.  Tables seating 9 and 10 each were dressed with charcoal grey linens and black napkins accompanied by  lustrous black Chiavari chairs. Matching black, glossed square chargers added geometry and style to the table.

The  DIY details on the tables followed suit with mason jars from the ceremony.  Centerpieces were black country lanterns, atop mirrored panels. Tiny, spice bottles with necks wrapped in twine were the base for table number cards; two different photos were on each of the cards, one each of the bride and groom in different grades (giving guests a reason to get up and mingle/see the other photos).  Forget the ol’ single-wrap-with-a-bow-in-the-back; the chair sashes were woven in and out of the chair back about a million times before a ‘rose twist’ finish.  The couple had hand painted picket signs with their favorite romantic quotes stippled the reception area.  Rustic chic style continues to be the trend amongst weddings this season! The ceremony and reception area kept the traditional and fancy frame work, all the special tidbits that make every wedding design unforgettable and emotionally evoking, had a country accent. Twine, mason jars, spice cork bottles and lanterns… you can almost hear the crickets chirp and see the fire flies buzzing…

A local country club threw an annual mixer for the community to enjoy and experience the facilities and services offered. A1 furnished a banquet room in the venue’s clubhouse, creating a relaxed and inviting ambiance for attendees. White cabanas partitioned the room into mini lounge areas with white lounge couches. Copper sheer drapery and amber LED par cans accented the walls, while Bermuda Blue linens dressed the cocktail tables. Outside, fruitwood Chiavari chairs seated dining guests around 60″ tables with Mimosa specialty linens. The Cuban themed event was catered by the venues restaurant, which served generous mojitos, fresh ceviche, succulent Cuban sandwiches and a delicious stew on top of yellow rice. The wood garden arbor draped with green crush linen and filled with a few espresso couches created a little nook next to the dining area.

As much or as little help you need to make your event happen we can assist. Sometimes clients simply need to equipment to framework their event; they need tables, chairs, canopies, ambient light, the bare bones of a party. Other times, like this one, clients need decor assistance such as linens, accent lighting, cabanas, specialty bars, specialty seating, lounge furniture and all the items that make a unique event. Whether one or the other…or both, let us help you design your next event.