We're in production on some fantastic, festive Halloween events in San Antonio and Dallas. So in the spirit of all things spooky, we invite you to check out one of our favorite pumpkin carving websites -- The Pumpkin Lady. Hopefully, you'll find some carving inspiration like the image below. 

Alright, we know you're wondering -- what the heck is this not so sexy photo doing on our blog?  Today we're exploring revisiting themes and event designs from our past work, and reinventing them into something current and beautiful. One of our key points as event designers is that we refuse to give our clients a "party in a box" or a "pinterest special." No two experiences are ever the same, nor should they look it! Is it okay to revisit certain elements? Sure. We love repurposing props and coming up with creative solutions.

Shown on the left, is a poorly taken photo of one of our tabletop designs from the 2010 NACE Experience in Austin, Texas. This a prime example of a creative, budget friendly tabletop design. Some of the elements included inexpensive rats holding place cards with "monster names" on them and custom hand crafted sugar skulls - a must for Dia de Los Muertos in San Antonio.

Now take a look at the image below from this tabletop design reconfigured in 2014 for a presentation in Dallas, Texas. You'll notice certain elements that have made a return to this design, but it has a completely different feel. 

We repurposed the black, red and white Halloween tabletop theme. Implemented new, unique centerpieces by using Sir Rigor Mortis and Lady Dearly Departed with accenting flowers. We brought back the black glassware and placed the hand made sugar skulls as accent pieces on them. The party favors were handmade black coffin boxes with blood red glittering bonbons from Bedazzle My Bonbons. The entire tabletop was placed under a black and white canopy with a floral chandelier, complete with spooktacular flying black crows. As guests entered the tent, they were "greeted" by life size figures of Sir Rigor Mortis and Lady Dearly Departed. This was a fantastic photo opportunity that everyone loved.

​We hope you enjoy taking a look at our photos from this "repurposed" theme. It is a great inspiration for any Halloween Party decor.

We decided to incorporate the bride's two french bulldogs into the entry of the reception. We designed two custom floral french bulldog topiaries, complete with blue flower collars. These were placed on staging and could be viewed behind the white bars, and looked stunning against the blue silk draped tent and blue chandeliers.

As there were eight hundred guests attending this fabulous function, we designed multiple action stations and decorative food displays in order for guests to mix and mingle. This included stunning ice sculpture fountains with delish shrimp cocktails with floral accents

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The guest tables for this event were a combination of blue and white cloths on both round and rectangular tables. The centerpieces were designed in various chinoiserie forms, and had a luxe feel mixed with contemporary structure. Pops of magenta were included to help accent the color scheme. Above the rectangular tables were stunning floral chandeliers with mercury glass lights. Take a look through this slideshow to see all of the incredible designs.

And finally... here are a few of our favorite details from the event. They include the lounge area complete with embroidered blue and white cushions, the beautiful wedding cake from Cakes by Cathy, the monogrammed favors, a glimpse at a glowing oval table from CORT Event Furnishings at the after party, dancing shoes with a note from the couple, and finally cookies and milk with custom printed handkerchiefs as a farewell send off for guests.

Photos courtesy of Jerry Hayes Photography

We often get asked quite a few questions about our design process, and how we convey our event design concepts to clients. We have a multi-step process that includes a brief, ideation, research, development, and refinement. We're firm believers in providing clients with renderings of what their event will look and feel to their guests. Below are a few "Before & After" Images. You'll see an array of corporate events, weddings, and social events. We hope you enjoy them!

This is a rendering of a blush, french inspired wedding in the Texas Hill Country. The ceremony and reception took place at the Horseshoe Bay Resort.

We created a "Cirque de Seize" sweet 16 party for a client at the Vault in San Antonio. The concept was based on her love of the circus and bright, whimsical colors. The client wanted a "youthful" event that didn't feel too childish. 

This Masquerade event design concept was designed for a client's 50th Birthday Party. It was held at The St. Anthony Hotel. As you can see the color concept slightly changed from the original, based on product availability but the overall feel stayed the same. This event lasted 24 hours and included a cocktail reception, formal dinner, dancing, an after party at 2AM at a local Mexican Restaurant, and a brunch at 8AM. Guests partied all night long!

This Austin corporate event was a property launch in the downtown area. It has both residential and commercial property within the building. We were challenged to come up with an entrance that felt like a modern home, and could provide bar service. Custom walls and mirrors provided the perfect entrance for guests to explore this amazing property.

We've been working on multiple projects recently where clients have asked for something "extra" for guests to have in their amenity baskets, wedding party gifts, or quite possibly as a refreshment on the bus on the way to an event. Here's a few of our recent favorites. It's Friday so why not discuss two of our favorite things... Craft Bottled Cocktails & Wine.

We're obsessed with these charming, colorful champagne splits from Champagne Pommery. They are the perfect accent to any amenity basket from weddings to birthdays. Always a must on New Years Eve! We find they are a big hit with our brides, because they are positively adorable with brightly colored straws prior to a ceremony or at a cocktail reception. 

We were introduced On The Rocks through our friend Steve Kemble at the ILEA Live event this August. Let us tell you that our Design Session attendees were vying to taste to these craft bottle cocktails, and they were quite the rage by the end of the conference. This line is incredibly extensive and includes a signature line,  tropical line, and our personal favorite -- the craft line. These are already becoming a favorite amongst our clients as well. The best thing about OTR is that they are based in Texas. We love local product!

We know it isn't quite a craft bottled cocktail, nor is it wine -- but who can't love the idea of Truly Spiked & Sparkling. It is a "cocktail" that has the feel of sparkling water with just a bit of "fun" added to it. Light and refreshing with a hint of flavor, which makes it perfect for any occasion. We recommend the Grapefruit & Pomelo. Also, they just started a series of cans as well. 

“'Tis now the very witching time of night,” and Halloween revelers decked in frightful attire descend upon the “haunted” St. Anthony Hotel in San Antonio, Texas for an All Hallow’s Eve celebration of “Sinners & Saints.” Guests traveled through the underworld of the damned in the hotel’s main floor and wait to be forgiven in purgatory on the rooftop pool of the hotel. 

After celebrating the “day of the dead” with the mariachis, guests venture into the hotel to discover an inferno worthy of Dante. In the lobby, hundreds of yards of red drape cover the walls, standing candelabras and plants are covered in spider webs, tables are dressed in red linens with glittering skull candelabra centerpieces, and the fireplace is decorated with an evil witch amidst sparkling black and purple décor.

​Meanwhile, other brave souls may venture into the different “circles” of hell. In the center of the Peraux room, a werewolf stands on a platform encompassed by a circular dessert bar. The sweet and spooky fare included mummy truffles, witch hat cookies, and newt’s eye chocolate pretzels. On the back wall, a masked version of a last supper, Halloween feast took place over the glowing bars. Revelers were transfixed with these bird masked individuals and their meal.

Demons and devils draw quite the crowd in the ballroom with their custom, dance routines. Interspersed between these routines is the incredible video DJ – Roonie G. He plays tunes and provides the perfect spooktacular backdrop amongst the red lounge furniture from AFR Furniture Rental, creating quite the club-like atmosphere. 

As with any of our events, we had various vignettes to keep guests entertained and moving throughout the evening. We have a few pictured below, and we hope you enjoy our Sinners & Saints festivities.

Photos courtesy of Daniel Holman Studios

Guests instantly fell in love with the incredible wedding amenity baskets that they received. Complete with locally sourced goodies such as austiNuts, Lily's Cookies in the shape of the Alamo, Texas turtle pralines, and other wonderful goodies. Each of these items were custom branded with the couple's monogram. 

​On entering the Lost Mission, wedding guests sauntered down a stone pathway with colorful floral markers leading the way to the ceremony.  Outside the mission, a flamenco guitarist set the mood for cocktails on the patio. The literary aficionados could “drink like their favorite author” and have a “Hemingway Daiquiri” or a “Tequila Mockingbird.”

The ceremony then took place inside the beautifully adorned mission.  Rings of lemon leaf garlands encircled the chandeliers with suspended, vibrant lavender tulips awed guests as they passed below. Custom made “family” paper badges indicated reserved seating on either side of the aisle. 

An ombré floral arrangement in various shades of blue, purple, and pink adorned the alter along with a custom created vow book with “live” inscribed on the spine. A string quartet played as the bridal party entered, carrying vibrant bouquets of coral peonies, purple stock, and prairie daisies. Brittany and Sean decided to pen their own vows and there was not a dry eye in the house when the ceremony concluded. 

​The cocktail hour for this Hill Country Wedding also included vignettes for the wedding guests to interact with. The first vignette had a book with folded pages depicting the wedding date and a typewriter asking the revelers to become authors and “sign the guestbook.” 

The Hill Country chic wedding reception space was transformed into a well-read, floral oasis. Magnificent magenta phalaenopsis and oversized book page origami figures embellished the oversized chandeliers above the stunning tables. 

Long farm tables lined the center of the room. On these tables were placed “Book tower” centerpieces holding a massive crescendo of peonies, roses, orchids, and hydrangeas with rosemary accents.  Paper cone garlands with floral accents flanked either side of these huge towers.  Linens in various textures and shades of champagne covered the round tables throughout the room.  One of the arrangements for these tables was a fabulous glass terrarium with beautifully woven callas, anemones, succulents and roses with miniature books inside. Another arrangement consisted of hill country chic wooden candelabras with massive delphinium and roses set on top of books. The menu card at each place setting was printed in the shape of a book and featured the “Table of Contents.” ​

​After dinner, guests watched the couple cut their wedding cake that had a handmade topper of Brittany and Sean as well as their favorite quotes on the side of the cake. It was so personal that even the cake was in “tiers.”  

All photos for this event are courtesy of Amy DeYoung Photography.