Food for thought. By Melissa Paul Times have changed, and so has the way we regard events. On the one hand, there are more elaborate parties than ever, with full-scale living room settings, revolving stages and theatrical production. On the other hand, some hosts choose do-it-yourself party schemes with craft-based decorations, family heirlooms and homestyle [...]

The evolution of a mobile solar-powered structure. Scott Gibson of New Sun Productions is the first to admit that new technology can be like venturing into a rabbit hole. The system designer based in Highland, N.Y., has spent more than seven years down one of those rabbit holes, developing a mobile structure that supports solar-powered [...]

Be bold. Be loud. Be marry. By Melissa Paul An all-white palette is the most classic Western wedding scheme, but today’s couples are more likely to crave daring hues. In 2012, this trend seems even more intense and dramatic. Weddings are sensory experiences, shared through taste, smell, sound and touch. But sight grabs you first, [...]

Like an old photograph, a black-and-white color scheme transcends time. By Melissa Paul Designing the empty space of a white tent is a process of starting afresh, taking risks and giving shape to the imagination. Working within the constraints of the client’s budget and taste is expected, but when it comes to color, event designers [...]

Fabric structure manufacturers find a global market in the ‘glamping’ trend. By Janice Kleinschmidt Have you heard about the s’more sommelier? That sounds like the setup to a joke. It is a setup—but it’s no joke. The Happy Glamper package at Lakedale Resort Campground on San Juan Island, Wash., includes sleeping on pillow-top queen beds [...]

From flea market chandeliers to bone china, vintage event decor trend is here to stay. By Melissa Paul Once relegated to rockers, hippies and uber-trendy jetsetters, the vintage trend has progressed from the fashion industry to the event world, becoming a permanent part of the party planner repertoire. Although some event industry icons proclaim it [...]

New dance floor options are lighter weight, customizable and fit into every budget. Every party planner and client these days wants to throw a unique event, all the way down to the dance floor. “More than ever before, people are looking to create completely unique special events on shoestring budgets,” says Neil Casale of the [...]

Fabric developments and growing popularity advance market potential for freeform style tents. Stretch or freeform style tents originated in the “trance” electronic dance music movement in the 1990s. Established in the South African and Australian rental markets, this style of tent is poised to expand worldwide. “It’s taken about nine years to get to the [...]

Decor-infused portable bars make great showpieces for tented parties. The event bar is no longer a wallflower. When designed especially for the event industry, portable bars pair well with decor trends, are easy to transport and offer lots of features that bartenders appreciate. Instead of relegating the bar to a corner or wall, think of [...]

As applications for LED lights soar, so do opportunities to save money. For special events, non-LED lighting is pretty much extinct,” says Phil Bergmann, director of special events for Q Entertainment Group in Toronto, Canada. “Any lighting you want to incorporate into an event, regardless of application, can be LED.” Bergmann notes that in the [...]