TRENDING NOW

1) Sleek Porcelain

2) Utilitarian Spaces

3) Living Floral Arrangements

4) Copper

5) Tin Plates

6) Block Print

7) Glass Touches

8) Interactive Meetings

HOW TO DAIL UP THE SOUTHERN CHARM FOR YOUR NEXT GATHERING

Photo: Colorful Oil Lamps against rustic wall. Photo by Bianda Ahmad Hisham

Seems like everyone wants to emulate the South these day. Whether folks are "putting up" Mason Jars of Pickled Okra or adding a track of Shelby Lynn to their Playlist, the South has an irresistible draw. Here are a few ways to capture the sweet-as-Sorghum charm of the South for your next gathering or event.

Make it Homey. Of course, the heart of Southern Culture is the family home. Add some homespun nostalgia to your event by using items that could have been plucked from your Grandma's house. A honeypot filled with fresh cut flowers creates a wonderfully unique table centerpiece. Other homey items to consider:

-Vintage Silver

-Family Portraits

-Aging Photographs

-Family Photo Album

-Hurricane Lamps

-Antique Pepper Mill

Make it Farmy. Incorporating a farmy element will give your event a nice Southern rustic distinction. I suggest using classic farm tables (around ten feet in length) for dining instead of round tables. Typically, farm tables would be surrounded by benches. This creates a nice opportunity for a "family-style" dining. Also, filling hearty wooden bowls with fresh harvest vegetables for table decor will dramatcially punch up the farm element. Continue to accessorize with old farming and gardening tools or anything that may have been found around the farm for that matter. Old shovels, tins, chicken coops. My mother sets out her food for guests on an old carpenter's table treated with milk-paint for an extra weathered look. Guests get a kick out of it and always inquire about the origin of the piece.

Make it Bright. Cherry Red. Marmalade. Mint. Southerners love color so being bold with your palette is one of the best ways to dail up the Southern Charm for your next event. This is also a perfect opportunity to mix and match items your may otherwise think "I really like it, but it's a little much."

What to Serve:

-Apple Pie with Cornmeal Crust
-Sweet Potato Pancakes (silver dollar size for appetizer)
-Blackberry Margaritas
-Frogmore Stew (made with Georgia Brown Shrimp)
-Rustic, homemade Grits

Make it Literary. The Soul of the South is a collaboration from great writers like Eudora Welty, William Faulkner, and Tennessee Williams. Incorporate the soul of Southern Literature into your event by incorporating assorted Southern classics (early editions if you have them) like To Kill a Mockingbird and As I Lay Dying into your table vignettes. Arrange the piles of books in an aestetically pleasing way.

NEW FULLY GREEN DISPOSABLE ECO-CONSCIOUS TABLEWARE HITS MARKET

Photo: Courtesy of WASARA

Every now and then we come across an impressive event-centric product that we'd like to share with you. This week, we'd like to feature WASARA, a stylish and fully biodegradable tableware. The newest arrival to the North American Eco-Tableware Market, WASARA is made from a mix of reed pulp, bamboo, and sugarcane by-products. WASARA offers a Japanese design aesthetic, sturdy quality and 100% biodegradability. If you'd like to elevate the eco-consciousness of your next event, consider WASARA as a planet-healthy tableware alternative. For purchasing information: http://www.branchhome.com/

TRENDING NOW

1) flaming orange, seafoam green, coral

2) wicker & rattan

3) light, fresh, clean

4) cattails & bamboo

5) textiles & patterns

6) utilitarian

7) light, fresh, clean

8) nostalgia

9) screens and partitions

10) brightess & motion

DEDUCTIVE DYNAMIC DESIGN by Deb Steege

Illustration by D. Steege

Lately, our design team seems to be working backwards. By that I mean we've been selecting one hard-and-fast visual element with loads of pop and personality to guide our design process. Of course, the client is always the one dictating the specific direction of our design compass. North, South, East, West, we'll go where ever they ask. "I want lighted platforms" the client said, "and can you make them a little unique?" she asked. "I also want the design to have a modern, chic-y, lounge effect." Off we went. Obviously, the lighted platforms were our jumping off point. Since the platforms were the primary design element she articulated - it would be the end point from which we'd be working backwards.

We decided building a series of 10' x 16' pure white wooden platforms and lighting each from the bottom up would create an interesting warm, chic illumination. Those lighted platforms dictated the rest of our design. To dial up the loungy notes we designed sheer white fabric cabanas and placed them on top of the illuminating platforms. Uber-cool. Pure white contemporary furniture awaited guests behind the parted cabana fabric. The custom cabanas provided an ideal enclave in which smaller groups could gather to share a drink and some conversation. Chrome spheres in an array of shapes and sizes, glowing white votive candles and smart accessory pillows completed the ultra-modern fabric cabana lounges.

Groupings of highboy tables with self-illuminating pedestals, transluscent wave walls, 12" internally lit chrome sphere chandeliers, and colored orchids in assorted clear glass containers were some of the other elements incorporated into the design to complete this chic, modern look. Each design detail sprang from the client's original request for a unique, lighted platform. More and more our design team is discovering that designing deductively is the most efficient way of producing dynamic design results.

EQUALLY WED LAUNCHES MAGAZINE

We'd like to congratulate Equally Wed, A Same-Sex Wedding Magazine based in Atlanta. The magazine had a robust debut at last week's premier party. Equally Wed is chock full of tips, hints, ideas, resources, and advice from beauty and grooming, honeymoons, floral and decor to family matters, cakes, and photography. Click here to preview premier issue: http://www.equallywed.com/

GREEN EVENT IDEAS

Please click here for our vendor partner Novare Event's Myrna Antar's latest blog posting on "Green Event Ideas."

http://www.novareevents.blogspot.com/

WORDS FROM BEHIND THE LENS BY ATLANTA PHOTOGRAPHER LAURA STONE

When I arrive to photograph the decor created by Event Design Group, I find a scene set for a party that guests will feel very special attending. There is a sophisticated initial impression to the overall look and feel of the room. As I spend a few minutes at the event--small, thoughtful details continue to unfold. It seems the creativity of the designers at EDG is boundless. I've observed columns made purely of hydrangeas at a recent wedding, miniature baseball bats suspended from the ceiling at a Yankee's themed Bar Mitzvah, and furniture installations that beckon the visitor to sit and enjoy sky-high views of the city. I always leave wondering what visual treat awaits at the next EDG event.

Click here for more information on Laura Stone and Artstar Photography:

http://www.artstarphotography.com/

DESIGN INSPIRATION IS EVERYWHERE

When it comes to design, it's difficult to know which came first -- the chicken or the egg. When I trace the origin of our team's event design ideas, I'm led to different places. The Low Country Wedding was inspired by our Floral Director Kim Vasil's frequent trips to the wind-swept coastal Carolinas; our Eco-Chic Topiaries were inspired by a client who requested something "playful yet green"; our "Tuscan Evening" look was an extension of Summerour's already classic Italian design with Rosemary-lined walkways, upper loggia, and wrought iron details.

Ideas can come from a favorite phrase, an old sepia-toned photograph, a swatch of fabric or a flock of birds. Event Designer Lois Bourne says she "feels most inspired" by whatever she's reading. Haunted by Peter Mayle's "A Year in Provence," Bourne has set her design sights on the South of France. She'll be incorporating Mayle's story into her design work. The story drips with imagery -- the sun-baked afternoons, rolling hills peppered with Sunflowers, and cafe tables spilling out from indoors onto the narrow streets under clear blue skies. Indeed the story is ripe for design. By paying attention to sources like these, our entire team keeps designs fresh and relevant.

EDG'S PAPER TOPIARIES AT LOEWS ALTANTA HOTEL CHRISTENING

photo by artstarphotography.com

(Shredded Paper Topiaries by EDG)

On March 31st, Event Design Group delighted 400 guests with their lavishly playful design at the opening of the Loews Atlanta Hotel in Midtown. A brief performance by Atlanta Gospel Choir "Voice of Atlanta" set a jubilant tone for this inaugural event. The design for the ribbon cutting ceremony and "uniquely local" luncheon featured an espresso and buff-colored palette infused with pops of fuchsia. Dark chocolate table linens with alternating Grey Stone and Organic Camden overlays were set with wood grain charger plates. Oversized Areca Palm Trees in tapered planter boxes anchored the stage and complemented the guest tables and ultra-modern chandeliers. Half-moon steps for stage access by VIP speakers and performers were custom made. The planter boxes and custom tiers were scenically treated with a Terra Cotta glaze and dry brush sweep to mimic the chandelier's unique textural traits.

Event Design Group chose this very special occasion to reveal its latest signature concept--Shredded Paper Topiaries (see photo). Created with thousands of sheets of recycled office paper these delightful architectural centerpieces are textural, geometric, fun, and of course environmentally-mindful. Though they each required 9 to 14 hours to construct, the result was certainly worth the effort. Managing Director Deb Steege commented, "These recycled topiaries perfectly underscore the hotel's ongoing commitment to eco-consciousness and sustainability."

TIME TO REPURPOSE HIDDEN TREASURES by Deb Steege

It's time for Spring cleaning. Organizing closets, cleaning out garage clutter, and daring to look inside those unmarked boxes in the attic. Though the task may seem daunting, it's really the perfect opportunity to be on the look out for any unsused or forgotten item that could be "re-purposed." Maybe you're not using that bulky desk anymore. Sure it was the perfect place to study during those college all-nighters but now all of your work is confined to the contents of an 11" x 14" laptop computer. Instead of sentencing your trusty ol' desk to a landfill, think of all the other ways it could be put to new use. Stand it up vertically and add some shelves to create a shelving unit for the kid's room. Drag it inside the greenhouse to use as a potting table.

There's really a place and purpose for everything. Use that old door to make a funky vintage-esque coffee top table. Set it on top of those two well-travelled leather suitcases for an uber-cool Trans-Atlantic feel. Of course old tin type photos, weathered books and vintage frames add authenticity to any setting. Mason Jars are my current favorite re-purposed decorative element. I found about a half dozen in my Mom's attic in Illinois. Instead of tossing them, I gave them a good wash with a scrub brush. Now they make the perfect votive candle containers. The candlelight creates interesting and unexpected designs upon the beveled glass. In a darker room, they cast moody patterns, shapes and designs against the walls. They also provide a quaint and nostalgic flair while entertaining family and friends.

My point is if you think outside the box long and hard you can find a new life for just about anything and everything. Yesterday's trash is today's hidden treasure. Re-purposing old items is one of the best ways to preserve history, live consciously, steward the planet and have a little fun along the way.

BOLD COLOR - THIS YEAR'S "WOW FACTOR" by Deb Steege

Event Designers like me are heavily influenced by the color trends of the fashion industry. Luckily, the same colors that show up on New York's runways translate very well into an event design format. Well, maybe it's more than luck. Maybe it's a designer's understanding of how to adapt the color palette of a Toasted Almond, Aurora, Muted Clay and Feather Gray couture cocktail gown into an elegant but rustic wedding reception for 400 guests. There are universal themes in the world of color that work. Regardless of home decor, fashion, or event design cool colors including blue green and everything in between produce calm and warm colors including all variations of red, orange and yellow typically produce warmth, comfort, and enthusiasm. I avoid veering too wildly from what works; however, it is fun to give the color wheel a giant spin from time to time. Many factors are involved in color choice--the current season, the client's personality and/or signature color, the event venue, the economy.

Moving into Spring naturally evokes soothing hues from the blue green family like Turquoise and Ampara Blue; however, the down-turned economy continues to affect seasonal color choices. Cautious, pratical neutrals such as Tuscany, Dried Herb, Chalky Conch and Eucalyptus provide a subconscious safety net. Violet and Pink Champagne are two popular colors that lift those neutral spirits with a pastel punch. Rich Tomato Puree and Fusion Coral are newer colors in the event design vernacular. Eggplant, Tangerine, Yellow and Lemongrass continue to be part of the color dialect.

Though clients will likely continue to choose the softer more comforting colors for their "base color," they will also continue to select bolder, more optimistic bolts of color to vitalize their events. Unwittingly, by making the juxtaposition of a bold color against a neutral backdrop the client's signature color will make an even louder statement. Now front and center, color garners new status. Though color has always been of great importance, it is making a larger splash throughout the world of Event Design. A bold dose of color, in my opinion, is the "Wow Factor" of 2010.

WECOME EVENT DESIGN GROUP'S BLOG

Just a quick note to extend an invitation to visit our blog. We encourage you to subscribe, visit, comment and share as often as you like. Our team will be posting regular updates on the latest trends as well as recent and upcoming Event Design Group events. We're so glad you stopped by.

Sincerely,

Deb Steege

Managing Director

Event Design Group

EDG WINS NACE EVENT TRENDS AWARD

Event Design Group won gold in The Greater Atlanta Chapter of the National Association of Catering Executives (NACE) annual Event Trends competition. Event Design Group's Floral Director Kim Vasil created a "Low Country Beach Wedding" from sea - weathered branches, Spanish Moss, driftwood and tumbleweed, "As if blown loose by a powerful gale," Vasil said. Sponsored by Proof of the Pudding, this table was representative of the growing trend in destination weddings. Simple, beach-swept romanticism was the goal. Sand was essential, but used only as a complementary note. With hydrangea finishes, Victorian seashell boxes, and tiny details scattered in the sand Vasil created a delicate look that was tailored, illuminated by pewter lanterns, and interwoven with mariner's rope. Though destination weddings are all the rage, Vasil says not to worry. "If the wedding party doesn't want to travel to the beach, now we can just bring the beach to the wedding party." One thing is certain Vasil has created a Low Country Destination Wedding look to die for.