Candy Candy Everywhere!

Everyone knows that food and desserts are the best party of a social event, but how can you take it one step further?  My favorite trend right now is the Candy Buffet.  Imagine: a large table chock full of goodies in beautiful jars and cute bags that guests can take home.  It's the perfect interactive display!

Candy buffets are a relatively new concept.  Brides and children's parties have always given away favors, but Candy Buffets allow the guests to pick and choose which goodies they take home.  Got allergies? Hate coconut?  Now everyone can have exactly what they want!

Another great thing about Candy Buffets is that they are completely personalized.  Each candy or sugar item offered up can be color coordinated to match your event.  Petite cakes, chocolates, gummy candy, even name brand candy can be monogrammed or made into a special souvenir. 

Halloween Horrors (or Fun)!

Although it is only July, we're continuing our look at future holiday events with Halloween.  Halloween is a day that gets overlooked by most people, for some it signals the start of the holiday season.  October 31st has always been one of my favorite days of the year; pretending to be someone/something else and eating all the sugar your stomach can handle.  For others, it's a literal nightmare, planning and executing the perfect event.

Halloween is one of those days that people think will just plan on it's own.  Invite some people over, put on a funny/scary costume, and sit around eating and drinking all night long. While there is nothing wrong with that, wouldn't it be more fun to create a Halloween to never be forgotten?

During Halloween, most people will show up in costume, but why not hire a face painter or make up artist to create the perfect look.  Instantly become a vampire, werewolf or pirate and scare your friends.

For those who don't celebrate Halloween, harvest festivals are an awesome way to pass the holiday.  Gather up the neighborhood, hire a bounce house, some carnival games, and pony rides to give the kids a special treat.  Parents will enjoy the security of their own neighborhood and relax about sugar overload.

Cirque Without Leaving Your Hometown

Ever want to see a cirque show, but don't want to travel all the way to Las Vegas?  Now you can bring the wild world of Cirque into your own home!  Cirque-style shows have been popping up over the past few years, which means you can bring the show into your own back yard or local venue.

Cirque shows never cease to amaze audiences.  The flowing choreography and the aerial acrobatics are a wonder to the eyes.  These shows are appropriate for any age or event size.  They are also not as expensive as you might think.  Groups are always competing for business which guarantees lower prices.  Working with an event planner can also help absolve the fees; planners usually get big discounts not available to the general public.

Get Ready for Inflatable Fun!

Inflatable bounce houses are a staple at every child's birthday party, even some holiday gatherings.  But did you know there is more to inflatables than bounce houses?  Inflatable entertainment has vastly grown over the years and now boasts movie screens, water slides, Velcro walls, even bungee!

One of the most popular new inflatable is the water slide.  Children (and adults too!) will love attaching the hose to the slide and climbing up through an inflatable maze.  Once they reach the top, they slide down the water luge to the bottom.  It's an inexpensive way of keeping the kids cool in the summer time if you don't have a pool nearby.

Another booming idea is the use of the inflatable movie screen.  Projectors send the movie out to 20 foot or bigger screens, allowing the whole neighborhood to watch a movie.  Even better, rent one for your next family reunion and play old home videos!

Ever wonder what it feels like to be a fly on a wall?  Why not rent a Velcro wall and find out?  Users put on a suit made of Velcro, hop on a trampoline, and smack into an inflatable wall with the opposite Velcro.  Guests will stick to the wall in all different positions and remain until they are removed.  They can feel what it's like to be aerial!

Christmas in July?

Yes, Christmas in July.  In the world of event planning, it is never too early to start thinking and planning your next event.  So while Christmas is still 171 some odd days away, you should already be thinking about holiday parties.

Christmas brings to mind many different things for different people.  Some people think snow, family togetherness and singing carols by a fire.  To others, it means shoveling sidewalks, stale fruit cake from your crazy aunt, and Christmas caroling in subzero temperatures.  One sure fire way to beat those "holiday blues" is by throwing an amazing Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa event.  People think that putting a bowl of egg nog on a table and inviting the neighbors is a party, but they are sadly mistaken.

There are literally infinite amounts of things you can do at or for a holiday party (go ahead and count.  I dare you).  Run out?  We'll tell you some of our favorites:

1. Hire a comedian.
2. Have a human Christmas Tree hand out gifts.
3. Hire Dickens style carolers to perform.
4. Have a mariachi band perform Feliz Navidad to your heart's content.
5. Have it catered with holiday foods from around the world.

Masquerades and Murder Mysteries

Who says all the fun has to stop at parties when you are an adult?  What's wrong with dressing up like your favorite comic book hero at 45?  Or pretending to be Sherlock Holmes while solving a murder?

We think it's never too late to live out a dream or a fantasy.  One way to do just that is to host a costume party.  It doesn't have to be Halloween to don a fairy costume and a handful of pixie dust.  Costume shops are open year round in all areas, housing a vast selection of masks and costumes.  Why not add a little more fun by holding a costume contest?  A special prize will motivate party guests to wear their best ideas and creations.

If dressing up is not your style, but you still want to play detective, murder mysteries are just the ticket.  Companies will stage a simple or elaborate (depending on the budget) murder and the guests find clues and try to solve it by the end of the night.  Prizes are also up for grabs at this event, and guests will get lost in the world of mystery and innuendo. 

Destination Weddings

In tough economic times, brides are looking for more ways to save a few dollars on their wedding expenses.  A new trend among conservative budget brides is destination weddings.  Destination weddings combine the costs of a wedding with the costs for a honeymoon, usually a fair amount cheaper than the average wedding.  Also, what's more romantic than getting married on an exotic beach at sunset?

If wedding guests are an issue, why not only invite a select few?  Most people will pay for their own airfare and accommodations, and it will help weed out the guests who are only going for the free alcohol.  With the money you save, you can afford to pay for a few select individuals who's presence is required (i.e. parents). 

Learn to Dance the Easy Way

Let's face it.  We were not all blessed with the ability to hustle like Tony Manero or be a prima ballerina.  Some of us have to work at it and that's where dance instructors come into play.  There are literally hundreds of different types of dances, but for now, we'll focus on the more common ones.

Hiring a dance instructor is a very smart idea.  Whether you are learning to foxtrot for an upcoming wedding, or trying to find a new idea for that weekly neighborhood party, nothing satisfies like an instructor.  They are skilled in various types of dance, including the ever popular ballroom and swing.  You can join a class or hire someone for private lessons; they will come to you!

Add Some Flair With International Entertainment

If you couldn't tell by reading this blog, we are not fans of the ho-hum, same old same old party routine.  We like to shake things up and create a buzz and a stir among party goers with our creative ideas.  A new trend that we have seen emerging is the use of international talents to liven up an event.  Don't know what we are referring to? Here are a few explanations:

1. Polynesian Entertainers:  Commonly known as "hula dancers" Polynesian entertainers can brighten and loosen up an event with its cool vibes and spectacular entertainment.  They incorporate hula, drums and fire to create a performance that will delight even the most hard to please guest.  Some companies also offer Hawaiian catering included with their performances, complete will a whole roasted pig!
2. Belly Dancers:  Belly dancers have been around forever, but are sometimes considered "taboo" in some circles.  This is hardly the case.  Belly dancers are a good idea to have with large parties, generally in bigger ballroom type settings.  Place a few around the room to get the guests up and moving to the beat; it's an instant party when they arrive!
3. Mariachi Groups:  Arriba!  Mariachi groups have been entertaining guests for centuries, but has only recently made a splash on the private party scene.  They can often be found in any decent Mexican restaurant, but they can bring that flair to your next event.  No time to go to Mexico this summer?  Throw a fiesta, complete with margaritas, taco makers and, of course, Mariachi!