Corporate to Downtown Glam | Special Event by Distinct Event Planning

The usual expectation of what a corporate event design entails is traditional and stuffy at most. Leave it to our Coterie member Distinct Event Planning to take it to the next level with pizazz and class. They incorporated just the right amount of “downtown spark” to make this event an absolute hit with attendees. Event Planner, Lucretia Williams shares all the details with us here:

As soon as I knew my client, Columbia Gas of Ohio NiPAC, a corporate political action committee, was moving to a new office complex in the heart of downtown Columbus, Ohio I knew my team and I had to pull out all the stops to create an event design for their leadership dinner that would tie together the excitement of starting a new chapter in a new Downtown site and saying so long to their longtime home office.

As I began to think about the idea of “old meets new,” I started seeing the details of a glittering “Old Hollywood” theme and the concept of “Putting the Glamour in Politics” was born! It the perfect theme for a downtown soiree complete with the penthouse-like views of our venue, the Ivory Room – an event space located on the sixth floor of a high-rise overlooking downtown Columbus. The space features floor-to-ceiling windows that make the space glow with natural light and give a show-stopping view of Downtown, including a view of my client’s old office building. How perfect! It was just right space for my clients 170 guests to say farewell to the old space and introduce the new, exciting face of their organization and mission!

My team and I always pick our color scheme first so it becomes a springboard for the rest of the décor. I chose classic old Hollywood movie colors red, white and black –. We added gold to the color palette to give the event that extra sparkle and represent that “new” flair. We pulled in sequined table linens in red, black, white, and gold and gold pillows for textured and added glam. Plus, we had S. Tyler Designs create stunning hanging center pieces featuring rich vibrant red feathers and dangling crystals as well as eye-catching floral tabletop designs.

Because the room was filled with so much color and texture, I wanted to keep the tables clean and clutter-free to show off the open feel of the room and to keep the city skyline center stage. I brought in clear Mirage chairs which allow you to see the tables without overwhelming the room. To the chairs we added custom decals created by Ten23 Designs featuring my client’s logo. For the tabletops, I chose glass chargers and elegant custom menu cards, plus classic black and white stripped napkins with sparkly red napkins rings. Each table was named after movies old and new that have won the Academy Award for “Best Picture” – everything from Casablanca to Slumdog Millionaire.

To take the Old Hollywood theme to next level we hired an extremely talented Frank Sinatra impersonator, Matt Snow and the Cincinnati Casino Players. Adding live entertainment always adds that extra wow factor.

Before our guests even entered the room, they walked the red carpet and experience the “pop and flash” of paparazzi style photographers snapping their pictures!
Every sparkly detail of the event was a total hit! Our clients felt like celebrities for a glittering evening of Old Hollywood glam!

View video of the event here:

Vendor Credits