With the COVID-19 pandemic slowly calming down, large events are coming back and better than ever. From school dances, corporate retreats, and even luncheons, we are all excited to safely interact with friends and family in an indoor environment. Here are our decorating tips for 5 different events you can host in the Parlor at the Pontchartrain.
1.Corporate Event
The open windows and light blue interior of the Parlor brings a warm welcome to employees looking to network and connect. We recommend incorporating white tablecloths and a simple company banner; utilizing minimalistic decor draws more focus to the event itself and encourages interaction between guests. Additionally, creating a color scheme creates unity and cohesion for all additions, white and black or silver and navy are fantastic options. For additional decorations, we suggest name tags for each guest, table runners, and a small workspace.
2.Wedding Reception
Once you establish a color scheme, we are huge fans of an accent wall for an extra splash of color and a social media worthy moment! For example, if your colors are blue, gold, and white, consider adding a living wall with white rose accents and a mirror in the center. During the evening dance party, utilizing LED colored strips or party lights will help transform the celebration’s ambiance. For a more traditional approach, we really love custom nameplates for all attendants, corresponding with the color scheme. You can explore options from hand written notes, wood take-home’s, or even writing names in a dip for guests to eat at the table!
3.School Dance
Events like homecoming, prom, and Sadie Hawkins are the hallmark of any high school experience! Deck out the walkway with balloons and funky lights to start off the party, you’re sure to leave guests excited for more. For a non-traditional spin, try incorporating interactive elements like video projectors, games like Twister or Dance Dance Revolution, and a board game section for students to use while taking a break from the dancing. We recommend bringing in a DJ with their own sound system to blast the popular songs so kids can “Renegade” and hit the woah to their heart's content.
4.Birthday Party
From a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, Sweet 16’s, or a dirty 30 celebration we LOVE to celebrate birthdays at the Pontchartrain. Check out our catering options where our team at Jack Rose or Hot Tin can curate a food and beverage menu specifically for your event. Whether you want to do a set course dinner or hors d’oeuvres, we have you covered. Rather than banners and streamers to decorate the space, we recommend printing out photos of the VIP and showcasing them around the venue. Consider grabbing a big piece of posterboard to make a massive “Happy Birthday” card for the special person to commemorate the event.
5.Viewing Party
Whether it's a brand new movie or an end of year film reel, who doesn’t love a good viewing party. The Parlor at the Pontchartrain offers dining chairs for all guests, adding a classy ambiance to the event. For something more cozy, we love the idea of grabbing bean bag chairs and couches for guests to lounge on throughout the event. Incorporate some small bites like popcorn and sliders paired with carefully curated drinks by the Hot Tin staff (we recommend the Disco Ball punch for a large crowd!). Display the film via. Projector and utilize the Parlor space for the duration of your event with Q/A’s, casual gathering, and enjoying your time with everyone.