Party Like It’s 2011

Party Like It’s 2011 with Damask Designs and More! For the past several years, every morning before I walk out of my bedroom and face the world, I confront the following advice: “In matters of grave importance, style is the vital thing.”

This is because the Oscar Wilde quotation lingers — quite out of context — in my room, printed on a 21st birthday card that I once lovingly taped to a cheap, plastic-edged, full-length mirror.

I was reminded again of the verse recently while chatting with St. Louis Park-based event planner Hana-April Chughtai, president and CEO of Mani Mela, LLC. And if ever there is an important matter which requires some style, it is when you are called upon to be a host or hostess.

So, the event planning insider let St. Louis Park Patch in on a few stylish party trends that will create buzz in 2011:

Candy buffets

Candy buffets, which have been a hit on wedding and corporate event scenes for a couple of years, are showing no signs of slowing in popularity. Chughtai suggests coordinating the showy sweets to match the decor, color and style of your event. “Whether it is a dessert buffet with cupcakes and other delectable sweets for your guests to enjoy after dinner, or a candy buffet set up for your guests as take home favors, a candy buffet is the latest trend that will leave your guests smiling,” she said.

Damask

When it comes to actually styling your event, prints — specifically woven damask — are in.

“With black and white being the most popular trend of 2010, for 2011 damask prints have expanded in a wide array of colors to add sophistication and elegance — check out hot pink damask, subtle turquoise damask and rich chocolate brown damask as a new decor trend,” Chughtai said.

La Vie Est Personalised Lollipop - Custom Candy Products from The Candy Buffet Company
La Vie Est Personalised Lollipop – Custom Candy Products from The Candy Buffet Company

Green events

From opting for table linens made from organic bamboo to donating your floral centerpieces to local hospitals and nursing homes, Chughtai explained that it’s both easy and becoming to add green practices to your next event — be it a corporate party for 500 guests, a wedding for 150 or a backyard barbecue for 20. Sidenote: For my upcoming wedding, I took the ec0-friendly route by purchasing Smock’s bamboo invites through a local retailer.

Let them skip cake

“No more standard wedding cake!” Chughtai exclaimed. “Full and scrumptious dessert buffets, which include chocolate fountains, an array of individual desserts for guests to choose from, exotic cupcake flavors, (making) your own sundaes and milkshakes — the new trend for desserts is for guests to have fun and be able to interact with their dessert.” Dessert buffets typically accompany dancing, she added, and can remain open for sampling for about two hours.

Think of the non-traditional

“Wedding and event trends in 2011 are focused on energetic new ideas and concepts that take their guests on an entirely new experience,” Chughtai said. This can include such planning as scouting out innovative venues, serving out-of-the-ordinary cuisine, or forgoing the traditional cocktail hour with fun, physical activities.

Happy (and stylish) hosting!

About Hana-April Chughtai: President and CEO of Mani Mela, LLC, Chughtai has been in the event planning business in St. Louis Park for several years. She opened Unveiled in 2008 as bridal styling company, which would expand to take on the planning and designing of weddings, corporate events and other social occasions from its Wayzata Boulevard studio. Recently, Unveiled revamped itself as Mani Mela, LLC, which offers additional event services such as linen rental and on-site hair and makeup.

Source: Stlouispark.patch.com

Why choose The Candy Buffet Company to handle your event? Read our top 10 reasons to choose us.

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