On Wednesday, April 27, PartySlate hosted an epic anniversary party full of wow-worthy entertainment, unique fare, and a no small amount of Old Hollywood glam. The top professionals in the events industry traveled from all over to gather in Los Angeles and toast atop the W Hollywood hotel. The buzzed-about evening was concepted and curated by a duo of skilled event designers and planners Charley Izabella King of Bluebell Events and Thomas Bui of Thomas Bui Lifestyle, and brought to life with beautiful (and over-the-top) details by Eddie Zaratsian of Eddie Zaratsian Lifestyle & Design.
King’s vision for the gathering was driven by her background with musicals on Broadway and in London. She says, “I really wanted the evening to be heavy on entertainment — to have unannounced surprise performances every 15 minutes.” Guests were wowed by the nonstop showmanship. King shares that the evening also paid tribute to “late and great talents like Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire who lived the Hollywood dream.”
The Hollywood dream-themed celebration took a nod from its setting and was inspired by the ending of the movie Pretty Woman. Nowhere is a “What’s Your Dream?” fête more perfectly-placed than in Los Angeles, where hopefuls come from the world over to chase their dreams. Julie Roth Novack, Co-Founder and CEO of PartySlate, shares, “The theme holds personal meaning for me as well. For years, I dreamed out loud about my vision for PartySlate. Seven years ago, I took the leap into the unknown. I’m proud to share that today we help people around the world celebrate the moments that matter and create life-long memories.”
A Glimpse of the Evening to Come
Guests were invited to PartySlate’s anniversary celebration via a luxe digital invitation, custom created for the gathering by Wiley Valentine. Wiley invoked the glamour of the gathering with flowing gold lettering paired with a chic black and scarlet palette inspired by the upcoming celebration. The team also created the party’s printed materials directing guests and honoring event partners.
Design & Décor: Red Carpet & Gilded Glamour
Top Los Angeles planners, Charley Izabella King of Bluebell Events and Thomas Bui of Thomas Bui Lifestyle worked hand-in-hand with the uber-talented Eddie Zaratsian of Eddie Zaratsian Lifestyle & Design. Zaratsian re-imagined the gorgeous W Hollywood’s The Loft and WET Deck spaces as a vintage Hollywood dreamscape set against the glittering hills of Los Angeles.
Partygoers arrived and walked a lush red carpet from Absolutely Fabulous Events flanked by two kitschy paparazzi who asked for poses and complimented guests’ dapper duds (the gathering was “black tie optional,” after all). The paparazzi duo from Fortune Entertainment made guests laugh as they strolled past cool custom “Hollywood Walk of Fame” stars displaying the names of the epic event’s vendor partners from Gift of Fame Enterprises.
Before heading to the rooftop, guests struck one more pose against a black-and-white PartySlate-branded backdrop with look-alike talents Susan Griffiths as Marilyn Monroe and Ben Cornish as Leonardo DiCaprio. A trio of stunning gold mannequins from Oh Mannequin! & All Things Visual flanked the entrance outfitted in the most glamorous gowns from fashion designer Rminé. Rminé designs custom beautiful and bold wedding and evening gowns from her Los Angeles design boutique.
More design delights awaited guests as they entered into the party. Thousands of rich ruby red roses from FiftyFlowers cascaded down and around the hallway leading partygoers into the loft space, with its open space and stunning views. Quest Events draped the space in burgundy velvet with gold tassel accents, a nod to Hollywood’s movie palace past.
Further outfitting the space were modern-glam black and gold high tables from Town & Country Event Rentals and ruby-red lacquer tables from MTB Event Rentals, offering places for guests to connect and dine on the fabulous fare.
Memorable Menu: Creative Fare, Served in Unique Ways
Luxe Linen provided the rich red velvet table coverings for all of the soireé’s tables, including the “glamorous grazing station.” The trend has gone on long enough that we can no longer say that “charcuterie is having a moment” — it’s now a bona fide must-have for stylish gatherings. And no one does it better than This Messy Table LA who created levels and levels of curated bites, accented by a floral arch.
Good Gracious! Events graced PartySlate’s anniversary with their signature style of creative fare. The team amazed guests with a “noodle wall,” consisting of gold containers filled with lemongrass shrimp, spicy tofu, or chicken noodles — all hung at angles for a delightful vision that was easy to self-serve. Additionally, the team tied their fare to the dreamy theme by preparing “clouds of cupcakes” against a blue sky backdrop. The cupcakes surprised with their savory flavors: beef bourguignon and cheesy yellow lentil ratatouille (both topped with creamy clouds of duchess potatoes).
Another show-stopping element was the seemingly miles-long dessert table. Joanie & Leigh Cakes baked up a dessert spread that featured chic branded moments (PartySlate cookies that tasted as good as they looked) and surprises (a bubble-filled bathtub that was actually cake).
Partygoers also enjoyed a whiskey lounge area outfitted with a towering custom PartySlate-branded ice luge (yes, you read that right) and branded ice cubes from Ice Bulb. The cool sculpture chilled drinks in a stylish way. AQUAhydrate wetted whistles with electrolyte-enhanced water.
Additionally, W Hotel bars served up wine, beer, and party-perfect “Hollywood Old Fashioned” drinks and smoky mezcal cocktails — that actually smoked. W Hotel also offered passed bites featuring Hollywood accents like mini pita crackers cut into star shapes with flavorful toppings and an always-busy seared tuna station (blowtorch included).
Entertainment: Interactive Moments, Unique Acts & One Amazing Crooner
PartySlate’s company anniversary party featured talked-about entertainment at every turn.
Musical Performances
DJ MisterE took guests on a musical and visual journey with deep-cuts from his video vault, all inspired by Hollywood history. Guests enjoyed the tunes on an iconic LED dance floor from Distinctive Event Solutions.
Cirque Berzerk Productions’ Drag Queen MC gathered all partygoers around with some fun banter before handing the mic over to the party’s host, planners, and décor lead. Their welcome words ended with dramatic flair as cold fireworks from The Lighter Side created a spectacle. In between the fireworks, on the deck’s second floor overlooking the celebration, were graphic marquee letters spelling out “PartySlate” from Alpha-Lit.
Then Mr. Chris Norton took the stage for an epic set that evoked the glamour of days-gone-by with songs from Frank Sinatra, Louis Prima, Prince, and more. His 14-piece band accompanied his signature showmanship, walking through the crowd to serenade lucky guests.
Interactive Moments
Magic Castle magician HUBB Magic kept guests mesmerized while they rode the elevator to the rooftop. A-Max Entertainment greeted guests at the rooftop with a Fred Astaire-inspired tap dancer that set the tone for the entertainment to come. The team also made good use of the W Hotel rooftop pool with Marilyn Monroe-inspired mermaids floating on clamshells serving Champagne to passers-by.
Meanwhile, Official Kiss Print Reader provided lipstick readings (predictions made from examining a lipstick print). And, in addition to making the entire PartySlate team party-ready with perfect hair and makeup, Domenica Beauty offered a “Glam Station” with makeup touches, fluttery lashes, and even a new hairstyle for party guests. Gift of Fame Enterprises curated a selfie station that allowed each guest to become a star, complete with a Hollywood backdrop.
Zaratsian worked with Pixster Photo Booth to create a hidden 360-photo opportunity complete with four sides of drapery from Quest Events, florals, and PartySlate signage. Guests perched on a platform while a camera zoomed around them, capturing a unique clip, perfect for remembering the moment and/or posting on social media.
Unique Acts
Guests were also treated to a breathtaking fire dance show and choreographed dance act from Cirque Berzerk Productions. A-Max Entertainment took us back in time with a Fred and Ginger-inspired routine.
Encore Global helped pull off every act with ease by providing AV and production services, allowing guests to be immersed in full sound and visuals played on several screens and projected on multiple walls. Town & Country Event Rentals provided the staging from which each act wowed.
All the Memories Made (& Captured)
This was an evening worth remembering and the inimitable team at John & Joseph obliged with gorgeous candid images of guests sharing a moment, as well as pictures of breathtaking décor. Meanwhile, Custom Made Productions captured the soirée in beautiful, moving detail — including drone footage which will show the rooftop soirée in all its glory — for the totally-stunning video that will remind us of our good time.
event planners: Bluebell Events; Thomas Bui Lifestyle
décor: Eddie Zaratsian Lifestyle and Design
venue: W Hollywood
caterer: Good Gracious! Events
linens: Luxe Linen
custom couture: RMINE
cold sparklers: The Lighter Side
videographer: custom made productions
dessert: Joanie & Leigh’s Cakes
interactive entertainment: Cirque Berzerk Productions
draping: Quest Events
florals: FiftyFlowers
invitation & signage design: Wiley Valentine
interactive entertainment: A-Max Entertainment
beauty & glam station: Domenica Beauty
grazing table: This Messy Table LA
photography: John & Joseph Photography
rentals: Town & Country Event Rentals
av & technology: Encore Global
marquee letters: Alpha Lit Los Angeles
interactive entertainment: Official Kiss Print Reader
interactive entertainment: Tease Productions
entertainment: Mr Chris Norton
magician: HUBB magic
360 photo booth: Pixster Photo Booth
Marilyn Monroe look-alike: Susan Griffiths
LED dance floor: Distinctive Event Solutions
lacquer tables: MTB Event Rentals
mannequins: Oh Mannequin! & All Things Visual
gifts & novelties: Gift of Fame Enterprises
interactive entertainment: Fortune Entertainment
event production: Absolutely Fabulous Events & Productions, Inc.
dj: DJ MisterE
Leonardo DiCaprio look-alike: Ben Cornish
ice sculpture & branded ice cubes: Ice Bulb