On Monday, July 17th, PartySlate hosted hundreds of Washington, D.C.’s top event professionals at premier venue La Vie for a “Light Up the Night”-themed soirée. The skilled planning team at Jayne Heir Weddings & Events conceived and produced the gathering with the décor professionals at Distinctive Event Design.
Jamésa Alexander of Jayne Heir shares, “I created the theme as a way to uplift our industry. We encouraged each person to come to the event wearing bright colors to create an electrifying and joyous atmosphere for the event. Each and every single person carries a special light that only they can use to illuminate the Earth — why not combine all of the bright lights in our industry and community?”
Alexander adds of the setting, “One of the chicest and most stunning venues at the Wharf in Washington, D.C. is known as La Vie. The venue served as the perfect backdrop with sprawling waterfront views and floor-to-ceiling windows. The venue is full of stunning chandeliers and rich colorful vibes.”
A Glimpse of the Evening to Come
Guests were invited to PartySlate’s celebration via a luxe digital invitation, custom-designed for the gathering by Cygnus Studio. The invitation drew inspiration from the neon hues and silver details in the party’s palette.
Design: Neon Disco
PartySlate’s latest D.C. event featured an inspiring, vivid theme that started at the lively entrance and continued through every element — from the vibrant lounge areas to the neon lighting, and even to the fresh fare. Alexander of Jayne Heir says, “I decided to lean into the colorful palette of the venue, La Vie, and design with the use of color in mind.
“To add an electrifying element, I decided to incorporate the use of neon lights and disco balls. The neon lights were a reflection of that electrifying spark of color that filled the room. Furthermore, who doesn’t love to dance under a glittery disco ball? I incorporated the disco balls into the floral designs and custom signage. The theme was fresh, fun, and memorable for all!”
Of lining up event partners to produce the epic evening, Alexander says, “When working with the vendor team, I was afforded to have the support of some of my favorite floral and production vendors that I regularly work with like Distinctive Event Design, The LightSource Company, and Sweet Gifts Balloons & Events.”
Sweet Gifts carried the vivid palette throughout with silver, neon green, and hot pink balloon installations and photo backdrops, each of which provided perfect Instagrammable moments for guests. Meanwhile, The LightSource Company did much more than their name would imply. The team not only provided the much-needed neon and other lighting elements, but also produced all of the events’ themed vinyl wraps.
Alexander continues, “I allowed each vendor to operate in their talents to create their expression of what I had envisioned for the event. The overall execution of the design would not have been complete without the amazing plethora of rentals from Something Vintage Rentals. Their rental elevated the entire look and feel of the space, and it was a match made in ‘neon’ heaven!”
Distinctive Event Design added brightly-hued florals to the celebration in undulating installations that mingled with neon lighting and disco balls for a joyful, totally unique aesthetic. The neon green and pink palette was balanced by black and white elements from the DJ surround to the creative menus and print materials.
“One of the smaller details that shined throughout the evening was the custom signage and drink stirrers. It’s always the smaller details that can create a lasting impression on the guests. Hence, Wilori Lane designed oversized, 3D neon light signage that actually ‘lit up.’ It was the coolest sign I had ever seen, and it was a major statement piece for each of the bars. Their acrylic disco ball stirrers also added a special touch to the signature cocktails!” says Alexander.
Entertainment: Interactive & Floor-Filling
The colorful cocktail party kept guests engaged all night with multiple forms of entertainment. Alexander says, “When it came down to the interactive entertainment, I was blown away by the performances from Artstella Productions; the dancing disco ball was especially a hit! The DJ and the saxophonist provided by Lucy Black Entertainment was also the perfect touch to the party vibes throughout the evening. It took the blend of ideal vendors to execute such a stunning event filled with fellowship and fun!”
Of course, sound and staging are important elements to entertaining moments. La Vie saw to production and a/v while Extraordinary Entertainment created the perfect staging environment for the entertainers.Guests also enjoyed the curated photo booth from Booth-o-Rama, which allowed guests to capture themselves with friends new and old framed in a border of neon pink in photo and .gif form.
Fresh Fare: Colorful & Fresh
La Vie’s catering team curated a menu of bright bites that delighted partygoers. Guests enjoyed a variety of choices from a caprese panini station with fresh herbs to a carving station offering lamb, sausage, and more. They nibbled on fresh summer fare like sushi and elevated bbq-inspired items like short ribs with thinly-sliced potato stacks.
The venue also provided fully-stocked bars with creative cocktail offerings. Their colorful Purple Blossom 75 delighted with blue butterfly-infused gin, fresh lemon and pineapple juice, berry syrup, and prosecco. They also created Watermelon Wishes, a tequila-based cocktail with a kick from habanero-infused pineapple puree and fresh watermelon flavors. Frosé and Piña Coladas were served on the terrace, the perfect setting for the sweet summertime sips.
MY DRAP completed the glam vibe with luxurious, custom natural cotton napkins featuring the PartySlate logo.
All of the Memories Made (& Captured)
It was definitely an evening worth remembering, and we are grateful that the photography team of Anna & Mateo was on hand to beautifully capture the vibrant soirée. The team shot gorgeous candid pictures of guests having fun as well as photos of every colorful design detail and delectable dish.
Meanwhile, Vona B. Productions captured moving images that told the story of the celebration with an engaging video that takes us right back to the night. Both will remind the hundreds of guests of their good time (and will make those who weren’t there, wish they were).
And More Thanks
Producing a beautiful celebration — like PartySlate’s “Light Up the Night” celebration — requires a talented team of partners. In addition to the vendors listed above, we also want to thank MAB Hair and Makeup Artistry for our party-ready hair and picture-perfect makeup. They made sure that our PartySlate team looked (and felt) our absolute best.
event planner & creative director: Jayne Heir Weddings & Events
venue, catering & beverage, production/AV: La Vie
entertainment: Lucy Black Entertainment
floral & décor: Distinctive Event Design
rentals & lounge: Something Vintage Rentals
photography: Anna & Mateo
videography: Vona B. Production
photo booth: Booth-o-Rama
interactive entertainment: Artstella Productions
lighting & custom vinyl wraps: The LightSource Company
staging: Extraordinary Entertainment
invitation graphics: Cygnus Studio
team hair & makeup: MAB Hair and Makeup Artistry
custom napkins: MY DRAP
backdrop balloon installations: Sweet Gifts Balloons & Events
signage, graphics & stir sticks: Wilori Lane