ABCey Presents: How To Incorporate Nature Into Your Next Event

Humans love feeling connected to nature, and it can be very therapeutic too!  Well, there’s a new emerging trend in the event industry that relies heavily on the bioliphic design concept. It also seeks to incorporate naturally designed spaces into your events. Read more to learn about the many benefits of nature-inspired events, both for the event planner and the attendees.

Leaf decor over dining table - nature inspired events

There are 4 Main Benefits of Nature-Based Design that have been scientifically proven. These include, improved well-being, improved productivity, enhanced creativity, and an increased likelihood of positive emotions. These all come from feeling connected to the outdoors, and all of them are helpful for event managers seeking to make their guests happy!

How to Do It

There are two key strategies to incorporating nature into your events:

Look for venues that naturally showcase the outdoors!

This could include outdoor terraces and balconies, views of the water, such as the ocean, lakes or pond, and abundant natural light through skylights and large windows. Green walls and water features, gardens and outdoor greenspace, or décor that uses natural materials, like wood and stone are also good options!

Nature decor - nature inspired events

Bring the outdoors to an indoor venue! There are several ways to do this, such as:

  • Seeing nature: You can accomplish this through digital signage and walls, backdrops, artwork, and murals that include elements of nature. Live herbal centerpieces, hedge rows, or an indoor garden, forest, or water feature can also give your guests a sense of being outside!

Strings of leaves hanging from the ceiling - nature inspired events

  • Hearing nature: Events can get pretty loud and busy, so what’s more desirable than a nice spot to get some peace and quiet? Start by selecting a location within the venue that’s as quiet as possible. Offer speakers or headsets with natural sounds of running water, ocean waves, bird song, etc. that your attendees can listen to when they want to relax!

Waterfall - nature inspired events

  • Feeling nature: Textures like wood, sand, water, stone, and grass stimulate biophilic responses, so try to find a way to incorporate these into your event space! These materials could be used in onsite hubs, lounges, and exhibit booths, for example.

Wooden place settings - nature inspired events

  • Smelling nature: Even just the smell of the outdoors can connect people to the outside world. Try infusing your event space with natural scents using essential oils. By picking the right scent, you’re sure to generate positive feelings among your guests!

flowers coming out of bottles decor - nature inspired events

What’s one of your favorite nature inspired events?

How else have you seen nature incorporated in the events you’ve attended or planned? We’d love to hear from you! Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!

Source: Event Manager Blog


ABCey Presents: 10 High Tech Photobooth Trends of 2018

Besides your swag bags, photos taken at your event are the best memorabilia any guest could have. Photobooths are a great way to get your attendees involved and can be the perfect social media marketing strategy too! From artful product design to social enablement, these photobooth experiences are designed to seamlessly complement your brand and maximize visibility and engagement. ABCey has compiled a list of 10 high tech photobooth trends of 2018 that you can try at your next event!

 

1. 360 Degree Photobooth

360 Degree Photo Booth
Picture from Pixperience

With a rig set up around, your guests can take a picture where you can view it from all angles! This creates an amazing photo-op for groups or singles, and creates an interactive component with the photo. Pixperience has some great 360 photobooths for your events!

 

2. Projector Booths

Projector Booth
Photo from Mega Booth

Instead of having to single still backdrops, spruce it up a little with a projector booth! You can switch up the backdrops for every photo and can also personalize it for every person! Ask if your guests want to upload one of their videos for a background or if they want to choose one from the set! Either way, guests are able to interact with whatever background they choose to create the perfect photo!

 

3. GIF Booths

Animated GIFs (pronounced “JIF,” like the peanut butter brand) have completely permeated, and in some cases, taken over social media! Let your guests create record a short and fun, animated photo to let them remember what a great time they had at your event. We even had our very own from Bosco at the Sephora VIB Rouge SF Flagship Launch, and our guests had a blast using it!

 

4. Light Painting Photobooth

Photo by SnapFiesta

Painting with lights. It’s an unforgettable photo op! You can use these lasers to write words or draw shapes in midair and the photo captures it all! It creates an amazing effect and allows you to get a little creative too! What will your light say?

 

5. Hashtag Photobooth

#Hashtags #Are #Everywhere! Who can resist them too? They are a fun way to help others find pictures similar to the one you posted. With this booth, you take a photo with the event hashtag and the hashtag printer will print a copy of the photo with the hashtag to put up on the mosaic wall! It’s a great way to personalize every photo with unique hashtags from your attendees!

 

6. Flipbook

A picture is worth a thousand words. This flipbook is a way to tell a whole story through a stack of photos. By printing frame by frame, these photos look as if the guests are moving, allowing you tell a story or show some dance moves, too! Giggle and Riot have super cool flipbook photobooths for your stop motion stories!

 

7. iPad Booths

iPad Photo Booth

These little iPad booths are nothing new, but have really started to gain popularity lately! People are realizing how fun and convenient these photobooths are! You are able to take the photo and send it to yourself, without any hassle or wait. It also doesn’t need to be manned all night long, so you can focus on the other aspects of your event!

8. Mirror Booth

Mirror Photo Booth
Photo from Unique Events

Don’t you wish that you can see yourself while you take your photos so you know you look good? Here’s the answer to all your prayers, the mirror photobooth! With this, you can see your own poses in the mirror while it takes your photo! Say goodbye to awkward poses and stray hairs you missed when you checked yourself out!

9. Video Photobooth

Video from Bosco

These photobooths are amazing because you can make a short little clip, featuring you! It’s the perfect way to show off some of your dance moves or let a little of your silly side out. And, you can send them directly to yourself!

 

10. Ball Pit Photobooth

Ball Pit Photobooth
Photo from SnapFiesta

Who doesn’t love a good ball pit? Let your guests relive their childhood memories by diving into a pit of balls to take the perfect photo! It’s the optimal time to let your inner child out and capture these moments of joy!

 

What’s your favorite high tech photobooth? Are there any we missed? We’d love to hear from you! Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!

 


ABCey Presents: Planning & Promoting Your Event with Pinterest

Here at ABCey, we are constantly using Pinterest as a tool for inspiration! As social media has become key for promoting events online, Pinterest is an effective tool in brainstorming and behind-the-scenes planning for events. Being able to make multiple boards and research through relevant content inspires creativity and organization when planning any kind of event!  

Find “Pinspiration” 

Pinterest decor events

 

Decorating for events can be the most fun, but challenging part of your event. Decorations and little details tie the event together from start to finish. Whether you’re looking for table setting ideas or invitation inspiration, Pinterest is the perfect tool to start gathering pins.  Start pinning! 

Organize Your Boards in Categories For Your Event

 

It’s time to start pulling together every new idea you find in the Pinterest universe onto your own board. This can be done on your own personal page or on the official board for your organization, corporation, nonprofit, etc. Additionally, your boards can be organized by food, decorations, invitations, themes, florals etc.

Interaction with Vendors & Clients

First, as boards are created, the link can be shared with others, whether or not they have an account.We often create event decor boards for our clients, and then share them directly for feedback to make sure we are on the right track. Pinterest also makes it possible to identify other Pinners with similar needs and tastes. Therefore, by liking, pinning and commenting on other posts, you can connect to Pinners with similar interests and build ideas. In addition, if you both follow each other, you can use the private messaging feature to start a more in-depth collaboration.

Read the Crafting/DIY/How-To Articles

Ultimately, Pinterest is known for having some of the best creative content out there. Clicked on pins reconnect you to an article or webpage to show you where the Pin came from. Take advantage of these articles as they provide some great insight on how to make your own projects or decor!

Promote Your Event on Pinterest

Pinterest gears towards connecting everyone to content and ideas that align with their interests and passions. You can even use your own board to actually promote your event which also gives you a chance to start marketing your original content, creating brand awareness and media attention. It is a very visual platform, so choosing compelling photographs & visuals with bright colors will bring your event board more success!

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Love Pinterest and want some event inspiration? Check our Pinterest page for creative event ideas! Let us know how you use Pinterest in the comments below or on Facebook and  Twitter

Sources: EventFarm, Capterra, Hello Endless

 


5 Must-Haves for Your Next Summer Party

You don’t need a holiday to have an excuse to throw a party, it’s summer and that’s enough to celebrate! The sun is out and the weather is warm! Gather up your friends and family and throw a summer bash that everyone will not be able to stop talking about.

 

1. A Theme

Pick a theme to center your party around. It will make food choice, refreshments and decorations much easier when you have a focus. Themes like patriotic, day at the beach and bohemian backyard are sure to be a hit. Two of our faves are fiesta and glamping! Fiesta is all about bright popping colors and there are lots of things you can incorporate like pinatas and sombreros when it comes to decor. With glamping (glam camping), you can pitch a makeshift tent as an additional seating area, start a campfire and roast smores when the sun goes down and lay down a blanket and star gaze to close out the night.

5 Must-Haves for Your Next Summer Party

2. Cool Drink Station

Loose the boring old cooler filled with soft drinks and beer, and create a drinks station with punch, sangria or even have a create -your-own drink option. Set up an old fashioned lemonade stand, have a watermelon punch bowl or include fruit infused ice cubes to spice up any drink. You can prep everything before and make everything self serve so you can also enjoy the party.

5 Must-Haves for Your Next Summer Party

3. Keep it cool

If your hosting an outdoor party, be sure your guests do not sizzle in the sun by providing shade. If you don’t have a covered area or umbrellas for protection, create your own shade. Hang parasols upside down among the trees, create a canvas awning or build outdoor curtains. One really easy and chic way is to enclose your space with colorful silk fabric as pictured below. Hang long sheets of fabric that go with your theme over a clothesline strung between the house and a pole in the backyard.

5 Must-Haves for Your Next Summer Party

4. Outdoor evening lighting

If your hosting an outdoor evening party light up the night with some fun outdoor lighting. Hang christmas lights among the trees, string global lights over your table, set luminary bags along the walk way or line the pool with lanterns. Outdoor lighting can really elevate your outdoor summer party to the next level.

5 Must-Haves for Your Next Summer Party

5. Entertainment for the kids

While your sippin on spiked lemonade, create a diversion for the kids and make sure they are having as much fun as you are. Have a water balloon war, lay out a slip n slide, set up a build your own dessert station or put on an outdoor movie during an evening party. Keep the kids busy while you’re socializing with friends.

5 Must-Haves for Your Next Summer Party

Will you be including any of these ideas at your next summer party? Let ABCey know with a comment below or message us on Facebook or Twitter!