when yelena johnson of the stylish soiree and i decided we wanted to throw a fun halloween party for about 40-50 people it started off very small scale...but once we started tweeting it, the guest count quickly grew to over 150 people! and we just figured the more the better! let them come... :)
the initial design concept was kind of a playful vintage but as we got closer to the event and we kept finding new inspirations, it definitely morphed into something a bit more gothic, a bit more victorian and a bit darker...for the florals and decor pieces, i knew i wanted to go with all muted, lifeless colors...nothing bright or vibrant...and almost all of the vessels, candlesticks, platters, gravy boats, frames, mirrors, etc. were thrifted in order to keep an authentic, vintage feel...
i REALLY loved how everything turned out and just hours before the party began, the clouds rolled in, the wind got CRAZY (hello blackouts!) and it made for a perfect, eerie halloween setting...
yelena borrowed this black vintage typewriter from a friend...
i hit the jackpot with this filligree framed mirror...$4.00 at the goodwill!
another killer find was this footed silver container...i packed it full of white hydrangea, black dahlias (yes there really is such a thing), gray reindeer moss and scabiosa pods (which kinda look dead but when mixed with the right florals, they are gorgeous!)...
two more of my favorites from the night were this silver gravy boat holding gray reindeer moss, scabiosa pods and gray succulents...
as well as this brass candelabra...i couldn't believe the things i scored at goodwill! and i am not telling which one it is because i am going to hoard all their stuff just for me :)
i got this 5 piece set of petite brass footed goblets for $2.00! and ps. i KILL for black and white anemones...like hands off, those are mine...KILL! :)
yelena brought these fab black lanterns to hang in the trees and my dear friend jesi haack brought some of her own for us to use too!
yelena crafted this huge spiderweb the night before and hung it from some of the trees near the courtyard! she put so much work into it and i don't know if everyone saw it once it got dark so i am super glad meg got a photo of it! and doesn't that sky just look CREEPY?!
we created a little "vintage vignette", using an eclectic mix of furniture...yelena brought this cute black nightstand from home...
both of the green chairs were another donation from jesi haack...
and the rest was stuff i thrifted just days before the party...including this studded, velvet wingback chair for $10.00 and the coffee table for $6.00! the flocked damask pillows were custom made by my team...
glass votives were given a brushed gold paint treatment to continue the muted look...
and in case you're wondering, i didn't do anything to the pumpkins...you can buy them that way...my vendor calls them "lumpy" pumpkins...i think he is being generous with that adjective...because what they really are is moldy and decrepid...but perfect for halloween!
katrina did a fantastic job with the calligraphy for the programs, bar menus, dessert tags, etc. it fit the vibe perfectly - and i love the white writing on black paper!
a cute little clock from yelena...
i fell in love with the black net linens overlaid with the gray matte satin linens that wildflower provided...it added such a cool texture!
ahhhh...the dessert table from sweet and saucy...i accented the back of it with 4 tall black candlesticks and set a "lumpy" pumpkin on top of each one...i then added a few more mercury glass candlesticks, each holding a mini white pumpkin...but let's be honest, people were not flocking to that table because of anything i created ;)
red velvet cake pops, pumpkin cheesecakes, chocolate mousse shots and mini pumkin cupcakes drizzled in salted caramel...i miss you...
and there are no words for this cake...
adorable custom "boo" tags yelena created for the cupcakes...
yelena and i collaborated on these cool black frames holding naturalist drawings of bats, eagles, butterflies, antelopes, etc. because let's be honest, naturalist drawings are kinda creepy :)
the night was SUCH a success and we have gotten amazing feedback from people letting us know how fun and fab it was! it could NOT have happened without my fellow sponsors and hosts:
thank you to everyone who braved the dark, narrow roads and crazy winds to show up...and an additional thank you to all of you who came in costume (about 90%)!!! it was so fun to party with you! we deserve it! :)
HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!!!
7 comments:
Aw, thanks Carissa, it was such fun! I'm enjoying seeing all the photos because it was just too dark for me to really notice all the details at the event. Apart from having to pull open the gate... then drive through the park thinking we were going to be arrested for trespassing at any moment... Well. ;-) Everything was beautiful and I'm AMAZED at all your thrift store finds. Wow.
amazing! love everything about this! still can't believe your awesome thrifting finds...maybe i need to thrift in the OC :) The succulents, moss, and anemones are just perfection.
We all had such a good time meeting everyone and enjoying the eerie Halloween vibe- especially on the drive up!
very cute! can you do a little tutorial on those awesome votive holders?
lucky finds.......love to thrift myself......beautiful color pallate.......
Such a fun looking event. Still dying to work together one of these days. Here's to 2010!
I always inspired by you, your opinion and attitude, again, thanks for this nice post.
- Norman
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