Merry & Bright - Our take on Christmas Theming (tinsel not included!)
Following Sunday’s turn of the calendar page, heralding in a new month, a new season (hello Summer in Australia!), and the official countdown to Christmas (22 sleeps!), j2 ideas & events’ Brisbane office has been buzzing this week with final Christmas preparations. Here lies the inspiration for this week's event planning blog!
A long-time enthusiast for all things festive, shiny, sparkly and well, Christmassy, I have been known to become a little giddy with excitement at the prospect of theming a Christmas event (or my own home at that). As part of a team that is always eager to break away from the status quo, l’m quite sure I spend 11 months of the year subconsciously on the look out for new ways to capture the merriment of the season, and personally I prefer to do so without breaking out the tinsel!
I’ve fallen in love with the gorgeous crystal chandeliers and candelabras on offer from Australian company Crystalabra and their unconventional approach to Christmas styling (pictured right). There’s no such thing as too much crystal, especially at this time of year, right?
Eager for even more beautiful ideas, I have also consulted j2’s favourite stylist and theming extraordinaire, Sharon Penny of SP Designs for her festive styling tips to inspire and help complete our perfect Christmas event.
So here’s Sharon’s Top 4 Christmas Styling Tips:
1. Shine bright like a…bauble
Lets face it, we all love fairy lights, with most of us attracted to them like the proverbial moth, but is there a way to achieve a similar soft, sparkling glow without using fairy lights? Absolutely. Incorporate a range of reflective surfaces into your theming. Metallic baubles, ribbons and other decorations will reflect any surrounding light, whether sunlight, room lighting, or candle light, helping to create the glitz befitting a high-end, glamorous Christmas affair.
2. Go natural
Wherever possible, replace artificial Christmas trees with fresh pine trees. They look gorgeous and exude a divine scent which will evoke the senses and ensure your Christmas event is truly memorable.
3. Tie it in
Tempted to recycle last year’s garlands for your upcoming corporate Christmas event? Instead look to the client company for inspiration. Think creatively and tie in a story that utilises a prop relating to the business. For example, banquet tables at a travel company's end of year soiree could include cone-like mini trees created from world maps . Complete the look by weaving a set of battery-operated fairy lights amongst the map trees and you have a subtle nod to the season that’s also relevant to the company.
4. Embrace the unexpected
Although the popular trend this season is blue and green, I am more inspired by eclectic materials and different colour combinations.
Yellow Bliss - combine lengths of yellow satin ribbon with gold baubles
Coastal Chic - entwine thick natural rope with oyster shells and lime washed timber ornaments
Chocolate and Bronze - combine these colour tones with either pistachio and forest greens or shades of purples
Modern Rustic - style fresh pine trees with rusted wire, olive green baubles, metal and wood pegs and ornaments, work with an old metal wash basin or timber crate as a tree base
Table Centre Pieces - decorate cake stands with three levels of deliciously styled wreaths or bauble mixes
Natural Wreaths and Garlands - create wreaths and garlands from different materials such as magnolia or olive leaves, feathers, citrus fruits, vegetables such as radishes, berries, succulents, or oyster shells
...and Sharon’s tip for those who are looking to get a head start on Christmas 2014? “Work the greens – combine emerald, forest, olive, pistachio, mint and lime to create luscious depth.”
Armed with this delightful overload of inspiration, I think I can feel a festive pining frenzy coming on! Will you join me?
Bianca xx
A long-time enthusiast for all things festive, shiny, sparkly and well, Christmassy, I have been known to become a little giddy with excitement at the prospect of theming a Christmas event (or my own home at that). As part of a team that is always eager to break away from the status quo, l’m quite sure I spend 11 months of the year subconsciously on the look out for new ways to capture the merriment of the season, and personally I prefer to do so without breaking out the tinsel!
I’ve fallen in love with the gorgeous crystal chandeliers and candelabras on offer from Australian company Crystalabra and their unconventional approach to Christmas styling (pictured right). There’s no such thing as too much crystal, especially at this time of year, right?Eager for even more beautiful ideas, I have also consulted j2’s favourite stylist and theming extraordinaire, Sharon Penny of SP Designs for her festive styling tips to inspire and help complete our perfect Christmas event.
So here’s Sharon’s Top 4 Christmas Styling Tips:
1. Shine bright like a…bauble
Lets face it, we all love fairy lights, with most of us attracted to them like the proverbial moth, but is there a way to achieve a similar soft, sparkling glow without using fairy lights? Absolutely. Incorporate a range of reflective surfaces into your theming. Metallic baubles, ribbons and other decorations will reflect any surrounding light, whether sunlight, room lighting, or candle light, helping to create the glitz befitting a high-end, glamorous Christmas affair.
2. Go natural
Wherever possible, replace artificial Christmas trees with fresh pine trees. They look gorgeous and exude a divine scent which will evoke the senses and ensure your Christmas event is truly memorable.
3. Tie it in
Tempted to recycle last year’s garlands for your upcoming corporate Christmas event? Instead look to the client company for inspiration. Think creatively and tie in a story that utilises a prop relating to the business. For example, banquet tables at a travel company's end of year soiree could include cone-like mini trees created from world maps . Complete the look by weaving a set of battery-operated fairy lights amongst the map trees and you have a subtle nod to the season that’s also relevant to the company.
4. Embrace the unexpected
Although the popular trend this season is blue and green, I am more inspired by eclectic materials and different colour combinations.
Yellow Bliss - combine lengths of yellow satin ribbon with gold baubles
Coastal Chic - entwine thick natural rope with oyster shells and lime washed timber ornaments
Chocolate and Bronze - combine these colour tones with either pistachio and forest greens or shades of purples
Modern Rustic - style fresh pine trees with rusted wire, olive green baubles, metal and wood pegs and ornaments, work with an old metal wash basin or timber crate as a tree base
Table Centre Pieces - decorate cake stands with three levels of deliciously styled wreaths or bauble mixes
Natural Wreaths and Garlands - create wreaths and garlands from different materials such as magnolia or olive leaves, feathers, citrus fruits, vegetables such as radishes, berries, succulents, or oyster shells
...and Sharon’s tip for those who are looking to get a head start on Christmas 2014? “Work the greens – combine emerald, forest, olive, pistachio, mint and lime to create luscious depth.”
Armed with this delightful overload of inspiration, I think I can feel a festive pining frenzy coming on! Will you join me?
Bianca xx
Event Manager & Ambassador of Christmas at j2 ideas & events
Follow the j2 team on Facebook & Twitter to keep up-to-date with industry news and event planning trends, tips and technologies.
Follow the j2 team on Facebook & Twitter to keep up-to-date with industry news and event planning trends, tips and technologies.
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