FEATURED EVENT Olivia's Debutante Ball

An Artful Approach to Having a Ball

by Tiffany Batchelor

Luxury event design requires an artful eye, spatial balance, and resources to build what the imagination creates. Haute Belle Events brings a unique design expertise to event planning. When Avenue I Events was approached to collaborate, the response was immediate.

The Art Museum of South Texas offers a grand space for maximum entertaining. Our goal was to create youthful elegance using a metallic blend of colors for a special Debutante Ball. Texture, fabrics, and lighting are aesthetically pleasing to the eye, while music, bites, and bar appeal to the rest of the senses.  

Imagination began to take shape as we dreamed up ways to implement youthful sophistication through balloons, use of floor space, furniture, menu and unique ways to document the fun.

 The design came into focus through backdrops of white and silver balloons and mirrored disco balls, creatively situated in pools or swags. The venue sparkled with bursts of gold, white, and silver here, there, and everywhere. The entry, food display, bar, photo booth, stairwell, and stage all basked in the decorative glory.

A thoughtful menu for a polished honoree required bite sized ingenuity served on a marble platter. Champagne bubbles with masterpiece stir sticks, and her name in white with a disco ball, added to the hype.

The night’s focus was to celebrate Olivia surrounded by family and friends. No better way to elevate the party than with an insanely talented band with all the right moves. Olivia showcasing her inner star on stage with the mic and a balloon drop dramatically adding the exclamation point.

Last call and goodbyes were accompanied with mini cookies and milk. Elegantly executed, this event and collaboration was an absolute ball.

VENDOR SPOTLIGHT Deux Bohème

They say a picture is worth a thousand words and I couldn’t agree more. Photographers creatively see the world and use a personal, artful approach to portray it.

Photography to an event planner is like a pencil to a writer. It is the vehicle in which I display the details of my work and the fruition of ideas a client presents to me.  I have honed my eye to recognize subject, angle, and approach. Like art, I try to figure out why I like it. Is it lighting, depth, composition or mood? Yet, given the tools, I find it impossible to replicate.

Photography by Deux Bohéme

Leslie Castro and Ryan Gray are Deux Bohème. Their work can regularly be seen on the cover of The One Bride Guide, so it is fitting that styled editorial shoots are their forte. When given the opportunity, “bridals, seniors, or engagement sessions are the best,” says Leslie. “We love creating evocative, dreamy, images- for all subjects & events.”

Prior to my first event with Deux Bohème, I was embarrassingly unsure how to pronounce their business name and had to ask. “When we began our business 10+ years ago, we wanted a unique name that described us as a team (Deux) and spoke about our artistic style (Bohème). At the time, most photographers in town had a traditional style and approach- we were setting out to create unconventional images for eclectic clients and wanted a name that sparked curiosity.” Mission accomplished.

Fun fact. Deux Bohème’s original mission statement was simply a bohemian mantra: Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love.  Understanding a photographer’s mantra and approach allows this planner to effectively pair a client’s personality and vision with an event photographer.

If an Annie Leibovitz you are not, here are a few tips from these pros for a “spot on” digital photo. 

•      First and foremost, find good light, if you can't find it, create it. Open windows and doors; let the light in!

• Second, be mindful of the background, you'd be amazed at how quickly distracting elements slip in and go unnoticed.

When a special occasion comes your way and you are looking for an artful approach to capture that moment of Truth, Beauty, Freedom and Love.. look no further than Deux Bohème.