Wine Tasting Celebration - Overall Tent View

Hosting a wine tasting for friends is a great way to learn about wine and to experiment with new or unusual varietals.  For this significant birthday celebration, I transformed the backyard into a romantic setting that resembled the countryside of Napa Valley. 

We used custom printed place mats that included designated spots for the stemware – listing each variety of wine that was included in the flight.  Clusters of pillar candles covered the tops of vintage wine barrels and guests were given delicious favors of gourmet chocolate that was selected to pair nicely with wine.  These favors, Cocoa Vinoso, are new from the San Fransisco Chocolate Company and are designed to pair with full bodied red wines. 

Custom Wine Flight Place Mat

Wine Barrel

Cocoa Vinoso Guest Favors

As a surprise for guests during dinner, we hired a professional opera singer from the Florentine Opera Company to perform.  Everyone knows that I love to incorporate surprise entertainment into my parties! 

Basic Wine Tasting Supplies 

• Plain bread or crackers: Something light that will help “cleanse the palate”
• Wine glasses: At least one per guest
• Pitcher of water: For cleaning out the glasses between each tasting
• Dump bucket: For discarding wine before next pouring or spitting out
• Tasting cards and pencils: For describing and recording each wine tasted
• Paper bags: To cover the labels for blind tastings

Event Partners: Florist: Belle Fiori; Stationery: Paper Envy; Equipment Rentals: Canopies; Linen Rental: BBJ Linen; Props: Props Unlimited; Lighting: Majic Enterprises

Wisconsin Breast Cancer Coalition Rare Chair Affair 2009 (Photography by Calfa)

A highlight at the event were the professional disco dancers from Fred Astaire Dance Studios.  The dancers performed throughout the party on two dedicated performance stages – one of the stages was the centerpiece of the bar.

Fred Astaire Dance Studios Disco Dancers (Photography by Calfa)

Guests were also dazzled and delighted by the lounge areas that showed disco videos on the flat screen TVs as well as the cabaret tables that were dressed with mirrored table linens, lucite chairs and dangling crystal chandeliers.

(Photography by Calfa)

To end the night, Sound by Design played the top favorite disco tunes and guests went wild on the dance floor – even I couldn’t resist!

(Photography by Calfa)

Key Elements To A Successful Fundraiser

• Include auction items that are unique experiences – not tangible items that people can easily buy.
• Use specialty lighting to highlight important areas such as the auction tables, raffle selling station and the entertainment stage.
• Choose a creative theme that is appropriate for the organization and that will be exciting for your guests.
• Create an atmosphere that motivates people to spend money and feel good about the cause that they are supporting. This requires photographs, videos, live specialty entertainment, good food, consistent branding and a smooth and comfortable flow from beginning to end.

Event Partners: BBJ Linen, Majic Enterprises, Classic Party Rental, Levy Restaurants, Harley-Davidson, Sound by Design, Fred Astaire Dance Studios

The evening started out with a halarious cocktail reception that showcased the “for worse” of the industry.  Crepe paper and tulle were used to highlight the pink and silver color theme and several of the guests even dressed in outrageous bridesmaids dresses, ruffled tuxedo shirts and bold accessories.  People were photographed under a delightfully tacky pink and white balloon arch – so fantastically fabulous!

Meaghan Kohr, Connie Reily, Anne Radtke (Photography by Frontroom Photography)

Other cocktail reception highlights:

• Signature martini bar by Bartenders on the Go (see recipies below)
• Lounge furniture and Luna Lighting by CORT Event Furnishings

(Photography by Frontroom Photography)

• Interactive photo booth by Flippn Fun Fotobooks
• The Scott Kleist Duo provided by ACA Entertainment
• Gorgeous earrings (raffle prize) by David Liska Custom Jeweler

When guests entered the dining room, they were welcomed by the display of “for better” with beautiful table linens by BBJ Linen along with charger plates and flatware from Classic Party Rental.  The evening began with a welcome by an industry icon, Ken Hudak from Canopies Events With Disctinction.  I was honored to be introduced by Ken and my entrance was one for the history books – I came out from under a wedding dress!

(Photography by Front Room Photography)

The evening included a performance by a local comedienne, an interview with Chef David Zakroczymski, a voice auction and DJ entertainment by Music on the Move Plus.  One of the highlights of the event were two amazing videos produced by One Fine Day Productions.

David Caruso, Chef David Zakroczymski (Photography by Front Room Photography)

Please make sure to view my post, “Butterflies – Oh My!” for details regarding the couture head table that I designed with Fresh Design.  Here is a sneak peak.

Head table designed by David Caruso, Dynamic Events and Fresh Design (Photography by Front Room Photography)

Signature Martini Recipies

Pink NACEtini

• Champagne
• X-Rated Vodka
• Cherry Garnish

Ginger Martini

• 1.5 oz Vodka
• 1.5 oz Canton Ginger Liqeuer
• Fresh Lime Juice
• Splash of Pineapple Juice

Gala Committee

• Sydney Johnson, Marcus Hotels & Resorts
• Chris Albrecht, Let’s Have An Affair
• Chad Torkelson, Midwest Sound DJ Entertainment
• Denise Liles, Veil Magazine
• Carolyn Fraser, ACME Corp. Production Resources
• Kristin Wood, ACME Corp. Production Resources
• Candy Curley, Chef Jack’s Catering