PartySlate is the ultimate guide to help you discover stunning event ideas, beautiful spaces, and top event pros to make your next event more meaningful and memorable. On August 25^th, more than 800 Chicago VIPs, including media, socialites and event pros celebrated the launch of PartySlate with a dynamic celebration at Moonlight Studios in Chicago’s hip River West neighborhood.

It was a memorable night for all who attended, thanks to the delicious cocktails, incredible performances, interactive entertainment, and out-of-the-box décor. The theme of the evening focused upon “Inspiration” and what drives and stimulates the imagination for events. Paulette Wolf Events (PWE) produced the event, from overall concept and theme development to on-site management and coordination of logistics. PWE managed three décor companies, six caterers, entertainment, production, sound & lighting, and worked with each of them to insure they all blended with the underlying theme.

Inside the spacious, industrial-like Moonlight Studios, some of Chicago’s top caterers partnered with some of Chicago’s best décor companies to create spectacular rooms where guests mingled, partied, and enjoyed sophisticated food and innovative cocktails. Entertainment included a gospel choir, an international drum line and a DJ with a strolling violinist from BKO BeatMix Music, along with servers on stilts, a champagne chandelier and a living red carpet from New Moon Chicago. Sound Investment filled the entire space with great sound, lighting, video, and wallscapes of strolling event images.

Décor companies included Kehoe Designs, with its watercolor-themed “Paint Your Story” gallery; HMR Designs with an “All About Love” theme; and Platinum Events, which created a “Platinum” theme.

Kehoe Designs painted its gallery into a watercolor haven, combining layers of blues, green and teal with the organic movement of watercolor. Kehoe provided watercolor-splashed canvas panels to enhance the industrial brick walls, and styled the floor with ombre-toned rugs anchored with refined furniture groupings with organic touches. Whimsical surprises and elements were added to liven up the venue: color-splashed winged victory statues and bold-toned hand chairs livened up the sultry watercolors. Fur-covered spherical ottomans were nestled amongst petite ceramic cacti and glamorous gold-and-black octopus statues for a touch of eccentricity and distinctiveness. A life-size coloring wall with a variety of markers was provided so that guest could interact and add their messages and personal designs to the space.

Letting LOVE be their guide, HMR Designs created a colorful urban-inspired space for guests to enjoy. The room was wrapped in custom printed fabric, each panel bearing multiple layered graphics that were given alternate visibility when bathed in different tones. An ivory double banquette took center stage beneath a vibrant mass of multicolored gladiolus suspended from the ceiling above. Rich colorful patterns covered ottomans and pillows, creating a welcoming, outward-facing lounge that kept the room in everyone’s view. HMR also provided a white bar and white croc-topped buffet stations branded for both caterers in their gallery, which included J&L and Foodstuffs, all topped with more large and colorful gladiolus bunches in tall white vases, and mirrored cubes to display the caterer’s fare.

Platinum Events created a “Platinum” theme where there was abundance of silver, metal-framed tables with mirrored glass. Multiple “Liquid Platinum” lounge vignettes – completed with crushed black velvet throne chairs allowed guests to enjoy the breathtaking live floral wall that sprung from a mirror wall onto a table surrounded with orchids. All while a human “Platinum Disco Ball” danced to the beat of the music!

The main space in Moonlight Studios was wrapped in video projection courtesy of Sound Investment and featured furniture groupings and focal bar vignettes from each of the décor companies as well as an amazing illuminating bar from Tablescapes.

Catering partners included Paramount Events, Blue Plate Catering, J&L Catering, Foodstuffs Events & Catering, Catering by Michaels, and Entertaining Company.

Paramount Events wowed guests with dishes like a Lemon Verbena-Raspberry Watercolor Tart, and Blue Plate created a Himalayan Salt Block action station with rock shrimp and beer tenderloin. Other favorite dishes included J&L Catering’s braised short rib tacos with charred tomatillo salsa, grilled poblanos and queso fresco in a crispy corn tortilla, “Incredible Edible Spoons” which consisted of peanut butter seat salt pretzel s’mores, Candied Cracked Black Pepper & Garlic Smoked Bacon Tightropes from Foodstuffs, and a Raclette station with different sausages, cheese and different topping paired with specialty beers from Catering By Michael’s. Entertaining Company passed a passion fruit mousse in a dark chocolate cup garnished with passion fruit seeds and edible gold leaf, which was a huge hit as well. Truly all caterers knocked it out of the park!

As with any good party, the specialty cocktails were flowing as well. A favorite was the “Caprese Martini” from Foodstuffs, made with extra virgin olive oil-infused vodka with homemade tomato-basil “water” spritzed with balsamic and served with a baby mozzarella and fresh basil garnish, all served in a miniature crystal champagne saucer. Paramount Events created “The Winslow”, with butterfly pea blossom-infused vodka, Thai basil, lemongrass syrup and fresh lime juice, which when added to the drink, changed the color from indigo to magenta. In a fun twist, Entertaining Company’s signature cocktail was the “Prickly Pear Boozy Snow Cone” with prickly pear puree, tequila and fresh lime served over shaved ice from a 50lb ice block in the center of the party.

Other vendors included Tablescapes who provided the entire rental needs for the bar and catering teams, photographer extraordinaire Sheri Whitko snapped photos of all the guests, 360 degree videos were taken by Jamwoc Mixed Reality Solutions, and TagPrints Digitals provided a social media photo booth with a green screen for some additional fun. Pulp & Ink designed the custom digital invitation and Modern Luxury served as the media sponsor, while Beefeater London, Absolut Elyx and Jameson Black Barrel were the featured liquor sponsors for the night.

To end the night, as guests left the event they could grab a fresh doughnut to go from the Doughnut Vault truck parked outside while they waited for their car. It truly was an evening of inspiration and a night to remember!

Creative Partners:

Planner: Paulette Wolf Events

Photographer: Sheri Whitko Photography

Audio Visual: Sound Investment, Kishbaugh + Partners

Décor Companies: Kehoe Designs, HMR Designs, Platinum Events

Catering Companies: J&L Catering, Blue Plate Catering, Catering By Michaels, Paramount Events, Foodstuffs Catering & Events, Doughnut Vault Food Truck 

Valet: VIP Valet

Entertainment: BKO BeatMix Music, New Moon Chicago

Videographer: Jamwoc Mixed Reality Solutions

Rentals: Tablescapes