Loose Mansion’s owner and I traveled to Las Vegas for an annual Wedding Merchant Business Academy convention last week.  This convention offers educational seminars with outstanding speakers to help vendors in the wedding industry succeed and stay current with merging trends.  Here are a few trends in the marketplace that might interest you!

More Intimate Seating – There is a trend towards the use of smaller tables and mixing table sizes to create more intimate options for guests.  Guests are more likely to mingle, move around and enjoy conversation with smaller groups.  We’re on board with this trend, and have various options at Loose Mansion!

Epaga Foto

Epaga Foto

Zone Planning – There is a trend towards blocking off portions of large banquet rooms for more intimate purposes.  In a large mansion with multiple rooms … well, ha ha, done!  This happens naturally at most of our events and is a big reason that Loose Mansion is so inviting for events!  In areas without walls, this can be accomplished by making zones obvious due to changes in your choice of chairs, tables and décor.  I would view use of pipe and draping only as a last resort and recommend it for events in exhibit halls and hotel banquet rooms that have to create “rooms” to provide intimacy.

More Choices – It’s your party, but why not let your guests decide what to eat, what to drink, where to sit or stand while they eat, and what to enjoy doing after?  Offer as many choices as you can, and you’ll please everyone!

Our venue lends itself nicely to events with multiple choices.  Heavy Hors d’Oeuvre buffets with food stations offer great choices for guests and fit well with events that don’t involve assigned seating or even have a chair for everyone.  With these events, it is safe to assume that some guests will opt to stand at cocktail tables.  This leaves more room for movement and creativity with the layout, particularly nice for large groups.

Think “choices” when making menu selections.  Instead of passing a large count of just a couple appetizers, lower the count and make more selections!  Action stations with chefs cooking, such as a Pasta Action Station, Seared Tuna and Sushi Station, or a Stir-Fry Station, allow your guests to make selections that drastically change their meal and allow them to ask the chefs questions as they cook.  These stations make dinner part of the entertainment!  A starch on a full dinner buffet can become a great source for choices.  Macaroni and Cheese, Mashed Potatoes, Baked Potatoes, and Waffles make great stations with a variety of toppings.  For beverages, you might consider a champagne station or martini station.   Instead of a traditional cake with a couple flavor choices, serve smaller amounts of several totally different dessert choices.  We’ve found an assortment of mini cheesecakes and pies are a big hit with guests, and stations like our Berry Shortcake Bar, Chocolate Fondue Bar, and Ice Cream Social offer tons of choices with toppings and voila!  The dessert is different on every plate!

Epaga Foto

Epaga Foto

OK, so you love to dance, but unfortunately not everyone likes to dance!  It’s great to have other options for your guests after dinner.  There is no better entertainment than wandering through an historic mansion!  Other great choices are games about the couple, a scavenger hunt throughout the mansion, poker or card tables, a cigar station on a patio, or a photo booth!  If you have a large group of children, it’s fun to plan a special place and choices for them as well!

Epaga Foto

Epaga Foto