An Occasional Blog

Show off your event, get $ back!!

2012-02-12T23:45:00.000-06:00

So you had a great party. Ate, drank and were merry? Everyone had a great time. What a relief after how hard you worked. You spent weeks or months planning, days preparing, hours beforehand stressing over last minute details. The music, color scheme, menu, dishes, entertainment. But it was worth it, cause yes, you indeed impressed your friends. You're feeling pretty good about how it all turned out. It looked good, didn't it? Martha Stewart could take some tips from you? Ok, maybe not Martha, but some other local publication would be impressed, right? I mean, you pulled it all together, got the look you wanted, and demonstrated your own style. Show it off! If you took pictures of your event, no matter what the occasion, send them to us! If your picture shows our equipment, we would love to see it! And if it is one of our top picks, we would love to share it on our blog, website, or facebook. If we do, you'll get a $25 refund on your order. Come on, send us your pictures! What's it going to hurt??!

It doesn't have to be a reception, or anything fancy. If you are proud of your Super Bowl party, send it in! Backyard craw fish boils with gingham linens and stock pots, school festivals with concession equipment and 10' x 10' tents, fashion shows with a 60' runway, corporate meetings with conference tables and podiums, birthday parties, christenings, baby showers, retirement parties, any event, any equipment, ANY OCCASION, we want to see it! Whether you were the caterer, event planner, bride, or hostess, if you rented equipment from us, send the photo in! There's no limit to how many pictures you submit. Who knows how many we'll choose! Even if you haven't had your event yet, keep this in mind. Make sure you take plenty of pictures! (This should go with out saying for any occasion!) Preferably get some shots of your gorgeous set up before all the people crowd in there and mess it up! :) We want to see your party!! Caterers and event planners, show off your work! Of course we'll give you the credit! What's better than that? Free publicity and a discount on your order? Its win-win! Now lets see those photos!

Email all photos to lynne@anyoccasionpartyrental.com

February Special: $4.00 Chiavaris

2012-02-01T00:27:00.005-06:00

In honor of Valentine's day, we wanted to choose something with a classic and romantic look for our special of the month. And who doesn't love the elegant look of chiavari chairs? The chairs are timeless. You see them in wedding receptions, corporate dinners, even Hollywood's award show dinners. If its an event worth dressing up for, these are the chairs you want. They aren't the cheapest of chair and often may not be within a budget. But if you have had these chairs in mind for any event, book 'em! We're marking chiavari chairs down to $4.00 for any order paid in full! Your event isn't until October? That's fine, but don't put off placing an order, these prices are only good if you book them before 2/29/12.

Just look what these do to a room!

So get the look you LOVE, and book your chiavaris today!

The fine print:

This is not valid with any other coupon or offer.

Special price is good for all colors of chiavari chairs.

Chiavari bar stools are 1/2 off - $5.25.

Subject to availability.

Prices valid until 2/29/2012

No refunds will be given on the reservation of chiavaris with promotional pricing. The remainder of your order can be canceled, or the credit can be transferred to another item or order.

Please, see a sales associate or email us with any questions.

Have you been kept in the dark and don't know what to think about these fabulous chairs? Don't take our word for it. Check out this link from weddingbee.com with a discussion on whether or not these are "must have" chairs for your wedding reception!

Engaged and Overwhelmed? Wedding Coordinators Save Your Sanity!

2011-12-15T23:37:00.000-06:00

Anyone who's gotten married knows how much work is involved. Sure its the day you've dreamed of all your life... but you weren't dreaming about seating arrangements and vendor schedules, and bridesmaid dresses to fit all body shapes. Before the engagement you weren't thinking about coordinating transportation to the hair salon, and for the grandparents, and for you and your hubby to be to get to the airport afterwards. Planning last minute details of a wedding ceremony and reception, inevitable family and fiance differences of opinions, and not to mention trying to pack for a honeymoon, and keep your day job... all while getting enough beauty sleep and fitting in an extra workout routine. Planning a wedding can feel like a full time job. Even if you aren't going over the top, its hard to schedule appointments around your job, meeting with vendors and tracking down that "just right" antique cake stand, or the 10 spools of 1/2" ribbon in the perfect shade of lavender.

Have you thought of having a coordinator? Every one's heard of them. Probably seen the movie, The Wedding Planner. Cute movie! Who wouldn't want Jennifer Lopez's expertise and style helping you create the most exquisite affair, that will have every one's jaws drop, and a reception people will be talking about years down the road? Of course, that's just a luxury for the super rich, right? No. Today's wedding planners cater to today's budget conscious bride. There are planners and packages for all types of brides.

We've recently learned of a promising local company, Jour L'Amour Weddings. Owner/Coordinator Tara, has been a delight to work with and has such unique style, is really fun to work with and is just bursting with energy and ideas.

And get this! She's offering a 75% discount to three Brides! If you are getting married, having showers, etc. between now and March, you've got to give her a call! Check it out! SCHOLARSHIP BRIDE OFFER:

From her page:

I am currently looking for up to 3 brides who have events between December and March (Engagement Party, Bridal Shower, Wedding, etc) that you would like help with. Those 3 lucky brides will get my services for 75% off of my normal fee! Once I book those 3 brides, this offer will expire. Call or email me for details.

Guys! This could still interest you too! She can help you plan the proposal that will blow her away!

Excuse to Party Giveaway!!

2011-08-23T23:44:00.005-05:00

EXCUSE to PARTY GIVEAWAY!!!

No one really needs an excuse to party, but we're giving one away! We're giving a $250 gift certificate for rentals at our store to be used for any occasion! The contest is for our facebook fans only, so if you aren't a fan yet, go Like our page!

Use it to upgrade your linens and flatware for your upcoming reception, quinceanera, Mitzvah, or backyard bash. Get concession machines to liven up your neighborhood block party. Celebrate the kids returning to school by having a luncheon with your mommy friends! Having a bad week at work? Come get a BBQ grill, ice chests, frozen drink machine and have the guys over this weekend for poker night! Spend it however you like!

Here's what you do:

The only thing you HAVE to do, is leave a comment below. It can be as simple as leaving your name, but better yet, leave a comment as to what type of party you want to have if you win!

"I want to win for my son's 1st Birthday Party - John Smith"

It's that easy! John Smith now has a chance to win!

This will get you entered in our drawing. But you can get more entries:

Share the contest on Facebook. Encourage friends to enter "@Any Occasion Party Rental wants to give you an Excuse for a Party! Win $250 for your occasion!" Don't forget the "@" so we can see it and award you the entry.
Have a Twitter account? Tweet about the deal. "#AnyOccasionPR wants to give you an Excuse for a Party! Win $250 for your occasion!" Don't forget the "#" !
Get unlimited entries by getting friends involved. If they want you to win, have them tell us! They can comment on our Facebook page, or our blog. Just have them leave a comment with your name, and it's an entry!

The winner will be chosen at random from the entries recieved. It's that simple. We will verify that the winner has completed and followed ALL rules prior to the announcement. Make sure to leave a comment on the blog with each entry type, so we can verify all entries!!

Winners will be announced on facebook and our blog. So keep an eye out for your name!! Good luck!!

Here's the fine print:

Contest begins at 12:00AM Wednesday August 24, 2011 and entries can be made until Noon on September 20, 2011. (Central Standard Time)

*This offer is valid for any rental items but is subject to availability of inventory. This may not be used for delivery or set up. The order must be placed within 6 months (by March 24, 2012), however the date of the event is not limited to that time frame. This giveaway is only a good for the value of $250.00 worth of rentals and has absolutely no cash or refund value.

Legal Stuff: This promotion is in NO WAY sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook.

Showing our gratitude

2011-08-10T23:19:00.001-05:00

We have a new policy to announce:

At any Occasion, we are proud to be Americans. We are thankful every day for all of the men and women who make sacrifices to protect our freedom, and who risk their lives to keep us safe. We want to show our gratitude by offering a 10% discount on any orders for active and retired military, police officers and fire fighters. We would like to opportunity to serve those who spend their lives serving everyone.

Vintage or Bling? What's your thing?

2011-07-28T15:49:00.000-05:00

Current Engagement Ring Trends

This guest post was brought to you by our friends at Rice Village Diamonds, a leading provider of engagement rings.

Brides-to-be want their engagement rings to exhibit timeless quality and design, and ring makers are all too happy to oblige with this year’s beautiful ring styles. In other words, there is nothing “trendy” about 2011’s top five engagement ring trends:

1. Vintage and Vintage-Inspired

Vintage fashions are in, so it should come as no surprise that brides love vintage rings. While some are wearing actual family heirlooms or pieces found in specialty stores (reusing a ring is a great idea for the green-conscious bride), many more are selecting rings that are vintage-inspired. It can be difficult to find truly old, high-quality diamond jewelry, and so brides who love the vintage glamour are turning to new rings with the same elegant metal and diamond stylings.

2. Twisted Bands

Ribbon settings are setting brides all in a-twirl in 2011. Twisted bands create movement and modernity in rings ranging from the simple to intricate, and elaborately twisted metalwork can be interwoven with more than one band to create a romantic flair. Often these rings come with custom wedding bands that match the silhouette of the setting.

3. The More Diamonds, the Better

Taking a page from the all the ruffles and feminine detailing present in current wedding fashions, engagement ring designers (and brides themselves) are all about tasteful bling this year. Diamond-studded settings are extremely popular, and many brides are influenced by the fact that celebrities are choosing diamond halo designs for their own rings. Adding small, high-quality diamonds to the setting is actually a way to make the center stone appear bigger and add a bit of drama to a classic style.

4. Unusual Cuts

While the popular princess and round diamond cuts are perennial favorites, this year’s bride is wearing turning to exotic and fancy shapes such as emerald, oval, or pear-shaped stones. While many of the other 2011 styles tend to go for over-the-top numbers of diamonds, this trend tends to let the diamond speak for itself in a simpler setting.

5. Color and Gemstones

The wedding world (and, indeed, the entire world) breathed out a sigh of admiration when Prince Charles proposed to his bride-to-be Catherine Middleton with his mother’s 18-carat blue sapphire ring. This year’s brides are taking their cues from royalty when it comes to the growing trend of colorful engagement rings. Gemstones such as sapphires, diamonds, and emeralds are being used either as center stones or as accents to high-quality diamonds. Yellow gold is also seeing a resurgence in popularity, as more brides make an effort to incorporate color into their bands.

For rings, the best choice is always a high-quality stone with unsurpassed clarity and color complemented by a beautiful precious metal. Brides in 2011 are finding that there are many first-rate styles to choose from when it comes to classic elegance.

Rice Village Diamonds is located at: http://www.ricevillagediamonds.com/

Contact them at for any Houston engagement rings questions.

Avocado worth $2500?!!

2011-07-20T09:08:00.002-05:00

Ok, chefs and caterers! This one's for you!

Now who doesn't love a good avocado? I mean, they're one of the most healthy foods you can eat.

Packed full of 20 essential nutrients, including fiber, potassium, Vitamin E, B-vitamins and folic acid. They're cool, smooth, creamy... great for summer eating. Great salad toppers, top off tacos, and you can't make guacamole without them! But what's the latest reason to love this bumpy green mildly unattractive fruit? The chance to win $2500! The California Avocado Commission has a contest and all you have to do is submit your best avocado recipe! Here's the link: http://www.avocado.org/foodservice-chef-competition/

Think you can top this one: Stuffed Avocado with Cranberry Chicken Salad

Can you say YUM?!

And hey, if you win, I only expect 40% of your winnings. You know, a finder's fee. :) Good luck!!

Ruffles Ruffles Everywhere

2011-07-18T14:27:00.000-05:00

One of the latest trends seen everywhere these days is ruffles. Some people can't get enough. They've been seen from shirts and dresses, to shoes and purses. Wedding dresses covered in ruffles example the ultimate in femininity and beauty. What's the latest ruffle rage? Wedding cakes!! Check out these to die for cakes displayed by Preston Bailey's inspiration! http://brides.prestonbailey.com/2011/07/18/ruffled-wedding-cakes/

Ruffled Wedding Cakes

July 18, 2011

Ruffled wedding cakes are popping up everywhere, and we can’t say we mind one bit. We love the idea of matching the ruffles on your wedding dress to the ruffles on your cake, but these cakes are so pretty they might just outshine your dress!

Images via: White Ruffled Cake, Purple Ruffled Cake, White Ruffle with Pink Flowers, Light Pink Ruffle Cake, Pink Ruffle Cake

A Family Circle

2011-06-16T09:00:00.007-05:00

Any Occasion announced its exciting news last week of our new Customer Service Representative, Lester Sorsby Jr. Does that name sound familiar? It should! Here’s a little history behind Any Occasion’s newest, yet strangely, the most experienced employee. The man that basically started it all!

Lester Sorsby Jr. has certainly had a full circle career. He was the original founder of Aztec Party Handlers in 1983. He started that company, branching off of his parents’ equipment rental company Aztec Rental. He took the party side of the rentals, and took it to a whole new level. With his long-time friend, Penne Hamblin helping to manage the store, the new business took off and was an immediate success. Lester had years of experience in business and interior design in addition to helping his parents run an equipment rental store for years. These years of experience combined to make him uniquely qualified to help customers with their event planning and party rental needs. After 18 years of growing Aztec Party Handlers into one of Houston’s top party rental companies, Lester sold the company along with the name in order to pursue other ventures.

Although Lester Jr. sold the business, he did not sell the location, so less than two years after Aztec Party Handlers was sold; Lester’s family decided to open new a party store. Penne Hamblin, who had stayed on as Lester's manager for nine years before retiring to have children, came back to manage the new store.

Lester enjoyed semi-retirement for several years but couldn’t stay away from the party planning scene. He worked as an event coordinator and worked for organizations such as Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, but hadn’t found something to best suit his time. Fortunately for us at Any Occasion; Lester decided to return to his roots, and join his two nieces and many old friends at Any Occasion in the same location as it all began 25 years before. We are thrilled to have him, and all of his expertise.

As our new Customer Care Representative, with his repertoire of experience and involvement in the industry, we couldn’t be more pleased to have Lester on the team as one more asset to help make your next event as stress free as possible and as perfect as you can imagine.

Elegant Event Tip: Keep With Your Color Scheme

2011-06-15T11:47:00.001-05:00

One of the simplest rules to follow to insure an elegant look for any affair: keep with your color scheme. Simplicity = elegance, and a choice of one or two color colors is often best. Pair a black and white theme with a pop of color, and this is what you get. Enjoy this gallery of one our client's weddings: Appreciate the great attention to detail and use of the simple color scheme throughout.

Featured on StyleMePretty.com

From Sharon Nicole Photography… Lindsey and Ernie’s wedding was absolutely beautiful. I could feel the anticipation as Ernie waited patiently for Lindsey for their first look. These two are so sweet with each other and very much in love. Lindsey did a great job with all of the details and using the green, black, and white color palette. She told me that many of the items she used in her wedding were found on Etsy. I also loved that Lindsey decided to have one of her male best friends be a part of her side of the wedding party, and he was given a green bow tie instead of black to help him stand out. I later found out that he is one of the reasons why Lindsey and Ernie met, so it was obvious why Lindsey wanted him to be part of their wedding! The bridesmaids all bought black dresses from The Limited and the green sashes were bought separately. The groomsmen looked so classy in black bow ties and vests, and Ernie looked very handsome in his suspenders and black bow tie.

One of the coolest elements of Lindsey and Ernie’s wedding was Lindsey’s wedding dress. The skirt (Which also had pockets!) attaches separately to her dress, so at the reception she was able to take it off and reveal the lace cocktail dress underneath! Lindsey’s green Christian Louboutin shoes were the perfect shade of green to go along with everything else in the wedding!

Ashelynn Manor is a beautiful venue and I loved shooting there! There are so many different spots for photos around the white picket fences, cute white chapel, a mansion to get ready in, and a barn to party in. Everything was decorated and nothing was left unnoticed! The Senterpiece did a great job with their flowers and their “L” and “E” letters were visible to greet guests at the chapel doors and later transferred to the barn doors at the reception. It was a great way to re-use the same elements at the wedding! The black branches with white flower bases and hanging crystals tied the color scheme and elegance of the wedding together. I just really fell in love with how well everything matched! I really loved their exit shot because of the color the green ribbon streamers. I’ve seen lots of exits and it was refreshing to see something different than rose petals, bubbles, and sparklers. Truly inspiring!

Wedding Photography: Sharon Nicole Photography / Wedding Venue: Ashelynn Manor / Wedding Dress: Martina / Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin / Event Coordination: Egna Olmos of A Particular Event / Hair & Makeup: Your Beautiful Face / DJ: All Time DJ / Floral Design: The Senterpiece / Wedding Cake: Lisa Barcelona / Rentals: Any Occasion Party Rental / Beverage Catering: Capitol Beverage / Videography: Grasshopper Productions

View the entire article with the full photo gallery: http://www.stylemepretty.com/2011/06/14/magnolia-wedding-by-sharon-nicole-photography/

Food trends?

2011-04-20T08:00:00.000-05:00

Its a full time job as bride to be: trying to keep up with fashion trends, latest hair styles, coolest wedding colors, and today's ettiquite and expectations. But don't forget the latest food trends. Check out the knot's article on the Latest Food Trends. http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-planning/wedding-reception-planning/articles/wedding-catering-and-food-trends-2011.aspx

Is fashionable food on your list of Must-Haves? What's more important to you, presentation or taste? Or is it something you feel is best left to the caterer, and one less thing for you to worry about?

Class of 2011

2011-04-18T16:09:00.000-05:00

The count down begins for the end of the school year. It'll be here before you know it. The end of school is exciting for kids of all ages, but especially for those who are ending their school career. Graduation is a huge milestone whether its from Kindergarten or High School. How are you planning to make it memorable for your child? An intimate family dinner? Or a huge blowout with the whole class invited? Haven't thought about it? Check out http://www.dailypartydish.com/ 's ideas for outdoor graduation parties.

2011 Outdoor Graduation Party Ideas

I think you need to give your graduate credit. I think they planned it on purpose, graduating from school right at the beginning of summer. An outdoor party combined with a graduation celebration is just meant to be!

Here are a few of our favorite Outdoor Graduation Party Ideas:

The Cookout – The old American summer standby. Go the traditional route with hot dogs and hamburgers or switch it up with a taco bar (a Party411 favorite!). Grab the crockpot, cook up a batch of taco meat and put out all the fixins and you are good to go. (You’ll want to set a time to eat, as the tomatoes, lettuce and cheese won’t appreciate being out in the heat all day.)

If you wanted a little twist to the Cookout you could “Roast” your graduate. How do you do this? Roast kabobs, veggies, marshmallows and then the graduate. Even if you didn’t roast the graduate this would be a deliciously entertaining graduation party!

A Pool Party – Your graduate along with friends and family will love having a pool party to celebrate. Open up the pool, tell your guests to bring their swim trunks (and a towel) and their floaties if they still need them. Add even more fun to your party by providing a Slip N Slide for all to enjoy. (You might want to have a camera handy.) Even provide water balloons. If you do have balloons designate a dry zone, nobody wants to see grandma’s reaction if her hair gets wet.

Party in the Park – Do you live near a great park or beach? Consider renting it out for your party. There is usually a pavilion which makes setting up easier. If there is an open field guests will play games themselves, whether it is baseball, football, bocce or volleyball there will be a pickup game.

Is there an outdoor graduation party you attended that was out of this world? Share it in the comments section below. Congrats to the graduate and we hope you enjoy your outdoor graduation party!

Graduation Party Ideas from Party411.com
Graduation Pool Party Ideas
Graduation Sports Theme Ideas
2011 Graduation Announcements
2011 Personalized Graduation Invitations

Courtesy of http://sherrifoxman.typepad.com/daily_party_dish/2011/03/2011-outdoor-graduation-party-ideas.html

Bunny Napkins

2011-03-24T10:00:00.002-05:00

Easter is just around the corner. We've found an adorable twist for your Easter table setting. Whether hosting a large family Easter brunch, or a children's Easter Egg hunt, who wouldn't love these cute-as-can-be Bunny napkins at their place setting?

Article from http://www.thepartydress.net/

With Easter quickly approaching, I thought it would be appropriate to show the first (of a few!) napkin ideas for your Easter celebration. By using a bright colored napkin, these bunny ears energize any modern table!

Instructions

Step 1

Step 2

Fold the napkin in half.

Step 3

Fold the napkin in half again, to form a long rectangle.

Step 4

Fold the right and left sides up to meet in the center, forming a point at one end.

Step 5

Repeat with the opposite corners.

Step 6

Fold the side corners in so they meet in the center, but don’t fold exactly straight. Pull up above the center point, and you’ll start to see the ears shape up. The napkin will form a kite shape.

Step 7

Gently turn your napkin over.

Step 8

Fold the bottom point up, so that it is roughly 1” above the center of the napkin.

Step 9

Carefully, turn the napkin over again.

Step 10

Roll the left side over, slightly past the center of the napkin.

Step 11

Fold the right side over, tucking the end into the pocket you created on the left side, holding your napkin together.

Step 12

Turn the napkin upright, separating the bottom to form a basehe-week-modern-bunny-ears/

Simple and Elegant Do it Yourself Centerpieces

2011-03-23T15:47:00.000-05:00

Spring is in the air and wedding season is upon us. The goal of every bride is to create a wedding that is personal and unique. The other challenge is staying under budget. An easy way to meet all your goals is by making your own centerpieces. You can create centerpieces by renting basic items and adding your own touch to match your theme and wedding colors. With just basic glass mirrors, a cylindar vase, and votive cups, you can create elegant centerpieces for much less, and the shimmering votives add a romantic ambiance to the table.

When topped with shimmering votive candles, a mirror becomes a pool of reflective light that casts a glow onto the reception tables. For this centerpiece, we stacked a 14-inch-diameter mirror on foam boards to make a platform, then covered the edges with a wide ribbon and added a thinner ribbon for decoration, folding ribbon ends under and securing them with decorative-head pins. To decorate the vase, we wrapped a coordinating ribbon around the bottom and fastened it in place with double-sided tape; it's best to use a tall vase like this cylinder so the blooms won't get close to the flames even if they droop. Because the ribbon we chose was 1-inch wide, we combined our 1/4-inch-thick mirror with 1/2- and 1/4-inch-thick foam boards (cut to match the shape of the mirror with a utility knife) to create a 1-inch platform; once you've selected ribbon, you can use as many layers of foam board as you need to get the proper height. The ribbon we used for accent is 1/3-inch wide.

Read more at Marthastewartweddings.com: Mirror Centerpiece

Welcome to www.anyoccasionpartyrental.com Part Deaux!

2011-03-02T23:42:00.000-06:00

Better late than never, right? The moment we've all (those of us in the office) been waiting for and working on for what seems like forever; the launch of the all new http://www.anyoccasionpartyrental.com/ !!! Yay!! (hold the applause please!) Like any change involving any form of technology, things didn't exactly go off with out a hitch...but I do believe it is now live and should be appearing for everyone surfing the world wide web now. As promised, our new site is loaded with features with tools specifically chosen for you, to help take the stress out of planning for your events. My favorite part, besides being much more interactive, is our portfolio. But this part is up to you, our clients! We will constantly be adding new pictures of our events, given that you share them! We would love to display pictures of your party for inspiration for others.

If you haven't visited already, check out the site. We're excited about our new look, the tools, and news we have to offer you. If you register, there are more features available to you, such as being able to save your wish lists. That way you can work on them over time, or save multiple lists to help you determine what you want.

We want your feedback! Please, let us know what you think. Your opinion matters most.

WeddingWire Bride's Choice Awards Winner!!

2011-01-25T14:02:00.000-06:00

We're proud and thankful to have just been notified that we are winners of WeddingWire Bride's Choice Awards! Here's the press release:

Houston, TX – January 25, 2011 - WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, is thrilled to announce Any Occasion Party Rental has been selected to receive the prestigious annual WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 for event rentals!

Recognition for the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 is determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 750,000 WeddingWire newlyweds. Our past clients are among those that shared their experiences on WeddingWire, the largest wedding review site in the nation.

Any Occasion Party Rental stands among the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire community, representing quality and service excellence within the wedding industry. Awards were given to the top wedding professionals across 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, and were based on the overall professional achievements throughout the past year.

“WeddingWire is honored to celebrate the success of the top-rated wedding professionals within the WeddingWire community,” said Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “With the annual Bride’s Choice Awards™ program, WeddingWire has the unique opportunity to recognize the best wedding professionals across the US and Canada. We applaud Any Occasion Party Rental and their professionalism and dedication to enhancing the wedding planning experience last year.”

We are happy to announce that Any Occasion Party Rental is among the very best event rentals within the WeddingWire Network, which includes leading wedding planning sites WeddingWire, Martha Stewart Weddings, Project Wedding and Weddingbee. We would like to thank our past clients for nominating us to receive the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011.

For more information, please visit our WeddingWire Storefront today at http://www.weddingwire.com/biz/any-occasion-party-rental-houston/b02dffee4d0ab488.html

For more information on the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011, please visit http://www.weddingwire.com/.

Top 10 Wedding Trends for 2011- Hot Off The Press!

2011-01-21T11:01:00.000-06:00

Getting married this year? Check out OneWed's 10 Wedding Trends for 2011:

Photo: Wedding flower centerpiece by FloralArt
"1. Sophisticated Elegance Returns
It's back to basics with elegant, sophisticated style in 2011. Wedding decor will be simple and understated, with modern design elements trumping DIY touches. Scripted calligraphy, custom monograms, and classic wedding cakes embody this trend. Brides will wear pearls, and grooms will ditch the Converse in favor of more tasteful wedding day kicks.

2. Outdoor Venues- Where It’s AtCouples tying the knot in 2011 will gravitate toward outdoor ceremony and reception venues. The raw, minimal backdrop of an outdoor setting leaves room for personalization and customization, a major perk for creative, hands-on nearlyweds. Lakeside venues, vineyard locations and spaces situated alongside sprawling mountains will dominate, and they’ll be spruced up with personalized touches that represent the bride and groom. You'll find some serious outdoor weddings inspiration in our real weddings blog category!

3. Grey is the New Black, Crazy for Navy
Gloomy no more, grey is the neutral IT color for 2011 weddings. Organic and natural, shades of charcoal, dove, stone, oyster and shell will be incorporated liberally into wedding color palettes and paired with vibrant hues to make the colors pop! And while grey remains the talk of the town for 2011, navy blue (and other deep blues) are definitely on-trend for the coming year. Wonder if Prince Will's royal wedding has anything to do with the crazy for navy trend... what do you think??

4. Mad for Metallics & Bold Color Palettes
Whether it’s two bright hues with a metallic accent, or several metallic shades used together, brights and metallics will be popular choices for wedding color palettes in 2011. Gilded gold, shimmery silver, and sparkling champagne will used alone or with accents of yellow, purple or teal. And since metallics make such a bold statement on their own, couples will scale back over-the-top decor in favor of a more restrained style aesthetic.

5. Big Ball Gowns are Back
Dramatic ball gown wedding dresses floated down 2011 bridal catwalks in droves. Wedding dress designers draped, ruched, and layered clouds of tulle, power netting, and chiffon to fashion wedding dresses with limitless volume. The outcome? Fairytale-inspired bridal style and whimsical wedding dresses for 2011 I Dos.

6. Grooms Take a Walk on the Stylish Side
Grooms are taking a stand in the name of fashion. Their tux choices will no longer be dictated by some “rent 5, get 1 free” deal. Instead, they’ll chose formal looks that represent their unique style. Bow ties will replace classic long neck ties, and embroidered dress shirts, engraved cufflinks, stylish lapel pins and the color of the season- grey- will grace the white aisles.

7. Wedding Invitations Go Green
The green weddings movement continues full speed ahead in 2011. From totally paperless wedding invitations and save-the-dates, to stationery printed on 100% recycled paper, invitations have truly gone green. Couples can find all they need with sites like WeddingPreParty (enabling online RSVP and party planning) and Nearlyweds.com (offering coordinating stationery and wedding websites).

8. Luxurious Textures-- from the Dress to the Tablescape
Luxe textured fabrics will bring a sumptuous, opulent vibe to 2011 weddings. Wedding dresses will feature 3D applique, layered light fabrics (tulle, lace, chiffon), romantic ruffles, oversized florals, and illusion fabric with eye-catching beading. Textured linens will be layered to dress up reception tables, chair covers may be embroidered or beaded, and branchy centerpieces and floral arrangements will captivate wedding guests.

9. Ethnic Influences, Cultural Wedding Details
At long last, brides and grooms are embracing and showcasing their unique cultural traditions and ethnicity. Whether it’s a religious wedding ceremony ritual, traditional wedding day garb, cultural cuisine infused throughout the reception dinner, or wedding decor with bold, ethnic prints, you can’t help but embrace the unique cultures and ethnicities of couples in 2011.

10. Revved-Up Wedding Receptions
Who wants the best day of their lives to end? Not couples and guests in 2011, that’s for sure! Couples will plan a post-reception after party lasting into the wee hours of the night with drinks, entertainment, dancing, and snacks so that wedding guests can party all night long! " http://www.onewed.com/

Baby Steps

2010-12-01T23:22:00.002-06:00

Here we go, daring to venture into the wide world of blogging. Please bear with us, we know not what we do. With the new year fast approaching, we decided its time for a change. In 2011 we will be celebrating our tenth year serving Houston, and with our tenth anniversary, we want to be better than ever. One of our biggest goals is to make this site the best event planning resource. We want to make our website more useful, with more information, tons more pictures, and easier to navigate. We're going to keep you up to date with the latest trends, and upcoming local events. We would love to have your feedback. We are always involved with planning your events, but we want to hear about them after! Share pictures with us!! We're going to start having specials and coupons. If you haven't already, follow us on twitter and become a fan on facebook. Tell us what you think, we'd love to hear from you. As always, customer service and your satisfaction is our number one priority!