Austin Private Event Photographer | Milestone Birthday Party

May 20, 2020

Themed Birthday Parties Are The Way To Go

This French Chateau milestone birthday party in downtown Austin, TX was unforgettable for all the guests who attended! I knew it was going to be a stunning event, but photographing this epic birthday blow out was even more incredible than I could have imagined. Brock & Co. Events designed the luxury party with no detail forgotten. This Austin private event photographer was impressed!

Downstairs, the large warehouse was completely transformed into a luxurious and private French chateau. The themed event was named after the birthday boy “Chateau Shain”. For a more intimate ambiance, the event planners divided the large venue into smaller individual rooms for gathering and conversation. The stunning décor added an extra air of luxury and sophistication. At the entrance, the customized gobos lighting branded the carpet at check-in to welcome guests.

Upstairs at Brazos Hall was an al fresco patio area overlooking the Austin downtown skyline. The terrace hosted classic outdoor games like putt-putt, shuffleboard, giant Jenga and corn hole. The staircase and patio were filled with personalized details like a custom stair wraps, a Jello Shot display paying homage to birthday boys’ college fraternity and personalized koozies.

They hired a talented local Austin DJ as the party got started. Then the party transitions to an impressive full party band all the way from Atlanta, Georgia! Their choreographed dance moves and sweet tunes kept the dancing floor in full swing all night long. We were all impressed when the birthday guy’s lovely bride and party hostess got on stage and sang “At Last” with the band, just like she did on their wedding day. What a sweet tribute that I’m sure he’ll never forget. View the photos below for all the fun birthday party details!

This crew did a phenomenal job of designing a fabulous luxury event. As soon as I saw the French Chateau milestone party, I knew it would be perfect for demonstrating how to plan a luxury event. If you want your event to be just as amazing, here’s what you’ll need:

Essentials for Luxury Event Planning

1. Select A Sophisticated Theme

This event featured a French Chateau theme, but other high-end themes might include:

1920s Gatsby or Prohibition
70s Disco Theme
Ancient Greece
Black & White
Burlesque/Chicago
European Club
Fairytale
Festival
Hawaii Five-0
Hollywood Glamor
House of Blues (House of [HONOREE’S NAME])
Masquerade
Murder Mystery
Night at the Oscars
Outer Space
Neverland
Parisian
Speakeasy Swing

2. Appropriate Venue

Decide on this first. Well, maybe after you find your event planner. The venue sets the tone and provides the canvas for your party design. Consider your theme, design, guest count, lighting, and location. Also, make sure the venue has all of the accommodations you might need as far as audio/visual equipment, projectors, lighting, space for vendors to set up, and room for seating arrangements.

3. Seamless Design

For this, you’ll want to enlist a trusted, experienced event planner. (Connect with me via my Contact Form for recommendations.) To pull off the theme well, the florals, lighting, music, furniture, table settings – even the rugs! – need to flow for a cohesive aesthetic. A planner can tie each piece together to make sure everything from the biggest centerpiece to the smallest detail works together to create the perfect ambiance.

4. Personalized Details

In this featured event, the personalization stuck out to me the most: the quotes on the steps, the gobos lighting, signature cocktails, the napkins and servers. Even a stranger could walk in and know this celebration was all about Shain. Not only do the details make the honoree feel…well, honored; but it also brings friends and family closer together. All of these details represent memories. Check out the Oriental Trading Company, Etsy, or Zazzle to add some fun “wow factor” details.

5. Private Seating

Did you notice the luxurious chaise lounge chairs and intimate seating arrangements? This makes the event feel cozier and more exclusive, as opposed to large banquet tables or lots of empty space for people to stand. Good conversation leads to fond memories. Give you guests a place to chat and relax in style. A large area rug goes a long way to create that cozy, private vibe.

Bonus Tip: Incorporate a few high-quality furniture pieces, fine textiles, leathers and textures to your design to take it up a notch.

6. Signature Cocktails

This one probably goes without saying. What’s a huge birthday bash without signature drinks? Stick with the classics, or go bold with a twist that reflects the theme or honoree’s personality. For instance, try one of these prohibition-inspired drinks for your Roaring 20s party. Make sure to add clever names for them!

7. Exclusive Experience

While digital invitations are find for more casual events, make your guests feel like VIPs with some lovely custom stationary like these collections by The Girl General or Paper Place Austin. Your event planner can also provide you with graphic designers that can custom design an entire stylish invitation suite for you!

8. Impeccable Service from an Experienced Vendor Team

Take your celebration to the next level with full service event design and coordination; or ask your catering service if they can dress up to play along while delivering only the best, high-end service. Need a luxury event planner? I know some of the best! Reach out at cory@coryryan.com for recommendations on experience event pros we work with all the time (as well as unique ones like these ladies with dance floor props below)!

9. Exceptional Entertainment

This group hired a talented, well-known group from Atlanta, Georgia to keep the energy going and laughter flowing. They absolutely killed it! This is not an area to cut corners. Splurge a little to find someone you know will provide a great time and exceptional entertainment. Other than a great party band, some other options are magic shows or illusionists, stand-up comedy, artists, dancers (hula for a pool party), hibachi chefs (which dual as food and entertainment), glow shows, caricatures, or celebrity impersonators.

10. Hire a Professional Event Photographer

Saving the best for last! It’s not a party if you didn’t document it. These memories are worth preserving, and they deserve the best representation. Relive the celebration for years to come through professional photography. Share it on social media, print them and give as gifts to friends, or showcase in albums to revisit when you need a good laugh. As an experienced Austin luxury even photographer, it would be an honor to help you make these memories last a lifetime.