Giddy up and grab your gogo boots because it’s that time of year again!

It’s become somewhat of a Brittanie Raquel Events tradition to kick off the wedding season with a vendor’s-only-exclusive-theme-extravaganza! This year was all cowboy hats, disco balls, saloons, and dance floors—it was a Disco Rodeo, baby! 

Themed parties are our specialty and we love pushing the boundaries on what is possible, but you have to strike a balance between the theme, the flow, and reality. We had a lot of ideas that we could do, but we kept being drawn back to the idea of glam western vibes. 

We also felt like a Disco Rodeo was an easy and fun theme for people to join in on—it was an expectation that everyone dress up somehow, whether it was just a bolo tie or a cowboy hat, but we accept dressing up like a disco ball as well. As long as you come correct! 

Now that you’ve got that tip, it’s time to take the bull by the horns and get into it!

PLANNER: Brittanie Raquel Events
VENUE: The Elia
PHOTO: Dakota Hersey Photography
VIDEO: Drew Coleman Films
FLORALS: Serendipity Florals
RENTALS: Design Perfection, White Birch Rentals, Perfect Touch Rentals
ENTERTAINMENT: Active DJ
CATERING: Salt and Charm
DANCERS: Elevate NC
LIGHTING: High Performance Lighting
SIGNAGE: Alexis Scott Designs
CONTENT CREATION: Maid Of Social
PHOTOBOOTH: Illuminate
BARTENDER: The Elia
MAKEUP: Danielle Forte

Here’s how we took The Elia and transformed it, once again, into a completely unique experience, from decor to entertainment.

Deep Red Drapes and Accents 

The very first design decision we made after locking in the theme was red had to be a part of the color palette. Deep red is definitely becoming more popular, but it can be easy to be intimidated by it — it’s sexy and romantic and dramatic and just has that gravitas, and used in the right way it totally sets a vibe.

From the red accents behind the Saloon themed bar to the dramatic draping behind the band and from the ceiling, the main space of The Elia was transformed into a one-of-a-kind disco saloon. 

Our favorite use of red the whole night: the wood and red dancefloor. Not only do we need to see more red in design palettes, we must see more colored dance floors. This is a simple way to make a space feel more custom without needing a huge budget to upgrade. The impact they have on the space is a million times worth the investment because it’s a main focal point of the room and where everyone will spend their time! 

Disco, Tinsel, and The Cocktail Hour 

The second element we decided on right after the red draping was tinsel. This was our disco tie-in. Our favorite design element was the cocktail bar being covered from floor to ceiling in shimmering, silver tinsel. 

This was an exclusive, invite-only event, so from the moment the doors opened it had to be a moment, and that means a beige drape tunnel opening up into the disco cocktail space, creating a feeling of being transported into the experience.

While guests got specialty themed cocktails from the bar and grazed themed appetizers (which we’ll talk about later), they were also able to get their photo taken by Illumiate, an elevated pop-up photo studio vendor with real time editing and upload. Together, we designed a studio setup with a metallic backdrop (first time seeing one, need to see again), hanging cowboy hats, and custom-made light up cacti. 

We believe vendors like Illuminate are the future of the photo booth, and it is for the people who want to give the guest an elevated experience and studio-quality images. 

The Banquet Seating, Lighting, and Saloon 

While the front part of The Elia leaned more into the disco, the backroom was all saloon. All the design elements made us feel some type of western way, for example, the hanging lights over the banquet seating scattered around the room felt like the corner booth in a crowded saloon. 

We love a design that is fashion and function. The banquet seating was a must to give guests a break from the dance floor and the second saloon style bar was an absolute because of the vibe and the guest experience of having two bars to choose from, keeping lines from forming and the drinks flowing! 

Lighting is soooooo important to the look and feel of the space. Lighting is one of those things you don’t notice immediately but is critical to the feel of a space. We installed hanging light fixtures and some backlighting LEDs in choice spots around the room — lighting the main areas enough to see while still keeping the dance floors and the corners dark for the party lights. 

A lot of the guests thought the Saloon bar was a permanent fixture of The Elia, but it was actually a rental from White Birch Rentals. Just goes to show if you have the vision and the team, you can literally do anything. 

The General Store and The Disco Dancers 

If you want your event to be truly unforgettable, you have to consider the guest experience beyond just the decor. We like to structure the night where there are constantly new things being introduced because this allows them to have a bigger impact than if they were all just readily available upon entering.

Roll-outs and guest experiences like this are our bread and butter, so we absolutely had to treat our peers to a little bit of the BRE magic. 

Two of the top guest experiences were the surprise opening of the BRE General Store and the Disco Dancers from the Raleigh entertainment and dance group, Elevate Entertainment. The dancers came out when the dance floor was opened, encouraging people to get moving. 

Then hidden behind rollaway doors, The General Store, fully stocked with classic country candy and favors — candy cigarettes, taffy, PBRs, trucker hats, hot peanuts, rock candy, and more, was opened for business about an hour or so into the dancing portion of the night. It was a huge boost to the already high energy!

This is a fun, impactful way to send your guest home with party favors — and it’s just as affordable as koozies and the traditional favors. This is something we love to suggest to our couples that want to send their guest’s home on a “wow” moment. 

The Food: Western Appetizers and The Caviar Cart 

Last, but certainly never the least, the food is always a major highlight for guests — sometimes the way to heart is through the stomach. 

Our event was catered by Salt and Charm, and they designed a specialty menu just for us and our Disco Rodeo theme. It included a cowboy burger (a burger take on the chicken and waffles classic), chocolate covered bacon, western nachos aka “disco chips”, and more! 

Food can be even more a part of the experience — oysters, complete with all the optional toppings, were carried around the event floor by a waiter, the nachos and chili were manned by a chef who hand-crafted each plate explaining what each option was, and the surprise caviar cart was rolled out halfway into the night to keep the party bumping! 

Food is one of the major ways to get your guest attention and keep everyone involved and entertained! 

Tips and Tricks To the Themed Event 

Themed events can be a lot of work, but they are so worth it. Here’s some things the BRE team has learned from hosting and throwing their own: 

• When designing any event, especially a heavily designed and themed one, make sure to choose key focal points, so you don’t overwhelm your guests and allocate your budget wisely. Bars, dancefloors, installations, and more can end up competing with each other if there is too much. Design the space, and space out the design. 

• Always consider the flow of the guests. Think about the movement from the bars to the seating to the food to the dancefloor, and all inbetween. You have to curate the way you want guests to move through the space and provide enough for people to enjoy without having to wait in line for too long (or in our preference, not at all). This means, depending on your guest count, providing stations for food, multiple bars, introducing different amenities at staggering times, spaces near the dance floor for those who want to sit and watch but still feel part of the party. 

• Keep moments happening. Don’t let your guests expect what’s coming next. Surprises throughout the night keep the energy high, so don’t be afraid to keep things up your sleeve, cowboy. 

Not to toot our own horn but we will definitely be thinking about our Disco Rodeo for a while and have already heard that people will NOT be turning down next year’s invitation! The studio photo booth, the power of draping and lighting in transforming a space, the dance floor, the themed bars, and more — this ain’t our first rodeo!!

We can’t wait to see more weddings, welcome parties, and afterparties that lean into the full theme, and if you want some help with the design and/or execution, give us a call. 

In the meantime, see you later, space cowboy.