Event Currents

Michele Lend, president of Atlanta Arrangements Inc., says Old South/New South events are easy to stage in the city’s wide variety of spaces, especially those that are “blank canvases,” such as urban loft spaces with painted cement floors, exposed brick walls and open ceilings. Atlanta’s culture of Southern hospitality and a little creativity warms up just about any spot, she maintains. “Our job is to design and sell experiences that create the memory,” Lend says. “We have timeless spaces that lend themselves to just about any theme you’d want. At King Plow Arts Center, for instance, we recently did an Asian theme for a pharma group standup reception. We used a Japanese reflecting pool plus lots of candlelight, and Asian flavors in the food.”

Magnolia Hall in Piedmont Park is another of Lend’s favorite sites. It offers a wonderful old building with exposed ceilings and lots of windows for drama, she points out, plus an outdoor area with a brick terrace for receptions.

“Centennial Olympic Park downtown is probably my favorite site for many occasions,” she says. “We did a seated white glove reception there for 1,800 under the stars. The dinner was around the Fountain of Rings, and at the north end of the park we did an international reception party for the same conference—about 6,500 people. The park is a great central location, near the Georgia World Congress Center and major hotels. It has the reflecting pool, a small amphitheater and pavilions. All of those give us lots of options for outdoor venues.”

Private homes and clubs are in the Atlanta event venue lineup as well, and Lend says they add an air of exclusivity to an occasion.

“One home in Buckhead has the largest collection of Civil War memorabilia you’re likely to find—swords, uniforms and flags,” she says. “It’s good for high-end dinners and receptions.”

There’s more absorbing heritage at The Tabernacle, Opera and The Fox Theater, she advises.

“These are three great event locations because of their wonderful history, fantastic acoustics and ambience,” Lend advises. “We’ve brought in surprise entertainment elements like gospel choirs or a Phantom of the Opera singing character. Guests always walk away awestruck because of the surprise element—everyone loves the unexpected.”

Motown parties and music-through-the-decades themes are other good ideas for these spaces, Lend suggests.

Unique venues aren’t the only group lures.

“We are very easy to get to—80 percent of the nation’s population can fly here in two hours or less,” Lend points out. “Downtown’s only 15 minutes from the airport, and the hotels and convention center there are located within walking distance of each other.”