Disco-Glam Styled Shoot With Hawthorne and Poppy Events

At the end of 2020, we got together with some amazing Austin vendors to create a styled shoot to celebrate the launch of Hawthorne and Poppy Events! Amy, the founder and visionary behind the shoot, wanted to blend modern design with an iridescent flare.

This collaborative shoot was the dose of creativity and sparkle that we all needed at the end of a hard year. We love how Amy described the look on her Instagram: “Magical design that isn’t stuffy or boring. A little Audrey Hepburn mixed with Marilyn Monroe. Nicole Kidman with Taylor Swift. Classic yet modern.”

Flash forward a year, and it’s completely obvious to us why Hawthorne and Poppy have been so successful on the Austin event planning scene. 

This disco-glam inspired styled shoot, captured by Eryn Chandler Photography at the South Congress Hotel, is giving us major New Year’s Eve wedding inspiration. We created two setups with our luxury backdrops, and we love how the model popped in front of both of them in her gorgeous Unbridaled gown.

The two different looks are a great example of what you can do with photo booth backdrops. You can dress them up, like Amy did with the disco balls and florals for the feathery white backdrop, or leave them as is, like the sequin blush backdrop. Either way, our backdrops can perfectly match your look and achieve your vision. 

Want us to create a custom photo booth for your next event or styled shoot? Contact us today. 

Why You Need a Balloon Installation at Your Next Event

You had no idea you would need balloons in your life this bad, trust us.

We’ve seen a huge trend in adding balloon installations to photo booths and events and we would be lying if we told you we didn’t absolutely love it. The eye catching design and the “how the heck did they do that?” response from event attendees keeps our creative wheels spinning. Each time we do a new install, we’re pushing our creative limits and we keep asking ourselves, “how did we live without balloon installations before?”. However, if you’re not like us and you’re unsure if you want to add a balloon installation to your next event, here are seven reasons why our installs are exactly what you need at your next event.

We created an installation for a birthday party!

1.     It is unique at any event. An installation will make your event POP (pun intended). It’s not a typical backdrop or installation at an event, it is dramatic and totally wow-worthy. If you’re looking for attendees to stop and gawk at something unique during your event, a balloon installation will guarantee it. You can check out our unique balloon installation at Austin’s Under 40 gala here as well.

We created a balloon installation inside and outside the boutique for Kara Sanchez’s grand opening.

2.     It can have multiple uses. At an event in March, we had a client use the balloon installation as a backdrop for photos at their party, and about halfway through the event, they moved the installation to the front door to attract more clientele to come into the venue and keep the party going! So you could say a balloon install will have your party lasting longer and drive more business. You’re welcome.

We created an install for the She Inspires event, hosted by Erin Condren.

3.     We can create your dream install. Creating your dream install starts from listening to your theme and what you want at your event. From there we discuss with our designer to match your vision. If you have an idea but it’s hard to describe, we recommend starting with Pinterest (Seriously, how did we live without Pinterest for so long?) and send us images that are your inspiration for your event. We’ll have several proofs to make sure it is cohesive with your inspo, so you’ll know exactly what the installation will look like. Want a whimsical install but unsure what to add to the balloons? We’ll pair your install with some greenery and calligraphic balloons. Looking for a feminine, fresh install for your girlfriend’s bridal shower? Let us add some floral accents to your install. You need an install to pop for your upcoming grand opening? We love adding streamers to our installs to create a unique finish!

4.     Budget friendly. Whether you have a large budget or a small budget, we can create an installation that fits within your bottom line. It may require some creative, outside the box design that you’ve never thought of, but that’s our specialty. We’ll also do our best to save you as much money as possible without sacrificing quality.

We created a rainbow balloon installation for @TheVenueATX’s St. Patrick’s Day Party.

5.     Balloons match any themed event. Balloons are a staple at most celebrations, including birthday parties, weddings, gender reveal parties, baby and wedding showers, graduations, grand openings, the list goes on! A balloon installation will go with any event you host. Don’t believe us? Check out all of the different events here and of course where we’ve incorporated different balloon installations in the photos in this post!

Our head balloon designer hard at work!

6.     It’s Instagram worthy. Because a balloon installation is so unique, you can guarantee that everyone will want to take photos of it but also in front of it. If you’re looking for your event to get a lot of documentation (and brand exposure as corporate client), creating opportunities for your guests to take photos is a must, and a balloon installation is a no-brainer!

This installation was for an employee appreciation event hosted by @AlamoDrafthouse.

All of our installations are handcrafted and designed by our team in house. We price each individual install per client because of the uniqueness of each request. If you’re interested to learn more or have questions about adding a balloon installation to your next event, contact our sales team today kati@ohhappydaybooth.com.

We created a balloon installation inside and outside the boutique for Kara Sanchez’s grand opening.

Creating a great event hashtag

Importance of developing an event hashtag

Regardless of the type of event you’re hosting, a hashtag can be useful for compiling photos and interacting with guests before, during and after an event! For corporate events, an event hashtag not only allows the attendants to look back on the event, but it creates online visibility and is a lucrative way to engage guests. Event hashtags, when used properly, create a digital presence and attraction to your brand or company. For weddings, using a specified hashtag means guests can see photos of themselves that might’ve gone untagged or missed without the event hashtag. Most importantly, this allows the bride and groom to look back on the event and relive all the fun memories from one of the best days of their lives.

Here are a few ideas on how you can get started on creating a unique one for your event!

How to develop a hashtag for a corporate event or fundraiser

1. Keep it short. Simplicity is key.

Your hashtag should be as short as possible and take up as few characters as possible. If your guests will be posting on Twitter, the last thing you want to do is take up too many of their limited 140 characters! Abbreviate event names that are long. For example, Austin music festival Blues on the Green uses the hashtag #botg, as opposed to #BluesOnTheGreen, which is pretty long. Keeping it simple also means fewer people will forget exactly what your hashtag is. If they can’t remember, they won’t use it.
 

2.  Use the event's name and location.

If the convention name is BeautyCon, using #beautyconLA may be more effective than simply #beautycon.

3. Include the year for annual events.

If creating a post for an event that occurs annually, including the year to specify which year is attended - for example, using #beautycon2017 or #beautycon17.
 

4. Make sure to determine a good event hashtag well in advance.

Once it has been created, start using it yourself as an organizer and notify your audience about it. For example, runners who are training for the Austin Marathon in 2018 can use the hashtag #austinmarathon2018 when posting a photo of them training in the months leading up to the race. There is great power in promoting a hashtag before an event, especially if the goal is to encourage participation from the public.
 

5. Consistency.

For annual events, having a consistent hashtag every year also allows the participants to refer back to previous years’ photos by simply changing the year at the end of the hashtag.

Photo by Pine and Blossom

How to develop a hashtag for a wedding

Wedding hashtags have recently become increasingly popular, so it is important for your hashtag to be unique. After all, you don’t want to see photos from a random wedding that isn’t yours showing up under your wedding hashtag feed! Here are a few tips on creating a hashtag that is personal and specific to your big day.

 
1. Make the hashtag easy for guests to remember.

Wedding hashtags that have a play on words may be easier for guests to remember. Consider mashing your names together or focusing on the last name if you plan on sharing a surname after you’re married. Puns are always welcomed (and totally encouraged, if you ask us!).

For example, one of our recent wedding clients’ new last name is Newberry, and their hashtag was #TheNewestBerry! We even saw a wedding where the the groom’s surname is Morgan, so they chose the hashtag #ILoveYouMorganAnything. Get punny, because the funny hashtags are typically the most memorable!
 

 2. Avoid any hashtags that could be potentially misspelled by your guests.

Try shortening any long names or move words around to avoid having two of the same letters next to each other. For example #davidandashley looks much better than #ashleyanddavid.
 

3. Use a hashtag generator.
If you're having trouble coming up with an original hashtag, try checking out a hashtag generator to get started. Sometimes it’ll get your creative juices flowing and help you come up with something unique.
  

4. Get the word out about your hashtag.
If a hashtag for the wedding has been created before the couple walks down the aisle, use it on photos of the couple engaged. If you are the one walking down the aisle, consider using it when snapping a photo of you dress shopping or wedding planning. Put it on your save-the-date and your wedding website and get the word out!

Photo by Amanda Hartfield

We hope these tips help you create the perfect hashtag for your event. What's your favorite hashtag you've seen so far?

Blush & Blue wedding Inspiration

Something old, something new, something borrowed, and definitely something blue! This may have been last year's Pantone color combo, but we cannot get enough of this beautiful blush and blue color palette! Not only is this perfect for the spring and summer, It will look great in just about any location. There's no denying that we at Oh Happy Day Booth love blush, and our solid blush backdrop would be perfect fit for this wedding décor! What we love most about this color palette is that it is easy to incorporate beautiful details for a romantic, classy and chic wedding!

Flowers on chair: photographed by Alyssa Nikole Photography
Blue bridesmaid’s dress: photographed by Taylor Lord
Blush ring box: photographed by Hannah Mayson Photography
Lounge: Loot Vintage, photographed by Kayla Barker Photography
Tableware: photographed by Troy Grover Photographers
Bridesmaids: photographed by Nic Berrett Photo
Ring: photographed by Charla Storey
Perfume: photographed by Laura Nelson
Backdrop: photographed by  @spostophoto

We can't wait to see what color schemes are popular this year! What is yours?

4 Valentine's Day backdrops you'll fall in love with

Valentine's Day is just around the corner! Whether you're planning a big party with all of your couple friends, a super casual Galentine's night out for all your girlfriends, an awesome photo booth backdrop can make a huge statement and add a ton of fun to your get together! 

1. FLOWERS & STRIPES

Paper flowers and a classy black and white striped base make this backdrop the perfect Kate Spade inspired addition to your soiree! 

Via Pinterest.

2. LUXE LOUNGE WITH GIANT PAPER ROSES

Make the backdrop the center of attention at your party by adding a gorgeous love seat in front of it. Everyone will want to snuggle up for a cute photo with their sweetheart! 

Our friends at Birch & Brass have a gorgeous pink settee that would be perfect for this setup!

Via Kara's Party Ideas.

3. LINEN & GREENERY

Take your backdrop from basic to ooh-la-la with some real greenery (eucalyptus is our favorite!) and some silk blooms from Michael's or Hobby Lobby. The best thing is, those flowers are reusable for other crafting projects after your party!

Via Classy Clutter

4. ROSE TAPESTRY

Want a great backdrop, but low on space? This rose tapestry is not only minimal, but also super romantic!

Via Society6

We hope these gave you some creative ideas for super unique backdrops for your party! If you're hosting an event, shoot us an email! We'd love to be a part of all the fun!

Mercury Hall Open House

January has already flown by, and we kicked off 2017 with an open house at one of our favorite Austin venues: Mercury Hall! We had a blast meeting the future brides-to-be and guests. Luckily for us, we had the best of both worlds by being under the clear tent, which was strung with festoon lights, and being able to peek into the chapel and its stunning stained glass windows! Even though it is minutes from downtown, the greenery that surrounds Mercury Hall makes it feel secluded from the busy streets of Austin. The Loot Vintage lounge was placed in the middle of the canopy, and we were drooling over their blue velvet bench in particular! It’s never really hard work when we get to work alongside other amazing vendors such as Gypsy Floral, who was there to create beautiful bouquet arrangements for each guest, Feathers and Frosting, who offered delicious cake tastings, and the beautiful custom designs of Parcel Design Co. (Fun fact, the owner of Parcel Design Co was actually the room mate of our owner, Kelsey!) Vanilla Orchid catered some of the most delicious bites for the event as well. We really could not have asked for a better Thursday night! We love open houses because it gives us a chance to meet and chat with guests on a more personal level and get a better feel of what they are wanting at their special event. Big thank you to Mercury Hall for hosting such a wonderful night, we cannot wait to meet YOU at the next one! 

Green & Cream Wedding Inspiration

The simplicity of a green and cream color combination gives us all the heart eyes! Something we love about this color palette is that it looks great during any season! So many venues in Austin are either partially or fully outdoors, which means you can bank on green being in a lot of your photos, so why not embrace it?

Ring box: Mrs. Box, Photo by Jaimee Morse Photography
Flowers & wine barrel: Pasha Belman Photography
Candles: Photo by A Little Tipsy
Silver backdrop: Oh Happy Day Booth
Bride: Photo by Feather and Twine
Lanterns: via Deer Pearl Flowers
Invitation: Photo by Laura Nelson
White boutonnières: Photo by Hannah Mayson Photography
Shoes: Photo by Hannah Mayson Photography

With a relatively neutral color palette, we think our silver sequin backdrop would look absolutely stunning alongside all your decor! We would also be able to create a print design that includes a classy eucalyptus wreath or graphics of huge white flowers. The options are virtually endless, and we already have our wheels turning coming up with ideas for our next green and cream wedding!

5 Custom Backdrops that are Perfect for a Halloween Party

Whether you're an adult serving up spooky cocktails with creepy crawly garnishes at a swanky costume party, or you're throwing a kids party for your little ones with adorable goodie bags filled with your favorite candies (save all the peanut butter cups for me, please!), a photo booth would be the perfect addition to all the fun!

We've never seen a sad person in our booth (well, except for the cranky toddler who was up past his bed time!) so we thought we'd share some fun ideas for a custom backdrop that is sure to be the hit of your party!

1. Paper Fan Wall Art

Make your own paper fans out of your favorite scrapbook paper, or go the less time intensive route and run by a local craft store like Michael's or Hobby Lobby to pick up a few packages of paper fans.

From Kailo Chic Life

2. pumpkin patch Wall Tapestry

Make everyone think your party think you rented out a whole pumpkin patch! This wall tapestry is easy to hang and would make a big statement.

From Society6

3. hay bales and banners

Create a cool sitting booth for parties with lots of small children. Parents won't get tired of lifting their children up so the camera can see them, and kids will enjoy being able to stand tall on top of the hay bales! Use a solid color backdrop with fall-themed banners to bring out the fall spirit.

From Urban Lift

4. Metallic Magnolia leaves

Nothing says fall like changing leaves! Ruie + Grace absolutely nailed it with this leafy backdrop, and we think it would be incredible for a photo booth. They used browning leaves, and spray painted some of them gold to mix in for a gorgeous metallic pop!

Photo by Tom & Keidi, planned by Ruie + Grace

5. Spooky glam lounge

Raise the bar on the glam factor of your party by including a rich-colored velvet sofa paired with spooky accessories like a birdcage, a witch's broom, old books and lots of pumpkins!

You can rent furniture like this from a couple of our favorite rental companies in Austin: Birch and Brass, Bee Lavish and Loot Vintage.

Photo by Jackie Culmer

Hopefully this got your creative juices flowing if a Halloween party is in your future this month! If you are planning an Austin party this October, give us a call! We still have some availability, and we’d love to be a part of the fun!