Wounded Warrior Project and the ‘Party Planner’

Just when it seems that event professionals have pulled the profession out of the “party planner” pit, we slide back….read more

Reasons Tent Rentals Are Great for Outdoor Events

When you are planning a big outdoor event, it can come in handy in more ways than one to rent a tent. Here are just a couple of the reasons why you should consider getting one for your next occasion.

Shelter From the Elements

You might be planning your event months in advance and need to set the date. It may be tough to determine if you will get rain that day, but with a tent, you and your guests are given much needed protection from any weather that comes around.

Customizability

Regardless of what your event is, you are bound to find the perfect tent. Small and big ones are available, depending on the size of your party. A number of décor options are also available if you want a fun or more corporate aesthetic.

Privacy

Privacy may not be too big of a concern with you, but it helps to be able to throw your party without worrying about any peeping Toms catching a view. You and your guests can enjoy the festivities in peace without worrying about being spied on.

Getting a tent is a great way to have a party that people are bound to talk about for some time to come. If you are looking for tent rental in Kingsville, then check out this website.

A Wedding to Remember

No matter what theme you have planned, there is a tent that will fit. Rental tents can also come in a number of sizes to accommodate a party of a few dozen or 100.

Today’s Trends In Wedding Decor

Traditional and modern wedding decorations aren’t different in concept, but the interpretation is all new.

Decades ago, wedding decorations were heavy on frills, ruffles, silver and white. Ceilings might be hung with crepe paper and tissue bells while tables were adorned with tall centerpieces sitting on an island of tulle. Ceremony décor included a lot of candelabras and pew bows, all in white or ivory, of course.

These days, however, couples are bringing color and personality to their nuptials. There still are centerpieces and candles, but now they are hot pink or wrapped with burlap. There’s nary an aisle runner or tissue-paper bell to be seen at weddings in the age of Pinterest.

The ceremony decorations of the past were mainly white and fluffy, from the large, staircase candleholders to the tulle pew bows. The aisle had a runner onto which the flower girl randomly sprinkled petals for the bride to tread. Today, with the proliferation of non-church weddings, décor is more naturalistic. Flower poms on shepherds crooks are the new pew bow. The aisle may have a prearranged design made of petals, sand or full flowers, and at the end one might find an archway or set of wine barrels flanking the couple.

At the reception, the traditional guest book, gift table and cake display also would have been heavy on the white and silver, with no special signage to indicate which table was being used for what. Now, the gift table is likely to have a thank-you note station so invitees can address envelopes to themselves. The guest book might not be a book at all; it could involve guests taking a Polaroid photo of themselves and attaching it to a poster with a note. Cakes have ditched the fountains and staircases to be all about color and design trends such as chalkboard, lace or twine.

The reception room itself has been transformed over the decades as well. Gone are the snow-white linens and uncomfortable metal folding chairs. Table linens today feature bright colors covered in a sheer metallic overlay. Tall flower centerpieces are now low and naturalistic so guests have a clear line of sight during dinner conversation. Wine bottles, moss, rocks or wood are popular choices for modern table decor.

Overall, the basic change from decades ago to now is that what used to be white and formal had become colorful and unique. Each couple wants to bring their own personalities and interests to the party instead of doing what has always been done. The new decoration choices of modern couples are creating a tradition all their own.

To learn more about modern wedding decoration rentals in Rockport, visit this website.

Tentickle Stretch Tents Expands Its Reach

South Africa-based Tentickle Stretch Tents, a manufacturer and supplier of bedouin-inspired stretch tents, is partnering with Creative Tent Systems in the Netherlands to spread their names into the Australian…read more

Why Does Each Country Have a Flag?

A brief introduction to the history of the flag and how similar flags represent the heritage of the country.

Flags have been used for more than 4,000 years. The first types of flags were metal or wooden poles with a carving on top that sent a signal to others, typically about the people associated with that flag. Originally, a flag was called a vexilloid, hence, the scientific study of flags is known as vexillology.

Knights used flags to identify their person when they went into battle. Once a knight dressed in full armor, it was difficult to know who he was. His colors identified himself to his friends and enemies on the battlefield. Countries began using a flag as their symbol, and today, every country in the world has their own flag. Although flags tend to be unique to their country, many flags are similar, differing only by a small color or detail in their making.

Colors on a Flag

The colors of a flag often tell you a great deal. Black represents mourning or death. Yellow is caution or it could mean gold. Green can signify safety, land, youth or hope. White is representative of peace or a truce, and red is indicative of courage, power, danger, revolution, or even bloodshed during war. Consider the flag of the United States, where white represents purity, red represents valor, and blue is for vigilance.

Similar Flags

When you look at some of the oldest flags, from the Scandinavian countries, you see that they feature a cross. Denmark, Norway, Iceland, and Finland, and even Switzerland, all have a cross on their flag. This is probably due to the expansion of Denmark throughout the region. Then, consider the Union Jack, the flag of England. If you look at it closely, you will see the cross, in the red and white. It added the red “X” or the Saint Patrick’s cross for Ireland. France, the United States, and many other countries which were once under Britain’s rule have used the colors of the Union Jack to make up their own flag. Many flags trace their heritage back to Great Britain.

The star and crescent of many Middle Eastern flags can be traced back to the Ottoman Empire. It can be seen on the flags of Turkey, Pakistan, Algeria, and many others. Each of the Pan-Arab colors, (black, white, red, and green) represent a different dynasty of the region.

Flags have a rich and deep heritage when studied. The design is indicative of the formation of the country and the countries that are part of the history. The next time you see a flag, look more closely to see what it represents. To learn more about flags, click here.

IFAI’s Tent Rental Division 2015 Tent Expo

Nearly 600 tent rental professionals gathered in Orlando, Fla., to attend the annual Tent Expo hosted by IFAI’s Tent Rental Division (TRD)….read more

A Brief History of Wheelchair Tennis

Chances are, just about any sport one could imagine has a version performed by athletes using a wheelchair. These activities, whether done for recreation or competition, as generally known as adaptive sports. Many, such as wheelchair basketball, have been played for decades. However, some of the adaptive versions of full-contact sports such as football or rugby are newer on the scene.

Wheelchair tennis has been played for many decades, but it really gained a following in the late 1970s thanks to pioneer Brad Parks. His campaign to organize competitive wheelchair tennis groups went worldwide, and in 1988 the International Wheelchair Tennis Foundation was created with eight member nations. That same year, adaptive tennis was played as an exhibition sport at the Paralympic Games in Seoul, South Korea.

After that demonstration, the popularity of wheelchair tennis really took off, and by the time the next Paralympics rolled around in 1992, it was an official competitive sport. New countries were joining the IWTF every year, and athletes created a system for donating used equipment to players in underprivileged nations.

Part of the worldwide love for wheelchair tennis is due to the fact that it requires almost no modification to the traditional format. Adaptive athletes use the same courts, balls and rackets as stand-up players; the only difference is that the ball is allowed to bounce twice instead of just once. The chairs players use have wheels tilted at an angle for speed and stability.

Today, there are adaptive tennis competitions as part of all stand-up tennis Grand Slam tournaments. In addition, the International Tennis Federation runs an adaptive-specific series of tournaments called the Super Series. Categories include men’s and women’s sections of singles and doubles as well as “quad,” which are mixed-sex matches for quadriplegics who may use electric wheelchairs. For players still developing their skills in the game, the futures tournament events allow them to move up in the rankings. The prize money awarded to winners of the Masters Series events are in the millions of dollars.

Many professional stand-up tennis players have joined adaptive athletes on the court, either as partners or as competitors. The sports of adaptive tennis also has its own roster of current and retired superstars, including Shingo Kunieda in men’s singles, Esther Vergeer in women’s singles and David Wagner in quads. These athletes serve as ambassadors for their sport and can be found signing autographs for young fans after tournaments. They encourage youths to get involved in the sport, even if it’s just for fun.

For more information about wheelchair rental in Kingsville, click here.

ABC Equipment Rental’s Hewett wins The Rental Show $2,500 drawing

Charles Hewett, CEO of ABC Equipment Rental, Tulsa, Okla., is the winner of the American Rental Association’s (ARA) $2,500 grand prize drawing…read more

Three Emerging Trends for Spring Wedding Canopies

If you are in the midst of planning your spring wedding celebration, you may be feeling overwhelmed at the large number of details and minutia that must be attended to in order to plan this event. While all of these details are important, one that you should be sure to give a fair amount of thought is the wedding canopy. A quick introduction to the various trends for spring wedding canopies may be helpful in providing some inspiration for deciding on what you would like you own wedding canopy to look like. Three common trends for the canopies are the natural look, a modern style, and rich, draped fabrics.

An Earthy Look

Spring weddings often serve as reminders of the beauty of the season. Perhaps for this reason, many couples that get married in the spring seek a natural, earthy look for their wedding canopies. Whether it is unpainted wood or even wooden poles, bamboo shoots or flowers, these canopies can create a stunning and colorful effect, particularly for outdoor weddings. Rose petals scattered throughout the aisle and elsewhere can complete the look.

Chic and Modern

Chic and modern is another popular aesthetic for spring wedding canopies. Particularly if the rest of the wedding has a clean and minimalist look, a modern canopy can be an elegant and sleek addition to round out the wedding’s style. Simpler canopies have the advantage of not drawing the eye away from the beauty of the ceremony itself. If the visual focus of the wedding as a whole is the bride and groom, a chic canopy can be a wonderful way to frame this focal point.

Rich and Draped

Finally, the third common trend for spring wedding canopies is a rich, draped aesthetic. Heavy draped fabric, often off-white in color, can be draped around all four poles of the canopy to mask them from view and create an almost floating appearance for the canopy. For a more airy look, lighter fabric can also be draped around the canopy. The color can be chosen to match with the theme of the wedding or with the bridesmaids’ dresses.

Your Perfect Day

In the end, every last detail of your wedding preparations, right down to the canopy, can be designed to meet your needs and taste. There are currently several different spring wedding canopy trends, and three which have especially been gaining popularity in recent years. Couples are increasingly opting for an outdoor, a modern, or a rich and heavy aesthetic. Any of these styles of canopy can look wonderful and enhance a wedding.

For more information on wedding décor rentals in Corpus Christi, visit this website.