AOO Events Founder David Merrell, award winning event designer, plans numerous major parties including several high profile Oscar parties like Alfre Woodard’s 8th Annual pre-Oscar bash honoring Director Ava Duvernay earlier this year. For SLS Las Vegas hotel, Merrell planned the biggest New Year’s Eve in the country featuring Robin Thicke, and for another client, a 50th Anniversary fête featuring Bruno Mars. Merrell has transformed the landscape of the party circuit and been captivating audiences worldwide for 25 years to become one of the most sought-after planners. He’s a lifestyle expert on television, in print and online, as well as, via an in-demand speaking schedule. www.AOOEvents.com
Today, David is sharing his NYE party tips and his favorite West Hollywood hot spots, hidden venues, respites and retreats where VIPS and celebrities book their parties and events. Whether it’s a Penthouse suite, a private dining room, poolside cabana or a hidden nook in a bar, David Merrell shares his insider knowledge and the perfect places to throw your own fabulous New Year’s Eve party right here in our backyard.
- The London – particularly The Vivienne Westwood Suite. I really like this venue for its flexible indoor/outdoor space right in the heart of West Hollywood. The stunning penthouse suite inspired by Vivienne Westwood is luxuriously breathtaking and the catering and events teams are friendly and efficient.
- P. & L.P. – The L.P. Rooftop Bar is centrally located with stunning views of the Hollywood Hills, an attentive private events team and a delicious menu. It’s new to most folks and a great spot to invite guests since they’ve probably not seen it yet. The cocktails are amazing and the Thai-fusion street food is innovative and delicious.
- Spectra at The Pacific Design Center – How can you go wrong with catering by Wolfgang Puck. Be treated to world-class cuisine at this Weho venue located on the third floor of the legendary Blue Building right in the heart of the action.
- PUMP Restaurant – Pump is one of the hottest, coolest venues to see and be seen and feel like a celebrity ….. and also to spot one of your favorite TV or film actors. Lisa Vanderpump is the perfect hostess and will make sure your party is a premier event.
- THE SLS – for their great food and spectacular ambience. The SLS upholds a very high service standard and boasts over 30, 000 square feet of indoor-space. The creatively configured venue also has an expertise in full-scale A/V productions, which is perfect for a live show on NYE.
David Merrell’s Top Five Tips -
If you’re not going to rent one of these stellar West Hollywood party venues for NYE, here’s what you can do at home to get that cool Hotel/Restaurant/Bar effect:
#1 – DESIGN OR RE-DESIGN YOUR HOUSE (“Bare” it all) – Create a cool, “clubby” space by moving furniture into your garage. We at AOO Events find a neutral canvas with one accent color allows the guest to shine. Reconfigure your neutral toned or similar color hued pieces from other rooms in the house and select low seating, ottomans, tables and lamps that are placed sparsely throughout the party space. Think monochromatic and modern.
This open floor plan and concentrated conversation area vignettes provide great traffic flow and sexy areas for conversing. Add metallics, draped fabric and pillows, in strategic places while adding interior lighting via AOO Event’s signature, “Scent-scaping” décor technique. Arrange a variety of different proportions, textures, and heights of vessels to cradle lit candles, and as an added bonus to the guest’s senses, pick sexy, subtle musky fragrances to waft thought the room to ignite pheromones.
#2 – Create a DRAMATIC ENTRANCE (like arriving at Weho hotel or bar); Get your guest’s adrenaline going before they even walk in the door with a splash of exterior lighting and a “red carpet” entrance to your front door. This fosters the electricity already being in the air for an anticipated good time to ring in the New Year — the tone is set at the onset.
#3 - LIBATIONS are KING on NYE. An eye-candy bartender, male or female, keeps the party stimulated and lubricated. Bartender services are readily available and affordable. Keep to a signature drink or two to control costs (don’t offer a full bar), something artisanal and exotic with vodka, basil, mint and jalapeno is always a winner. Seasonal flavors like cinnamon clove and ginger easily transition from Christmas into the New Year’s Eve celebratory vibe.
#4– SERVE SEXY BITES like the coolest restaurant and club New Year’s Eve parties or at a fancy schmancy Weho Hollywood red carpet event. Keep the menu simple and cost effective by going mostly with “forkless fare.” Use these mini appetizers that have an architectural or novelty element. Some of AOO Event’s signature catered food that can easily be replicated at home is our arugula salad in bamboo cones, bite size double cheeseburgers or spicy meatball sliders, and whimsical cake pops in a variety of flavors and colors.
#5 And lastly, but most importantly – Light it up! - In our professional events, lighting has become a key factor. For your holiday parties, use strategic spot lighting (for example, use existing lighting to highlight or redirect to an area where the gorgeous food spread is placed), lamps, candles and LEDs should be placed throughout to create flattering environments for the guest. Arrange a variety of different proportions, textures, and heights of vessels to cradle lit candles, CB2 on Cresent Heights has the perfect variety of candles, vessels, and votives of all shapes and sizes in a variety of finishes from modern to ornate to natural to create your own installation
