TEXTILES.ORG
Creating events that capture the client’s vision—with panache.
To carry a design theme throughout every element of an event—and bring an extra dash of flair to the client’s vision—is at the heart of Allison Sargent Events, Montclair, N.J.
Design driven
The company, founded in 1991 by owner and president Allison Sargent, plans, designs and executes events across the United States for Fortune 500 companies, mid-size and small businesses, industry associations and small groups. The company’s attention to detail is the common thread, no matter the size or type of event.
For a 2012 June wedding, that thread was a monogrammed scroll design that the Allison Sargent team created and printed on the wedding collateral, including the invitations, decor and favors. Inside the tent they projected the same design onto the tent’s ceiling, in colors that changed throughout the evening. As a final touch, the evening ended in a fireworks display—inspired by the scroll’s colors and designs.
Trees, wind and water
The New Jersey terrain provides stunning and varied backdrops for events, in addition to challenges. In some areas, the heavy concentration of trees affects design options if the client wants an elaborate tent layout. To meet the client’s needs, the team designs around the trees, sometimes requiring multiple versions of the design—and multiple site visits.
Additional recent weather-related challenges have moved to the forefront due to recent storms resulting in high winds and flooding. “We make sure to weigh the tent down properly and match the correct floor size to the tent,” Sargent says. “To be safe we always do a run-through a few days prior to the event to leave ourselves some extra time to make any necessary changes to the tent. And we discourage clients from putting tents in low-lying areas because of the flooding the area has experienced in the past few years.”
Coffee and a cause
An invested member of the community, Allison Sargent Events initiated a local fundraising event for the Montclair Corps of the Salvation Army. The seventh annual Coffee and a Cause event took place in May, drawing
several hundred women from the community to learn about services offered by the Salvation Army. “The event has blossomed in recent years due to all the work the Salvation Army has done in the aftermath of extreme weather conditions that have left the East Coast in tremendous need,” Sargent says. “We love dedicating our ingenuity and design skills to this wonderful organization and its cause.”