Austin Corporate Holiday Party at Bar Toti
Tinsel + Tapas Theme Holiday Party Production in Austin
CLIENT
LOCATION
Austin, TX
VENUE
Bar Toti
EVENT TYPE
Holiday Party
HIGHLIGHTS
Hair Tinsel Bar
Custom Leather Goods
Custom-Branded Photo Backdrop
Spanish Tapas
Tinsel + Tapas Holiday Party in Austin
Our client’s Austin office went all in on Tinsel + Tapas at Bar Toti, and the result was pure glitz and glam with a Spanish twist. When your theme centers on tinsel, you commit fully or not at all. This crowd understood the assignment, showing up in their most festive attire ready to celebrate.
Bar Toti provided the perfect backdrop for our Spanish-inspired vision. The venue's existing aesthetic supported our tapas concept while we brought the tinsel magic. And we brought it everywhere. Tinsel-accented floral arrangements added sparkle without overwhelming the sophisticated Spanish design elements.
The hair tinsel bar became the star of the night: A station where guests could get tinsel woven into their hair, creating instant glam that people loved. There's something about walking away from an event with a piece of the celebration literally sparkling in your hair that makes the experience stick.
A custom photo booth featuring a Braze-themed fringe and tinsel backdrop became a major draw throughout the evening. Everyone wanted their glittering moment captured, and the backdrop delivered the perfect aesthetic for sharing.
But here's what really elevated the experience beyond typical holiday party fare: the custom leather goods pressing station allowing guests to personalize Braze-branded leather keychains, bookmarks, and luggage tags with fun acronyms or their own initials. This kind of interactive, take-home element creates lasting connection to the event. Guests left with something tangible they actually wanted to keep.
The tapas element brought sophisticated small plates that matched the Spanish flair of the venue and theme. Combined with the tinsel everywhere, the hair station, the leather pressing, and the photo booth, we created multiple engagement opportunities that kept energy high throughout the night.
This is what cohesive theme execution looks like: selecting a venue that supports your concept, bringing in the right partners for florals and interactive elements, creating Instagram-worthy moments, and giving guests experiences they'll remember long after the tinsel comes out of their hair.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the best venues for corporate holiday parties in Austin?
A: Austin offers diverse corporate holiday party venues including downtown hotels with rooftop spaces and skyline views, unique restaurants and bars like Bar Toti with built-in atmosphere, warehouse and industrial spaces in East Austin for transformation, outdoor venues taking advantage of Texas December weather, and cultural spaces like museums or galleries. The best venue depends on guest count, desired vibe, budget, and theme requirements. Bar Toti excels for events requiring Spanish or Mediterranean aesthetic, built-in bar and restaurant infrastructure, and smaller to mid-sized gatherings where existing ambiance reduces decoration investment. Gravel Experiential's national reach includes strong Austin vendor relationships and handles all venue sourcing, RFP management, and contract negotiation.
Q: What interactive experiences work well for corporate holiday parties?
A: Successful interactive experiences provide guest engagement without requiring long time commitments. Popular options include customization stations (leather goods, embroidery, engraving) that create takeaways, beauty and wellness experiences (hair tinsel, nail art, mini makeovers), craft cocktail or mixology demonstrations, photo experiences with custom backdrops or 360 cameras, gaming elements (arcade games, casino tables, trivia), and food experiences (build-your-own stations, chef demonstrations). For Bar Toti, we combined hair tinsel bars with custom leather goods pressing, creating two distinct engagement opportunities. The key is selecting experiences that match your company culture, provide tangible value, and create social sharing moments. Gravel Experiential curates interactive elements that elevate event experiences.
Q: How do you execute a themed corporate event without it feeling cheesy?
A: Sophisticated theme execution requires strategic restraint and quality materials. Successful approaches include selecting themes with inherent sophistication (like Spanish-inspired Tinsel & Tapas rather than generic "ugly sweater"), using high-quality materials for all décor and interactive elements, strategic placement rather than overwhelming coverage, balancing theme elements with refined design, and ensuring food, beverage, and entertainment align with theme naturally. At Bar Toti, the Tinsel & Tapas concept worked because Bar Toti already provided Spanish aesthetic foundation, tinsel was executed through quality florals and professional stations rather than cheap decorations, interactive elements felt special rather than gimmicky, and the overall vibe balanced festive with sophisticated. Avoid themes requiring guests to look ridiculous, cheap decorations from party supply stores, or overwhelming every surface with theme elements.
Q: What is a hair tinsel bar and why is it popular at events?
A: A hair tinsel bar involves professional stylists weaving thin, sparkly tinsel strands into guests' hair, creating subtle or bold shimmer that lasts for weeks. These stations have become popular at corporate events because they provide quick, personalized experiences (5-10 minutes per person), create visible participation that enhances event atmosphere, offer non-permanent beauty enhancement guests genuinely enjoy, generate social media content and conversation, and provide a unique experience beyond typical event offerings. At our Bar Toti event, Central Texas Face Painting operated the hair tinsel station, which became the hit of the night. Guests left the event with literal sparkle, extending the celebration beyond the venue. Hair tinsel bars work particularly well for events with predominantly female attendance or creative industry crowds who appreciate fashion-forward experiences.
Q: How far in advance should I book a corporate holiday party venue in Austin?
A: Book Austin corporate holiday party venues 5-8 months in advance for December dates. Popular venues and restaurants like Bar Toti book quickly during peak holiday season (Thanksgiving through mid-December), especially for weekend dates. Early booking provides access to preferred dates and venue options, stronger negotiating position on rates and minimums, adequate time for theme development and vendor coordination, opportunity for interactive element planning and customization, and reduced stress as the event approaches. Austin's event market is competitive during holiday season due to the city's corporate growth and entertainment culture. Gravel Experiential can accommodate shorter timelines through our vendor relationships, but advance planning ensures optimal results.
Austin Corporate Holiday Party Planning + Production | Bar Toti
Tinsel + Tapas Theme Holiday Party Production in Austin
Gravel Experiential produced a Tinsel + Tapas themed holiday party at Bar Toti in Austin featuring hair tinsel bars, custom leather goods pressing, Spanish-inspired design, and interactive guest experiences. Full-service corporate event production in Austin.
