Mateo & Company Presents- ‘A Candyland Soiree’

Also Published/Featured: NOLA Adore Magazine, Where Y’at & PartySlate

We loved hosting another fabulous annual holiday party! For this year, we decided to make Son of a Saint our beneficiary. This has been a tough two years for everyone and there is nothing more that people need right now, than a real party and giving back during the holidays. We were able to raise right under $35,000 for Son of a Saint, through our event. Thank you Greg Keller for your generous donation of $25,000 to Son of a Saint through our event.

Mateo Annual Holiday Party Benefitting Son of a Saint New Orleans was a hit. We think it’s safe to say that Matt ‘Mateo’ Diaz throws the funnest parties in town.

Son of a Saint

Our events target the backbone of the city- the hospitality industry (hotels, restaurants, etc), the event & wedding industry (vendors- planners, photographers, florists, venues, etc), local influencers that help push the businesses in our community, and our business community leaders & folks that like to give back to the city through organizations (such as Son of a Saint). We had over 350 people in attendance.

Design & Planning

This is an event that will definitely be talked about for years. From the immersive talent to the performances, to the insane design and décor…. this event was epic. When you walked in, it felt like The North Pole meets Candyland, and they were both brought to life. Belinda, with Blue Gardenia Events, is the mastermind that designed this magical event. Valerie, with Sapphire Events, handled the logistical planning & event management. Mateo, with Mateo & Company, had a vision and some ideas, but between all three people (Belinda, Valerie & Mateo), this event was a huge success. Taylor & and her staff, at Republic NOLA, were so amazing to work with and accommodated all of our teams perfectly.

We cannot thank our event partners enough. Without them, the vision, designs, purpose, etc could not have come to fruition. We really worked with the best in the city, and out of the city, to pull off this production and they are the reason why it was so amazing. Please take the time to review the list of vendors and check them out for your upcoming events.

One of the super fun things that Blue Gardenia Events came up with, is having our amazing stationery designer, Dogwood Blossom Stationery, design a Candyland game board in the program for when people came in. The program highlighted all the events details and the game board highlighted each of the stations throughout the event. SO FUN!

Some things to highlight from the event:

Snowflake Lake Look-I-Do
The Shadow Box Wall Lounge, sponsored by Calfee Productions (also lighting & production), New Orleans Fashion Week, The Vanity, & Chau Chic

Queen Frostine’s O2 Bar
The Oxygen Bar by The Remedy Room

Lollipop Palace Photobooth
Your insta-moment photobooth & real-time face detection photos by Mateo & Company

Gingerbread Cottage Confections

Sweet treats by Bittersweet Confections

Mr. Minty’s Main Squeeze Juice Bar
Juices provided by Main Squeeze Juice Company

Pigeon’s Peppermint Forest Fare
Savory treats by Pigeon’s Catering

Lord Licorice’s Libations
Cocktails & libations by Who Dat Spirits, Urban South Brewery, Cuervo Tradicional, Chandon, & Artisan Fine Wines

Aerialists & Acrobats by YellowBoxCircus

Flash Mob by Move Studio

Main Entertainment by Jordan Kahn Orchestra

DJ Krieger from LA & Atlanta

Our Emcees were Reagan Charleston (for the VIP party), Kenny Lopez (with WGNO, & Brooke Laizer (with WGNO)

Décor & Rentals from Explore Element

Models by Nola Fashion Week
Hair & Makeup & Styling Assistance by The Vanity
Custom Designed Outfits by Chau Chic
Tuxedos (pants, suspenders, coats, vests, bow ties, etc) by John’s Tuxedos

Stationery (event logo design, invitations, programs, etc)& Custom Signage by Dogwood Blossom Stationery

Custom Ballon Installation, Immersive Entrance, & Custom Photo Backdrop by The Graceful Host Shop

Gooey Gumdrop Media Lounge
Sponsored by Partyslate

Additional Performance & Event Talent by the Mande Milkshakers 

VIP Party Drag Performance by Debbie with a D

Florals by Kim Starr Wise

Stay tuned for next year’s annual holiday party! Scroll for more highlights from the party and a list of full sponsors/event partners.

After Party at the Virgins Hotels New Orleans on the rooftop

Event Partners:

Wine: Artisan Fine Wines 

Baked Goods: Bittersweet Confections

Hair & Makeup Accommodations: Bleu A Blowdrybar

Event Designer & Planner: Blue Gardenia Events

Emcee: Brooke Laizer

Lighting & Production: Calfee Productions

Champagne: Chandon

Costume Designer: Chau Chic Designs

Tequila/Sonny’s Margarita: Cuervo Tradicional

VIP Drag Queen: Debbie with a “D”

Giveaway Partner: District Dental Spa

DJ: DJ Krieger

Stationery & Signage: Dogwood Blossom Stationery

Rentals & Decor: Explore Element

Giveaway Partner: Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans

Tuxedo Attire (models, & staff): John’s Tuxedos

Band Entertainment: Jordan Kahn Orchestra

Emcee: Kenny Lopez

Florals: Kim Starr Wise

Hotel Accommodations: Le Pavillon Hotel

Juice Bar: Main Squeeze Juice Co

Talent: Mande Milkshakers

Party Host/Photography Team: Mateo & Company

Talent (flash mob): Move Studio Nola

Talent (models): Nola Fashion Week

Media Partner: Partyslate

Catering: Pigeon Caterers

Emcee: Reagan Charleston

Event Marketing Consulting: Relevate

Venue Host: Republic Nola

Logistical Planning/Event Management: Sapphire Events

Beneficiary: Son of a Saint

Videography: Studio Vieux Carre

Balloons/Decor Installations: The Graceful Host Party Supply & Rental Shop

Oxygen Bar: Remedy Room

Talent/Entertainment Makeup/Styling: Pilar’s Vanity

Beer: Urban South Brewery

Giveaway Partner/After Party Host: Virgin Hotel New Orleans and Dream Boat Cocktail Lounge

Spirits: Who Dat Spirits

Talent: YellowBoxCircus

We cannot wait for another Mateo Annual Holiday Party Benefitting Son of a Saint New Orleans!