Hotel AKA Launch Party with The Scout Guide

Hotel AKA Launch Party featured a welcome a teal car with a suitcase overflowing in flowers on top.

If you thought last year’s Volume 8 launch party for The Scout Guide Alexandria was “over the top”, well wait until you hear about this year’s celebration at the chic and elegant Hotel AKA! The theme was “Palm Royale,” inspired by the period comedy-drama miniseries created by Abe Sylvia. As guests arrived, a vintage teal car sat outside, stacked with pink suitcases filled with flowers – a hint that guests were going to be trasported to some place new. Guests were invited to dress in vintage Palm Beach style, and the colorful attire enhanced the festivities.

Unlike previous years, the guide was not visible to guests upon arrival. Instead, after being greeted with champagne and led to the hotel lounge, guests were treated to a big reveal featuring a performance by Candescent Talent that include a hotel luggage cart, hot pink vintage luggage, a dramatic floral piece by yours truly, all to the tune of the “Palm Royale” intro. Guests were then led to the real party in the hotel’s lounge and bar.

In addition to the hotel’s stunning appetizers, delicious passed hors d’oeuvres, and amazing signature cocktails, guests feasted their eyes on a number of floral installations. Collaborating with Emily from Simply Bold on decor, we designed pink and gold floral flamingos to flank the bars. A palm tree was whimsically designed out of Scout Guide booklets. Pink peonies, ranunculus, green viburnum and more were appropriately dressed in custom rattan-wrapped vases, Truly, the flowers brought the space to life – especially given the last-minute change in location due to rain. The piece de resistance was a huge floral pineapple, featuring an array of pink blooms and topped with teal painted palms, a nod to this year’s signature colors. The space was scattered with fun cabana-inspired umbrellas and a hot pink pegboard behind a teal bar.

The Hotel AKA launch party was a memorable celebration of The Scout Guide’s newest issue – Volume 9 – celebrating community, business relationships, and love for Old Town Alexandria. We’re proud to take our place among an amazing array of small businesses featured in the guide. Cheers to Volume 9!