Wine Country Party & Events Introduces Feng Shui Consultations

Sonoma CA. -- April 21, 2009 -- Wine Country Party & Events, which supplies some 6,000 smooth-running parties every year, has added another layer of customer service: feng shui. President Marshall Bauer has incorporated a certified consultant to incorporate elements of the time-honored Chinese approach to achieving balance and a flow of good energy at their clients' events.

"We are incorporating techniques from this ancient practice to enhance the opportunity for harmony and enjoyment at our events," said Bauer.

The feng shui (pronounced fung schway) aesthetic relies on orientation, placement and the arrangement of objects so that a particular site harmonizes with the natural forces within it. Its principles can be applied to any location, including homes, gardens, wine caves and even tents.

"I am very impressed with Wine Country Party and their dedication to giving their clients the best in event satisfaction," said in-house feng shui expert Amy Ross. "I know the extraordinary potential that feng shui has for creating incredible events. It affects all aspects of an affair, from color, to texture, to design, placement and even to food -- and everything in between. We offer comprehensive feng shui solutions to common challenges that party planners encounter."

"Making a good first impression is paramount," Bauer said. "Then seamless execution ensures that an event's focus is always where it should be, and at the right time. When a party transitions, it creates an opportunity for the energy to grow." Whether it is a non-profit event or a wedding, each gathering can benefit from the good fortune of being a balanced design.

"We've all been to parties that just missed and to others that worked brilliantly, even though we might not have known exactly why. There is no single recipe. We provide the underpinnings, the properly designed temporary infrastructure that allows people to gather in optimal comfort and style. Just like with food and wine, the right ingredients are nothing unless they are paired correctly," added Bauer.

The majority of Wine Country Party's weddings, charity fundraisers and other special occasions take place in the San Francisco Bay Area, where the wine country brand and lifestyle are critical elements in creating a successful event.

To supply his clients with all the essentials, Bauer, and his wife Leslie, who directs the style and product selections has assembled a stockpile of rental china, silverware, tables, chairs, linens and accessories, including fire elements in a variety of styles. The collection nearly fills a 40,000-square-foot warehouse next door to the upgraded showroom and brand-new offices at Wine Country Party & Events headquarters in Sonoma Valley.

The Bauer's visit showcases in Asia and Europe regularly in search of new product to offer their "event-savvy" clientele. During the past winter buying season, they have been sourcing products that specifically enable WCP to offer feng shui solutions. Water features, differently shaped products, unique tents, fire elements and new furniture compliment the design requirements needed to provide an on target and balanced event.

In recent years, this highly competitive industry has moved toward more showmanship and over-the-top, glitzy, Vegas-style design, often displacing good taste. With the current economy and the necessity to simplify, it would seem to be a perfect time to return to a better balance of festive yet sophisticated event production. As Leslie Bauer believes, "Now is the time to focus more on the occasion and less on the production. Our clients want to host events that are lovely and quietly confident rather than extravagant and excessive, all while needing to count on the seamless execution Wine Country Party has come to represent."

Wine Country Party's trademarks are service and an unforced elegance that often is inspired by authentic ease of the French or Tuscan style. "It is a tightly focused look that best fits the wine country. We offer the best overall product components that can be creatively assembled for an authentic and complete wine country look." Ms. Bauer added.

In addition to feng shui consulting, Wine Country Party & Events has initiated other innovations, such as what may be the industry's first electronic invoicing, calendar event management and on-line ordering program. The system drastically reduces the need for paper, one of the company's many green business practices.

Bauer, a self-described corporate refugee from Boston, New York, Dallas, Los Angeles and Silicon Valley, has also updated a planning guide he calls "the best in the business." As a result, he noted, "We don't have emergencies. There is minimal drama. Your focus is entirely on the event."