Event rugs have a glamorous history as being a part of Hollywood movie premieres, wedding ceremonies and significant political and social events. From points in history when kings and queens ascended to the throne to modern day events with movie stars and paparazzi, an event rug adds an element of appeal and grandeur any occasion. This day in age, carpet runners are used for events such as proms, weddings and aisle ways for conferences. While the expressions “rolling out the red carpet” and “red carpet treatment” are used to refer to a situation in which extra efforts are made in the interest of cordiality, runners are now featured in many different colors. Whether representing a school or company pride or simply a personal choice, all colors can be used to show hospitality or prestige. While they make a wonderful embellishment to any event, carpet runners can be pertinent in setting a tone for the occasion. This significant detail can be helpful in showing esteem as well as subliminally classifying the event.
Find What Works and Runner with It!
The width and length of the event rugs are based on the type of occasion. For example, when using a carpet runner down a wedding aisle, the wedding party will be walking no more than two at a time and therefore a more narrow carpet runner can be used. However, at a movie or theater opening night premiere, stars and attendees are expected to loiter while posing for photographs and answering press questions. This is an occasion for which a wider event rug is necessary. This is a fact of contextualizing and creating a liminal space for your event guests and it is necessary for the successful planning of your event. The length of the carpet runner is more dependent on the distance of the walk versus the expectations of the setting. When escorting a VIP or dignitary into a new location, the carpet runner should reach from one vehicle to the building or the next mode of transport. However, when holding a town hall meeting in a community, the event rug should go from the last row of seats to the first row where it meets a podium or microphone for attendees to address their local government. Planning the sizing and placement of the event rugs is the responsibility of those in charge of event organization. It can be an overwhelming task, but knowing how to appropriately contextualize your event with carpet runners makes it much more manageable.
From Royal Carpets to Regular Runners
From the presidential disembarkation of Air Force One to the journey of the blushing bride down the aisle towards her soon-to-be husband, event rugs have a rich history in society on both a large, as well as personal, scale. They also stand to be a very significant part of the future. Every year, approximately 3,600 movies premiere, 543,000 businesses open and 2.5 weddings take place. This is not counting conferences, town hall meetings, Oscar theme parties and other events for which carpet runners are appropriate and/or desired. The possibilities are endless for these events and the demand for this pivotal accessory is ever-growing. We as a society embrace the embellishments of events and are constantly looking for ways to up the glamour factor and give a sense of grandeur to every occasion. Event rugs have done this for us throughout history and will undoubtedly continue to do so for many years to come.