Photo By: Thwaites Photography
Leslie Science & Nature Center & Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum’s 2024 Flutter Event:
On September 6th, 2024 the Leslie Science & Nature Center & the Ann Arbor Hands On Museum hosted their Flutter Event., an elegant evening that combines education and fundraising. This year’s event brought together supporters to celebrate both organizations among the lush gardens of the Nature Center. Guests enjoyed a seated dinner, silent auction, wildlife encounters, and more! The highlight of the night? A record-setting $100,000 raised in direct donations for the “Access for All” initiative, ensuring that these vital community resources remain accessible to everyone.
Event Rentals That Made the Flutter Event Shine:
1. Tents and Lighting: Create an Elegant Ambiance
Photo By: Thwaites Photography
For a fundraising dinner like Flutter, a tent rental offers the perfect setting. Leslie Science & Nature Center and the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum selected a 30′ x 75′ and 20′ x 30′ HD Frame Tent combo for the evening. This option provided an affordable yet attractive solution for their outdoor event, combining function with elegance.
September weather in Michigan can be unpredictable, so tent sidewalls were added to protect guests from wind and rain. A pro tip: installing sidewalls on the west side of the tent also helped reduce glare on projector screens during sunset, making for a comfortable and seamless event experience.
Michigan Rentals:
- HD Frame Tent Rental – 30′ x 75′
- HD Frame Tent Rental – 20′ x 30′
- Market “String” Lighting Rental
- Solid White Side Walls – 7′ x 20′
Central Florida Rentals:
2. Tablescape Curation & Table & Chair Rentals:
Guests spent a significant part of the evening at their tables, so the event design team aimed to make the tabletop items simple yet impactful. With a focus on floral centerpieces, they opted for neutral linens and minimalist tableware to keep the aesthetic clean and refined.
2024 Flutter’s Tabletop Design
- Table Top Linen: White Poly Linen
- Catering, Serving, Accessory Table Linen: Black Poly Linen
- Napkin: White Poly Napkins
- Water Goblet: Shloet 12 Oz Goblet
- Wine Glass: 8.5 Oz Wine Glass
- China Collection: White Square Collection
- Flatware Collection: Hammered Flatware Collection
For this event, we provided 8ft and 6ft banquet tables for buffets, drink stations, and the silent auction area, along with 72″ banquet rounds for guest seating.
The banquet rounds, which comfortably seat larger groups, encourage conversation while maximizing seating capacity—perfect for creating a welcoming atmosphere. Meanwhile, the rustic chairs added a thematic touch, tying the design together.
For seating, the Leslie Science & Nature Center and the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum chose our Rustic Wooden Folding Chairs, which perfectly complemented their late-summer garden theme.
Michigan Rentals:
- 72″ Round Table Rental
- 8′ Banquet Table Rental
- Rustic Wood Folding Chair Rentals
- Poly Linen Rentals
- Shloet 12oz Water Goblet Rental
- 8.5oz Wine Glass Rental
- White Square China Rental Collection
- Hammered Flatware Rental Collection
Central Florida Rentals:
- 72″ Round Table Rental
- 8′ Banquet Table Rental
- Farm Cross Back Chair Rentals
- Poly Linen Rentals
- Florida Tabletop Rental Substitutions:
3. Catering & Serving Essentials: Streamlining Success
Catering rentals play a vital role in creating memorable fundraising events, by renting these items your team will have an easier time logistically, but will also save money by renting them instead of purchasing and storing them. For the Flutter Event we provided a 100 cup coffee maker, 100 cup tea server, coolers, trays, tray jacks, and chafer equipment.
Michigan Rental Catering Rentals:
- 100 Cup Coffee Maker Rental
- 55 Cup Tea Server Rental
- 14″ Bar Tray Rental
- Wood Tray Jacks
- Waiter Serving Tray Rental
- Chafer Rentals
- 120 Quart Cooler Rentals
Central Florida Catering Rentals:
Let’s Make Your Michigan or Central Florida Non-Profit or Corporate Event Unforgettable!
Whether you’re planning a fundraiser in Michigan or Central Florida, we specialize in creating tailored event rental solutions that align with your vision. From tents and lighting to linens and tabletop, our goal is to make your event an unforgettable success.
Ready to bring your vision to life? Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you create an extraordinary event!
Vendors:
- Photography: Thwaites Photography
- Planning & Design: Leslie Science & Nature Center & the Ann Arbor Hands On Museum
- Venue: Leslie Science & Nature Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Tent, Table, Tabletop, Chairs & Lighting: Alpine Events
