We're thrilled to continue our industry showcase series with someone whose work embodies everything we champion at Event Suppliers—artistry that transcends trends, authenticity that inspires, and a dedication to evolving the craft we all love.
Sophie from The Gold Events has become synonymous with refined balloon styling that feels more like high-end interior design than traditional event decor. Her approach is deliberate, atmospheric, and unapologetically sophisticated. She's not just creating installations; she's sculpting mood, blending textures, and proving that balloons can hold their own in the world of luxury events.
What makes Sophie's perspective so valuable is her honesty. She's built her business with intention, navigated the messy middle that no one talks about, and emerged with a clarity of vision that's rare in our industry. Her insights into 2025's trends and her predictions for 2026 are grounded in real experience, not just aesthetic observation.
Beyond her stunning work, Sophie is committed to elevating others in the industry. She offers both online and in-person training, sharing the knowledge and techniques she's honed over years of experimentation and growth.
Follow her journey and explore her work: 📍 @_thegoldevents – For luxury event styling inspiration 📍 @alessoninluxury – For her online membership & training
Let's dive into Sophie's thoughts on 2025, her creative process, and what she's leaving behind as we move into 2026…
What were your standout trends from 2025?
Chrome grabbed my attention first. I began walking into every charity shop I passed searching for silverware. It felt minimal & cool, it redefined luxury into something less opulent & more sleek.
Then came chartreuse & olive. It was earthy yet vibrant, & that felt like a dream accompaniment for organic balloon styling, where natural elements define our art.
Drapery was undoubtedly the biggest hit! Soft & ethereal, it was a subtle way to steal the show & I became obsessed!
Finally, chocolate brown. It arrived later in the year & completely took over my imagination! I leaned into it hard. Layering tones, playing with sheen (satin material) & texture (tortoiseshell acrylic). It was quiet luxury.
For me, 2025 was a slow shift. Balloon artistry began to feel more refined, more fluid, more intentional. The lines between balloons & high end styling began to blur beautifully. You could feel the influence of fashion, interior & editorial design blending together.
2025 trends showed me that I want balloon finishes to be tactile. I want them to melt seamlessly into the overall styling, rather than be the main focus.
With the freedom of double stuffed balloons, I wasn't just matching palettes anymore. I was sculpting mood & creating atmosphere.
What's one trend from 2025 that you hope stays, and one you're happy to leave behind?
Literally all of the above can stay! They were pushing through last year & I expect them to explode in 2026.
What I'm more than happy to leave behind is balloons demanding the spotlight. It's not that they don't belong, they do! They just don't need to speak so loudly.
My approach has become almost instinctual. A curvaceous soft peak at the top, melting into a voluptuous cascade below. Minimal balloons. Thoughtful sizing. Shapes that feel sculptural rather than decorative.
With this technique & the inclusion of custom colour recipes, balloons support the styling. They allow textures, florals & drapery the space to lead.
Because being unique is the real magic & that magic lives in the finer details. Balloons become the base, not the focus & suddenly everything shines brighter.
In 2026, I'm intentionally stepping away from balloons as the main element. I want to build depth in other skills, to create designs that feel immersive. I want people to feel invited into my work. I don't want them to stop scrolling just for a pretty picture, I want them to linger & actually feel the experience.
Where do you find inspiration for your designs - other event professionals, fashion, social media, something else?
Inspiration is everywhere, but it hits harder for me when it carries emotion.
Cinema is my biggest muse. I love the worlds created by David Lynch, Wes Anderson, Gregg Araki & Baz Luhrmann.
Their cinematography is dreamy, sometimes dark. The colourways aren't just beautiful, they do something to you.
If you think of a film like Romeo & Juliet for example, is it the storyline that makes it iconic? Not really. It's the aesthetic that stays with you. That electric neon blue glow, the flickering candlelight, the way all of the exterior scenes feel like it's just before sunset. You don't just watch it, you feel it!
Film captures my imagination most, maybe it's because they supply emotion too.
I look on social media. I save, I screenshot. It's useful to learn what's in right now. But it's not my main source. & honestly, I don't think it's healthy to rely on other balloon artists or artists in similar fields for your designs. It blurs originality.
I naturally lean into passions that existed to me before I was a balloon stylist. Because it feels true to me. What can develop from what I feel & see when watching a film cannot be replicated on an explore page. But I do still scroll a lot!
What's the biggest misconception people have about working in the balloon and event industry?
A couple spring to mind! One of the biggest misconceptions about working in the balloon industry is that it's instantly profitable & secondly, that everyone else has their life & business perfectly figured out.
It's important to know that starting a business is a long, drawn out process. Beyond making a logo, starting a page & seeking clients there is a lot of groundwork that no one talks about.
I didn't make any profit for the first two years. I invested every penny back into my business, to build inventory, experiment & discover what I wanted to work with. Bookings weren't consistent for a really long time. A lot of my work was made from home, purely for portfolio.
I trialled packages that completely missed the mark, I ran competitions that went nowhere. I spent too much time saying yes to clients who I wasn't aligned with. Travelling from one end of the county to the other on multiple jobs, only to realise I'd barely covered fuel costs at the end of it.
That's the reality, it's a journey! & that's why my online membership, A Lesson In Luxury makes life so much easier for aspiring artists.
It shares my lived experience with the real time experiences of our community so that you don't have to feel isolated, & you do not have to feel like a failure.
My business was built with baby steps, because the process is almost never linear. It's one step forward then two steps back. The real work is learning how to slow down, relax & follow your passion instead of chasing someone else's version of success.
& please, let's not be fooled by polished Instagrams feeds. We're all trying our hardest to make it work. We all have personal lives that tell a different story.
Behind the scenes in my life I am working with various teams to prepare my eldest son, Lenny for a kidney transplant. He is disabled, autistic & non verbal. It's complicated, it's hard & it's heavy.
But I still show up for work. Because it's my creative outlet & I am so incredibly lucky to make an income from doing what I love! Would you ever see that side of my life on Insta? Never. The Gold Events is about glamour & events, not my personal struggles. But you could be convinced that I've got it all together. The truth is, I am trying my absolute hardest to balance & show up.
So no one should ever feel like they're doing it wrong, or they're pouring energy into something that isn't working. It's not the case. If it's truly a passion, keep going. You will crack it, often unexpectedly!
Challenges never disappear in business, they just change shape. & for me, that chaos is what keeps me growing!
1 comment
Sophie’s work and imagination were what drew me to A Lesson In Luxury. You can actually feel her passion in her work and creations. I love how different, unique and luxurious her decor always looks. She’s definitely one of the best.
I agree with her that all the styles of 2025 will explode this year, especially drapery and fewer balloons. Custom colours also bring a bang to the entire setup.
This was a beautiful read. xx