70s-Inspired Event at Whitaker & Atlantic

Travel back in time with us on the blog as we reminisce about this 70s-inspired event at Whitaker & Atlantic in Raleigh, North Carolina. The warehouse venue, located within Dock 1053 near Five Points, transformed into a disco time capsule for Martha’s groovy birthday celebration. From retro décor to dazzling lights, the event was a visual feast that deserved to be documented. Nikki Whitt Belch, founder and owner of Fancy This Photography, was there to capture every detail and candid moment.

Whitaker & Atlantic is a sought-after wedding and event space near downtown Raleigh. Owner, chef and restaurateur Coleen Speaks opened Whitaker & Atlantic in 2017. The 3,500-square-foot warehouse venue is also home to PoshNosh, Speaks’ catering company. Nestled between a brewery and other local businesses, Whitaker & Atlantic features high ceilings, concrete floors, modern light fixtures and a beautiful wooden bar. The covered open-air patio and retractable garage doors are iconic. The venue can seat up to 150 guests or accommodate 300 standing.

Keep scrolling to see more groovy images from Martha’s 70s-inspired birthday party and learn more about hosting an event at Whitaker & Atlantic.

Whitaker & Atlantic’s covered open-air patio and retractable garage doors are iconic. The venue can seat up to 150 guests or accommodate 300 standing. Photo by Fancy This Photography.

Why Event Photography Matters

An event at Whitaker & Atlantic like Martha’s birthday is more than just a gathering. It’s a carefully planned experience filled with meaningful details. Hiring a professional photographer ensures these moments are preserved. From the disco-inspired dance floor to the playful lighting and colorful décor, capturing these elements allows the celebration to live on.

At Fancy This Photography, we focus on the details that make your event unique. Our cameras could not get enough of Martha’s shimmering sequin tablecloths, vintage lava lamps and custom cocktail napkins. Her groovy theme flowed seamlessly throughout the space.

Keep scrolling to see more from this unforgettable event at Whitaker & Atlantic in Raleigh, NC.

70s-Inspired Event at Whitaker & Atlantic in Raleigh, NC | Photo by Nikki Whitt Belch, founder and owner of Fancy This Photography.

70s-Inspired Decor - Event at Whitaker & Atlantic

Walking into the event at Whitaker & Atlantic felt like stepping into a retro dream. Balloons in bold shades of blue framed the entrance, creating a playful arch that welcomed guests into a world of fun. Tables were draped in rich textures of emerald velvet and sparkly sequins, accented by elegant floral arrangements. Guests dressed to match the 70s-inspired theme, adding even more personality and flair to the photos.

A dynamic digital dance floor served as the heart of the celebration, bouncing light off the walls and creating an energetic atmosphere. The lighting tied everything together. Lights cast a warm and inviting glow that felt both nostalgic and groovy.

Guests dressed to match the 70s-inspired birthday party, adding even more personality and flair to the photos by Fancy This Photography.

Capturing the Energy - Event at Whitaker & Atlantic

Our goal as event photographers is to capture the energy of the celebration as well as the artistry of the setup. For Martha’s event at Whitaker & Atlantic, that meant highlighting the bold design choices while also documenting the joy of her friends and family. From fun group shots on the dance floor to candid moments of guests admiring the décor, these images tell the story of the evening.

We love that Martha had a fun outfit change during her groovy, 70s-inspired birthday party at Whitaker & Atlantic in Raleigh, NC. Photo by Fancy This Photography.

Make Your Next Event at Whitaker & Atlantic Shine

If you’re planning an event in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill or anywhere in the Triangle, hiring a professional photographer is one of the best ways to elevate your celebration. From groovy birthday parties to corporate events and everything in between, Fancy This Photography captures your unique story with care and creativity.

Venue // Whitaker & Atlantic, Photo // Fancy This Photography

Museum of Natural Sciences Event

with Angela Proffitt speaking to Triangle NACE Members about how to Transform their Communications Mindset

As a member of the Triangle NACE group, I have had the honor and privilege of attending and photographing some of the most phenomenal events. The event at the Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh did not disappoint and was right on par with how NACE events truly inspire their members. The speaker, Angela Proffitt from Nashville, TN, talked about the art of transforming your communication style with those in your company, along with clients and potential clients.

To do this, each person was given a piece of paper with 4 colors on it, and each colored column had certain words that you were supposed to rate in order of “most resonated” to “least resonated".” At the end you would add up all of your points, and at that time you would learn what color you are, along with what color you were least. Instead of giving you the entire nights speech, lets dive into what each color means.

Does a certain color resonate with you? My color is…ORANGE! Wow, not surprising!

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ORANGE

These people act on a moment’s notice and consider life as a game, here and now. They need fun, variety, stimulation and excitement and are natural trouble-shooters, performers and competitors. At work, they are bored and restless with jobs that are routine and structured. If someone on your team is an ORANGE personality, talk to them about how an event or task is going to be fun, exciting and meaningful; you want to talk to them about the experience. ORANGE personalities are not that interested in the money side of things, so make sure you talk to them about the experience.

This personality typically does not like to fill out forms and they are not fans of consistency. Some things that they enjoy are travel, shopping, eating as an experience, and frequent breaks during their work day. They do not like to be bogged down by a 9-5 job, and would much prefer to have an exciting day with a planned schedule.

See below for a list of words that resonate with ORANGE personalities.

• Witty

• Charming

• Spontaneous

• Impulsive

• Generous

• Impactful

• Optimistic

• Eager

• Bold

• Physical

• Immediate

• Fraternal

GOLD

These people follow the rules and respect authority. They have a strong sense of what is right and wrong in life. They need to be useful and to belong. Their values include family, home-life, and tradition. They are natural preservers, good citizens and are helpful. At work, they provide stability and can maintain organization. They can handle all of the details and are considered the backbone to many organizations.

If someone on your team is a GOLD personality, it is best not to spring up ideas or thoughts on them immediately. You should give them bullet points on assignments. GOLD’s like to do things in advance, so if something is last minute, they will internally take that as offense.

See below for a list of words that resonate with GOLD personalities.

• Loyal

• Dependable

• Prepared

• Thorough

• Sensible

• Punctual

• Faithful

• Stable

• Organized

• Caring

• Concerned

• Concrete

BLUE

BLUE personalities need to feel unique and authentic. They look for meaning and significance in their life. They like to contribute, to encourage, and to care. They value integrity and unity in relationships and are natural romantics, poets and nurturers. At work, they have a strong desire to influence others so they lead more significant lives. They often work in the arts, communications, education, and the helping professions. They are true motivators.

If you have a BLUE personality on your team, you need to make sure to tell them how the process effects people and how it makes people/clients feel. If you are in the wedding industry, these people are the best types of people to take care of the couple on their wedding day. BLUE’s always fill out forms, and always make sure to write in the “additional form” if included on an intake form.

See below for a list of words that resonate with BLUE personalities.

• Enthusiastic

• Sympathetic

• Personal

• Warm

• Communicative

• Compassionate

• Idealistic

• Spiritual

• Sincere

• Peaceful

• Flexible

• Imaginative

GREEN

GREEN personalities seek knowledge and understanding. They live life by their own standards. They also need explanations and answers. They value intelligence, insight, fairness and justice and are natural non-conformists, and are visionaries and problem solvers. At work, they are conceptual and independent thinkers. Work is play. They are drawn to constant challenges in careers and like to develop models, explore ideas, and build systems to satisfy their need to be innovative. Once they have perfected the idea, they prefer to move on, leaving the project to be maintained and supported by others.

If you have a GREEN personality on your team, you want to make sure to tell them WHY you do things the way that you do in your company. When they write in intake forms, they write in question format. Some things that make GREEN’s happy are working alone, plans, having control, free time. They look at ORANGE’s as if they are stupid. What stresses them out are people who do not respect their space (think about sharing a desk), and talking about the past.

See below for a list of words that resonate with GREEN personalities.

• Analytical

• Global

• Conceptual

• Cool

• Calm

• Collected

• Inventive

• Logical

• Perfectionist

• Abstract

• Hypothetical

• Investigative

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Special thanks to all of the vendors who made this night possible!

Venue: North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
Catering: Rocky Top Catering
Planner: Becca Lee Taylor with C&D Events
Rentals: CE Rental
Florals: Fresh Affairs
Entertainment: Bunn DJ Co.
Audio Visual: SPIN Inc.
Photobooth: Photo Party NC