All In for the Girls: Red on the River 2025

Some events are special because of the décor. Some because of the mission. And then there are nights like Girls Inc.’s Red on the River in Owensboro, Kentucky, where both shine just as bright.

As a female-owned business, this event means the world to us. My husband Kirk (a Girls Inc. board member) and Jaimie, SB's graphic designer and fellow board member, are deeply connected to the mission of empowering girls to be strong, smart, and bold.

Girls Inc. has trusted Something Borrowed since our earliest days (they were one of our first renters!) and we couldn’t be more grateful to bring their vision to life year after year.

This year’s beloved fundraiser rolled the dice on a brand-new theme, and we went "all in" with a casino-inspired design! 

Pearl and Casey, our new red rose wall, provided a perfect interactive point for guests to snap a selfie!

The Venue at 1010 was beautiful, with exposed brick, hardwood floors, and an industrial vibe that set the stage for bold color and sparkle. Guests walked the red carpet and were welcomed by our new custom welcome sign box.

The entry drapery set the stage for the entire evening. Layers of champagne sequins and rich red velvet framed the space with drama and elegance, anchored by crisp white pedestals and lush florals. We added a customized foam board marquee-inspired sign (printed last-minute at Office Depot!) as the cherry on top!

Our new double welcome sign features 2 pieces of customizable acrylic signage inside a crisp white box!

Our favorite touch? The oversized playing cards featuring diverse silhouettes of young girls in crowns, because all girls are queens. What made them even more special is that we created them ourselves. After receiving quotes of $200+ per card (way outside the budget), we got resourceful with corrugated plastic boards from Amazon (linked here), our Cricut Maker, and a whole lot of patience. The end result was bold, meaningful, and one-of-a-kind; it was a perfect reminder that creativity always wins at the table.

Everywhere you turned, there were playful casino-inspired details: dice, shimmering sequins, glowing candles, and signage celebrating the mission. Champagne sequin cocktail linens caught the light across the room, and we made centerpiece magic with our brass candlesticks, Ivy Trellis florals, and our black bud vases. It was luxe, layered, and so much fun.

We’re so proud of the oversized playing cards we created - all girls are queens!

It truly took a team effort for SB to bring it all together. Daylin deserves a crown herself for spending hours with an X-Acto knife cutting the marquee-style sign that dressed our styled drape. Ryleigh and EhmadJai carried pedestal after pedestal across the room until every piece was exactly right. Allyson curated multiple balloon installs using our mini shimmer walls. And Anslee worked her heart out on the pipe and drape, knowing as a young photographer herself just how important that photo op would be.

Girls Inc. trusted us with this brand-new spin on a longtime favorite, and for that, we’re endlessly thankful. Our clients always become our friends, but this one felt like family. Nights like these remind us it’s never just décor... it’s friendship, impact, and a little bit of magic.

Did we have to put each chandelier piece on this by hand? Yes. Was it worth it? Obviously. We immediately bought 4 more.

Vendor Dream Team

Follow these incredible small businesses and support them with your next event!

• Florals: Ivy Trellis Floral

• Catering: Nona’s Market

• Desserts: SerenDipity Chocolate Fountains & Bluegrass Bourbon Dessert Bar

• Bar: The Brew Bridge

• Live Music: Owensboro Symphony

• DJ: K&S DJ Services

• Photography: Daylin Photo & Design + Summer Aldridge Creative

• Bourbon Guide: Owensboro's Bourbon Lady, Barbara McDowell Poynter

• Venue: The Venue at 1010

Oversized poker chips and metallic chess pieces (a lucky clearance find!) gave Kenneth’s DJ booth extra casino-night flair.

SB Blueprint Comparison

Every event we design starts with a Something Borrowed Blueprint, which is a custom plan that maps out the vision before it comes to life.

You can download the Red on the River Blueprint here and compare it with how the night turned out IRL!

Planning your own celebration? Let’s build your Blueprint together! Get in touch here to schedule a complimentary event consultation!

About the Author

Summer has been planning events since she could talk. From her sister’s Spongebob-themed birthday at age 7 to Hopkins County’s first (and only) “End of Middle School Blowout” (every ticket came with a free hot dog, and yes, the DJ brought a fog machine), she’s always had a knack for bringing people together and making it memorable.

In college, she hosted everything from sorority formals to nonprofit fundraisers, and today her experience spans hundreds of nonprofit and corporate events, concerts, festivals, and more weddings, birthdays, reunions and showers than she can count.

If you're looking for an event planner with an eye for detail, a heart for people, and just the right amount of bossiness to keep things running like clockwork, Summer’s your girl.