Life in Bloom is a new Chicago floral company that provides arrangements for meetings, corporate events, dinner parties, and weddings. "I love to incorporate a wide range of textures into what I create," says owner Rachel Wyffels. This fall, Wyffels is working with deep and bold color palettes and favoring Cafe au Lait dahlias, chocolate cosmos, clematis vine, grasses, and berries. Although she can handle events of any size, "the small, intimate parties are oftentimes my favorites to do, as we are able to get really creative and run away with a fun theme," Wyffels says.
Photo: Courtesy of Life in Bloom
Designed to resemble an overgrown—but elegant—Italian garden, Bulgari's intimate dinner for the launch of its Mon Jasmin Noir scent in 2011 had sounds of chirping birds, a cocoon-like grove of greenery, and smells of lemon, jasmine, and lily of the valley. Gold candelabra wrapped in vines, lush arrangements of white and green flowers in Italian terra-cotta compotes, sprigs of jasmine, and Meyer lemons on the branch formed the centerpieces on the long communal dining table.
Photo: Francine Daveta Photography
In 2005, Avon created an indoor park to preview its Mark line of cosmetics. A wrought-iron gate opened to four vignettes, which included a small faux maple tree with orange and red foliage and teardrop-shaped glass candleholders suspended from the branches, red umbrellas hovering over a wooden park bench and moss-covered pedestals, and warm yellow lighting.
Photo: Jamie Watts
The Lyric Opera's Opera Ball
The Lyric Opera of Chicago kicked off its 58th season with a performance of Richard Strauss’s Elektra on October 6. Following the performance, the Opera Ball was held at the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, where the moody decor by Heffernan Morgan Designs included towering arrangements of berry-covered branches.
Photo: Cheri Eisenberg/Lyric Opera of Chicago
The Hammer Museum Gala in the Garden
The Hammer Museum’s 10th annual Gala in the Garden was held in Los Angeles on October 6. The tables, featuring floral arrangements by Dandelion Ranch, were covered in black velvet and topped with mirrored glass hurricanes containing square pillar candles and surrounded by bud vases filled with spider mums, air plants, and ferns.
Photo: Andreas Branch/PatrickMcmullan.com
Private Event by David Beahm
"We were influenced by our surroundings. We let the decor of Blue Hill at Stone Barns rule our aesthetic, letting nature dictate the design. The hand-hammered copper urn visually grounded the design." —David Beahm
Photo: Brian Dorsey Studios
'In Style' and Warner Brothers Golden Globes Party by Thomas Ford
"We used a theme of minerals and semiprecious stone, with Brazilian agates and geode images for the walls and tables, anthracite leather banquettes, and garnet-colored carpet. It took seven people four days to hang all the gold mirrored chain for the ceiling installation." —Thomas Ford
Photo: Nadine Froger Photography
Turkey rillettes with cranberry Grand Marnier gelée on sage brown butter croutons, by Schaffer’s Genuine Foods in Los Angeles
Photo: Bridget Kenny for BizBash
Gold-dusted risotto served in butternut squash cups, by Boutique Bites Catering and Events in Chicago
Photo:Â Tyllie Barbosa for BizBash
Mini turkey sandwiches with cranberry jam, by Boutique Bites Catering and Events in Chicago
Photo:Â Tyllie Barbosa for BizBash
Turkey lollipops stuffed with homemade stuffing and dried cranberries, drizzled with cranberry reduction, by Riviera Caterers in New York
Photo: Nadia Chaudhury/BizBash
Diane Gordon Catering made two autumn vegetable risotto canapes—pumpkin and Parmesan and truffled wild mushroom—as well as sage and maple-glazed duck beggar's purses.
Photo: Marina Senra for BizBash
Emily Thompson from Emily Thompson Flowers in New York likes working with sweet gum foliage, oak, acorns, and "fall branches in general." She also loves working with the season's "seed pods, cones, and nonfloral elements."
Photo: Courtesy of Emily Thompson
"Fall is harvest time!" said Clover Chadwick of Dandelion Ranch in Los Angeles. "We love using gourds, fruiting branches, rose hips, pomegranates, bittersweet, pumpkins, Indian corn, and wheat; the list goes on. All these ingredients add texture and dimension to your arrangements. When paired with the flowers of the season, the result is reminiscent of an Old World still life."
Photos: Courtesy of Dandelion Ranch
Apple-Pie-Making
Nothing says fall like apple pie, and the Park Hyatt Washington has a new activity centered on the autumn treat. During interactive culinary classes held in the newly renovated event and meeting space, chefs lead guests through the process of making a fruity, spicy pie and share details about the dish’s history. The classes typically last around 30 minutes and can accommodate groups of any size.
Photo: Courtesy of Park Hyatt Washington
The mashed potato sundae bar consisted of three potato varieties representing ice creams: Yukon Gold for French vanilla, Peruvian Purple for chocolate, and sweet potato for strawberry. Toppings included crumpled Gorgonzola and aged balsamic (standing in for sprinkles and chocolate syrup); queso blanco sauce and bacon bits for marshmallow and sprinkles. Adding caramelized plantains made a banana split.
Photo: Harvey Bilt
"The Garden" was created out of toasted pumpernickel bread for dirt and plantings of baby carrots, asparagus spears, and zucchini, as well as baby tomatoes and buffalo mozzarella flowers.
Photo: Harvey Bilt
Peckish created a sprawling cheese platter that included a selection of nuts and fruit.
Photo: Gary Beechey for BizBash
Frost washed the dinner tent in shades of gold and russet and projected images of branches on the walls.
Photo: Robert F. Kusel
Large candelabras and lush sunflower, branch and leaf arrangements filled Astor Hall for the cocktail hour.
Private Social Event
For a private social event in the Tent at Lincoln Center in New York, projections covered the ceilings and vines curled around oversize centerpieces.
Photo: Arnold Brower
Private Social Event
Massive stands of candles drew the eye upward and created warmth at a private social event at the Stephen Weiss Studio in New York.
Photo: Courtesy of David Beahm
Event producer Bronson van Wyck countered the venue's gritty and rough aesthetic by bringing in opposing elements, incorporating smooth, hard, and shiny surfaces like mirrored tabletops at the dinner.
Photo: Caleb Ferguson for BizBash
Suspended candles lined a 100-foot-long portion of the walkway between the cocktail space and dinner area.
Photo: Caleb Ferguson for BizBash
