Green event design

At the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic, an eye-catching “living hashtag” comprising succulents spelled out the event name.

The Hammer Museum in Los Angeles hosts its annual "Gala in the Garden" each year with tightly curated decor. In 2010, the look included tabletops clad in green linen napkins and white pillar candles for an earthy, fuss-free air.

At Diffa Dining by Design's New York iteration in 2013, Kenneth Cobonpue placed plates and cups in organic shapes on a spare wood table. The minimalist setting allowed eyes to focus on the living centerpiece: a cluster of moss topped with bowls that held live Betta fish.

Sustainable agriculture champion Alice Waters was behind an inauguration celebration in Washington in 2009, where simple copper bowls held tangerines, and fresh bay leaves decked place cards.

The "Imagining the Lowline" fund-raising initiative's co-founders hosted a New York dinner billed as an "anti-gala" in 2012. Van Wyck & Van Wyck used reclaimed wood dining tables decorated with traditional taper candles and organic centerpieces made up of potted mint, lavender, rosemary, geranium leaves, and olive branches.

Similar to branches, stumps are creative replacements for expensive vessels and leave more funds for flowers. Showorks dresses up the humble tree trunk with vibrant roses and gerbera daises.

As a budget-friendly alternative to lush fall flowers, fill vases with affordable tree branches sprouting colorful autumn foliage, like the bountiful, statement-making maple leaf arrangement by Van Wyck & Van Wyck.

Students from the Illinois chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers went with a woodsy theme, using natural elements like branches, seashells, moss, and animal hides throughout their showcase.

Feathers tucked into wooden napkin rings offered a subtle nature vibe at the dining table from Modern Luxury Interiors Chicago by Casa Spazio, which was designed by Interiors Spaces Inc.

Attendees were encouraged to stay hydrated in an eco-friendly way at a refilling station.