YourBash! co-owner Brian Worley says paper flowers are out for 2017.
Photo: Claire Barrett Photography
1. Decorate a dance floor.
The dance floor is an obvious place to make an impact. For a private event, designer Preston Bailey created a unique dance floor that served as the evening's focal point. Hundreds of flowers were covered in Plexiglas, creating a massive floral carpet. "The result was a statement piece that allowed guests to dance on air," said Bailey.
Photo: Courtesy of PrestonBailey.com/John Labbe
A similar idea was created for a Ferragamo fragrance launch in 2010 in New York. A 22- by 24-foot dance floor was erected over the venue's existing pool. Drained of water, the recessed space held a neon Attimo sign surrounded by dried flowers.
Photo: Billy Farrell/PatrickMcMullan.com
At the National Association for Catering and Events' 2012 gala in Washington, guests danced on a floor that was embedded with LED lights. "We used this element because they looked like night stars," said the gala's co-chairwoman, Aisha Malik.
Photo: Evelyn Alas
2. Find a branding opportunity.
The floor can also be an unexpected place for logos, sponsor information, or branding. The TEDActive conference in 2013 took over some of the host venue's Spanish tiles for its own messaging. The special tiles at La Quinta resort in the Palm Springs area also guided attendees along the walkways to the various event venues on the sprawling property.
Photo: Alesandra Dubin/BizBash
Toronto-based artist Sonny Tran creates eye-catching 3-D chalk art images, graffiti installations, massive murals, and realistic paintings for major brands. For YTV, a popular teen channel in Canada, Tran customized a snowboarding graphic to promote a new TV show.
Photo: Courtesy of the Idea Hunter
For a sweet sixteen party in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, the dance floor featured the birthday girl's personal logo, which was inspired by Andy Warhol and comic-book art.
Photo: Courtesy of Rodney Bailey
3. Make it functional.
Floor decor can serve a bigger purpose. During Chicago’s Pitchfork Music Festival in 2015, carpet company Flor handed out some 5,000 squares of carpet so that guests could make their own carpeted seating areas on the grass—creating a functional and eye-catching decor idea. When the weather turned stormy during the festival, attendees used the carpets to cover muddy spots on the grounds.
Photo: Barry Brecheisen for BizBash
The Revel Group in Chicago hosted "Revel Provocateur," a dinner for the area's top event planners, in 2015. The evening's menu was illuminated on the floor.
Photo: Erika Dufour
In 2015, the Bata Shoe Museum's 20th anniversary gala in Toronto used a maze to inspire guests to explore its galleries. Hot-pink patterns on the floor led guests to different galleries and parts of the event.
Photo: Ryan Emberley
4. Go high-tech.
Energy Floors offers human-powered, interactive dance floors for event rentals worldwide. The eight-inch-deep tiles each house small generators; the tiles compress when stepped on, activating the generators to convert the kinetic energy produced by the dancers into electricity. The power can be used to activate the colorful LED light tubes inside the tiles that respond to the movement of dancers or nearby electrical systems.
Photo: Anneke Hymmen
The American Ballet Theatre's 2009 fall gala in New York got guests moving after the performance with projections on the dance floor. The floor played images of 1950s movies during dinner, and later busy street scenes moved in time with the music for dancing. The look aimed to complement the troupe's contemporary and unconventional programming, with dark colors and silhouettes inspired by artist Kara Walker.
Photo: Kevin Tachman
The Phantom of the Opera held its 25th-anniversary show and gala in 2013. To avoid the complications that come with laying carpet over stairs—especially on a snowy night in New York—the event's producers projected a strip of red light over the library's front steps, effectively creating a virtual red carpet that led to the entrance. Hundreds of LED candles sat on either side of the illuminated pathway.
Photo: Carolyn Curtis/BizBash
Following a renovation, the Carnegie Library in Washington added a glowing dance floor showing a map of the city.
Photo: Beth Kormanik/BizBash
5. Tie in the overall decor.
Expanding wall and ceiling decor down to the floor can also have a big impact. At the Museum of Contemporary Art's 2015 Benefit Art Auction in Chicago, colorful stripe-on-stripe decor expanded all the way to the floor, creating an optical illusion. Ghost chairs and striped tables allowed the design to feel fully immersive.
Photo: Kent Drake Photography
At the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s 2016 Costume Institute benefit, a 65-foot double helix—made of roses and lace—rose to the top of the ceiling, anchored in place at a rigged point. The pattern extended to the carpet, a patterned and hand-painted sisal featuring a red-and-pink double helix. It took six months to stencil the carpet.
Photo: Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art/BFA.com/Shutterstock
For a Mad Men-inspired corporate event in 2013 in Washington, a lighting projection on the floor evoked the image of a falling man from the show's opening credits.
Photo: Bryan Blaken/Freed Photography
6. Keep it simple.
Sometimes all you need is some masking tape. During Austin's 2014 South by Southwest, event production agency MKG brightened up a dark room using neon masking tape and ultraviolet lighting, creating an edgy, Pop Art-inspired look for the party for online magazine xoJane.com.
Photo: Nadia Chaudhury/BizBash
Fashion designer Patricia Field made her first foray into Miami Art Week in 2016 with a December-long pop-up shop and gallery. A simple—but effective—catwalk was created by placing two strips of red tape on the floor.
Photo: Michele Sandberg for BizBash
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay found a low-budget and on-theme way to display their 2015 fund-raiser's hashtag: It was spelled out in glowing neon tape on the floor.
Photo: David Fox
7. Or make a big statement.
The Brussels Flower Carpet is a 19,375-square-foot mosaic of 700,000 intricately arranged begonias that comes to life every two years for five days during August in the central square of the European capital city. Meant to incite conversation about nature, cities, and art, the designs have typically incorporated themes from Belgium’s history since the first carpet was created in 1971. It takes 100 gardeners four hours to arrange the petals by hand.
Photo: Courtesy of flowercarpet.be
While a cranberry bog isn't a floor in the traditional sense, it still made quite a statement at Ocean Spray's 85th anniversary in New York. Food editors and bloggers were invited to a Thanksgiving meal that took place inside a bog filled with 900,000 cranberries and 21,000 gallons of water.
Photo: Nilaya Sabnis for Tyger Productions
The Flower Luxe's Classic Luxe flower boxes can contain white, yellow, pink, purple, or red roses, which can be arranged in patterns. The easy-to-transport arrangements can delivered locally same-day.
Photo: Courtesy of the Flower Luxe
Clear umbrellas and glittering beads hung from the ceiling in the spring area. The sound of falling rain played in the background.
Photo: BizBash
“The Royal Chic tufted Chesterfield couches from Hire Elegance make a statement. They are impressive because they are so long, and when filling an event space, it is nice to be able to utilize large pieces of furniture like these couches.” —Brian Worley of YourBash in Santa Monica, California Royal Chic 13- and 20-foot tufted Chesterfield couches, $695 and $1,050, respectively, plus delivery, available in California, Phoenix, and Las Vegas from Hire Elegance
Photo: Sean Twomey/2me Studios
“Glassware can be mixed and matched to complement any color palette." —Jaime Geffen of YourBash in Santa Monica, California Colored glassware, prices upon request, available nationwide from Casa de Perrin
Photo: Courtesy of Casa de Perrin
“I like to rent a vintage car as the perfect accent for a period party." —DeJuan Stroud of DeJuan Stroud Inc. in New York Vintage car, from $1,500 to $5,000, available in New York from Model A Restorations
Photo: Courtesy of Model A Restorations
![“We have used linens by Party Tables in three recent events, including a party in Chattanooga [Tennessee], where I used a custom-made black-and-white pattern to fit the estate tables ranging in length from 16 to 60 feet. For a destination on Amelia Island [in Florida], Party Tables made custom jackets to fit over the venue’s existing wood barstools along with cloths for the highboys and pillows to accent the soft seating areas. It was one linen, three ways!” —Steve Bales of Bold American Events in Atlanta Linens, price upon request, available nationwide from Party Tables](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2015/01/chattanooga_blackandwhitelinens.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
“We have used linens by Party Tables in three recent events, including a party in Chattanooga [Tennessee], where I used a custom-made black-and-white pattern to fit the estate tables ranging in length from 16 to 60 feet. For a destination on Amelia Island [in Florida], Party Tables made custom jackets to fit over the venue’s existing wood barstools along with cloths for the highboys and pillows to accent the soft seating areas. It was one linen, three ways!” —Steve Bales of Bold American Events in Atlanta Linens, price upon request, available nationwide from Party Tables
Photo: Courtesy of Bold American Events
![“We love the oval table [from Lavish Event Rentals] as it is a new shape for a dining experience for guests to enjoy at an intimate and modern gathering.” —Karla Dascal of Karla Conceptual Event Experiences in Miami Oval dining table, $550, available throughout South Florida from Lavish Event Rentals](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2015/01/oval_dining_lider.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
“We love the oval table [from Lavish Event Rentals] as it is a new shape for a dining experience for guests to enjoy at an intimate and modern gathering.” —Karla Dascal of Karla Conceptual Event Experiences in Miami Oval dining table, $550, available throughout South Florida from Lavish Event Rentals
Photo: Courtesy of Lavish Event Rentals
“The Montana collection from Blueprint Studios is made from reclaimed wood, has a strong, solid feel, and can be used to create a number of different looks—from rustic cabin to contemporary loft—depending on the furniture you mix with it.” —Brian Worley of YourBash in Santa Monica The Montana collection, pricing varies, available nationwide from Blueprint Studios
Photo: Irja Elisa Photography
“I love the new Rachel collection from Suite 206. The smoky mirror look is so strong and sexy. It adds a lot of drama to any event setting and works great with all the metallic colors that are so popular right now.” —Todd Fiscus of Todd Events in Dallas Rachel collection, from $250 to $750, available nationwide from Suite 206
Photo: Jerry Hayes Photography
“I adore the Maxwell runner table and display pedestal or the high cocktail table from Taylor Creative. They disappear into any room, which keeps the environment looking less cluttered yet provides an elegant surface area for guests to rest their items on.” —Jes Gordon of Jes Gordon L.L.C. in New York Maxwell runner, $395, and highboy, $250, available in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic regions from Taylor Creative Inc.
Photo: Courtesy of Taylor Creative Inc.
“The Conveyer Belt by Signature Rentals is our personal favorite rental because it is a unique alternative to welcome cocktail, desserts, and food stations.” —Jeffry Roick of McNabb Roick Events in Toronto Conveyer Belt, $1,500, available in Canada from Signature Event Rental Shoppe
Photo: Henry Lin
"The Ruby Red collection from Bridge Furniture & Props is my favorite furniture to use for a speakeasy party.” —DeJuan Stroud of DeJuan Stroud Inc. in New York The Ruby Red furniture collection, from $295 to $895, available in New York from Bridge Furniture & Props
Photo: Courtesy of Bridge Furniture & Props
Rebloom removed damaged or wilted flowers before delivering them to customers.
Photo: Courtesy of Rebloom
At the U.S.-Ireland Alliance’s Oscar Wilde Awards during Oscar season in Los Angeles this year, Portobello Junction created centerpieces that included succulents in upcycled wine bottles.
Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for U.S.-Ireland Alliance
Rock Paper Scissors Events designed a shower with a theme that incorporated drought-friendly lavender on multiple layers, such as purple candies and floral arrangements by Cristina Lozito.
Photo: Courtesy of Rock Paper Scissors
One idea for a drought-friendly event is to eschew flowers altogether in favor of alternate decor ideas: To commemorate Harper’s Bazaar’s 150th anniversary, the magazine hosted a Los Angeles event in January where candles in glass vessels of varying heights surrounded the pool.
Photo: Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for Harper's Bazaar
At the Essence magazine Black Women in Music event in Los Angeles in February during this year’s Grammy awards week, succulents decorated a wall announcing sponsor Lincoln.
Photo: Joe Kohen
ESPN hosted a large-scale Super Bowl bash in Arizona in 2015, where the look was meant to conjure a desert retreat. It included mid-century furniture and planters filled with cacti.
Photo: Line 8 Photography. All rights reserved.
At the Mashable House in Austin, Texas, during South by Southwest this year, a photo opportunity allowed fans to recreate Beyoncé’s iconic pregnancy announcement Instagram post—and used kitschy fake greenery.
Photo: Julia Robinson
Also at SXSW this year, CNN changed its concept from last year’s CNN Grill to this year’s CNN Bungalow on Rainey Street, with a residential look and feel, including a moss-filled logo decor piece atop fake hedging in the backyard.
Photo: Sasha Haagensen/Getty Images for CNN
At the fifth annual Streamy Awards in Los Angeles in 2015, host Fullscreen partnered with Caravents to host an after-party at the W Hollywood, where guests could discover and share decorative objects—including owls—that were meant to conjure emoji in real life. Vignettes included succulents in terrariums alongside the whimsical objects.
Photo: Paige Jones
At the Retreat at the Sparrows Lodge in Palm Springs during Coachella in 2015, sparse arrangements of succulents and wildflowers, alongside taper candlesticks and other objects, lent a bohemian atmosphere to a long table.
Photo: Tyler Curtis
At the Zoe Report and Dolce Vita pool party, held at the dFm House during Coachella in 2015, a dimensional succulent wall with a Zoe Report logo served as a photo backdrop in the entrance area.
Photo: Alesandra Dubin/BizBash
In Los Angeles in 2015, Mindy Weiss and Wedding Paper Divas celebrated their new collaboration with an event that showed off five distinct looks meant to embrace wedding trends. To bring to life the trend of using natural elements, guests created their own terrariums using succulents, moss, and twigs.
Photo: Tiffany Rose/Getty Images for Wedding Paper Divas
At a purple-theme baby shower created by Frog Prince Paperie, centerpieces comprised abundant bundles of lavender atop lace handkerchiefs.
Photo: Courtesy of Frog Prince Paperie
At the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic in Los Angeles in 2014, Mille Fiori Design mixed succulents with marigolds in the brand's signature color for high-contrast arrangements that popped.
Photo: Claire Barrett Photography
At an in-office party for 360 Live Media in Washington in 2014, guests each received a potted succulent from local florist Multiflor as a take-home gift.
Photo: Ben Droz
Nature’s Rentals created a living wall made from drought-resistant succulents for ESPN, with the company’s logo spelled out in yellow to pop against the green striped design
Photo: Line 8 Photography. All rights reserved.
Images from 18 projectors merged together to create one seamless image on a 30- by 360-foot fabric-covered wall. An entrance in the middle led guests into the tent that housed the wedding party.
Photo: Courtesy of Megavision Arts
