This spring, wedding planners, brides, cake makers, and more gathered at industry showcases held across North America. Here's a peek at some standout ideas—ranging from nontraditional place cards to strategically placed dream catchers—from a few of those events.
Martha Stewart’s Wedding Party took place at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Chicago on March 22. At a vendor showcase held in the ballroom, Elysia Root Cakes showcased elaborate, multitiered confections decorated with edible flowers. Frosted in a pale purple hue, another cake was sculpted to look like a stage with its curtains drawn back.
The Martha Stewart event also featured playful ideas for signature drinks. One such libation, the Cottontail, was made with two types of vodka, lemon juice, simple syrup, apricot liqueur, fresh mint, and bitters; it was served in a Collins glass.
The Revel Group in Chicago hosted "Revel Provocateur," a dinner for the area's top event planners, on March 30 at Revel Downtown. Decked in black hues and Gothic-style decor, the event eschewed seating cards and instead printed guests' names on the back of chairs.
Masked servers roamed Revel's event during the cocktail hour. The evening's design was inspired by "a fashionable twist on a fairytale, with hints of mystery and sex appeal," said a company rep. The servers held an appetizer known as the "Vegetable Garden," which comprised raw spring vegetables with a trio of dips.Â
The dinner menu, which was prepared by Limelight, appeared in a gobo on the floor of the dinner space. To enhance the evening's intended vibe, fog swirled over the illuminated signage. Items listed included egg yolk and fresh ricotta raviolo, pan-seared loup de mer, and "Salad Under Glass" made with Humboldt Fog goat cheese.
At each place setting, sleek black boxes tied with silver ribbons held candles from Voluspa.
Be Inspired PR hosts and produces the Tassels and Tastemakers event twice each year for event and wedding industry professionals, plus media, bloggers, and other influencers. The most recent iteration on March 25 brought a Western theme to Carondelet House in Los Angeles. The event offered lounge seating under a lacy canopy.
Underscoring the theme of Tassels and Tastemakers, dream catchers hung throughout the space. The ethereal decorations had woven-in hashtags that encouraged guests to post pictures to social media.
In Toronto, Weddingbells magazine celebrated its 30th birthday with a bash at the Design Exchange on April 1. The event featured prominent branding with illuminated letters flanking the DJ booth; the dance floor also showcased the magazine's name and milestone anniversary.
Drawing on the event's signature hue, its dessert table offered light purple miniature cupcakes, swirled lollipops, and more.
Other desserts included macarons in nontraditional flavors such as chocolate-sesame and chai latte.
