Stay Inspired with Event Design Ideas From This 'Mulan'-Theme Dinner

Houston-based Event Sociétal designed a dark and moody event setting for a recent photo shoot.

April 8, 2020

Segall said the concept of the photo shoot was inspired by the movie’s message: “Through the darkness, you’ll find beauty." Adding that, “You see a lot of shoots that are light and airy or full of color, but not too many that are dark and sophisticated.”Photo: AMA by Aisha

HOUSTON—The magic of Disney has always served as a source of inspiration for Arin Segall, founder and creative director of Event Sociétal. (She even interned at Walt Disney World during college.)

So when the movie studio announced it was releasing a live-action version of Mulan, originally slated to be in theaters on March 27, Segall knew she needed to design an event inspired by the film—even if she didn’t have a client.

“A lot of the time in the corporate sector, your clients don’t always necessarily let you tap into your full creative potential, so it can be fun to do photo shoots like this based on a theme that may not otherwise ever be pitched.”

Segall’s Houston-based event planning company—which also serves Atlanta, Las Vegas, Miami, Nashville, and Orlando—teamed up with a roster of other event professionals to create the concept of a grown-up party based around the story of a young girl who becomes a warrior.

“The biggest takeaway is that there is a way to elegantly highlight a beautiful culture, one that is a big part of the makeup of Houston, using a beloved childhood character as a muse and it doesn’t have to end up looking like a kitschy kid’s party,” Segall explained. “And it’s the perfect example of not necessarily reinventing the wheel, just improving on it.”

Segall said that during the shoot, which took place at the Asia Society Texas Center on March 11, right as news started breaking about coronavirus shutdowns, “everyone was getting calls from clients about canceling their events… that same afternoon, the city announced that the world-famous Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, for the first time in its 88-year history, was being canceled. I think it was at that moment when we all looked at each other in disbelief and the reality began to sink in.”

But the theme of the shoot and the movie, which is now set to be released July 24, became more apropos than ever. “At eight years old, a quote from Mulan such as ‘the flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all’ may fall on deaf ears—but as an adult, that messaging resonates with you,” Segall said. “And now, in these uncertain times, hearing words like that are a reminder that something that beautiful can come from all of the pain we are all experiencing.”

VENDORS
 Calligraphy: So Crafty Studio
Cake: Sweet Nation
 Catering & Food Styling: David & Michael Cordua Events
Creative Direction: Arin Segall of Event Sociétal
 Floral Design: Andy Hopper of H‑E‑B Blooms Shops
Paper Goods: Presutti Design
Photography: AMA by Aisha
Public Relations: Kristin Weissman
Social Media: Bea Connected
Tableware Rentals: Swift + Company
Trussing: 360 AV Design
Venue: Asia Society Texas Center

Segall said the concept of the photo shoot was inspired by the movie’s message: “Through the darkness, you’ll find beauty.' Adding that, “You see a lot of shoots that are light and airy or full of color, but not too many that are dark and sophisticated.”

Photo: AMA by Aisha

“I specifically used the mood of the movie as my inspiration. The dark tones married with femininity was our main focus,” explained Andy Hopper of Texas-based H-E-B Blooms. “I always love incorporating texture, and knew it was needed with such a dark palette. To make it unexpected, I mixed tropical floral [such as Vanda orchids] with traditional floral, which really helped tie in the theme.”

Photo: AMA by Aisha

Designed by Yoshio Taniguchi, the Asia Society Texas Center, which is located in Houston’s Museum District, served as the venue for the shoot. It was the first time the Water Garden was incorporated into an event.

Photo: AMA by Aisha

“Most of this shoot took place on a second-story ledge lined with delicate stone. So for weight purposes, we were not able to have more than five people outside at a time. Mix that with the water element, and it definitely made for a unique experience that none of us will forget,” Segall said.

Photo: AMA by Aisha

“The biggest takeaway is that there is a way to elegantly highlight a beautiful culture, one that is a big part of the makeup of Houston, using a beloved childhood character as a muse and it doesn’t have to end up looking like a kitschy kid’s party,” Segall explained.

Photo: AMA by Aisha

“Though I challenged the vendors to think outside the box, it was important to me that we include elements that were approachable and could easily be replicated,” Segall said. “Which was also why I chose to source several of the tabletop items from big-box stores. If someone lives in a small town and doesn’t have access to a large pool of vendors, they can easily go online and order these items.“

Photo: AMA by Aisha

“I was looking to add a little something else to the napkin, but really couldn’t find anything that stood out, so I chose to order these beautiful black frog knot closures from Etsy. We sewed the closure up and attached elastic to either side of them to put the napkin through,” Segall explained.

Photo: AMA by Aisha

“Food, a lot of the time, is an after-thought when it comes to styled shoots, and I was adamant from the beginning that we needed to incorporate it into the design. Because, after all, we want it to be a reflection of an entire experience.... In my opinion, events, even smaller dinner parties, should be a full sensory experience,” Segall said. “An event aesthetically could look absolutely spectacular, but if the food isn't up to par or doesn't complement the environment you've created, you will lose them. The effect is completely gone.”

Photo: AMA by Aisha

“While the menu was inspired by the colors and spirit of the film, we also wanted to reflect the diversity of Houston and the mission of the Asia Society,” explained David Cordua of David & Michael Cordua Events, the company who provided the catering. “There are elements from several Asian cuisines that were incorporated. And in a time when xenophobia is on the rise, we thought it was quite timely.” The menu included chicken lollipops with a classic sesame glaze; whole Gulf snapper fried using seasoned rice flour; ginger chicken skewered onto sugar cane; and dumplings steamed using a banana leaf.

Photo: AMA by Aisha

“To help tell this story with the cake, I incorporated textured, sharp edges, color, and dimension of perception,” explained Mariana Lopez of Sweet Nation about her creation. Segall added that she’d “love to start seeing more corporate events having these masterpieces on display, and not just immediately defaulting to a sheet cake.”

Photo: AMA by Aisha

“Before getting started, I thought about what elements would tie in with an Asian-inspired theme—cherry blossoms, free-flowing ink, vertical written orientation, and red as a signature color for luck,” explained Ashley Presutti Beasley of Presutti Design about the look of the collateral materials. “More specifically, Mulan was feminine, yet bold. Rather than focusing on being delicate, light, and airy, I wanted to ensure that the design stood out as strong and unexpected.”

Photo: AMA by Aisha