Tables

March 12, 2013

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 Wedding

Beahm was ahead of the chevron trend when he used black-and-white napkins for a wedding at New York's Gotham Hall.

Photo: Anthony Vazquez

Poladora.com Launch Party in Chicago

Mexican themes lend themselves to such whimsy and colorfulness. The table from A Perfect Event shows off a well-executed, conversation-starting example.

Photo: C. Saville Photography

Echo Design’s table celebrated nature by encasing artfully arranged insects, butterflies, and shells inside a clear tabletop. Several of the company’s patterned scarves were backlit on the surrounding walls.

Photo: Nadia Chaudhury/BizBash

For the opening dinner, blue-hued lighting tinted the Fontaine Ballroom, where tables featured white-and-blue geometric tablecloths. White floral arrangements sat atop illuminated white blocks on some tables, while others had silver candelabras with tall, white candles. Two Ten Footwear Foundation sponsored the dinner and Kenneth Cole spoke about “The Business of Looking Good, Doing Good, and Feeling Good.”

Photo: Sonja Garnitschnig

Photo: Shana Cassidy Photography

The centerpieces consisted of photos scattered atop raised Lucite platforms, which guests could pick up and look through during the meal. The family-style dinner platters were eventually placed atop the platforms, as well.

Photo: Nadia Chaudhury/BizBash

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum's Butterfly Ball

At the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum's Butterfly Ball in Chicago on May 3, the gala had a farm-like atmosphere. Playing off the event's "Savour Nature" theme, Event Creative brought in vegetable-centric decor. Tables were decked with miniature gardens potted with tomatoes, colorful peppers, asparagus, and kale; around the centerpieces, fairy lights in miniature Mason jars added to the elegant yard-party vibe.

Photo: Steve Becker/beckermedia.com

The iPad centerpieces from Keep Interacting can be customized for events.

Photo: Courtesy of Keep Interacting

Unique Centerpiece Design in Los Angeles

Little World Design specializes in sculptural, botanical objects and installations. Owners Heather Pando and Manuel Acosta favor long-lasting materials, like branches, seed pods, feathers, moss, stones, linen, and even real butterfly wings.

Photo: Manuel Acosta

HBO Emmys Party

Abstract peacock feather designs decked everything from the carpeting to floral vessels and linens. Translucent blue skin dressed the event's custom dining pavilion. Rentals came from Town & Country.

Photo: Gabor Ekecs

Clean Cuts

Orlando’s Totally Mod Event Furnishings has a new faux leather dining collection that offers a sleek look without the need for linens. The tables can be wrapped in white, red, brown, or black fabric with matching chair pads. The base of the table can be designed to match the top or can glow in any color. Rental prices start from $100.

Photo: Courtesy of Totally Mod Event Furnishings

2013 Holiday Party Trends: Color Schemes Stay Classic—or Go Neutral

Red and green are the colors that immediately come to mind when thinking of holiday events, but they aren’t a requirement—in fact, event designers say they typically avoid pairing the two in an effort to avoid appearing to favor Christmas over Hanukkah. However, red—especially when paired with black and silver—continues to stay hot, as it evokes a feeling of holiday nostalgia. “Rich, deep shades of red will be big this holiday season, and touches of sparkle will stay strong,” says Jennifer Iovino at Peterson Party Center in Boston. “Industrial metallic, especially brass, is a look that will also be seen quite a bit.” Also trending: emerald green, Pantone’s 2013 color of the year. Or, opt for a subtler palette, mixing silvers and whites with shades of grey for a cool, wintery look. “For the holidays this year, I’m going to be keeping colors neutral,” Gorjestani says. “I’d leave out the red and opt for whites and muted winter tones.” Add in organic textures, and the color scheme lends itself to an updated twist on the ever-popular snowflakes-and-icicles winter wonderland theme. “To create a sort of Narnia-esque winter forest, pair an earthy color palette with burlap, branches, birchbark, and organic materials like wood and leaves,” Galley says. Pictured: A tabletop look designed by Boston’s EFD Creative, with a centerpiece by Jeri Solomon Floral Design and rentals from Peterson Party Center, shows off one of the season’s most popular color schemes: red, black, and silver.

Photo: Person + Killian Photography

Photo: Julia Stotz

The Lyric Opera of Chicago's Opening Night Gala and Opera Ball

Held on October 5, the evening included a dinner-dance at the Hilton Chicago. In the ballroom, lush golden trees from HMR Designs stood as centerpieces.

Photo: Jaclyn Simpson Photography

Adler Planetarium's Celestial Ball

The September 7 gala in Chicago had a spacey vibe that was reflected in decor with hues of the night sky. Silky, dark-blue linens covered the dinner tables, and the Flower Firm's centerpieces were housed in tall, sparkly silver vessels.

Photo: Courtesy of Adler Planetarium

Orange flowers in green bud vases created a simple but lush centerpiece.

Photo: Barry Brecheisen for BizBash

The Art Institute of Chicago's Snap Gala

A photography theme was prevalent at the event, which benefited the Photography Gala Fund. INDO handled the decor, which included centerpieces made of glowing, vintage slides. To add to the shutterbug-friendly atmosphere, a curtain of slides hung from the second floor balcony. And, naturally, the event had no shortage of photo booths for guests.

Photo: Julia Stotz

14. Phillips Collection Annual Spring Gala

#14 Benefit (up from #21)
This year the Phillips Collection's gala drew 400 guests, one of its largest galas ever. Produced in partnership with the Italian Embassy, the evening had theme-appropriate touches such as chef Lidia Bastianich collaborating on the menu and an after-party featuring a La Dolce Vita dessert bar, an Italian fashion display, and a boccie court where Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito played a round with the Italian ambassador. Next: May 16, 2014

Photo: Pepe Gomez

Mark's Garden's flowers and foliage will lend a living look to tables.

Photo: Alesandra Dubin/BizBash

XO laptops replaced flowers as centerpieces in the dining room, flashing images of bouquets and alerting diners to their next course.

Photo: Joe Fornabaio for BizBash

Centerpieces were instructed to make eye contact with guests, and communicate only nonverbally.

Photo: Nadine Froger Photography

The “Land, Sea, and Sky” theme of the National Geographic flag inspired an array custom tables and toppers, including glacier ice sculptures. Syzygy Events International created the custom pieces for the event.

Photo: Robert Isacson

A mix of round and rectangular clear Lucite tables formed the dinner setup in the atrium. The sleek look was matched by clear chargers and ghost chairs; clusters of pillar candles replaced flowers as centerpieces.

Photo: Nadia Chaudhury/BizBash

David Stark used 6,000 pounds of recycled paper to create topiary centerpieces, oversize chandeliers, and a podium backdrop.

Photo: Alison Whittington for BizBash

Centerpieces on some dining tables looked like mini solar systems in glass bowls.

Photo: Nadine Froger Photography

Flower-free centerpieces showed more superhero images and served as holders for IML's devices.

Photo: Keith Sirchio for BizBash

Resembling stained glass, the centerpieces comprised light boxes filled with rows of slide sheets, each containing different squares of color.

Photo: Keith Sirchio for BizBash

The Gorey-inspired floral centerpieces consisted of intersected pieces of laser-cut Plexiglas, which offered four distinct views from different sides of the table.

Diffa's Dining by Design in New York

The Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS opened the 17th annual Dining by Design at Pier 94 on March 21. The weekend-long event, part of the Architectural Digest Home Design Show, held more than three dozen innovative dining-room settings. In lieu of overpowering florals at its table, Essie filled five tall candy jars with its nail polishes in different colors for a simple—and brand-placement-friendly—take on color blocking.

Photo: Gustavo Ponce for BizBash

For the Museum of Contemporary Art in North Miami's 15th anniversary in February, David Stark used past press releases, editorial clippings, photos, and invites to decorate the walls of the institution. The color-coded mosaic also covered lamp shades suspended from the ceiling.

Photo: Courtesy of KT Merry Photography

At the October 2011 dinner for Boston's Institute of Contemporary Art's anniversary, each table number represented a year in the museum's 75-year history.

Photo: Liz Linder

Photo: MamaRazzi Foto, Inc.

MOCA's 35th Anniversary Gala

In Los Angeles, the Museum of Contemporary Art hosted its big celebration on March 29. Held at the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, the event had tables that paid homage to presenting sponsor Louis Vuitton. Guests dined at glass tables laser-cut with the French brand's signature flowers. Tables were also dressed up with white orchids, hydrangeas, and lilacs.

Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images for MOCA

The white "V.V.I.P." tables lining the runway, for sponsors at the $10,000 level, had simple pink napkins, black chargers, and a single bright table runner with the majority of color in the floral arrangements. The gift bags included dog treats, food, and paraphernalia from Wagtime, a pet spa and boutique.

Photo: Tony Brown/imijphoto.com for BizBash

The tier-two sponsors who purchased $6,000 tables had brightly colored striped linens to differentiate their tables from others in the ballroom.

Photo: Tony Brown/imijphoto.com for BizBash

For a tailgate-party-theme bar mitzvah, Sara Renee Lowell of Sara Renee Events in South Florida and lighting company Designs by Sean created sleek cube-shaped photo centerpieces that were illuminated from within.

Photo: Luv Rox Photograph

The Prohibition-era theater production inspired the gold and ivory table settings, which were designed by Serino Coyne Events. The play, starring Zach Braff, Helene York, Marin Mazzie, Vincent Pastore, and Nick Cordero, tells the story of a young playwright who is forced to cast a mobster’s girlfriend in order to get funding. It's directed and choreographed by Susan Stroman.

Photo: Carolyn Curtis for BizBash

The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas New Year's Eve Weekend Opening Events

New Year's Eve began with a luxe 7:30 p.m. caviar and Dom Pérignon black-tied reception, which progressed into a dinner for 1,300 guests. Planner Colin Cowie wanted the event, however large, to feel like an intimate dinner party, and he dressed the tables accordingly. Peonies and dark purple calla lilies filled the space.

Photo: Alesandra Dubin/BizBash

One type of centerpiece featured lemons layered with carnations under glass.

Photo: FotoBriceno

Some settings included gold-rimmed glasses, gold chargers, and deep-red paisley tablecloths.

Photo: FotoBriceno

Tall floral arrangements decked several tables.

Photo: FotoBriceno

The settings evoked a Turkish feel, with lanterns and mosaic glass candleholders.

Photo: FotoBriceno

Each year event designers take decor inspiration from the art showcased on each gallery's walls, while never reproducing a look from years past.

Photo: Tony Brown/imijphoto.com for BizBash

While not every room had an overwhelming Americana theme, each nodded to it. One first-floor gallery had blue napkins and chair cushions.

Photo: Tony Brown/imijphoto.com for BizBash

A few of the galleries took full advantage of the event theme using red, white, or blue—or a combination of two colors—almost exclusively. Each element, including flowers, linens, tables, and gobos, of one room remained white or blue.

Photo: Tony Brown/imijphoto.com for BizBash

Perfect Settings topped each place setting with a different design of napkin origami, matching the color palette of that room.

Photo: Tony Brown/imijphoto.com for BizBash

Taking a cue from the walls, the tables had gold chairs and flatware.

Photo: Tony Brown/imijphoto.com for BizBash

The main atrium had a garden atmosphere that continued to the second floor with an illuminated green floor and vine-covered trellising suspended above the tables.

Photo: Tony Brown/imijphoto.com for BizBash

Green trees, gobos, and more draping created the look of a live garden wall at either end of the atrium.

Photo: Tony Brown/imijphoto.com for BizBash

Gallery 17, one of the only galleries with black-and-white art on display, had a different direction, with designers using a color palette of black and gold rather than over-the-top color.

Photo: Tony Brown/imijphoto.com for BizBash

Debi Lilly of A Perfect Event decked her reception table with a long runner of green and white hydrangeas. The table had a gentle, flowery fragrance surrounding it.

Photo: Carasco Photography

Dinner, served in the Charles Engelhard Court in the American Wing, featured tables covered in pastel cloths in the palette of Charles James's ball gowns developed specifically for the evening using Aerin for Lee Jofa linen fabrics. The imprint of chair Aerin Lauder's lifestyle brand, Aerin, was also evident in the Aerin for Lenox glassware in Goblet, Highball, and Old Fashioned styles in hues of blue, green, and a custom pink. Centerpieces held gardenias—the flower James used to cover a jacket he made for Austine Hearst to wear over the now-iconic Clover Leaf gown.

Photo: Don Pollard/Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art

The ballroom at the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel was set to look like an alfresco dinner party with brightly patterned linens, rustic chairs, and bowls filled with lemons. Dinner was an endive salad, Angus beef tenderloin with whiskey pink-peppercorn sauce, and citrus cheesecake with flourless chocolate cake for dessert.

Photo: Adam Novak Photography

This year, planners put a cap on the number of $25,000 sponsorships, and created a wait list for that level. To ensure that they would secure a table, some companies moved up to the $50,000 sponsorship level.

Photo: Adam Novak Photography

Photo: Timothy Musho Photography

Table settings included traditional garden-style folding chairs and crisp, white linens, along with floating candles and greenery centerpieces. The menu included lobster salad, heirloom tomatoes and burrata, and herbed lamb with mustard sauce from Glorious Food.

Photo: Carolyn Curtis for BizBash

In the Graham Room, where guests had dinner before the show, tables were named after songs from The Sound of Music. They were also decked with blue linens and edelweiss flowers in patches of faux grass. HMR Designs handled the decor.

Photo: Jaclyn Simpson

For the American Art Award gala, the Whitney Museum of American Art's event team and designer Ron Wendt drew inspiration from the night's honorees to come up with the Pop Art theme. Tablecloths in primary colors echoed Roy Lichtenstein's work.

Photo: Mike Marte

Rather than flowers for the American Art Award gala's tabletop centerpieces, Wendt recreated one of Lichtenstein's paintings. The sculptural pieces included fruit and bowls covered in tin foil.

Photo: Mike Marte

For the Oh Joy for Target launch party at a private residence in Beverly Hills earlier this year, Caravents turned patterns from the entertaining and party product collection into vinyl appliqués. The team applied them to the backs of ghost chairs to add on-brand pops of color to the event.

Photo: Paige Jones

The Women’s Division of Albert Einstein College of Medicine Annual Spirit of Achievement Luncheon

The May 13 fund-raiser took place at New York's Plaza Hotel, and the college wanted the centerpieces to make a big splash. Accordingly, Patt Glenn Productions created paper daffodils that ranged from three to six feet tall. The springy works were auctioned off after the benefit, and proceeds went toward cancer research.

Photo: Owen Hoffman/PatrickMcMullan.com

The Women’s Division of Albert Einstein College of Medicine Annual Spirit of Achievement Luncheon

The May 13 fund-raiser took place at New York's Plaza Hotel, and the college wanted centerpieces to make a big splash. Accordingly, Patt Glenn Productions created paper daffodils that ranged from three to six feet tall. The springy works were auctioned off after the benefit, and proceeds went toward cancer research.

Photo: Owen Hoffman/PatrickMcMullan.com

In 2011, the Wolfsonian-Florida International University honored architect Rene Gonzalez with an intimate dinner on the beach. The 48-person affair was planned by Jose Zaldivar of Fiction Events, who covered the tables with burlap cloth and driftwood.

Photo: Sonja Garnitschnig

Held on March 9, the Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science’s annual Galaxy Gala had an aquatic theme inspired by the museum’s new facility now under construction, which includes a 500,000-gallon aquarium. Produced by Jose Dans and held at the JW Marriott Marquis, the various centerpiece designs by Wow Factor included stacked fishbowls filled with sand, lichen, pincushion proteas, and red branches.

Photo: Meg Pukel

Rebloom removed damaged or wilted flowers before delivering them to customers.

Photo: Courtesy of Rebloom

Classic Party Rentals' Fall Line

Classic Party Rentals will be rolling out a fall look, which features its new Marcella china and its 66-inch round farm table, gold Chiavari chairs, gold beaded charger, diplomat flatware, gold Venice glassware, and amber wine glasses. The rental house also carries large patio heaters for chilly outdoor events.

Photo: Courtesy of Classic Rentals

"This fall, we are seeing lots of eucalyptus greens being used,” says Intrigue Designs’ Sarah Campbell. "The muted green tone of the leaves accents the rich fall color palettes perfectly. Eucalyptus is being used in everything from bouquets coordinating with oranges, reds, and amber tones, to long garlands running the length of the table."

Photos: Travis Curry (Campbell), Liz and Ryan (florals)

For fall, Bloom Floral Design’s Jennifer Haf is using a variety of dahlias, Japanese anemone, grapes on the vine, fountain grasses, foraged foliage, fruit on the vine, and more. She chooses “layers of texture and color that exude the calm fall brings,” she says.

Photos: Courtesy of Bloom Floral Design

“A change of season is always inspiring,” says Karen Amit of Among the Wildflowers. "This fall, I’m excited to create with autumn-toned garden roses, hops on a vine, antique lace hydrangea, luscious dahlias, rose hips, echinacea pods, fruiting branches, edible herbs, and fall foliage."

Photos: Robin Prather (Amit), Courtesy of Among the Wildflowers (florals)

“This fall we are using more plants and mixed containers to create lush, complex tablescapes “ says Flora Fauna’s Judy Bourgeois, who is also mixing vintage and modern vessels for presentation. She says her team is using more live plants, especially air plants and cacti, which “offer unique shapes, varieties, and colors," and are an ecologically sound choice as well.

Photos: Courtesy of Flora Fauna

Jes Gordon’s designs center on masculine burgundy tones accented with bold metallics, such as copper and rose gold. Magnolia, pear, plum branches, chocolate cosmos, and black scabies are all among her team’s seasonal picks. Beyond that, Gordon’s been working with what she perceives as a trend of using florals to accent the existing architecture of venues.

Photos: Andre Maier (Gordon), Courtesy of Jes Gordon (florals)

"This fall, I'm incorporating a variety of metals to accent the warmth of the fall colors,” says Krissy Price of Pollen Floral Design. "A copper urn filled with creams dahlias, pink garden roses, and burgundy foliage looks lovely on a reclaimed wood table. I love working with a color palette that nods to fall, but isn't overly ostentatious. This year, I'm loving a palette of cream, peach, tomato red, and burgundy. It creates a mood that evokes fall, but doesn't need a pumpkin or a gourd to do it."

Photos: Cambria Grace Photography (Price), Courtesy of Pollen Floral Design

Tables were light on dinnerware to facilitate the casual, self-service meal.

Photo: Allan Zepeda Photography and Judith Rae

AB Cover Designers created lamp-style centerpieces with yellow calla lilies floating in tall clear vases topped with large black lamp shades.

Photo: Alexis Corchado for BizBash

Photo: Luke Kraman

Blackbird Floral owner and designer Lea Wood describes her floral outlook as “disheveled with unusual elements.” Her goal is to create the right textures for whatever event is on hand, whether it’s a wild approach or a modern look. Floral workshops are available for those who want to learn how to arrange flowers. Wood also offers additional services like customized paper flowers and photo backdrops to help aid with the atmosphere of any event.

Photo: Courtesy of Blackbird Floral

Krissy Price of Pollen Floral Design fashions organic, textured centerpieces incorporating succulents, branches, and vintage elements as well as more traditional blooms. For autumn, “I love to use a color palette that nods to fall, but doesn't scream pumpkins, corn, and harvest,” Price says. “So I tend to use a lot of darker foliage, like smoke bush, Hopi Red Dye amaranth, and maple branches, and pair them with cream or caramel garden roses, some red dahlias, and little chocolate cosmos.” She will also stay on site the day of an event to serve as a one-woman anti-wilting brigade.

Photo: First Mate Photography Company

BBJ Linen predicts hues like silver, gold, and champagne will be trending at fall events in Las Vegas. New to its lineup this season is the Côtier and reversible Halo designs. "Metallics took the spotlight at the fall and winter fashion shows, and the event design forecast is no different," says the company's marketing and communications manager, Laura Rupp.

Photo: Courtesy of BBJ Linen

Moon Canyon, one of Los Angeles’s up-and-coming floral design studios, creates rustic, natural arrangements that can be used for all kinds of events from weddings to dinner parties. The founders also host flower workshops where students learn the basics about seasonal blooms.

Photo: Courtesy of Moon Canyon

Decor: Ornaments as Centerpieces

Ornaments added glitz to the decor at a Hollywood Pop Gallery-produced event.

Photo: Courtesy of Hollywood Pop Gallery

At the Cooper-Hewitt's National Design Awards in New York in 2011, designer David Stark used colorful rolls of tape supplied by 3M as seating cards. The rolls were stacked on rods atop the tables.

Photo: Richard Patterson/Courtesy of Cooper-Hewitt

Whitney Museum Gala

At the New York gala in 2008, decor from David Stark included deep plum, oxblood, and maroon colors.

Photo: Keith Sirchio for BizBash

“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

NBC Universal Golden Globes Party

Hot pink flowers from CJ Matsumoto & Sons topped long navy banquet tables. The party took place under a 100- by 200-foot tented structure from Classic Party Rentals.

Photo: Sean Twomey/2me Studios

At the Elle Women in Hollywood event, held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills in October 2014 and produced by Caravents, slate gray fabric lined the walls, allowing the blush tones of the tabletop decor to pop.

One of the smaller gallery spaces at the Phillips Collection featured steel gray linens topped with chargers with stone inlays for the museum's 90th anniversary gala, which was held at the Anderson House and the Phillips Collection in May 2011 in Washington.

Photo: Tony Brown/imijphoto.com

The gray tabletop decor in one of the dining areas of Phillips Collection's 90th anniversary gala provided a striking contrast to the tall orange and yellow floral arrangements by Jack Lucky Floral Designs.

Photo: Tony Brown/imijphoto.com