At 6 p.m. on June 10, under threatening skies and with the near flood-level Potomac River just feet away, more than 200 members of the D.C. chapter of the International Special Events Society gathered at the House of Sweden for the group’s annual tabletop design contest, cocktail reception, and dinner. Like the group’s annual gala, the event showcases members' work, with tabletop concepts both streamlined and over-the-top. This year, 13 competitors vied for prizes, which included ad space on the ISES Web site and a trophy.
For the first time, ISES gave the contest a theme, directing contestants to choose a song and illustrate it. They could use a table provided by sponsors Ridgewells or Cort Event Furnishings or bring their own. The viewing areas included the House of Sweden's ground and lower levels, where Ridgewells provided three Mediterranean-themed buffet stations (at a discounted rate).
The chapter's director of programs, freelance event stylist Jennifer Fontaine, who produced the event for a second year, said her biggest challenge was the deliveries of flowers, linens, furniture, and props from multiple vendors. “With close to 50 companies involved, this was not an easy load-in,” said Fontaine. “Starting at 7:30 a.m., each vendor was given half an hour. Then from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. they had time for building the tabletops." During the cocktail hour, members voted in categories of innovation, creativity, and originality.
By night’s end, Michelle Christian of Fandango Productions took home the Best Table trophy for her Cindi Lauper-inspired “Time After Time” entry. (Sponsored by Party Rentals, the table, unlike most of its competitors, closely followed a musical theme. Her custom vinyl-covered plates carried clock images, and the color palette was 1980s-inspired, with hues of yellow, pink, black, and white. Last year’s winner, Sharone Abarjel of Da Vinci’s Florist, took this year’s prize for creativity. As his focal point, Abarjel propped a 32-inch flat-screen TV face down in a box covered with more than 500 white hydrangeas. The innovation winner was Rick Davis of Amaryllis Inc.; Bill Enright of Edge Floral Event Designers rose to the top for originality.
