Out of the box

Instead of paper, Stark employed rolls of tape to serve as place cards on the dinner tables.

The Chicago-based company held its massive holiday party at Chicago's Aragon Ballroom on December 14. Event Creative's decor included 8- by 12-foot masquerade masks, which had illuminated, color-changing crystal columns as "handles." Event Creative created patterned gobos meant to look like the draped materials on a Mardi Gras float and collaborated with Sound Investment on the lighting.

On November 12, the beer brand took over New York's Masonic Hall with a masquerade-themed promotion. Mirrorball produced the event and brought the theme to life with costumed actors wearing elephant trunks, Marie Antoinette-style wigs, and masks.

Wearing white body paint to match the tufted bar, actors crouched on pedestals surrounded by candles. Purple lighting added to the moody, Gothic effect.

The Breeders' Cup, the unofficial end to the thoroughbred-racing season, took over Santa Anita Park on November 2 and 3. Kicking off all the festivities and welcoming the event back to the region was a reception at the mayor's residence, the Getty House, on Halloween night. Brown Hot Events' deep purple, masquerade-inspired design for the affair included a welcome table at the entrance with 300 designer masks from which guests could select.

Chandeliers encased in Lucite made for eye-catching high-top tables in the bar area.

CyberCoders hosted its annual holiday party at Newport Beach Dunes Resort on December 15. At the entrance to the masquerade-themed event, a performer on stilts ambled down a purple carpet. The event's logo, a feathered mask, appeared in lights on the wall. Kapture Vision handled production.

To help guests get to know one another, Mélangerie makes customized wedding genealogy charts that double as seating maps.