Lou's Inspiration

For an event hosted by the Travel Channel, Levy Lighting provided a surround-sound video that let guests feel like they were doing what the channel does best: traveling. "The idea was to take guests to four locations around the world through projection," said Ira Levy of Levy Lighting. A floor-to-ceiling, wraparound screen formed a circle around the reception space at Center548 in New York, and the custom video shown here projected footage from Paris, India, Brazil, and New York City. Mary Giuliani Catering & Events handled production for the October event.

A Joy Wallace Catering, Design & Special Events produced a Motown-themed fund-raiser for the Miami Heat Charitable Fund February 27. Playing off the musical theme, each table number was printed on a vinyl record, but a touch of basketball inspiration was evident, as well: Instead of napkin rings, championship rings appeared at each place setting.

With fashion bloggers styling models and nearly half a million people tuning in to a live stream, Cotton Incorporated staged a 24-hour runway show earlier this month in Miami Beach. Produced by Jack Morton Worldwide, the multimedia event was the second edition of the 24-hour runway, a concept intended to show how cotton clothing can transition from day to night. An oversize clock on stage counted the hours as models walked the runway for a full day.

A classic Broadway musical underwent a very modern makeover for the New World Symphony's 25th anniversary gala in Miami last month, as scenes from West Side Story were mapped onto the unique architecture of the Frank Gehry-designed New World Center. The event, produced by Studio HS, entertained the 600 guests with video projections created with a technique called rotoscoping that could isolate and animate characters. Studio HS prepared video clips from the original film and mapped them to the building's curves.

Infinity Marketing Team produced an activation for HP-Intel at a Project Runway reunion at Skylight West in New York February 9. In designated "3D Model" areas, models painted in patterns created by the show's contestants stood against backdrops that matched the patterns exactly. The overall effect was akin to gazing at a Magic Eye poster, with models slowly becoming visible to guests who passed by.

A black-tie birthday celebration for William Dean, C.E.O. of engineering firm M.C. Dean, had a V.I.P. area called the Soap Bubble. PopUp Events Group erected the structure on Dean's newly renovated Miami estate. The glass fixture was stationed on the estate's grand lawn and served as a modernistic retreat for some of the evening's 3,400 guests. Filled with sleek white furniture and high-top tables, the dome also housed its own bar at the March 1 event.

Held at London's O2 Arena on February 20, the Brit Awards included a playful set for One Direction. For the boy band's performance, XL Video UK supplied two LED screens to create a massive pinball machine. The "scoreboard" was made of a five-square-meter section of black-surface-mounted LED tile, while the game board was made from a 3- by 6-meter screen of lightweight, semitransparent LED.

Held at Washington's Walter E. Washington Convention Center on March 13, the event served dinner with wine provided by Virginia Tourism Corporation. The group's "Love Letters," inspired by the "Virginia Is for Lovers" tourism campaign, stood sentry in the reception space and became popular props for guest photos.

Preston Bailey, one of our top 35 event designers, created a floral carpet for a private event. "I designed a 'carpet' and filled it with hundreds of beautiful blooms and then covered it with Plexiglas. The result was a statement piece that allowed guests to dance on air," the designer said. For more top-notch design ideas, check out our slideshow.

In addition to nighttime fireworks displays, PyroTecnico can also present daytime “fireworks” shows using colored smoke. With offices throughout the U.S., the company can stage performances anywhere. Prices available on request.

The in-the-round setup featured a stage where performers, including swordsmen and musicians, entertained guests throughout the evening.

The hotel was designed to resemble the moody landscapes seen on the fantasy show.

The ever-chic black-and-white motif gets new energy with the help of dramatic metallic accents. At the setup by Events in the City, a gold sparkle wall and gold glitter flatware add festivity to an otherwise preppy look.

One million flowers blanketed the walls of Christian Dior's July show during Paris Fashion Week. The Bureau Betak-event included a room covered with red roses.

The celebrity arrivals area, which was situated on the other side of the check-in section, was marked by an enormous wall designed by Raul Avila with more than 20,000 red roses.

Kale and collards formed a leafy wall at the Philadelphia Flower Show.