party ideas

Grilled corn on the cob with assorted toppings; roasted potato salad on chive sticks; watermelon cubes with feta and spinach; spinach salad with chopped eggs and microgreens in bacon cups; “hot dog” and “hamburger” macarons; and apple pie parfaits, by Windows Catering Company in Washington

Ahi tuna salad with pineapple-sesame dressing, greens, tobiko, and sambal aioli; cucumber rolls; hoisin duck salad with quinoa, wakame, and roasted vegetables; macadamia nut biscotti; coconut alfajores; and Absolut Ruby Red vodka, Soho lychee liqueur, and Patron Citronge cocktails, by Brûlée Catering in Philadelphia

Mac ’n’ cheese; chicken wings served with assorted sauces; kielbasas; Bavarian pretzels; and grilled chicken Caesar salad wraps, by the Garden at Studio Square NYC in New York

Grill-ready clay pot kalbi, with marinated beef, soybean paste, fresh garlic, red leaf lettuce, vegetables, and kimchi, by Miss Korea Barbecue in New York

Chopped salad with salumi, provolone, fresh oregano, and red wine vinaigrette; tarragon egg salad sandwiches with watercress and radishes; and ricotta pound cake with Meyer lemon curd and whipped cream, produced by Dandelion Ranch Events with catering by Cooks County in Los Angeles

Bento boxes including chilled Italian antipasti, served with sangria with blood orange ice cubes, iced tea with lemon zest and mint, and Peroni beer, by Parkland Chef in Boca Raton, Florida

Urban Picnic bento box including a chicken ’n’ waffles sandwich; a prosciutto, parmesan, and sherried fig jam sandwich; gazpacho in a cucumber bowl served with a pipette of vinaigrette and a dusting of avocado snow; a Caprese potato salad skewer; and a trio of sweet-and-savory suckers, by Truffleberry Market in Chicago

At the Delegates Party during the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, Best Impressions Caterers displayed shrimp cocktail and seared ahi tuna on stainless-steel shelves.

At a Belvedere-sponsored event during the 2012 Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, guests sat on haystacks covered with bright orange blankets and chevron-patterned pillows.

Chevron-patterned linens were also used on cocktails tables, and sunflower bouquets served as centerpieces.

LoLo Event Design also creates message-in-a-bottle place cards for beach-inspired events.

At the 2012 Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, presenting sponsor Belvedere offered refreshing beverages made with their Lemon Tea vodka, including the Lemon Tea Classic Punch, a drink that featured sherbet, black tea, and a mint sprig garnish.

At Barbra Streisand's recent fund-raiser for the Cedars-Sinai Women's Heart Center in Malibu, guests helped themselves to a raw fruit and veggie bar. In place of a tablecloth, organizers used a quilt to match the vintage-inspired aesthetic of the event.

Nothing says summer like fresh seafood. At the Power Ball in Toronto, V.I.P. guests helped themselves to shrimp and freshly shucked oysters at a chilled seafood bar provided by Petite Thuet.

Petite Thuet also served a colorful dish of seafood paella at the Power Ball.

A garden-inspired dish featuring seasonal vegetables by Great Performances in New York can stand in for a traditional floral centerpiece.

En Ville Event Design & Catering in Toronto created a picnic-themed display of fruit, bread, and cheese for a summer event.

For Heineken's Inspire Tour in 2010, the food was adapted to the New York market with items like Reuben sandwiches, Chinese dumplings, hot dogs, and falafels served from street carts.

Guests at Stella McCartney's 2011 spring preview were treated to shaved ice by People's Pops in New York.

At Stella McCartney's Resort 2013 collection preview, waitstaff passed citrus-infused cocktails in Mason jars.

Also at Stella McCartney's Resort 2013 collection preview, dessert stands offered sweets from Coolhaus and Pie Corps (pictured). At the latter, guests could also pick up prepackaged jars of fruit cobbler.

McCartney's carnival-themed presentation also had a mac 'n' cheese station. Guests could grab a mini serving wrapped in a spinach cone from a Ferris-wheel stand, or opt for a full cup that could be topped with veggie bacon bits, truffle oil, jalapeños, scallions, or sriracha sauce.

For the grand opening of the Miami Airport Convention Center in Miami earlier this year, the venue's catering team created an edible garden using toasted pumpernickel crumbs as "dirt" with spears of baby carrots, asparagus spears, and zucchini, as well as baby tomatoes and buffalo mozzarella "flowers."

At this year's Luminescence gala in Chicago, passed canapes included cured salmon lollipops, displayed on beds of wheatgrass.

As part of Colgate's White Beauty Bar event in Los Angeles, Skintimate treated attendees to a self-serve sorbet station.

Boston-based event design firm LoLo Event Design recommends setting up self-service bars at summer events. The display includes premixed drinks in large Mason jars, along with fresh herbs and seasonal flowers.

For a fun spin on a summer favorite, LoLo Event Design has caterers serve passed bite-size ice cream cones and ice cream sandwiches.

At this year's Tony Awards gala in New York, guests could serve themselves cups of YoArt's frozen yogurt. There were 80 different toppings, including fresh fruit and gummi candies.

Tabú nightclub at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas is offering several Fourth of July-inspired cocktails this summer. The White Night (pictured) is a sweet and savory blend of Malibu rum, Frangelico, Rumplemintz, and cream strained and served over ice, then garnished with raspberries and blueberries.

At Barbra Streisand's fund-raiser for the Cedars-Sinai Women's Heart Center in Malibu, colorful floral arrangements in wooden vases played off the outdoor setting.

For the dinner, held inside Streisand's home, the summery atmosphere featured neutral tones and fresh-picked centerpieces.

California-based rental company Archive Rentals offers a large collection of authentic vintage Western and camping-themed items, including reclaimed barn-wood tables, camping trailers, Airstream trailers and canoes.

The centerpieces at Diffa's Garden gala in Chicago this year included candelabras wrapped in greenery and white flowers surrounded by Mason jars holding tealights.

For the Central Park Conservancy's annual "Taste of Summer" event in New York, designer Marc Wilson punched up the all-white furnishings with drapes and throw pillows in bright pink, green, and yellow hues.

The V.I.P. area of Toronto's Power Ball was styled with rustic elements for an English-picnic look. Designers used loading palettes as banquet seating and cocktail tables.

Markus Daly Ryan produced Univision's Deportes launch in New York, where picnic tables formed the bulk of the seating and found lumber was turned into cocktail tables for a neighborhood-block-party feel.

At Stella McCartney's Resort 2013 presentation, a large cart overflowing with roses and peonies stood near the entrance to the venue. As guests left, they were given small bouquets or single stems as festive gifts.

At Glossed & Found's Meredith Wendell luncheon in Chicago, A Perfect Event placed giant, colorful pool inflatables throughout the venue to set the tone for the pool party theme.

For the picnic-inspired Absolut Orient Apple launch party in New York last summer, organizers covered the floor of the indoor venue with sod, and brought in live trees and wooden barrels filled with thousands of apples.

At this year's Casa de Don Julio event in New York, the outdoor terrace was decorated with Mexican-inspired decor, with barrels and wooden benches used for guest seating and cocktail tables.

This year's Adam Smith Awards gala, which took place in Washington, D.C., had a red-white-and-blue theme.

LoLo Event Design offers hand-painted handkerchiefs that can serve as table numbers at a garden event. Geraniums in a terra cotta pot have a more casual feel than an elaborate formal centerpiece.

At Sears' and Kmart's 2012 collection press preview, the design team brought in foliage, benches, and six live canaries. The birds chirped from freestanding cages placed around the product vignettes.

For a recent pool party, the team at Swank Productions kept the decor streamlined, with a mostly white color palette, mirrored furnishings, and plenty of sheer draping.

For an indoor summer-themed gathering, Swank producers used beach balls to create playful "chandeliers." Tables were covered in summery yellow and orange linens.

At Glossed & Found's book launch party designed by A Perfect Event, guests took home summer cocktail recipes provided by Grand Marnier.

Megavision Arts created 2-D and 3-D wall projections as a nod to the pool theme at a party to celebrate newly renovated Los Angeles venue Nic's Beverly Hills.

The recent Beverly Hills Hotel & Bungalows 100th anniversary bash kicked off with a performance by the Aqualillies, a troupe of water-ballerinas.

At the Power Ball in Toronto, piñatas made for a kid-friendly activity.

At the Seersucker Ride and Social in Washington, D.C., guests enjoyed music from a 1920s jazz band. As a nod to the theme, participants dressed in seersucker and Jazz Age fashions.

Guests also played lawn games like croquet at the Seersucker Ride and Social.

At last year's Stella McCartney spring preview, guests played ping-pong at a table set up outside.

Zen Arts in Southern California offers an array of entertainment that can take place in or around a pool, including their transparent spheres that hold performers and float on water.

At the Power Ball in Toronto, guests took a ride on wooden swings in the main party area.

At Sunglass Hut's summer block party in Miami, family-friendly games included corn hole, bocce ball, ping-pong, and hopscotch.

Pop-a-shot basketball was a popular activity at Sunglass Hut's summer party.

For Yahoo's Genome relaunch party in New York, organizers brought in a trio of synchronized swimmers from Gotham Synchro to swim in the venue's indoor pool. The water dancers sported alien-inspired body suits as a nod to the event's futuristic theme.

Dubbed "Hannah Mermaid," model Hannah Fraser is available for corporate events, and specializes in underwater "aquabatics" and open-water diving.

Kravet's setting had banquette seating around a round purple table that had dozens of holes cut out of the surface, which created a pretty pattern of light on the floor below (and held napkins and glasses).

David Stark's installation for Benjamin Moore had an aviary theme, to play off the paint manufacturer's latest Twitter promotion. Among many trompe l'oeil details, the space had two faux chandeliers that looked hand-drawn.

Ralph Lauren Home went with a rustic, country porch feel complete with bandannas as napkins, mix-and-match blue and white plates, and single-bloom arrangements in large vintage-looking vessels such as glass jars and silver vases.

Goil Amornvivat and Thomas Morbitzer found inspiration in butterflies when designing their space for Tug Studio. The display, which included a science-project-like wind tunnel, also had a stick-on patterned table runner, which added interest to the simple piece of furniture.

Guests at David Rockwell's table dined from plates set on a bed of fresh red roses. Inspired by the AIDS ribbon, Rockwell used plain ribbon to create an interwoven hanging display in lieu of a chandelier.

MMPI's space, by D'Apostrophe Design, was lined with faux fur in which the designers had shaved the words of a French poem. Other striking details included a long glowing table, an overhead mirror, and dishware secured by latex straps.

Jeffrey Brooks Interior Design created an ethereal setting with an oversize pair of feathered wings, silvery tabletop accessories, and shiny fabrics on seat covers and draping.

One hundred and eight students from Pratt Institute (working with design mentor Alfredo Paredes) used recycled materials to create a unique setting for sponsor David Wine. The team used cardboard tubes and panels to create walls and bamboolike posts, and tall tubes of paper that became a candelabra when lit with small LED lights. Macrame gave simple metal frame chairs a stylish look.

Fabric manufacturer Scalamandré created a preppy setting, complete with parasols and brightly patterned linens and rugs. The fun (and frugal) centerpiece was fashioned out of silk peonies and orange takeout containers.

Design firm 2Michaels found inspiration in textiles. Large spools of thread served as vases and wall decorations. For a playful touch, a gigantic desk lamp served as a chandelier.

For sponsor Susan Blond, Jes Gordon created a fun, bold look using a variety of inexpensive materials such as cardboard boxes, neon masking tape, round LED lights, and Styrofoam shelving.

Stefan Beckman created a sleek, on-brand table for sponsor Coca-Cola using a variety of recycled items, including the overhead lights and dining chairs (which were made from plastic bottles). Clear glass vessels, including some empty Coke bottles, created a runner down the center of the table.

Michael Tavano Design's sunny yellow and white table had a surprise feature: Guests could flip a switch on the wall to control the motorized solar shades lining the walls. When turned on, the panels moved up and down, creating new patterns.

Diane von Furstenberg's table, which showcased her new line of housewares, had a quirky centerpiece of curving lamps in the designer's signature colorful patterns.

Marc Blackwell's elegant setting had one row of plush banquette seating and one row of custom-made chairs on casters. When arranged in a row, the chair backs formed an abstract image.

Echodesign's space had a resort feel, with airy printed fabrics, oversize greenery, tropical artwork, and chartreuse orchids. One unusual detail was the table's patterned runner, which extended all the way down to the floor.

Bobby Berk Home and Marc Wilson Design collaborated on a casual setting with lots of playful details, including ceramic robot table-toppers, curly candlesticks, and several upside-down potted plants, which the designers hung on one wall.

Mary Davis Interiors' setting included two contrasting chair styles: two large armchairs at each end of the table, and metal side chairs on either side.

Leather goods manufacturer Moore & Giles worked with Brad Ford to create the Great American Woody, a traveling vehicle for "luxury tailgating" complete with a bar, inside seating, and video screen. The display will travel to food and design events around the country, and people can donate money to Diffa through its Web site. At the end of its run, it will be auctioned off, with proceeds going to Diffa.

Anki Spets of Area's setting for The New York Times included large teacups with simple (and gift-able) monochromatic arrangements of blooms by Fleurs Bella.

One of the more unusual looks, Arpad Baksa's installation had tiered, bleacherlike seats, so guests�"or mannequins�"could sit and look at each other.

Caroline McKeough created a small four-seat table with a tall centerpiece made out of dozens of overlapping picture frames. Small metal butterflies added a touch of sparkle.

Coffinier Ku Design topped two tables with big glass bowls full of floating gardenias in the New York Design Center's setting, which was a tribute to Christian Bérard.

Scandia Home used hidden color-changing lights to enliven its all-white space. Soft cotton pillows and glass containers full of cotton created a cozy look. Plain white dinner plates featured the company's logo�"an easy branding idea.

Instead of flowers, Jeffrey Brooks's table had a trio of artfully arranged towers of fresh produce covered by tall glass cloches.

Clear umbrellas and glittering beads hung from the ceiling in the spring area. The sound of falling rain played in the background.

At the American Museum of Natural History through August is “Our Global Kitchen: Food, Nature, Culture.” The exhibit explores the history of food from an educational and cultural perspective. Guests can taste seasonal treats, cook a virtual meal via video projections, and view rare artifacts. In conjunction, the New York City museum is hosting an 18-foot-tall hydroponic vertical garden installation designed by Windowfarms.

Turning an event's invitation and program into a comic book is a relatively easy way to add colorful visuals. Vintage cartoons inspired MacKenzie Brown's design for the Medical Research Institute Council of the Children's Memorial Hospital's Children's Ball in Chicago in 2010.

As part of the Smirnoff Experience series of events in 2010, Mosaic Experiential Marketing placed graphic illustrations in the windows of Toronto's Andrew Richard Designs. The illustrations depicted comic book characters arriving at a party, mimicking the arrival of guests on the red carpet.

New York's Robin Hood Foundation, which hosts one of the largest and most successful benefits in the city, tapped contacts at DC Comics to help create a superhero theme for its 2011 gala. The planning and design team created an emblem and slogan—"the forces of good are gathering"—that marked the night's invite and main cocktail area.

In 2008, the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute staged an exhibition timed around the release of The Dark Knight titled "Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy," which served as the design springboard for its preview gala. With the help of the movie's set designer, Nathan Crowley, the planners placed 20-foot-tall statues of superheroes the museum's Great Hall.

Large-scale industrial props can help set the scene—and make guests seem small and powerless. At the Los Angeles premiere of The Amazing Spider-Man in June, Sony Pictures placed a 16- by 22-foot web-like metal structure on the red carpet and at the party.

Staffers are a big part of setting the tone at events. For Maxim's superhero-inspired Super Bowl party at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, servers wore capes and black masks.

Columbia Pictures washed the first floor of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel with green-hued lighting to give the space a glowing, moody look for the Los Angeles premiere of The Green Hornet in January 2011.

Comic-book-style images can be turned into live installations at events. Animated graphics and videos at the 2011 Robin Hood Foundation gala, helped add energy—and eye-catching decor—to the cocktail area of the 3,000-person fund-raiser.

As most superheroes fight crime in big cities—Gotham, Metropolis, and the like—a city backdrop, real or computer-produced, adds something extra. For the 2007 premiere of Spider-Man 3 in New York, Columbia Pictures used backlit panels to depict the skyline.

The 2008 Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Toronto's Big Night Out benefit reminded guests of the night's superhero theme by placing them on the tables. The design team created colorful centerpieces by placing images of original comic book characters in tall plexiglass boxes on stands.

Funky entertainment and Batman-like decor dominated the Hope and Help Center of Florida's annual Headdress Ball in 2006, where the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate served a white chocolate Catwoman with a licorice whip for dessert.

Primary colors are a distinct part of any superhero's costume, and that visual inspired the monochromatic menu for Raw's industry party in Toronto. The architectural firm passed items such as Parisienne potatoes topped with blue-dyed whitefish mousse and blue sea salt, beef tartare with beet-dyed horseradish in heirloom tomatoes (pictured), and chicken salad with green peas and pesto in green pepper cups.

The Robin Hood Foundation created graphic, superhero versions of the presenters for its 2011 gala, including host Brian Williams.

To make the guests at the Los Angeles premiere of The Amazing Spider-Man premiere feel like superheroes, Sony Pictures erected a climbing wall inside the party.