Trina's Special Event Ideas

For the Grammys Special Merit Awards at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre, 15/40 Productions took its cue for the lighting from the Recording Academy's invitation. The invite had a relief of an intricate pattern, evocative of, say, the style of an Indian henna tattoo in a deep wine color. The production company translated that look into the design and decor, including an ornate lighting pattern.

Colin Cowie returned to produce Cash Money Records' annual preparty with a vintage Las Vegas theme—think Rat Pack mixed with Crazy Horse. At the entrance to the soundstage at the Lot in West Hollywood was a vintage 1951 Cadillac convertible. Inside the space, there were palm trees throughout along with a section of cabanas.

MKG produced Delta's pre-Grammy event at the Getty House, all done in a tented party space in the brand's signature red. Seating samples in the event space showed off Delta's Business Elite experience, and a Delta Sky Luxury Bar was meant to give a sample of the experience offered at some Delta Sky Clubs in airports. Jermaine Dupri was the DJ.

Essence magazine hosted its fourth annual "Black Women in Music" event at Greystone Manor on February 6 with performances by Lianne La Havas and Solange Knowles. Illuminated crystalline chandeliers hung overhead, and a bold logo gobo announced the host.

Red Light Management's Grammys after-party took over a tented space at the Mondrian with production by Gina Wade Creative. Chandeliers hung from a clear-top tent under which trees created an indoor-outdoor look.

Of course, there was also neon, in the form of a custom Cash Money Records sign.

Inflate USA's line of inflatable structures for events includes more than 30 different sizes and shapes, such as the Luna, designed to act as a portable bar area, and the Trident, a massive tent structure designed for concerts and expos that can be set up in less than five hours. The structures, which cost from $800 to more than $5,000 to rent, are all fully brandable.

Bubble Miami offers its inflatable igloos and walls for events throughout Florida. Rental prices range from $200 to $800.

The 2011 premiere party for WE TV's Braxton Family Values—a show about singer Toni Braxton—took place atop the London West Hollywood and featured a decidedly feminine look. To gussy up the central pool, florist C.J. Matsumoto covered foam spheres in bright pink flowers, then attached the arrangements to weights anchored to the bottom of the pool.

To kick off its summer-long partnership, eyewear brand Warby Parker hosted a summer pool party in June 2012 at the Standard in downtown Los Angeles. In addition to staffers pushing library-style book carts around the space as a way to get guests to try on the limited-edition shades, poolside tables also displayed the glasses alongside buckets of branded towels.

In March, Vogue Eyewear hosted an al fresco party at a private mansion in Los Angeles. In the backyard, beach balls and a gobo of the brand's logo decorated the pool, around which furniture groupings and lanterns hanging from trees created a summery feel.

To launch its latest special edition art series label—and raise funds for Haiti—Ferllen Winery teamed up with the Amigos Near Foundation for an arty event in Miami in February. On the deck upstairs, mounted pieces from photographer Tomas Loewy floated on the turquoise water, giving the appearance of unusually decorative rafts.

Ideal for poolside events where you want to send a message, Melbourne, Florida-based Aqua Art Enterprises makes custom mats in the shape of corporate logos (or other images) that sink to the bottom of a swimming pool for a painted-on look.

To mark the 25th anniversary of Shark Week, Discovery hosted an event in August 2012 that put sharks in the pool of the Beverly Hilton. The scary fish weren't real, of course, but rather slowly moving projections devised by the planning and production team from Event Eleven.

In addition to the roaming Playboy bunnies, playmates, and scantily clad dancers at Playboy's 2010 Super Bowl party in Miami, performers dressed as mermaids from Zhantra Entertainment swam in the pool and posed for pictures.

Internet Week title sponsor Yahoo gathered some 100 business executives for a private event at a five-story loft townhouse in New York in May of 2012 to mark the relaunch of advertising tool Genome. The Internet company partnered with Swank Productions to give the space a more modern aesthetic, which included decorating the indoor pool area with large clear and silver balloons, and hiring a trio of synchronized swimmers from Gotham Synchro dressed in head-to-toe body suits.

To build buzz around its summer tour series, Sunglass Hut hosted a block party in June 2012. Produced by Relevent's Tony Berger, the early evening shindig spanned an entire West Village block in New York and included a pool built on the sidewalk. As a way to spark interaction, guests received permanent markers to sign the wooden deck surrounding the pool.

During the first weekend of Coachella in 2012, Lacoste threw a pool party presented by HTC at a private estate in nearby Thermal, California. Surrounded by branded cabanas, the pool was filled with inflatable versions of the clothing company's signature green crocodile.

Guests at the Lacoste Live pool party during Coachella in 2012 could cool off with snow cones at a station provided by sponsor Fiji Water.

During Simon G. Jewelry's launch of its eco-friendly line in 2010, held at the Venetian Resort in Las Vegas, pool performances by women dressed in white costumes doing ballet moves inside huge plastic bubbles floating on the water added drama to the evening. The performers were booked through Best Agency.

In 2010, email newsletter Thrillist brought Hotel Thrillist, a party-packed traveling promotion, to Los Angeles. The weekend-long programming included a pool party at a private mansion on Saturday afternoon, where the Aqualillies performed a synchronized swim routine.

One of the biggest annual events on the South Beach spring-break circuit, the Victoria’s Secret Pink pool party took place at the Shelborne Beach Resort in Miami in March 2012. The upscale poolside lounge was turned into a Victoria's Secret Pink haven, decked out in branded furniture, pool toys, balloons, and beach gear.

Absolut Vodka launched its latest vodka in November 2012 at an ExtraExtra-produced event at the Standard Miami Beach. Self-sealing mylar balloons spelling out the brand name were clustered as a backdrop for a synchronized swimming performance by the Dolphinettes to music by DJ Mia Moretti.

Making the most of the rooftop pool at the Empire Hotel in New York, La Perla floated its name in the water for a poolside swimwear presentation during Fashion Week in 2008.

To launch its "It's So Miami" campaign in 2012, the Greater Miami Convention & Visitor's Bureau erected a pop-up pool party in New York's Union Square. The setup included a plunge pool and a wading pool, as well as 17-foot-tall palm trees, a cabana for the media, lounge chairs, and a DJ area. The pools looked out of place in the gritty big-city locale—which was exactly the point of the promotion.

With views of Lake Michigan and the Hancock Building, the new outdoor terrace at Chicago's Raffaello Hotel features built-in banquet seating and two fireplaces. The 1,500-square-foot space seats 75 people or holds 100 standing. Drumbar also is planning a second terrace for private parties and events.

Nestled atop the theater district's Sanctuary hotel, Haven is a new rooftop cocktail lounge and restaurant in New York. The outdoor space, which is accessible through a private elevator, is outfitted with reclaimed cedar wood furnishings and plenty of lush greenery; it seats 150 people. The venue also features a 14-foot communal table that seats 20.

The Peninsula's Sun Terrace rooftop bar in New York offers 2,700 square feet of outdoor space. Decorated to match the color scheme of the adjacent Peninsula spa, the space boasts plush chaise lounges and dining tables in warm saffron and russet-hued fabrics. The terrace can be booked for private events for as many as 75 guests.

Jerry Remy’s Sports Bar & Grill’s Fenway flagship location has a temperature-controlled outdoor roof deck with fifteen 50-inch high-definition TVs, a special roof-deck menu, more than 20 kinds of draught beer, and views of Boston's Fenway Park. The roof deck accommodates 200 people.

Sky Bar is the rooftop lounge at the Beacon Bar & Grill at Washington's Beacon Hotel. It's open seven days a week seasonally and recently introduced a catering menu for private lunches. Dishes are served buffet-style and intended for groups of at least 40 people.

An outpost of SBE's Hyde opened in Las Vegas at the Bellagio in the former Fontana Bar space with a loungey feel by day and a club vibe at night. The Philippe Starck-designed indoor/outdoor lounge features floor-to-ceiling windows and expansive terrace that overlooks the Fountains of Bellagio. The capacity is about 730 over 12,000 square feet. With 40 V.I.P. tables, Hyde is also available for private events.

Located on the rooftop of the Aloft and Sheraton hotels in downtown Brooklyn, the Brooklyn Terrace Lounge offers partially enclosed outdoor spaces, as well as several indoor areas for more intimate gatherings. The space seats 100 or holds as many as 250 guests.

For an airy (ahem) summer event, Santa Monica's Museum of Flying opened in late February, and is available for buyout. The main floor has a maximum seating capacity of 350, or holds 700 for a reception. The Douglas Aircraft executive suite includes the Douglas boardroom (a replica of the aircraft company's boardroom), a reception parlor, and a screening room with a capacity of 50. The aviation museum's three preferred caterers are Schaffer’s Genuine Foods, Bon Mélange Catering, and Gourmet Celebrations.

Planet Dailies L.A. and Mixology101 opened in March. The new concept from Planet Hollywood is a hip, high-tech coffee shop alongside a new cocktail lounge offering signature drinks by European barman Salvatore “The Maestro” Calabrese and head bartender Joseph Brooke. Planet Dailies has a private dining area for about 20 and offers diner fare from chef Adrian Tenorio. Groups can book a mixology class with Brooke, whose past work includes stints at Next Door Lounge, the Edison, and Bar Marmont. Two outdoor spaces, one outside of Mixology101 and one outside of Planet Dailies, are separated by a small walkway.

Meeting and event production company Extraordinary Events is now managing the new indoor-outdoor L3 event space at Santa Monica Place. L3 spans more than 42,000 square feet on the dining deck of the shopping center and bills itself as the largest and most versatile event space in Santa Monica. A blank canvas, the space is customizable for events and has accessible parking and sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean.

The Ace Museum, the newest contemporary art museum in town, has 100,000 square feet of space and a 250-car parking lot for events. Level one is an open-air space with a ramp leading to level two, which has 30,000 square feet of event space. The level-three rooftop has 360-degree views of the city.

Bagatelle America, a partnership between Aymeric Clemente and Remi Laba of Brand Essence, and Jonathan Segal of the One Group, has just opened the first Bagatelle location outside of New York, the 2,700-square-foot Bagatelle L.A. Located in the former Boudoir space in West Hollywood, the restaurant opened in February with a multiroom St. Tropez- and Paris-inspired indoor-outdoor layout created by design firm Studio Brasa and food from executive chef Scott Quinn, formerly of Bouchon. For outdoor events, there's a manicured garden hedge surrounding the upper outdoor patio meant to evoke a Parisian city garden. Indoors, the bar area has an oversize fireplace mantle.

The Hotel Amarano Burbank completed an $8 million expansion in March. The new facilities include 31 new guest rooms and suites, a swimming pool and spa, and an 1,800-square-foot penthouse, the Chairman’s Suite. Forchielli Glynn L.L.C. redesigned the hotel, including the giant new suite, which has a large outdoor private deck with a cabana-covered dining table for six guests, a private outdoor spa, sunning area, and exercise equipment. The suite’s entryway has hardwood floors, and the living room has a wet bar with a Viking wine cooler, L-shaped sofa, and a 50-inch television.

Italian restaurant Drago Centro has a new patio space designed by Gensler that occupies the space above the restaurant. Renovation of the area was completed in January. It holds as many as 60 for a seated event or 100 for a reception. The glass-enclosed patio has a fountain, greenery, and built-in ceiling heaters.

In late January, chef-owner Andrew Kirschner opened Tar & Roses, which serves a menu of wood-fired, modern rustic cuisine. The variety of dishes includes small plates like wood-fired duck egg, large plates like roasted crispy pork knuckle, and family-style suppers like whole goose with traditional sides. Carrera marble and wood tabletops are topped with heath ceramic dishes, Staub and Le Crueset serving pieces, Schott Zwiesel stemware, and water glasses made from recycled wine bottles. Polished concrete floors are complemented by sleek black banquettes. The restaurant holds about 75 guests, with 45 in the dining room, eight at the bar, and 20 on the patio.

Il Covo opened in the fall with a private dining room for 50 guests. The restaurant is the most recent project from veteran restaurateur Sean MacPherson (of Swingers Diner, Jones, and the Roger Room). Set in a 1920s former four-plex apartment, the venue has been reinterpreted with the look and feel of a Mediterranean home and garden. It has three salvaged antique fireplaces, a long bar area with carved wood accents, and an enclosed patio. With a menu executed by Milanese-born Roberto Maggioni (formerly of Santa Monica's Locanda del Lago), Il Covo offers a mix of classic and contemporary Italian dishes. The long bar area leads to a fully enclosed outdoor patio.

This August, in the hills just east of Malibu, the Malibu Golf Club unveiled Malibu and Vine Bar & Grille, a wine-centric steak house with farm-to-table influences and a 300-seat outdoor wine bar.

Preston Bailey Designs
Bailey’s dramatic floral designs and theatrical flair have made fans out of celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Liza Minnelli, and Donna Karan, as well as brands such as Sandals Resorts, Godiva, and Hewlett-Packard. The high-profile New York-based designer’s lush, over-the-top designs have been featured in six books, plus countless TV shows and magazines.
On Twitter: @PrestonRBailey

"I love creating a unique place for guests to congregate and enjoy one another, so I thought, why not create a massive floral carpet that would serve both as a beautiful focal point and a gathering area? 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." —Preston Bailey

Events by André Wells
Wells launched his Washington-based, full-service production firm in 2004 and has since become one of the top planners in town, producing around 80 corporate, social, and nonprofit events a year in his signature glamorous, colorful style for members of Congress, BET, Dell, Disney, and more.
On Twitter: @AndreWells

"I like the chic simplicity of it. We used crystal and glass elements to make the historic building more modern and fun." —André Wells

Colin Cowie Enterprises
With a 26-year career that includes designing lush, extravagant events for big-name corporate clients and A-list celebrities, plus nine books, a wedding Web site, a line of home products for HSN, and too many television appearances to count, Cowie is a solid candidate for “Most Famous Person in the Event Industry.” He brings his five-senses design approach to around 25 projects a year, four to six of which he is heavily involved in.
On Twitter: @ColinCowie

"My favorite part about the design was the research trip to Kazakhstan. Since the national color is blue, I created a palette of blue and grey and used elements like cobalt blue mirrors to showcase a modern Kazakhstan, and yellow miniature calla lilies for the bright future they have ahead of them." —Colin Cowie

David Beahm Design
Beahm’s inventive, breathtaking designs have been in high demand since his big break, planning the nuptials of Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas in 2000. Beahm and his New York-based team design more than 200 events annually, including lavish social, nonprofit, and corporate parties for Memorial Sloan-Kettering, Victoria’s Secret, and Louis Vuitton. Beahm is especially known for his sculptural, dramatic floral arrangements.
On Twitter: @davidbeahmdesig

Beahm is speaking at BizBash’s Event Innovation Forum­—South Florida on April 10.

"We were influenced by our surroundings. We let the decor of Blue Hill at Stone Barns rule our aesthetic, letting nature dictate the design. The hand-hammered copper urn visually grounded the design." —David Beahm

Abel McCallister Designs
Business partners since 2004, Los Angeles-based Abel and McCallister specialize in stylized editorial events, consumer promotions, sponsor lounges, and other brand-focused experiential events for clients such as Chase, Sprint, Entertainment Weekly, and Elle. Their designs often include surprising product installations, such as a chandelier of Godiva chocolates or a mosaic of Garnier bottles.
On Twitter: @larryabel

"We imagined what an amusement park would look like in the world of the Simpsons. Attendees loved the way the characters were integrated into the games, and my favorite part was turning Whac-A-Mole into Maggie’s Peek-A-Boo Pumpkins." —Larry Abel

Billy Butchkavitz Design
Butchkavitz’s claim to fame is the eye-popping, Technicolor decor he has been creating for HBO’s annual Emmy and Golden Globes parties since 1999. Using custom tents, carpets, and furniture, and drawing inspiration from such diverse sources as the stone mosaic walkways of the Copacabana in Rio de Janeiro, vintage Pucci fabrics, and modernist architect Oscar Neimeyer, his designs are always a kaleidoscope of color, patterns, and light projections.

"I find out what will be trending and available to the public around the time of my event—and then I avoid it." —Billy Butchkavitz

YourBash
For four years, the Los Angeles-based creative duo has worked on designing movie premieres, product launches, and green-minded events including Fox’s American Idol finale party, the Foundation Polo Challenge, and the Teen Choice Awards.
On Twitter: @YourBASHjgeffen
On Twitter: @YourBASHbworley

"The V.I.P. tent was inspired by the surfboard that is given as the award. Each year it is fun to see what the award will look like and then get to design a space that represents it. This tends to be one of my favorite spaces to design because it allows for lots of color and whimsy." —Brian Worley

David Stark Design and Production
Clients such as Target, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the IFC request Stark’s signature style, which combines an artistic sensibility with a sense of whimsy. Stark is known for using recycled materials and items that can be repurposed in his often flower-free installations and for his striking on-brand marketing ideas.
On Twitter: @DavidStarkInc

"From atop a 20-foot-tall viewing platform, guests viewed a giant optical illusion ‘street’ drawing created by chalk artist Michael Macaulay as well as many other radical art installations, sculptures, performances, and video art pieces." —David Stark

Van Wyck & Van Wyck
New York-based van Wyck honed his design skills working as a protocol aide at the American Embassy in Paris and as a film set designer in Los Angeles before starting a business with his mother in 1999. Adept at creating a polished, whimsical look, van Wyck’s clients include high-profile private, corporate, and nonprofit entities such as Mercedes-Benz, billionaire George Soros, and the Whitney Museum of American Art.

"The second the guests crossed the threshold, they were transported to another world, through the looking glass and down the rabbit hole. We raided Bergdorf’s warehouse and brought scenic elements from iconic window displays over the past 111 years—this was their 111th anniversary after all." —Bronson van Wyck

The Carlu Corporation/McNabb Roick Events
With more than 28 years of experience, Roick is a one-stop shop for Toronto events, designing show-stopping party decor for big-name clients like Target and Chanel.
On Twitter: @mcnabbroick

"The beauty of this design was the bold use of color, which complemented the essence of Picasso’s art without focusing on a specific piece of his work. It allowed guests to step into his world of color." —Jeffry Roick

Baura New York
Since he launched his firm in 2006, Baura’s aesthetic has been influenced by his graduate degree in Japanese and Chinese art history. He creates fresh, edgy branded environments for clients like AOL and Tumi by incorporating unusual conceptual designs and 3-D structures. Recent projects have included LED trays, iPad walls, and vegetable totem centerpieces.

"We designed a sunset dinner to showcase the New Museum’s Sky Room venue. Top-tier clients mingled in a space designed to convey the experience of watching the summer sunset from a field of foxtail millet." —Garin Baura

Todd Events
Fiscus founded his Dallas-based event design firm in 2003 and now personally designs and produces more than 250 events annually, including celebrity weddings and splashy events for clients like the Dallas Museum of Art, Audi, and Amfar. His company handles flowers, design, lighting, and installation and fabricates its own furnishings under the rental line Suite 206.
On Twitter: @toddevents

"I created a sweep at the rear of the room with a banquette wall covered in slipcovers in boxwood print. At the top of the curve was a waterfall of heather and hydrangeas. The seating in this area had a cocoon-like feeling. The chandeliers are actually painted Formica board in navy with phosphorus tape and
painted interiors." —Todd Fiscus

Bold American Events & Catering
Bales founded the design and production division of Atlanta event company Bold American in 2003, where he specializes in creating layered atmospheres that highlight color and texture. His early career as a performer and musical revue producer informs the theatricality of his work, and his career highlights include producing premiere parties for NBC and the 10th anniversary celebration for the Indianapolis Colts.
On Twitter: @BoldEventsATL

"One of my favorite things is to take an ordinary space and turn it in to something completely unexpected. The Atlanta Hyatt, which was hosting an elite group of local and national corporate event planners, wanted to serve them dinner in one of the hotel kitchens. To make the space pop, we built floor-to-ceiling chalkboard walls on which we personalized each guest’s apron, laid wall-to-wall carpeting, and, my personal favorite, created one-of-a-kind hanging chandeliers out of plastic flatware. It was a complete transformation from boring to bold." —Steve Bales

Event Creative
After a 10-year career in the fashion industry, Foster joined the Chicago-based Event Creative team in 2008. As senior event designer, he handles most of the company’s nonprofit business, designing as many as 100 events and galas a year for clients such as the Steppenwolf Theater, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
On Twitter: @eventcreative

"The event showcases student work, which is contemporary with an edge, requiring an environment that celebrates that level of creativity." —Jeffrey Foster

Phi Design Group
Gubitosa got her start in window displays and founded Boston-based event design and rental company PBD Events in 1985; Martin was a fashion stylist and boutique owner. The pair launched Phi Design Group five years ago. The duo often uses repetitive fixtures and found pieces in installations, and this spring they are launching an event rental branch called Reserve, specializing in custom tables, wall systems, and bars.
On Twitter: @phidesigngroup

"We designed and built the Kino Bar as an homage to Montreal native Kino Guerin, a master furniture builder and sculptor who bends rigid woods to get beautiful, graceful flow and movement." —Michelle Gubitosa

Rafanelli Events
Perhaps best known as the man behind Chelsea Clinton’s wedding, Rafanelli started his company in Boston in 1996, producing just three events a year. He now has four offices across the U.S. and handles more than 100 parties a year, creating eye-popping decor for fund-raising galas, state dinners, and corporate events.
On Twitter: @RafanelliEvents

"We were inspired by the beauty of Boston’s Harbor Islands at sunset, bringing the outside inside in a glass-enclosed tent surrounded by water." —Bryan Rafanelli

DeJuan Stroud Inc.
Leaving behind a career on Wall Street, Stroud decided to turn his longtime love of flowers and design into a business in 1996. He brings his sophisticated, clean look to events for clients such as the New York City Ballet, Universal Pictures, and HBO.
On Twitter: @DeJuanStroud

"The inspiration was a formal French garden, which originated from the French dances performed that evening. To make the vast space seem cozier we floated panels of lattice with wisteria and smilax over the dinner tables. " —DeJuan Stroud

360 Design Events and Matthew David Celebrations
Hopkins splits his time creating contemporary, imaginative decor for social events and corporate events, benefits, and product launches for clients like Hearst, Uniqlo, and Evian. He always aims to be eco-aware, reusing and repurposing materials in stylish ways.
On Twitter: @360DesignEvents

"We brought Hudson River Park activities to life. We created centerpieces using park activities and surprising facts, and peppered them throughout the room. Together with the playful ceiling and unexpected programming, guests were tantalized from all angles." —Matthew David Hopkins

HMR Designs
Heffernan started his Chicago firm in 1979 and has since merged it with two other local firms to form a design collective with different price points, specialties, and points of view. Heffernan’s elegant aesthetic has set the tone at some of Chicago’s most high-profile events, including galas for the Art Institute of Chicago and the Chicago Botanic Gardens.

"We designed sheer white fabric cubes floating low over each table. This produced both an impressive vision and gave an intimacy to the enormous tent. We accented them with summery yet minimal branch projections in a blue-green shade, providing detail and a coolness to the warm evening." —Bill Heffernan

Jes Gordon/Proper Fun
Gordon started her career working at a flower shop at age 13, followed by post-college stints as a movie set designer and design director of Tavern on the Green in New York. Twenty years after launching her own business, Gordon funnels her energetic personality into creating eclectic, funky designs for social and corporate clients.
On Twitter: @JesGordon

"M&M's is an official sponsor of the Super Bowl, so we wanted to celebrate by creating an event that encompassed the glamorous side of chocolate. We wanted to create a luxurious yet fashion-forward speakeasy environment, which we felt was certainly befitting to the New Orleans-focused evening." —Jes Gordon

ExtraExtra
Balestrieri has been giving a downtown edge to brand-focused marketing experiences since 2002, when indie-minded Paper magazine launched its events arm. Designing thought-out, interactive environments for brands such as Absolut, Target, and Mattel, he often works with builders and fabricators to create large-scale, attention-grabbing event decor.
On Twitter: @ExtraCreative

"We wanted to create a space where guests could dream about being whoever they wanted to be. By playing with scale, technology, and theater we created a space that inspired young and old souls alike." —Nicky Balestrieri

Stanlee R. Gatti Designs
As San Francisco’s go-to event designer, Gatti has been creating visual art for high society weddings, glitzy galas, and fund-raisers for the likes of the San Francisco Opera, U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, and author Danielle Steele since the 1980s.
On Twitter: @StanleeGatti

"I admire Picasso because his entire life was devoted to the creative process. I am presently going through my own blue period. Combining that with his guitar made for what I thought was a great theme for a museum party." —Stanlee Gatti

David Monn L.L.C.
After working in the jewelry business and interior design for 17 years, New York-based Monn turned to event design in 2003, creating elegant, dramatic looks for high-profile clients such as Fendi, Tiffany & Company, the Time Warner Center, the Guggenheim, and the Metropolitan Museum.

"The concept was to take MoMA’s ‘Party in the Garden’ and have it continue as the ‘Dinner in the Garden’ with a modern approach—classic roots, fruit trees, massive topiary cones, and French symmetry." —David Monn

Tom Ford Designs
The event designer—not that other Tom Ford—creates rich, luxurious-looking environments that often showcase dazzling overhead light installations and elaborate tenting for Hollywood’s elite. Perhaps most well-known for having designed the In Style and Warner Brothers Golden Globes party since 2002, Ford works with clients including Louis Vuitton, Sony Pictures, Disney, Fox, Victoria’s Secret, and Red Bull.

"We used a theme of minerals and semiprecious stone, with Brazilian agates and geode images for the walls and tables, anthracite leather banquettes, and garnet-colored carpet. It took seven people four days to hang all the gold mirrored chain for the ceiling installation." —Thomas Ford

Kehoe Designs
Eschewing themes in favor of creating captivating environments, Kehoe’s clients include prestigious charities, high-profile fashion brands, and discerning corporate groups. From ceilings filled with balloons to custom 18-karat gold tables to large-scale fabricated installations, the Chicago-based designer delivers on the wow factor.
On Twitter: @KehoeDesigns

"It was an honor to feel trusted and believed in by Carole Segal, who set the standard of retail design, not to mention the thrill of working with original pieces from the very beginning of Crate & Barrel." —Tom Kehoe

Marc Hall Design
After seven years as the creative director of events for Boston’s premier florist, Winston Flowers, Hall launched his own Boston event and garden design firm in 2010. Hall, who often incorporates his own line of handcrafted vessels, furniture, and textiles into his designs, recently opened a garden-focused boutique called Marc Hall Objekt.

"The use of bamboo dipped in 18-karat gold with thousands of purple orchids imported from the Netherlands spilling out from crevices drilled into the bamboo all made for one explosive visual." —Marc Hall

Ron Wendt Design
Wendt, who has a master’s degree in garden design from Columbia University, has been creating both contemporary and classic designs for the likes of Cartier, Swarovski, and Chanel since launching his New York-based company in 1991.
On Twitter: @RonWendtDesign

"Tiffany approached us to create an ambience for its annual holiday press luncheon that was not overly holiday, considering it was held in November pre-Thanksgiving. I thought winter white seemed to be the perfect solution. The wall-to-wall carpeting, custom room dividers, and ultrasuede tablecloths with white New Zealand peonies set the mood for the holidays. It was elegant, modern, and also magical." —Ron Wendt

Fete
Since 2002, discerning brides and corporate clients have sought out Lee’s modern design sensibility. Conceptualizing, planning, and designing all happens in-house, translating to a cohesive, detail-oriented look, from custom light fixtures to stylized seating charts.
On Twitter: @JungLeeFete

"We always want to create unexpected moments for guests. We accentuated the industrial elevator entrance with a massive installation. Guests rode the elevator to the party, and later it transformed into a bar, which surprised guests after dinner." —Jung Lee

Event Eleven
Over the past decade, Schubert has designed events for virtually everyone in the entertainment industry, with a client list that includes Rolling Stone, Disney, Vanity Fair, ESPN, and Entertainment Weekly. Combining modern ideas with clean accents, this past year has seen Schubert designing the SAG Awards after-party, the Emmys greenroom, Bill Clinton’s 65th birthday party, and Belvedere’s pre-Grammy celebration.
On Twitter: @event_eleven

"The client asked for an interactive space where guests could use the Note II to do fun things like order a drink, share music, or design a T-shirt, device cover, or dessert. We designed four individual pod-like stations showing off each capability. We had one week to design, fabricate, and install the custom pieces." —Tony Schubert