ideas

Monochrome weddings are getting an updated twist lately, as seen in the table and setup by Edge Floral Event Designers. Think understated—even rustic—furnishings that allow details like flowers and wallpaper to pop without looking overdone.

The rustic look has moved into the realm of total refinement, as seen in the setup from Simply Chic Events, which came complete with reclaimed wood and an Edison-style bulb chandelier.

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.

If the ombré trend extends to wedding confections, why not to corporate events too? The good-luck cake from TipsyCake at Poladora launch party blended from white to green.

Mexican themes lend themselves to such whimsy and colorfulness. The table from A Perfect Event shows off a well-executed, conversation-starting example.

Flowers are no longer strictly contained by vessels. Sofitel Los Angeles let blooms trail from an oversize arrangement—a similar look to the Recording Academy's Bollywood-inspired after-party for the Grammys.

Planners may already have seen this theme evolve: chandeliers, chandeliers, chandeliers. At the Wedding Salon showcase Premiere Party Rents hung one from a wedding canopy. For corporate events, the ceiling treatments can be hung from tent ceilings, above food stations, or over an arrivals carpet.

Illuminated chandeliers are eye-catching additions to weddings and corporate events alike. The floral and crystal chandelier installed by Karla Conceptual Event Experiences and lit by Frost Florida, packed a punch in purple.

Live musical acts are borrowing inspiration from the evocative 1920s period. Costumed entertainers took the stage at a collaboration between the New York Botanical Garden and Stephen Starr Events.

A painted bus stood at the entrance to the party space.

Cobra Puma Golf added a two-story structure to its booth this year. The enclosed ground floor served as meeting space, while the top floor included a DJ spinning tunes and the entrance to a large slide into a ball pit.

Hawaiian sunglass-maker Maui Jim topped its 40- by 60-foot booth with a tiki hut-style roof. In addition to six open work stations, the booth included enclosed offices where brand representatives could conduct business in quieter surroundings.

The chandelier expanded to become a very large ball, then contracted again. The moving fixture was visible from far away and drew guests closer to find out what it was.

The Kohler exhibit included an enclosed showroom created by architectural firm Marmol Radziner to showcase the company's new Numi toilet.

Junk Food's booth resembled a vintage candy shop.

Disney Interactive's exhibit included a water bar, an homage to its mobile app called "Where's My Water?"

Above the Solutions Showcase, colorful, chandelier-like signage indicated the five topical areas of the floor.

In July at Travel & Leisure’s annual World’s Best Awards in New York, sponsor Patrón displayed a sleek wall that housed five tanks of Patrón-based cocktails from which guests could pour their own drinks.

Beauty brand Fresh’s 21st anniversary party in New York included an interactive mixology bar by Shiraz Events with a wall of drink tanks filled with purées and infused juices. Guests filled their cups from the dispensers, then brought them to bartenders who added Belvedere vodka.

Chicago-based Redmoon Theater’s annual benefit in March had a performer topping off guests’ glasses with the company’s “Wine Bike,” which features a spinning chandelier of wine glasses and a series of gears that pour bottles of wine.

The Los Angeles launch party for Zing vodka in July had a unique take on a shot bar: Gloved hands emerged from a rose-covered wall to offer guests glasses of the new spirit.

At Hendrick’s Gin’s “Voyages Into the Unusual” event in Chicago, a bar dubbed the Monster Box was manned by a server wearing a fuzzy “monster paw” who stood behind a curtain. When guests approached, the beastly hand poked through holding a drink—the particular concoction that each guest received was a surprise.

#1 Art & Design Event
The annual festival celebrating art, theatre, and music, Luminato drew capacity crowds to more than 100 events this past summer. Next: June 14-23, 2013

#2 Art & Design Event
Last year, Scotiabank Nuit Blanche took over the city with 130 all-night art installations, including one that had guests soaring over Nathan Phillips Square from one zipline to another. Next: September 29, 2012

#3 Art & Design Event
In 2011, Art Toronto had a record number of V.I.P. guests—or collectors—attend the fair, generating $15 million in sales. Next: October 26-29, 2012

#4 Art & Design Event (up from #5)
In 2012, Doors Open Toronto had more than 135 historic and architecturally significant buildings open for tours and attracted new sponsors CityTV and Omni. Next: May 25-26, 2013

#5 Art & Design Event
This year, the Contact Photography Festival explored the theme “Public” with exhibitions, installations, and events across the city. Next: May 2013

#1 Festival & Parade
Celebrating its 45th anniversary, this year's Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival expects to draw more than a million people to the parade, which caps off a three-week festival. Next: July 20-August 12, 2012

#3 Festival & Parade
In 2011, the Santa Claus Parade debuted a new route for its 107th year to accommodate even more holiday revelers. Next: November 18, 2012

#4 Festival & Parade
Some 1,500 musicians perform over the 10-day Toronto Jazz Festival on more than 60 stages in the Greater Toronto area. Next: June 2013

#5 Festival & Parade
The city’s largest theatre festival, the Toronto Fringe Festival features more than 150 unjuried shows in venues that range from theatres to parking lots. Next: July 2013

#6 Festival & Parade
Last year, Taste of the Danforth attracted a record 1.5 million people to Greektown for performances, entertainment, and, of course, food. Next: August 10-12, 2012

#7 Festival & Parade
Beaches International Jazz Festival takes over the East end of the city with some 100 musicians and crowds of as many as 850,000 people. Next: July 2013

#8 Festival & Parade (up from #10)
Capping off the summer festival season, Scotiabank BuskerFest drew 1.3 million attendees to the historic St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood and raised $350,000 for Epilepsy Toronto last year. Next: August 23-26, 2012

#9 Festival & Parade
A 45-year tradition, Cavalcade of Lights will kick off the holiday season with a concert from Jarvis Church and Kellylee Evans, a skating party, and the lighting of the city Christmas tree. Next: November 17, 2012

#11 Festival & Parade (new to the list)
The largest festival for dogs and dog owners in North America, Woofstock attracts 300,000 guests and countless canines, and organizers are considering taking the event to the U.S. Next: June 8-9, 2013

#1 Food, Wine & Hospitality Industry Event (up from #2)
Last year's Grand Cru Culinary Wine Festival brought in more than $2 million from 700 dinner guests, up from 350 the previous year. Next: October 27, 2012

#2 Food, Wine & Hospitality Industry Event
Featuring more than 100 exhibitors, the Toronto Wine & Cheese Show attracted 25,000 guests to the International Centre this year. Next: spring 2013

#3 Food, Wine & Hospitality Industry Event
Attracting 1,450 guests, this year's Toronto Taste showcased food from 60 of the city’s best chefs at the Royal Ontario Museum and raised $350,000 for Second Harvest. Next: summer 2013

#4 Food, Wine & Hospitality Industry Event
With more than 1,200 exhibitors and 12,000 professionals filling the Direct Energy Centre, Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association Show is the largest food service industry event of the year. Next: March 3-5, 2013

#5 Food, Wine & Hospitality Industry Event
Last year, the Gourmet Food & Wine Expo had 40,000 guests sipping from a selection of 1,500 wines and spirits. Next: November 15-18, 2012

#7 Food, Wine & Hospitality Industry Event
An annual black-tie event, affectionately known as the “Oscars” of the local wine industry, the Cuvée Gala awards top Ontario wines. Next: spring 2013

#8 Food, Wine & Hospitality Industry Event
With food stations from top Toronto restaurants, last year's What’s on the Table attracted 450 guests and raised a record $342,190. Next: November 7, 2012

#9 Food, Wine & Hospitality Industry Event (up from #12)
Every summer, the Toronto Festival of Beer has brew-enthusiasts flocking to Bandshell Park, annually setting new attendance records. This year, the festival sold out of its exhibitor booths six months in advance and doubled the sponsors for the 2012 show. Next: summer 2013

#10 Food, Wine & Hospitality Industry Event (new to the list)
Hosted by Bobby Flay this year, Chef’s Challenge raised $1.2 million and moved to a larger venue, the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, in just its second year. Next: November 2012

#11 Food, Wine & Hospitality Industry Event
Last year, Eat to the Beat had 60 of Canada’s finest female chefs serving guests at Roy Tompson Hall, raising $200,000 for Willow Breast Cancer Support. Next: October 16, 2012

#1 Advertising & Marketing Event
In 2011, the Canadian Marketing Association Awards honoured Proximity for the second year in a row, for its work with M&M’s. Next: November 30, 2012

#2 Advertising & Marketing Event
The BC Diary Foundation campaign was named Best of Show at the 2011 Bessie Awards, which added new craft film categories to the program this year. Next: September 27, 2012

#3 Advertising & Marketing Event
This year, the Marketing Magazine Marketing Awards celebrated its 90th anniversary and changed things up, merging the ceremony with its Digital Marketing Awards. Next: summer 2013

#4 Advertising & Marketing Event (up from #8)
In 2011, Strategy Agency of the Year Awards gave BBDO top honours at the ceremony in front of 250 industry professionals. Next: November 2012

#5 Advertising & Marketing Event (up from #7)
Part of Advertising Week, the Cassies Awards recognized Target Marketing for its Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism campaign this year. Next: January 28, 2013

#7 Advertising & Marketing Event
This year's National Advertising Benevolent Society Gala drew 425 guests and doubled its fund-raising haul. Next: spring 2013

#8 Advertising & Marketing Event
In April, the Marketing Hall of Legends Gala honoured Canadians in four categories—enablers, builders, visionaries, and mentors—at a gala with top industry professionals. Next: October 18, 2012

#9 Advertising & Marketing Event
Presented by four major radio broadcasters including Bell and Astral, the Crystal Awards added a new category for excellence in copywriting this year. Next: March 2013

#10 Advertising & Marketing Event
The 2012 Canadian Media Directors’ Council Annual Conference underwent some big changes, including splashy sponsor activations, a V.I.P. reception, and a new home at the TIFF Bell Lightbox. Next: April 2013

#1 Sports Event
The oldest thoroughbred horse race in Canada, Queen’s Plate celebrated its 153rd year in 2012 and Strait of Dover took home the victory. Next: summer 2013

#2 Sports Event
This year marked the 108th anniversary of the RBC Canadian Open, the second-oldest stop on the P.G.A. tour, and brought 156 players to Hamilton Golf and Country Club. Next: July 22-28, 2013

#3 Sports Event
The race filled the city with roaring engines, and, with new contracts announced this year, will continue to do so through 2014. Next: July 2013

#4 Sports Event
This year's Rogers Cup will have men take the tennis courts in Toronto, while the women play in Montreal. Next: August 4-13, 2012

#6 Sports Event
The city's only fall marathon, the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon brought Brooks Running on as a new major partner this year and hopes to draw a record 25,000 runners. Next: October 14, 2012

#8 Sports Event
The 2012 Scotiabank Pro-Am for Alzheimer’s raised $2.3 million in Toronto and added a new leg of the fundraiser in Vancouver. Next: Spring 2013

#1 Media & Literary Event
Last year, the Scotiabank Giller Prize Gala honored Esi Edugyan for her novel Half-Blood Blues and added glamour with new producer CBC. Next: October, 30 2012

#2 Media & Literary Event
This fall, the International Festival of Authors will have 190 authors and publishing professionals lead 11 days of readings, interviews, and lectures. Next: October 18-28, 2012

#3 Media & Literary Event
The 2012 run of the Idea City Conference had 50 speakers, including Jann Arden and Peter Diamandis, share their ideas with an audience of 600 guests. Next: summer 2013

#4 Media & Literary Event
The 15th annual Canadian Journalism Foundation Awards Gala drew more than 500 media moguls to an awards ceremony that recognizes excellence in journalism. Next: June 2013

#6 Media & Literary Event (up from #8)
The largest book and magazine festival in Canada, the Word on the Street Festival hopes to attract some 218,000 attendees and plans to close surrounding streets at Queen’s Park this year to accommodate even more guests and programming. Next: September 23, 2012

#7 Media & Literary Event
This summer, the National Magazine Awards Gala celebrated its 35th anniversary, awarding Canada’s top publications in front of 650 industry professionals. Next: June 2013

#8 Media & Literary Event
In 2011, the C.J.F.E. Gala, A Night to Honour Courageous Reporting awarded international journalists for their commitment to freedom of expression and new sponsor Henry’s added a Canadian photography exhibition documenting the Arab Spring. Next: December 5, 2012

#1 Entertainment Industry Event
Last fall, the Toronto International Film Festival took the city by storm, screening more than 300 films—and hosting what felt like just as many parties—over 11 days. Next: September 6-16, 2012

#2 Entertainment Industry Event
In 2012, North by Northeast brought 780 bands and buzzy sponsor activations to the festival, with free performances by the Flaming Lips, Bad Religion, and Raekwon and Ghostface Killah at Dundas Square. Next: Summer 2013

#3 Entertainment Industry Event
This year the Hot Docs International Documentary Festival drew a record 165,000 guests and debuted its new permanent home, the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema. Next: April 25-May 5, 2013

#4 Entertainment Industry Event
This spring, Canadian Music Week celebrated its 30th year with 100,000 guests and more than 1,000 performing bands. Next: March 20-24, 2013

#5 Entertainment Industry Event
With performances by Katy Perry and LMFAO, the Much Music Video Awards took over a busy Queen Street intersection this summer. Next: June 2013

#6 Entertainment Industry Event
Last year, Arcade Fire was awarded the Polaris Music Prize for its album "The Suburbs." Next: September 24, 2012

#7 Entertainment Industry Event
Last year, Canada’s Walk of Fame inducted luminaries like Russell Peters, Sandra Oh, and Mordecai Richler. Next: September 20-23, 2012

#9 Entertainment Industry Event
In 2012, the TIFF Kids International Film Festival debuted under its new moniker and included screenings, workshops, activities, and an interactive playground for kids aged 3 to 13. Next: April 2013

#1 Fashion Industry Event
In March, World MasterCard Fashion Week got a new name to match its new headlining sponsor. Next: October 22-26, 2012

#2 Fashion Industry Event (up from #3)
This year, Toronto Fashion Incubator New Labels celebrated its 25th anniversary with a blowout at the Royal Ontario Museum, complete with simultaneous V.I.P. and general admission runway shows. Next: spring 2013

#4 Fashion Industry Event
The industry-only show dedicated to women’s accessories, the Mode Accessories Show has products from more than 600 lines on display three times a year. Next: August 12-14 and October 14-16, 2012; January 2013

#1 Trade Show & Convention
Last year, the Canadian National Exhibition, Canada’s largest fair, drew 1.31 million guests to Exhibition Place over 18 days. Next: August 17-September 3, 2012

#2 Trade Show & Convention
In 2012, the Canadian International Auto Show had a record 316,751 guests in attendance and filled the Metro Toronto Convention Centre with the newest production vehicles and concept cars. Next: February 15-24, 2013

#3 Trade Show & Convention
This year's National Home Show co-located with Canada Blooms, creating the largest home and garden event in North America and attracting a crowd of more than 200,000 guests. Next: March 15-24, 2013

#4 Trade Show & Convention
A horse show, rodeo, and the agriculture competition, the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair saw just under 300,000 guests flock to Exhibition Place last year. In 2012 the fair will celebrate its 90th year. Next: November 2-11, 2012

#5 Trade Show & Convention
This year, the 65th year of the Toronto Sportsmen’s Show, had more than 450 exhibitors lining the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Next: February 7-10, 2013

#6 Trade Show & Convention (up from #7)
Last year, FanExpo added an extra day of programming, bringing its attendance up from 64,000 to more than 75,000. Next: August 23-26, 2012

#7 Trade Show & Convention
This year, after pushing the date back one week after the holidays, the Toronto International Boat Show saw attendance rise 5 percent, drawing 76,253 guests. Next: January 12-20, 2013

#8 Trade Show & Convention
The largest gift trade show in Canada, the Canadian Gift & Tableware Association Gift Show in Toronto takes up more than a million square feet of exhibition space twice a year. Next: August 12-15, 2012; January 27-31, 2013

#9 Trade Show & Convention
This year, the Interior Design Show attracted 50,000 guests and hired a creative consultant to give the show a branded, industrial look. Next: January 24-27, 2013

#10 Trade Show & Convention
This year's Green Living Show increased attendance by 21 percent, attracting a total of 37,000 visitors. Next: April 12-14, 2013