Sylvester Gala
At the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center’s gala, which celebrated the organization's 20th anniversary, guests could pose for photos behind an oversize golden picture frame. The event, which drew 600 guests to the JW Marriott Marquis Miami and Hotel Beaux Arts December 8, raised a record $1.3 million for research and care at Sylvester. Shiraz Events provided decor.
Photo: Courtesy of Shiraz Events
Moods of Norway’s Fashion’s Night Out Party
To celebrate the opening of its Stateside store, Moods of Norway hosted a "Really, Really Blond Party" for Fashion's Night Out 2012 in New York, at which all attendees were given blond wigs in order to achieve the classic Norwegian look.
Photo: Melissa Schorsch/BizBash
Electric Run
In November, the first Electric Run was held in Costa Mesa, California. The trippy nighttime 5K saw more than 10,000 participants dressed in glow-in-dark costumes. The entrance fee included a custom-designed T-shirt, an LED bracelet, a glow necklace, and glowing sunglasses. Racers were also encouraged to adorn themselves with glow sticks, LED-lit clothes, and neon colors.
Photo: Courtesy of Electric Run
The Museum of Contemporary Art's ArtEdge Gala
This year's ArtEdge gala in Chicago was held in the Museum of Contemporary Art's warehouse, with an appropriately gritty factory vibe. To match the event's industrial feel, the co-chairs draped guests with caution tape as they arrived on the scene.
Photo: Bob Carl
Performa's White on White Party
At its 2006 benefit in New York, performance art organization Performa integrated partygoers directly into the design scheme by asking them to dress in white and then video projections to turned the guests into human movie screens. For guests who didn’t arrive in white, the organization put together a group called the Emergency Sewing Project to craft white clothes; the team of sewers was intended as both a service and a performance piece.
Photo: BizBash
Performa’s Relache—The Party Fund-Raising Gala
Performa’s most recent gala in December also incorporated attendees into the event's surrealist theme: Invitations instructed guests to wear black and white haute couture. On site, there was a station where the event’s 500 attendees could further accessorize with headpieces formed with mannequin heads and other costumes from designer Lika Volkova.
Photo: Nadia Chaudhury/BizBash
Absolut X Masquerade Ball
Liquor brand Absolut hosted its edgy, art-driven Absolut X Masquerade Ball in Chicago in November, where guests were invited to wear black-and-silver hand-painted masks, as well as transform themselves at makeover stations.
Photo: Courtesy of Ketchum
The Color Run
The Color Run 5K toured to 53 cities in 2012, with more than 600,000 participants willing to douse themselves in bright hues. The runners were asked to wear white shirts, and when they reached the designated color zones dotting the course, volunteers and staffers doused them with colorful powder. "I wanted to add something ... that could serve as a sort of visual reward for all the hard work these runners put into training for the event," said founder Travis Snyder.
Photo: Courtesy of the Color Run
Dîner en Blanc
Started more than 25 years ago in Paris, Dîner en Blanc is an impromptu picnic now held in dozens of public spaces throughout the world each year. Event organizers ask guests to dress in all-white clothing and bring a list of items, including white plastic folding chairs and tables, white tablecloths and napkins, and white dinnerware.
Photo: Daniel the Photographer Serrette
UrbanDaddy and Stoli's "White Room" Event
UrbanDaddy's "white room" event in November—an affair created in partnership with Stoli to promote the vodka brand's new campaign and flavors—instructed its 350 attendees to dress in all-white attire to match the all-white decor in the venue. As the night progressed, guests splattered the walls and their clothes (protected by white lab coats supplied by organizers) with colorful paint.
Photo: Carolyn Curtis/BizBash
Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles Gala
The vision of artist Marina Abramović dictated the look and feel at MoCA’s 2011 gala. The event's 750 guests were asked to change into matching white lab coats as they entered the space, an experiment that was designed to allow everyone to participate in the evening on an equal playing field. "You had all these people in expensive outfits, but they put on the lab coats and that was that,” said event producer Carleen Cappelletti. "It took away the hierarchy you feel at an event."
Photo: Nadine Froger Photography
'Playboy' Super Bowl Party Presented by Crown Royal
Produced by Caravents, Playboy’s recent Super Bowl party had a Mardi Gras theme and decor elements meant to invoke an authentic New Orleans feel. To go along with the themed decor, guests could select a colorful masquerade mask to wear as they entered the party.
Photo: Line 8 Photography. All rights reserved.
Whitney Museum of American Art 75th Anniversary Benefit
Back in 2005, the Whitney’s fall gala incorporated blue neon centerpieces created by artist Richard Tuttle. Accordingly, invitations specified that guests dress in the Pantone Matching System color blue 630 to correspond with the significant color displayed in Tuttle’s art. Guests including Chloë Sevigny, Evelyn Lauder, and Peggy Siegal complied.
Photo: Arlene Sandler/Lensgirl
Last fall, Tori Spelling and J.C. Penney celebrated the launch of Spelling's line for kids, Little Maven, at a family-friendly event at the Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles. Banners strung between treelike posts decorated the outdoor area.
Photo: Michael Simon/StarTraks
Pieces from the Little Maven clothing collection hung above a kitschy campfire setup on the lawn.
Photo: Michael Simon/StarTraks
Dessert table offerings sat upon rustic wood slabs at the Little Maven event.
Photo: Michael Simon/StarTraks
After a move to Las Vegas, Maxim's annual Hot 100 event returned to Los Angeles this year. Taking over SBE's newest property, Create (formerly Vanguard), the Visionary Group transformed the raw space into an ode to American summer nights. Outside, the patio had a bonfire built into a real sandpit.
Photo: Nick Corradi
At Maxim's bash, there were lounge areas with embroidered beach cushions and custom listening stations in Coleman coolers, where guests could test Sony's new headphones. "We knew having an expansive patio was key to integrating the theme," said Visionary Group's Brian Diamond. "While we wanted to infuse the spirit of summer and patriotism throughout the overall event, building out an inviting outdoor space for guests to gather was what this concept was all about."
Photo: Nick Corradi
At the Hennessy V.S. Presents Details at Midnight event at Coachella, guests gathered in a tricked-out teepee.
Photo: Krill Was Here
Conceptbait Global Events & Florida Design Group used real graham crackers, Hershey bars, and two sizes of marshmallows to create centerpieces at the launch party for Three Olives S’mores Vodka at Hattricks Tavern in Tampa. Designers spray-painted manzanita branches brown and used a blowtorch to char the marshmallows before attaching them to the branches.
Photo: Frank Clemente
At the Catalina Casino for the Catalina Island Conservancy Ball in Los Angeles, the camp theme included centerpieces of illuminated apothecary jars filled with the makings of s'mores. Although the chocolate, graham crackers, and marshmallows on the table were there for the look, guests did have a chance to taste the nostalgic treat. Chef Paul Hancock of the Santa Catalina Island Company, who created a three-course meal for the evening, served a dessert that comprised layers of graham crackers with bittersweet dark chocolate and melted marshmallows.
Photo: Shana Cassidy Photography
At the 2011 Campfire Ball benefit for Children’s Oncology Services in Chicago, Cork Catering set up a make-your-own-s’mores station.
Photo: Gerber + Scarpelli Photography
Sears and Kmart wanted a garden-like setting for the December 2011 press preview of the spring 2012 home collections. Inside the the pop-up park at Openhouse Gallery in New York, an oversize picnic table set the tone for the warm-weather motif and provided a creative setting for the brands to showcase the brightly colored tableware in the Sandra by Sandra Lee collection.
Photo: BizBash
For the fifth annual Scotiabank Nuit Blanche, an all-night celebration of contemporary art presented by the City of Toronto, British artist Ryan Gander set up a wood-burning campfire at Yonge-Dundas Square for an exhibit called "Just Because You Can Feel It Doesn't Mean It's There."
Photo: Emma McIntyre for BizBash
Throw a little craft-making into the mix for a camp-like experience. At Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim 2012 in Miami, guests engaged in a make-your-own-jewelry station. Attendees at the D.I.Y.-themed poolside cocktail party were invited to make haute couture summer fashion accessories out of the luxury car brand's seat leather.
Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim 2013
Go Local
The Paddy Wagon is a new Boston-area company that provides inflatable Irish pubs. The 30- by 30-foot blow-up bar has a façade resembling a traditional Irish pub with brick walls and a thatched roof; inside there are windows, tables, doors, and a full bar. The company can also provide Irish food, step dancers, and bartenders.
Photo: Courtesy of the Paddy Wagon
Photo: Chuck Fazio
Matthew Donegan
Max Ultimate Food
A graduate of Boston University with a degree in hotel and restaurant management, Matthew Donegan considers living and working in Paris as his biggest career break. Upon returning to the United States, he owned and operated two restaurants for 10 years and worked at the Catered Affair before joining Max Ultimate Food in Boston. There, his catering roster includes prestigious venues and fund-raising events for nonprofit organizations, such as the Boston Ballet gala, the DeCordova Museum gala, and the Perkins School for the Blind gala.
Chocolate caramel tortes with bubble truffles, mini cappuccino shakes, and a wand to blow edible bubbles
"Catering is a true collaboration … and it takes a village. And you have to be willing to take a risk. Sometimes my staff thinks I’m crazy for trying certain complicated menus for large events. My comment is always ‘you can’t stump greatness.'"
Photos: Courtesy of Max Ultimate Food
Gluten-free waffles topped with maple-pecan coconut-milk-based ice cream and chocolate-maple sauce, by Leslie Durso in Los Angeles
Photo: Courtesy of Leslie Durso
Zucchini cannelloni with truffled tofu ricotta, broccoli fond, lemon mosto oil, and garnished with pine nut Florentine, by Blue Plate Catering in Chicago
Photo: Courtesy of Blue Plate Catering
Italian Caprese summer roll with Napa cabbage, fire-roasted tomato, pesto, mozzarella, and balsamic reduction, by Puff ’n Stuff Catering in Orlando
Photo: Courtesy of Puff 'n Stuff Catering
Springtime risotto made of minced zucchini and broccolini “rice,” served with green pea and lemon sauce, fiddlehead ferns, tricolor baby carrots, and baby fennel, by Blossom in New York
Photo: Alex James Photography
Portobello frites with crispy basil, Parmesan cheese, and balsamic aioli, by Stephen Starr Events in Miami
Photo: Courtesy of Stephen Starr Events
The Supper Club, set up on the museum's second floor by the exhibition galleries, welcomed a few hundred guests who enjoyed food stations, an open bar, and Brazilian-themed entertainment. Private butler service was also available to attendees interested in a more V.I.P. experience.
Photo: World Red Eye
Paper silhouettes were a whimsical decor touch at the Chef's Tables as well as the Supper Club, and became popular takeaways at both dinner parties.
Photo: World Red Eye
