Design

At the culinary event at New York's Pranna on April 2, large marquee letters spelling out "Food & Wine" surrounded a lounge area.

For a chic, outdoorsy feel, set tables with items available in Chicago from Tablescapes (or go for a similar look): Vintage Crystal Basketweave charger, $7.50; Cutout Lace plate, $3; Christian silver flatware, $0.80 each; rectangular plate, $1.50; Traditional silver demitasse spoon, $0.65; mini glass jar, $0.90; Vintage Etched glassware, $2 each; Rust Satin napkin, $2.50; Silver napkin tie, $2; Aged Farm square tabletop, $45.

Tablescapes also has pieces that work for a whimsical, rustic look: Bronze Iridescent runner, $12.50; Ivory Hemstitch napkin, $3.60; Dancing Garden charger, $7.25; Sevres salad plate, $2.25; Mother of Pearl flatware, $0.90 each; Mother of Pearl napkin ring, $2.50; Aged Farm square tabletop, $45.

The Mint Agency used sand, shells, and bowls holding live fish as centerpieces at the September premiere dinner for Spring Breakers during the Toronto International Film Festival.

At a Belvedere-sponsored event during the 2012 Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, chevron-patterned linens topped cocktail tables, and sunflower bouquets served as centerpieces.

LoLo Event Design offers hand-painted handkerchiefs that can serve as table numbers at a garden event. Set alongside flowers in a terra cotta pot, tables get a more casual feel than an elaborate formal centerpiece—just right for an alfresco event.

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 Cedars-Sinai Women's Heart Centerdinner, held inside Streisand's home, neutral tones and fresh-picked centerpieces formed a summery setting.

At Diffa’s Dining by Design event in Chicago, an attention-grabbing booth was Haworth's table designed by 4240 Architecture. Inspired by the concept of urban agriculture, the table had a wall aquarium and live flowers, vegetables, and greenery.

Also at Diffa, Sarah Dippold Design's table had small tureens that held earthy arrangements of mosses, berries, and succulents.

At a Chicago launch party for wedding registry site Poladora.com, Debi Lilly of A Perfect Event set a festive, colorful table with Mexican inspiration.

At Diffa’s Dining by Design event in New York, Croscill's table resembled a canopy bed. It was covered in a bright pink quilted tablecloth and surrounded by clear Chiavari chairs.

At Girari Sustainable Event Furnishings’ tabletop design competition at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, event producer Alexandra Rembac-Goldberg of Sterling Engagements designed a showcase table with a bubble theme. The entire look was placed inside a clear bubble structure from Casa Bubble.

Also at Diffa in New York, Rachel Laxer Interiors with Robert Kuo designed an ode to Rococo painter Jean-Honoré Fragonard with a centerpiece of moody floral arrangements and fresh fruit.

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.

Pieces from the Little Maven clothing collection hung above a kitschy campfire setup on the lawn.

Dessert table offerings sat upon rustic wood slabs at the Little Maven event.

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.

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."

At the Hennessy V.S. Presents Details at Midnight event at Coachella, guests gathered in a tricked-out teepee.

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.

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.

At the 2011 Campfire Ball benefit for Children’s Oncology Services in Chicago, Cork Catering set up a make-your-own-s’mores station.

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.

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."

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.