Suited for gifts, Vanille Patisserie in Chicago has chocolate bunnies filled with colorful jelly beans.
Photo: Courtesy of Vanille Patisserie
Vanille Patisserie also makes cakes festooned with springy flower designs, which are appropriate for Easter or any seasonal functions.
Photo: Courtesy of Vanille Patisserie
MK the Restaurant in Chicago has a springtime cocktail that looks like a liquid Easter egg. Dubbed "Tequila in Bloom," the drink has tequila, Crème Yvette, thyme-infused agave, and lime. It's served over ice cubes that have viola flower petals frozen inside, and its rim is lined with pink peppercorns.
Photo: Courtesy of MK the Restaurant
How's this for an elaborate Easter pastry? At the Washington National Opera Ball in 2010, acclaimed baker Sylvia Weinstock created 300 small cakes resembling Fabergé eggs.
Photo: Tony Brown/imijphoto.com for BizBash
Magnolia Bakery, which has outlets in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, is offering Easter-theme snacks this spring. Suited to office parties, offerings include Vintage Springtime Cupcakes. In chocolate or vanilla, the treats are printed with edible images and topped with thick buttercream frosting.
Photo: Courtesy of Magnolia Bakery
In Chicago, restaurant Longman & Eagle and its marketing arm Land and Sea Dept. organizes an annual Adult Easter Egg Hunt. Winners are rewarded with Easter baskets that have a decidedly 21-plus spin: They're filled with candy, snacks, and bottles of locally brewed beer.
Photo: Julia Stotz & Brian Guido
Truffleberry Market, a Chicago catering company, has plenty of pastel-hued dishes on its menu. For a recent baby shower, the firm used hollowed-out lemons to hold its Meyer lemon meringue panna cotta. A fresh green leaf on top of the dish added a springy, verdant feel.
Photo: Jill Tiongco Photography
The Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center's Bunny Hop took place at New York's F.A.O. Schwarz in March 2013. Small topiaries shaped like the animal of honor spruced up the family-friendly event, which also had a balloon artist, face painting, and a station for decorating cookies.
Photo: Beth Kormanik/BizBash
Chicago restaurant Sunda puts a spin on traditional Easter brunch with its "Low Tea" service. The meal, which is offered on Sundays, includes breads with spreads such as honey-butter and papaya jam; savory bites including a lobster-bacon roll; orange-creamsicle cookie bites; and teas from Rare Tea Cellars.
Photo: Courtesy of Sunda
The first course from Occasions Caterers was served on clear dishes with moss, flowers, and pine needles nestled in between the bowl and the plate, reinforcing the room's forest-like decor. The flatware resembled twigs.
Photo: Geoff Chesman Photography
In a new take on the traditional photo backdrop, guests bounced on a trampoline before having their photo taken. Side rails around the custom station kept guests safe.
Photo: Roderick Peña
Blue velvet Louis XVI ottomans offered a pop of color and a luxurious seating option among the eclectic furnishings. "I wanted this one to feel a little haphazard," said Todd Events owner and chief creative officer Todd Fiscus, who designed the event. He said he chose elements that were "whimsical and fun."
Photo: Roderick Peña
The reception-style event did not have sit-down tables, so Todd Events provided some casual low furniture for guests who wanted a seat. Oversize black heat lamps were both decorative and practical.
Photo: Roderick Peña
One of the games asked guests to estimate the number of peanuts in an eight-foot-tall tube (answer: about 73,000). Two fabricated elephants flanked the tube.
Photo: Roderick Peña
Guests had to win their dessert—a Sprinkles cupcake—by shooting a toy dart gun into the cupcake cutouts.
Photo: Roderick Peña
At a flavored popcorn station, custom-built stands had a false fill at the top so they never appeared empty. Serving staff refilled the popcorn at the base as needed.
Photo: Roderick Peña
Bottles from sponsor Belvedere were used in the ring toss. Winners received a band from Michele Watches.
Photo: Roderick Peña
Florals at the event included a ball of carnations that evoked the classic image of a circus elephant standing on a ball.
Photo: Roderick Peña
Several featured cocktails were served atop white glass columns that were lit underneath with LED lights. The ingredients were printed on the front of the columns, and the napkins had the exact recipe.
Photo: Roderick Peña
A fortune teller offered sartorial advice such as how guests could upgrade their outfits at sponsor Neiman Marcus.
Photo: Roderick Peña
Instead of typical carousel horses, the First Look Party had mannequins who wore several watches on their arms—as well as latex horse heads.
Photo: Roderick Peña
A colorful canopy covered the outdoor food stations.
Photo: Roderick Peña
Shock Top brought 75 guests to Limoneira Citrus Ranch in Santa Paula, California, to mark the launch of its seasonal Lemon Shandy beverage and to promote its 72 Degrees and Shock Top campaign.
Photo: Casey Rodgers
Guests at the Southern California event dined at a long, simply dressed banquet table.
Photo: Casey Rodgers
The meal came from Clark Staub, who is the executive chef and owner of Full of Life Flatbread restaurant in Los Alamos. The eatery is open limited hours and sources ingredients from farms within a 60-mile radius.
Photo: Casey Rodgers
The lunch began with a kale and citrus salad with fennel, beets, radishes, and raw sheep’s milk cheese; oven-roasted organic lemon chicken with grains and greens was the entrée.
Photo: Casey Rodgers
For dessert, the crowd dined on blood orange popsicles with citrus zest and chocolate-covered candied kumquats and Shock Top Lemon Shandy whipped cream.
Photo: Casey Rodgers
Guests sipped the seasonal beverages from the Anheuser-Busch brand throughout the day.
Photo: Casey Rodgers
Guests posed for photos in an open frame.
Photo: Casey Rodgers
Boccie ball was among the activities on offer.
Photo: Casey Rodgers
The campaign's hashtag was on display throughout the party space.
Photo: Casey Rodgers
Citrus fruits in mini crates topped tables, and guests wore branded hats as giveaways.
Photo: Casey Rodgers
A caravan of branded vehicles is heading from Southern California to the East Coast in support of the "72 Degrees and Shock Top" campaign.
Photo: Casey Rodgers
The Savannah Series Tents from Sperry Fabric Architecture are wooden-framed tents with cloth canopies and clerestory windows. The windows, above an adjacent roof, allow sunlight in during the day and indoor lighting to project out at night. The tents seat as many as 350 guests. The units are available for purchase in the United States through Sperry Fabric Architecture and licensed Sperry Tent providers; prices are available upon request.
Photo: Courtesy of Zephyr Tents
Sperry Tents’ Signature Blue Star Tent is handcrafted with genuine navy sailcloth panels dotted with white stars by sailmakers in coastal Massachusetts. It sports geometric support patches and festive pennant flags atop each peak. Support poles are wooden and hand-milled at a 1930s sawmill. The tent is available in six sizes: The largest, at 46 by 85 feet, holds 150 guests for a seated dinner. Prices are available upon request.
Photo: Lauren Methia Photography
The Double Decker Tent from Regal Tent can be topped with a flat-top façade (pictured), which hides the peak of the tent and creates a more boxlike shape, providing an area for customization. The structure can be built with glass, hard, or vinyl walls. The smallest size, at 50 by 16 feet, holds about 150; larger formats hold as many as 1,500. The tent is available for rent anywhere in North America and the Caribbean; prices vary.
Photo: Courtesy of Regal Tents
The Grand Marakesh from Raj Tents is a 27- by 44-foot Moroccan-theme tent that includes arches and silk string drops on all openings, a full lighting package, and furniture for 24 guests with low tables and area rugs. It has room for as many as 120 people and is available for rent throughout the United States for $9,950.
Photo: Courtesy of Raj Tents
The Flex Tent from the Flex Tent Company, a subsidiary of Event Labor Works, can be stretched around trees, structures, and rocks and has expandable tent poles that adjust to uneven surfaces. Sizes start at 20 by 10 feet and can increase to any size. As the tents are modular, they can be guttered together or with other structures to form larger spaces. Flex tents are available for rent or purchase in a variety of colors and designs. Prices are available upon request.
Photo: Courtesy of Event Labor Works
The Jet tent from Classic Party Rentals is available in 16-, 32-, and 50-foot depths and custom lengths in 16-foot increments. It is available with clear, white, or custom colored fabric and accommodates large graphics. The tent is offered for rental or purchase throughout the United States; prices are available upon request.
Photo: Janis Davis
The safari-style Tipi Marquee tents from Under Canvas Events are canvas and wood structures that can be joined into custom configurations to seat 500 or hold 800 for receptions. Each marquee can accommodate a central open fire. Available throughout North America, the tents rent for $3,000 to $5,000 per marquee, based on the location and duration of the event.
Photo: Ian Norman
The 24 Metre Trident Inflatable Dome from Brand Interactivation provides almost 4,000 square feet of floor space with no internal support poles or trussing and holds as many as 350 people. The unit is available for rent nationwide for $11,500 for three days, or it can be purchased for $70,000 and customized with colors and logos.
Photo: Courtesy of Brand InterActivation Zone SRL
The Tidewater Sailcloth Tent from Aztec Tent is a highly translucent pole tent built with a catenary-accented perimeter and starburst design eave and peak reinforcements to give it a unique shape. The Tidewater ranges from 20 by 17 feet to 59 by 159 feet; depending on the configuration, it can hold as many as 700 people. It is available for rent in the United States from Tidewater Tents or for purchase from Aztec Tents. Prices are available upon request.
Photo: Kelli Boyd Photography
Live Fish as Tabletop Decor
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.
Photo: Jennifer Meriano
Canopy Table Covering
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.
Photo: Nadia Chaudhury/BizBash
A “fruit toss” game let guests pitch pineapples, lemons, and other produce into baskets attached to a colorful, branded wall.
Photo: Michael Simon/StarTraksPhoto.com
A Western-Style Barbecue
“Say barbecue and most people think red-and-white gingham tablecloths, Mason jars, and too much food,” say Jamie Geffen and Brian Worely of Los Angeles-based YourBash. But put your own spin on it while still keeping things simple, and you’ll step out of the traditional.
Centerpiece: “Take centerpieces to the next level by combining them with serving pieces. To create various heights for displaying food, mix Saltillo tiles with terra-cotta pots and planter bases.”
Linen: “The Saltillo serape table runner from La Tavola pulls in summer-perfect blues and greens, and simple ivory bandanas make a unique napkin.”
Settings: “Nothing says barbecue like blue enamel-speckled plates, and for a fun flair, provide camping cutlery.”
Bar: “Whip up a refreshing ‘Bullfrog’ summer slushy by blending frozen lemonade, ice, vodka, club soda, and mint. Garnish with a slice of lemon and a sprig of mint—and be ready for a brain freeze.”
Grill: “If you really want to go old-school, invest in the kamado-style Big Green Egg. A lump of oak and hickory charcoal produces incredible results.”
Photos: Courtesy of Oriental Trading (pots), Courtesy of iHomeWholeSale (bandana), Courtesy of REI (utensils), Courtesy of La Tavola (table runner), Shawn Smith (Worley), Courtesy of Jamie Geffen
The official after-party for the Grammys in 2012 had a Rio Carnival theme, which the academy produced with Along Came Mary. The event's decor was rendered in bright colors and included buffet centerpieces inspired by the elaborate headdresses of Carnival dancers.
Photo: Line 8 Photography. All rights reserved.
Paper Acorn created the luminaries, which lined the carpet leading to the arrivals area and bore the symphony's logo, as well as the table numbers.
Photo: World Red Eye
With circus-style acts—dressed in items from the new line—performing throughout the space and displays placed on carts and bright orange-colored blocks, the catering for Ted Baker's Spring/Summer 2014 collection launch event provided an additional visual and entertainment element. For instance, parasols held dangling funnel cakes, and servers were trained to imitate tightrope walkers as they passed the bites.
Photo: Erik Valind
One particularly popular and eye-catching piece was the cotton candy tree, which saw the wispy sweet treats clipped to a willow-tree-shaped metal frame.
Photo: Erik Valind
The cage for the Coney Island corn dogs was intended to mimic the shape of the big-top tents typically seen at the circus.
Photo: Erik Valind
Even popcorn matched the design of the event: custom boxes were served from a small rolling cart in flavors like sea salt and vinegar as well as pancetta and maple.
Photo: Erik Valind
The contraption that held paper cones of truffle tater tots was a nod to trapeze acts.
Photo: Erik Valind
All elements of the event were designed to motivate attendees to snap pics and share them on Instagram, Twitter, and other social media channels. Additionally, caterer Creative Edge carefully crafted the catering trays to match the theme of the event—and the brand's campaign—with one tray of mac 'n' cheese bites styled after spinning plates.
Photo: Erik Valind
For a holiday event for Herbalife, Sterling Engagements designed tabletop vignettes using metallic and glass objects in visually interesting and varied shapes.
Photo: Michael Hedden/Evoke Photography
At a screening of the James Brown biopic Get on Up in Washington in July, André Wells incorporated such objects as old-school-style microphones and records into floral centerpieces to channel the movie’s musical premise.
Photo: Courtesy of Andre Wells
Floral and event design company Amaryllis hosted an industry New Year's Eve party in Washington where a golden bust surrounded by an orb was part of an effort to weave in some statement-making European flair.
Photo: Kate Headley
For an event for Munchkin baby products in Los Angeles in November, Jeannie Savage of Details Details used toys on the tabletops to "evoke childhood memories," she said, for the bloggers, event planners, and influential mom guests in attendance.
Photo: Jessica Claire
At the Miami Heat Charitable Fund annual gala in January, A Joy Wallace Catering, Design & Special Events created a tropical-looking table with centerpieces comprising Mokara orchids, calla lilies, and roses with accents of blue thistle—all built around a 3-D acrylic cube that encased replicas of the three Miami Heat championship rings.
Photo: Cendino Teme Photography
For the 2010 St. Patrick’s Episcopal Day School's sports-theme benefit in Washington, held in the school's gymnasium, centerpieces were oversize versions of athletic objects by commercial sculptor A.J. Strasser.
Photo: Stephen Elliot/Mud Productions for BizBash
The Bafta Los Angeles Tea Party, held on Golden Globes weekend in Los Angeles, used various decor pieces and objects to advance its British theme—including a Union Jack-splashed tea kettle holding white roses.
Photo: Angela Weiss/Getty Images for Jaguar Land Rover
During Golden Globes weekend this year in Los Angeles, W hosted an event at A.O.C. in celebration of its picks for so-called "Hollywood It girls." Covered glass dishes on the tabletops provided feminine flair alongside pink blooms.
Photo: Donato Sardella/Getty Images for W Magazine
At the Lakewood Ranch Community Fund gala in Bradenton, Florida, in 2007, coffee beans filled cigar boxes on high-top tables to match the event's tropical theme and mood.
Photo: Courtesy of Showorks Inc.
In what could be described as a meta interpretation of a traditional floral centerpiece, David Stark used twine to create flower-shaped centerpieces at the Museum of Arts and Design's Visionary Awards gala in New York in 2007.
Photo: Gustavo Campos
At the Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS' Dining by Design benefit in New York in 2012, David Stark's installation for Benjamin Moore used real books and hand-made pop-up books to highlight the concept behind the brand's slogan: “A whole new chapter in paint color technology is being written.”
Photo: Ronnie Andren for BizBash
In September, the renovated Riverside ballroom at Austin, Texas's Radisson Hotel & Suites Downtown opened with a food-centric event that saw produce contained in veggie cartons as decor.
Photo: Nadia Chaudhury/BizBash
Rock candy made for a more budget-friendly and unexpected—not to mention edible—centerpiece at Chicago's Children's Ball in 2008.
Photo: Barry Brecheisen for BizBash
Hashtags
At the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay's Big Night on February 7, neon masking tape spelled out the event's hashtag. Corinthian Events handled the decor at Boston's House of Blues.
Photo: David Fox
The decor at this year's Whitney Museum of American Art gala in New York emphasized materials familiar to artists, such as paintbrushes and sketch pads. Playful centerpieces included table numbers imprinted on silver paint cans.
Photo: Nadia Chaudhury/BizBash
The tables at a graffiti-theme bar mitzvah designed by David Stark Design and Production, held at Center548 in New York, displayed numbers on spray-paint cans.
Photo: Susan Montagna
Design Foundry kept the reception tent to a color palette of orange and pink. The florals set the stage for the springtime colors used throughout the dinner tent.
Photo: Pixelme Studios
Erik Duran used pink, orange, and green for the flowers on the cocktail tables in the reception tent.
Photo: Pepe Gomez
Design Foundry suspended different sizes and styles of orange lanterns from the ceiling of the reception tent.
Photo: Pepe Gomez
Perfect Settings set up the tents in the garden of the Textile Museum property.
Photo: Pepe Gomez
While the event couldn't take place at the Corcoran Gallery of Art, a screened image of the gallery's doors at the reception provided a link to the past.
Photo: Pepe Gomez
Design Foundry suspended strings of pink butterflies above the dance floor as part of the metamorphosis theme.
Photo: Pepe Gomez
The design team chose a springtime color palette of pink, orange, green, yellow, and green for the linens, flowers, and lighting in the dinner tent.
Photo: Pixelme Studios
Yours Truly Lighting used pink, green, and orange uplights to complement the decor inside the dinner tent.
Photo: Pepe Gomez
Perfect Settings mixed up the linens on the tables adjacent to one another with white tablecloths adorned with pink flowers on one table next to another with the opposite color arrangement.
Photo: Pepe Gomez
For the first course of the meal, Occasions Caterers served sake-poached gulf shrimp with cashews, grapefruit, and mache accompanied by a watercress emulsion.
Photo: Pepe Gomez
For dessert, Occassions Caterers served a chocolate and hazelnut dacquoise with gilded raspberries and a chocolate butterfly.
Photo: Pepe Gomez
A jagged ice sculpture, created by Iceculture, provided a focal point in the reception area.
Photo: Roni Feldman & Associates Inc.
Ravinia Gala
As the evening wore on, the tent's ceiling lit up with blue lights in swirled patterns.
Photo: Patrick Gipson/Ravinia
