Target and Honest Company Partnership Anniversary Event
The Honest Company and Target hosted an event in celebration of their partnership anniversary in April. Caravents produced and designed the gathering at the Lombardi House in Hollywood, a residential event space where logos dangled gracefully from a large tree.
Photo: Alesandra Dubin/BizBash
Target and Honest Company Partnership Anniversary Event
In another tree hung a branded version of tire swings: Vibrant flower arrangements topped tires painted white and decorated with logos.
Photo: Alesandra Dubin/BizBash
Target and Honest Company Partnership Anniversary Event
Caravents used products from the Honest line to create a circular piece of wall art behind a seating group—turning an assortment of diapers into an elegant installation.
Photo: Alesandra Dubin/BizBash
Target and Honest Company Partnership Anniversary Event
A flower-decked bicycle that served as Instagram bait for guests bore just a small—but recognizable—Target bullseye logo within its wheels.
Photo: Alesandra Dubin/BizBash
Target and Honest Company Partnership Anniversary Event
Cocktail Academy served cocktails and mocktails at a bar backed with flowers and the words "Honestly Refreshing," a tasteful nod to the party's host.
Photo: Alesandra Dubin/BizBash
Fox T.C.A. Event
Fox hosted a Television Critics Association event in Los Angeles in January, produced by YourBash, where logos in frames got the look of dressed-up wall art.
Photo: Line 8 Photography. All rights reserved.
Fox T.C.A. Event
Logo pillows at the event matched the room's refined look and feel.
Photo: Line 8 Photography. All rights reserved.
Starwood Tribute Portfolio Launch
In April, Starwood launched its 10th hotel brand, Tribute Portfolio, in New York. For the launch, the brand transformed a raw loft space into an immersive experience, where guests were meant to discover concepts that brought to life the brand's "Stay Independent" mantra. Nicky Balestrieri designed, and BMF Media produced.
Photo: Nilaya Sabnis
Starwood Tribute Portfolio Launch
A smart-looking three-dimensional version of the hashtag served a decor piece as well as a call to action for guests.
Photo: Beth Kormanik/BizBash
Oracle’s CX Cloud Conference
At Oracle’s CX Cloud Conference in Las Vegas in April, signage and branding blended seamlessly into the Sands Expo’s design, appearing almost like on-message wallpaper.
Photo: Alesandra Dubin/BizBash
Oracle’s CX Cloud Conference
In the exhibition hall, each exhibitor used a version of the same sophisticated, streamlined display from partner Freeman. “The intent is to make it not feel like a trade show, but a space that's welcoming to walk into,” said Oracle’s Paul Salinger. “[Beyond that], we want people to know they're at an Oracle event, an Oracle-owned space.”
Photo: Alesandra Dubin/BizBash
'The Zoe Report' and Dolce Vita Pool Party at Coachella
At Coachella, where succulents and floral walls ruled, The Zoe Report provided an elegant green photo backdrop at the entrance to the dFm House, with only a subtle logo in a corner.
Photo: Alesandra Dubin/BizBash
PopSugar and ShopStyle's Cabana Club at Coachella
At the Avalon Palm Springs hotel property, PopSugar and ShopStyle placed chic white logos across the existing hedging, which was visible from the street.
Photo: Mike Windle/Getty Images for PopSugar
TEDActive
At 2013's TEDActive, the sister event to the TED Conference, organizers integrated branding into some of the host venue’s quintessential Spanish tiles. The decals over select tiles at La Quinta in California's Palm Springs area also guided attendees along the paths within the properly.
Photo: Alesandra Dubin/BizBash
A DJ spun in front of a dance floor that featured the birthday girl’s personal logo at a sweet sixteen party produced by Magnolia Bluebird Design & Events. Warhol-style graphics, props, custom throw pillows, and comic-art-inspired decor punched up the white lounge furniture at the Musikfest Café at the SteelStacks in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
Photo: Courtesy of Rodney Bailey
The teenage guests designed and signed their own spin-art pieces, which were framed to create a personalized custom work of art for the birthday girl at the Pop Art party produced by Magnolia Bluebird.
Photo: Courtesy of Rodney Bailey
A hot chocolate to-go wall featuring custom mugs, gourmet marshmallows, and milk chocolate hot cocoa allowed partygoers to leave the sweet sixteen with a sweet treat.
Photo: Courtesy of Rodney Bailey
Magnolia Bluebird created walls of cotton candy served on LED glow sticks for the Pop Art-theme sweet sixteen party. “It smelled like a Katy Perry concert when you walked in the door,” says Danielle Couick, principal of the Columbia, Maryland-based event planning company.
Photo: Courtesy of Rodney Bailey
Another sweet sixteen was produced by the JDK Group in April 2014. The company's producer and designer David Everett created a flowing champagne fountain displayed in front of a greenery backdrop with a custom monogram for the party’s step-and-repeat.
Photo: Courtesy of Leslie Gilbert Photography
The sweet sixteen had an array of desserts, including a made-to-order gelato bar. Everett suspended the centerpiece—a five-foot custom-designed cake by the House of Clarendon.
Photo: Courtesy of Leslie Gilbert Photography
A caricature artist added a traditional element to the punk-meets-Great Gatsby theme of the JDK Group-produced event.
Photo: Courtesy of Leslie Gilbert Photography
At the sweet sixteen party, guests grabbed pails of fries to dip in toppings, such as sriracha, ketchup, truffle aioli, Meyer lemon horseradish, bacon mayonnaise, and vinegar, which were served in paint cans and spray bottles hanging from chains. An artist created an abstract painting behind the station.
Photo: Courtesy of Leslie Gilbert Photography
At the same sweet sixteen, a custom-designed raw bar with assorted sushi push pops caught the attention of the younger crowd and provided an innovative twist on the standard hors d’oeuvre.
Photo: Courtesy of Leslie Gilbert Photography
For an older crowd, Radio Milano in Houston offers an interactive option for birthday parties—a craft cocktail training class where attendees shake things up using an array of ingredients. During the hour-and-a-half lesson, the bartender demonstrates how to make each cocktail, and partygoers get to taste what they've learned. Pricing starts at $30 per person; food, upgraded liquor, and a reception are available for additional fees.
Photo: Courtesy of Radio Milano
For an outdoor party, the team at Tastings, a catering company that serves New York, Miami, and Los Angeles, recommends offering lunch in elegant to-go bento boxes. At an event at the Glasshouses in New York in February, guests dined on a classic mesclun salad with button mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, and herb vinaigrette; seared arctic char with baby potatoes; and assorted macarons and canele for dessert, all presented in a three-tier translucent container.
Photo: Alan Shapiro
Guests chose cards with quirky sayings and filled in the blanks at a party at the Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte, in June 2014, which was produced by TCG Events. Afterwards, the cards and party photos were complied into a memorable coffee table book for the host.
Photo: Courtesy of Stephanie Chesson
Pancetta-wrapped peaches with a basil pancake were paired with wheat beer in mini mugs at a Tastings-catered event held at a private residence on Staten Island in New York.
Photo: Courtesy of Tastings
For a 40th birthday bash in France, the designers of Ladyfingers Letterpress made a one-of-a-kind laser-cut invite that could be assembled into a real paper airplane. The invites also included a map of Paris, complete with markers identifying landmarks, such as Chanel headquarters, the Louvre, and the Eiffel Tower. “Invitations offer a sneak peek of what’s to come,” says Sarah Schwartz, editor in chief of Stationery Trends magazine and editor of the Paper Chronicles, who sees a trend towards more personalization and away from cookie-cutter cards.
Photo: Ladyfingers Letterpress
Hosts are making wishes with crazy candles like firecrackers, sparklers, and the musical flower buds ($6.95) from U.S. Candle Company. Once the candle is lit, the large center flame lights 14 small candles, which are attached to each petal. The candle then “blooms,” starts to spin, and plays the “Happy Birthday” song.
Photo: Courtesy of Keystone Candle
For a milestone birthday dinner, designer Nichole Michel of New Haven, Connecticut-based Coral Pheasant Stationery created a stationery suite with an architectural typeface that paralleled the strong lines of the arched casemates of the party venue, Fort Adams in Newport, Rhode Island. Fun facts about the year the birthday boy was born were used to create trivia cards and coordinating coasters.
Photo: SHS
An example of a baby-theme catering presentation: New York-based event firm Rock Paper Scissors Events recently housed striped straws in baby bottles.
Photo: Courtesy of Rock Paper Scissors
Ladyfingers Letterpress created a book-like baby shower invitation with quotes and sentiments from the mommy-to-be’s favorite children’s stories. The cover was hand-sewn with gray-and-white baker’s twine, and a library card served as the R.S.V.P. card. Guests were encouraged to bring their favorite children’s book to help build the little one’s reading library.
Photo: Courtesy of Ladyfingers Letterpress
For baby showers, Truffleberry Market in Chicago presents desserts in small vessels that resemble baby food containers. The snacks are served with spoons that read: “Cute as a button.”
Photo: Courtesy of Truffleberry Market
Washington-based event designer André Wells planned a baby shower that had an untraditional guest book. Guests could snap Polaroid selfies and leave the images, along with a note, in the book.
Photo: Davide De Pas
At a travel-theme baby shower planned by Andre Wells, guests left notes detailing their best baby advice.
Photo: Davide De Pas
At the Ritz-Carlton South Beach in Florida, the catering team surprises guests at social functions with a “sushi cupcake” setup. The station presents the whimsical cakes on a boat-like stand.
Photo: Courtesy of Ritz-Carlton South Beach
Rock Paper Scissors Events designed a shower with a “lavender” theme that included purple candies and lavender in the floral arrangements by Cristina Lozito. Because showers are usually held during the day, planners like to use a light, cheerful color to design a cohesive look.
Photo: Courtesy of Rock Paper Scissors
Paramount Catering and Events in Chicago offers whimsical pretzel stations. The pretzels hang on stands, and guests dip them in sauces, including whole-grain mustard and tomato-bacon jam.
Photo: Courtesy of Paramount Catering and Events
Paramount Events suggests utilizing a tabletop pegboard to present breakfast items like bagels and doughnuts in a fresh, new way for a bridal brunch.
Photo: Courtesy of Paramount Catering and Events
The wedding-theme event hosted by Mindy Weiss and Wedding Paper Divas in Los Angeles featured the D.I.Y. trend: one station invited guests to customize cookies with watercolor-inspired paints.
Photo: Tiffany Rose/Getty Images for Wedding Paper Divas
Guests at the Los Angeles event hosted by Mindy Weiss and Wedding Paper Divas could also create custom bags of potpourri.
Photo: Tiffany Rose/Getty Images for Wedding Paper Divas
Lollipops can be sweet or savory like the seared tuna version with togarashi, avocado mousse, arare, and micro shiso from Paramount Catering and Events.
Photo: Courtesy of Paramount Catering and Events
Chicago’s Meatloaf Bakery, which got its start making cupcake-shaped meatloaf topped with mashed-potato “frosting,” now makes entire savory cakes. The centerpiece-worthy snack can be served as lunch at afternoon affairs like bridal showers.
Photo: Courtesy of Meatloaf Bakery
Chicago Botanic Garden's Harvest Ball
The Chicago Botanic Garden hosted its fall fund-raiser on September 19. HMR Designs handled decor and aimed to bring an "outdoor garden party" look into the tented dinner space. A tall potted ficus tree was placed at the center of the space, and Frost provided overhead string lights. Tabletop decor included silver-speckled glass, votive candles, and lanterns in various sizes. Floral arrangements held succulents, white hydrangeas, and orchid blossoms with autumnal accents of artichokes, black grapes, berries, and seasonal greenery. Teak wood troughs surrounded by birch bark held the arrangements.
Photo: Courtesy of Chicago Botanic Garden
As guests entered the Aragon Ballroom, models dressed as "hired spies" passed flutes of champagne. The so-called spies also gave guests "missions," or fun, thematic tasks to complete throughout the evening.
Photo: Marcin Cymmer
Event Creative decked the venue with 007-inspired decor. One of the evening's interactive activities, or "missions," was to snap a photo in front of a step-and-repeat featuring a spy plane.
Photo: Marcin Cymmer
Another one of the missions: posing for a photo in front of a golden "007" logo that appeared at the top of a stairwell.
Photo: Marcin Cymmer
Guests could also pose for photos in front of a gun-barrel backdrop, with models dressed as Bond girls.
Photo: Sheri Whitko Photography
Hip-hop group Salt-N-Pepa performed at around 10 p.m.
Photo: Sheri Whitko Photography
A long custom bar from Event Creative was stationed on the first floor.
Photo: Marcin Cymmer
The illuminated bar had the image of a safe embossed with Groupon's "G" logo.
Photo: Marcin Cymmer
After completing all the missions, guests were rewarded with the evening's specialty cocktail: "Shaken Not Stirred" martinis in branded keepsake glasses.
Photo: Sheri Whitko Photography
