
HMR Designs used light as a central element of decor. At the entrance, mirrored shards illuminated in blue stood before a dark tunnel that led guests to the cocktail reception.
Photo: Bob and Dawn Davis

A giant papier-mache insect greeted guests upon arrival.
Photo: George Pimentel

Statistics about education and poverty in New York and famous quotes from writers like Thomas Carlyle punctuated each sculpture, including a structure made from JanSport backpacks, baby onesies, and Lego-like blocks.
Photo: Joe Fornabaio for BizBash

Thousands of actual pencils taped to a giant pencil sculpture gave it authentic coloring.
Photo: Joe Fornabaio for BizBash

"The chair was the one that eluded us for the longest," said designer David Stark of the structure that required 2,000 bottles of water to be individually clipped into place.
Photo: Joe Fornabaio for BizBash