Distillers

"Budgets for signature drinks are on the rise again. We are getting a lot of requests for welcome beverages for corporate events, especially with the huge cocktail craze," says Steve Sanchez, chief marketing officer at Camp Hill, Pennsylvania-based catering and events company JDK Group.

For the Knot event, Selden created a next-level breadstick bar. Hand-rolled breadsticks were served with flavored dips like spiced butternut squash, curried cream, and ricotta and fava bean, along with carrot and ginger and truffled wild mushroom soups. "You'd never guess it's a less expensive option because of the abundance of food on the table," the chef says.

Guests could get toasty (and tipsy) at the hot chocolate bar with alcoholic mix-ins, which was set up at a private holiday party, held at 26 Bridge in December 2014 and produced by New York-based event firm Rock Paper Scissors Events.

Tree stumps served as vases for white amaryllis flowers as well as candleholders and added a contrasting element to the glittery sequin linens at the corporate gathering.

At the "Travel Alberta: Snowed In at Nokia Plaza" activation, held in Los Angeles in November 2013, guests chipped away at an icy replica of a mountain, which was created by Robert Van Diggele, to retrieve the prize vouchers frozen inside. The vouchers were exchanged for signed pucks, Travel Alberta-branded items, and a signed L.A. Kings jersey.

At the launch of the Kate Young for Target collection, held at St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral school in SoHo in April 2013, Okamoto Studio etched the designer's name in playful block letters, which held lopsided bottles.

Okamoto Studio froze 800 pairs of flip-flops inside a nine-foot ice cube in Union Square for an Old Navy product launch in June 2012. As the ice melted, passersby grabbed a free pair.

Toronto marketing company Capital C hosted a holiday party in December 2011 with a "Naughty N'Ice" theme, featuring cocktails poured over dry ice, soup topped with nitrogen-frozen blueberries, and a cool chaise from Iceculture.

For the luxury bridal event Brides, Bubbles, and Bliss, held at Bridgeport Art Center's Skyline Loft in May 2013, Johnson Studios Ice Sculptures Chicago kept bottles of Veuve Clicquot on ice in a creative way.

At Martha Stewart Weddings' 20th anniversary party, held at the Pierre hotel in New York in October 2014, Okamoto Studio carved half-shell ice sculptures, complete with frozen pearls, for the raw oyster serving station.

Philippe Starck's Charles Ghost stools provided seating for guests during the cocktail reception.

At the James Beard Awards in New York last year, a water bar on the terrace displayed Pellegrino and Acqua Panna bottles frozen inside an ice sculpture.