Elegance remains a popular aesthetic for weddings, baby showers, and other personal celebrations. For example, an elderflower champagne cocktail with an edible flower garnish in crystal coupe glasses, accompanied by a large crystal punch bowl on a vintage gold bar cart, was presented at the Toast the Trends event hosted by the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago and bridal company Elaya Vaughn by Kate Pankoke in September.
Guests are guaranteed a good time at playful events featuring unexpected elements. For example, for an art-theme event, Brooklyn, New York-based floral, decor, and production company Birch Events created the bar’s backdrop out of all-white paintbrushes.
Many event vendors and hosts are forgoing overly polished and posh parties for the elegantly undone nature of the bohemian aesthetic. For example, The Los Angeles-based Seed Floral Interactive offers a flower cart, which can be branded or painted any color.
Chicago's Steppenwolf Theater hosted its annual gala on May 9. Inspired by the setting of the then-current production The Way West, Event Creative's decor was inspired by a home in England, and the tabletop centerpieces were designed to look like window boxes.
Samsung Galaxy Note devices lined the black-and-white garden walls at the Thomson Reuters event space on the lower level of the Washington Hilton. During the reception, the phones showed a compilation image of politicians. Later, during an after-party, it changed to display individual pictures of event guests.
The 141st Preakness Stakes took place May 21 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. For the first time, Pimlico operator Stronach Group hosted its Owner's Chalet, which was inspired by an English country estate, in the infield. The outdoor space featured four fire pits, pea gravel walkways, and topiaries.
The ninth annual Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic took place June 4 at Liberty State Park in New York. The event featured a rosé garden that offered guests bottles of Veuve Clicquot Rosé and Starr Catering Group's rosé-theme gourmet lunch boxes, which included mini bottles of raspberry vinaigrette, kale salads, Serrano ham sandwiches, and raspberry almond cakes.
For a back-to-school or academic-theme decor idea, AE Events designed sunflower centerpieces wrapped with a row of pencils for Excel Academy's 10th annual Celebration of Excellence, which took place June 2 in Boston. Table numbers were created with new covers on old books, which were then used in classrooms and libraries.
Event production agency Le Basque recently rolled out a new buffet design inspired by the pièce montée concept. The French-influenced confectionary centerpiece features an elaborate construction, along with classic dessert selections. Available sweet treats include bavarois, charlottes, aspics, faux souffle or Norwegian omelette, and pièce montées of profiteroles and macaroons like a croquembouche. Pricing for the tables depends on the guest count and the types of desserts, starting at $35 to $45 per person for 100 guests and decreasing incrementally as guest count rises.
