Matthew David Hopkins of 360 Design Events placed bowls of floating candles atop vegetative green roofing tiles at the 9/11 Memorial benefit.
Photo: Courtesy of 360 Design Events
David Stark’s table designs at the fall gala for New Yorkers for Children included high and low glass containers filled with moss, ferns, and candles.
Photo: Billy Farrell/BFAnyc.com
In San Diego, Stone World Bistro & Gardens—Liberty Station capitalizes on the beer-meets-business trend.
Photo: Courtesy of Stone Brewing Co.
The table known as "Alexandrine’s Romantic Spring Dream” was designed by Kelsey Events and Ixora Floral Studio. Black satin napkins, ornate china, and open roses created a look of sheer opulence.
Photo: Krista Mason Photography
Cincinnati Children's Celestial Ball
Held April 9 at the Duke Energy Convention Center, the annual fund-raiser honored the Cincinnati Reds with a custom set design built to feel like the team’s original stadium, Crosley Field. Table centerpieces featured baseball-shaped pomanders on top of striped linens, while the V.I.P. areas included mix-and-match vintage furniture. Plus, the carnival-like after-party included a nostalgic candy bar, mini milkshakes, corn dogs, and tater tots, along with games like skee-ball, caricature artists, and a baseball card photo booth.
Photo: Courtesy of Cincinnati Children's Celestial Ball
Guests at the Stella Artois event dined at several long, farm-style tables, which had no linens—but were instead topped with abundant white flowers.
Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images for Stella Artois
During the Coachella Valley Music and Arts festival in the Southern California desert last year, the Retreat at the Sparrows Lodge topped a table with floral arrangements, taper candlesticks, games, and other objects that created a relaxed atmosphere.
Photo: Tyler Curtis
Last fall’s New Yorkers for Children gala had a "light the way" theme, inspired by the nonprofit's mission to improve the lives of young people. David Stark handled the decor, embellishing a photo backdrop of a forest scene with white birch trees, lush greenery, and a path lit by lanterns.
Photo: Billy Farrell/BFAnyc.com
Diffa's Dining by Design New York 2015
Inspired by the ceramics of South African artist Ruan Hoffmann and murals by Rebecca Rebouche, interior designer Alexis Givens created a moonlight feast setting for Anthropologie at Diffa's Dining by Design event in March. The ceiling covering was made from bright blue-painted recycled plastic bottles, and pink flowers decked the tables.
Photo: Cornelia Stiles/BizBash
The design concept touched all areas of Skylight SoHo's 15,000-square-foot interior, including the hallway, which Target remodeled into a Parisian-style boulevard with lampposts, painted illustrations of buildings, and trees surrounded by benches.
Photo: Nilaya Sabnis
For a wedding at the King Plow Event Gallery in Atlanta, Bold American Events & Catering designed an upside-down centerpiece of yellow tulips and glass globes that hung above the head table.
Photo: Our Labor of Love
"This fall, we are seeing lots of eucalyptus greens being used,” says Intrigue Designs’ Sarah Campbell. "The muted green tone of the leaves accents the rich fall color palettes perfectly. Eucalyptus is being used in everything from bouquets coordinating with oranges, reds, and amber tones, to long garlands running the length of the table."
Photos: Travis Curry (Campbell), Liz and Ryan (florals)
Similar to branches, stumps are creative replacements for expensive vessels and leave more funds for flowers. Showorks dresses up the humble tree trunk with vibrant roses and gerbera daises.
Photo: Courtesy of Showorks
Collect reclaimed rocks, wood, and seashells to fill apothecary jars of varying sizes, shapes, and heights for displays such as the underwater-inspired design from Blueprint Studios.
Photo: Courtesy of Blue Print Studio
Liz Page Associates, along with designer Max Ultimate Food, wove gold-wire ribbon throughout short glass vases, using reusable LED pillar candles as accents. The look brought to life the theme of the Arnold P. Gold Foundation fund-raiser—“The Golden Thread”—in an affordable way in October 2013.
Photo: Courtesy of Liz Page Associates
As a budget-friendly alternative to lush fall flowers, fill vases with affordable tree branches sprouting colorful autumn foliage, like the bountiful, statement-making maple leaf arrangement by Van Wyck & Van Wyck.
Photo: Courtesy of Van Wyck & Van Wyck
Showorks creates cheerful centerpieces by filling Mason jars of varying sizes with wildflowers, which are reasonably priced per bunch. Repurposed wine and liquor bottles also work as makeshift vases.
Photo: Shannon Livingston
Use unique structural containers to show off a few impactful blooms for a modern, artistic look, like the creation by Blueprint Studios that features butter yellow calla lilies and Billy Ball flowers.
Photo: Michelle Nicole Photography
Found objects don’t always have to be from nature. For this year’s AMC upfront after-party, Empire Entertainment used classic ’80s artifacts—floppy disks and cassette tapes—to construct lighted lamps in lieu of high-end floral centerpieces.
Photo: Rick Gilbert
Lanterns, whether simple or ornate, offer a theatrical alternative to traditional tabletop decor. Style the lighting items to suit any event theme or atmosphere, such as the Moroccan-inspired ones used by Showorks.
Photo: Courtesy of Showorks
Blueprint Studios lines up basic votive candles in a mirrored box for a dramatic, low-cost solution.
Photo: Courtesy of Blue Print Studio
