Event Ideas

May 31, 2018

For a picnic in Central Park, guests at the Mark Hotel in New York can grab to-go lunches created by famed chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten to carry or to take via the hotel's custom bikes, which feature details such as monogrammed bells and come with signature black helmets and baskets. The a la carte menu includes steamed shrimp salad, grilled organic chicken sandwich, and a cookie plate, with items ranging in price from $7 to $37. The gourmet basket contains all the picnic essentials as well, including a blanket, cutlery, and condiments, along with an illustrated bike map curated by the chef concierge. To request, call the concierge at 212.606.3129.

Photo: Courtesy of the Mark

Whether planners are looking to relax on the grounds or take a trip to one of Los Angeles' beaches, Hotel Bel-Air offers its signature picnic, complete with blanket, pillows, and table trays. The menu includes a la carte options such as grilled cheese, assorted charcuterie and salumi, tuna tartare, house-made soft pretzels, and chocolate-dipped strawberries. Approximate pricing for a three-course meal starts at $60 per person, with a set-up fee of $75 for each picnic. The picnics are set for two, but guests may contact the hotel for larger party requests. Call 310.472.1211 for more information.

Photo: Courtesy of Hotel Bel-Air

The New York Hilton Midtown, located blocks from Central Park, recently introduced picnic baskets from its gourmet market Herb N’ Kitchen. For $68, guests can dine on a Murray’s Cheese plate, two sandwiches, a kale and smoked tofu salad, a slice of New York cheesecake, and a bottle of wine. Call 212.586.7000 for more information. The Hilton Chicago also offers similar baskets from its market, with a variety of options for on-the-go travelers, such as salads, artisanal sandwiches, and gelato. Prices vary. Call 312.922.4400 for more information.

Photo: Courtesy of New York Hilton Midtown

As part of its "Bike with a Manager or Chef" package, Kimpton's the Grand Hotel Minneapolis allows guests to tour the city with a true local. The five-mile guided bike ride, which takes place every Sunday morning at 8 a.m., ends with a picnic brunch at Stone Arch Bridge prepared by chef Kris Koch of the hotel's SIX15 Room. Bikes and helmets are provided. Cost is $20 per person, with a maximum of five guests. To book, call 612.288.8888. The special runs until September 30, and requires 72-hour advanced booking.

Photo: Courtesy of the Grand Hotel Minneapolis

For those groups who want to experience a taste of outdoor dining minus the al fresco part, the historic Hotel du Pont in Wilmington, Delaware, offers a "Picnic on the Green" lunch special until September 5. Guests as well as the general public can enjoy a three-course pre-fixe lunch menu of classic American fare, including lobster rolls with malt vinegar chips, fried chicken and waffles, and key lime cake, inside the hotel's Green Room restaurant. Cost is $22 per person, not including gratuity. For reservations, call 302.594.3154.

Photo: Courtesy of Hotel du Pont

At Corkbuzz Chelsea Market in New York, guests can build their own picnic lunch boxes ($16) to enjoy on the nearby High Line park with a bottle of wine from Chelsea Wine Vault, also located in the marketplace. Menu options include sandwiches such as pulled barbecue chicken, fried soft-shell crab, and grilled cheese, plus popcorn and a house-made chocolate chip cookie for dessert. Contact 646.237.4847 for more information.

Photo: Courtesy of Corkbuzz Chelsea Market

At the Beacon Hill Hotel & Bistro in Boston, guests can order up a rustic basket with a blanket for dining at the nearby Public Garden or Boston Common. The a la carte menu includes upscale picnic grub such as a roast chicken B.L.T., baked croque-madame, and Connecticut-style crab roll, with prices ranging from $12 to $20. The baskets can serve two to 30 guests. Lunch is available Monday through Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and dinner from 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Guests need to call one hour ahead to place their order. For parties larger than 10, the Bistro requires 24-hour notice. For more information, call 617.723.7575.

Photo: Courtesy of Beacon Hill Bistro

For W Hotels “Color Boldly,” BMF built an all-white room that served as a blank canvas. The room’s centerpiece presented six paint colors that corresponded to six W experiences, which were described on labels.

Photo: Courtesy of Marriott

Guests were invited to take brushes and rollers to paint what they wanted on the walls. The word “luxury” was displayed on the back wall.

Photo: Courtesy of Marriott

Inside the SpringHill Suites cube, guests could walk around and “stargaze.” A 360-degree fiber optic installation provided the starry night effect.

Photo: Courtesy of Marriott

The Luxury Collection offered guests three “portals” designed to virtually transport them around the world. Guests were greeted by a “concierge” who directed them to the closed doors. When guests looked through the door peep holes, they saw digital vignettes of locations in Peru, Thailand, and off the coast of the western U.S.

Photo: Courtesy of Marriott

Tribute Portfolio’s “Add Your Own Color” featured a life-size coloring book, inspired by the brand’s colorful aesthetic. The content of the coloring book design offered illustrations and names of Tribute destinations.

Photo: Courtesy of Marriott

Wellness-focused hotel brand Westin showcased a modern take on the apothecary shop. The shop consisted of shelves with curated items including herbs, fresh fruit, fitness items, essential oils, and Westin sleep balm.

Photo: Courtesy of Marriott

BMF Media Group designed 25 activations that each were reflective of a specific Marriott hotel brand. For the Aloft Hotels “Listen Up” section, the design reflected the brand’s passion for music and technology innovation. A structure with four cube-shape directional speakers was built to allow guests to place their heads inside and listen to artists from brand’s “Live at Aloft Hotels” concert series.

Photo: Courtesy of Marriott

Moxy, which is known for having a fun, millennial-focused aesthetic, showcased a “Play On” area that featured a ball pit hanging from a truss cube. Guests were invited to jump in and search for prizes in the hot pink plastic balls. The station also had a bar that served cocktails in Capri Sun-inspired pouches.

Photo: Courtesy of Marriott

Courtyard’s “Classics with a Twist” was inspired by the game Twister, featuring a structure that resembled an oversize game board on the floor that extended to the walls. The dots on the game board represented Courtyard’s brand positioning, food and beverage concepts, partnerships, and the breadth of the brand’s portfolio. Attendees were encouraged by brand representatives to participate in a game of Twister as a photo op.

Photo: Courtesy of Marriott

Element’s “Balancing Act” featured a living wall of moss and greenery with letters spelling out the eco-conscious brand’s tagline. The floor mimicked a natural bike path with wood chips and grass. Three green bicycles were mounted in front of the greenery as a photo op for attendees.

Photo: Courtesy of Marriott

As the brand positioning of Autograph Collection is that every property has “its own unique story,” BMF created a library-inspired installation with a massive book staged in the center of the space. The book highlighted Autograph properties and brand pillars.

Photo: Courtesy of Marriott

While many stations incorporated color, Delta Hotels “Clean/Chaos” featured a white bedroom set staged in front of a string art installation. The string material spelled out the brand’s name and tagline: “Delta Hotels. Simple Made Perfect.”

Photo: Courtesy of Marriott

Le Meridien’s “Swings of Glamour” featured a chic travel-theme swing set photo op, designed to remind guests about the meaning of savoring a travel experience. The activation was inspired by the “France is in the Air” campaign from Air France—the founder of the hotel brand.

Photo: Courtesy of Marriott

The Renaissance Hotels “Navigators Hot(e)line” was designed to highlight the local and personalized service offered by the brand’s Navigators—hotel employees that give guests tips on finding local experiences. Five rotary phones were placed on plinths in front of a black wall showcasing quotes related to destinations including Dubai, New York, and Beijing. Guests who picked up the phones heard pre-recorded audio from Navigators offering tips for that particular destination.

Photo: Courtesy of Marriott

Sheraton’s “Revolution” scratch-off wall was inspired by the brand’s transformation and the power of community. The initial black matte wall displayed gloss black negative connotations about the brand, including “old” and “tired.” Guests could take hotel keycards to scratch away those worlds.

Photo: Courtesy of Marriott

The wall was gradually scratched off to reveal new Sheraton brand messaging, which offered terms such as “community,” “modern,” and “global exchange”—nodding to the guests’s team effort.

Photo: Courtesy of Marriott

For TownePlace Suites “Closet Essentials,” BMF created a custom walk-in closet. To emphasize the brand’s appreciation of guests’s D.I.Y. attitude, the closet had hanging racks displaying paper fashion pieces that attendees could pose with. Additional items on closet shelves nodded to the hotel’s brand partnerships.

Photo: Courtesy of Marriott

The Ritz-Carlton “#RCMemories Shop” was inspired by the brand’s mission of selling memories, rather than simply room nights. The activation featured shelving units styled and displayed like a retail shop with all-white framed photos of travel images and social media posts. A brand representative was on site to speak about what memories were “for sale.”

Photo: Courtesy of Marriott

SpringHill Suites’s “Space to Infinity” provided guests with an indoor planetarium experience. The exterior of the cube featured constellation-style brand messaging.

Photo: Courtesy of Marriott

For St. Regis, BMF created an illuminated tree installation to demonstrate the history of the brand, which has roots that go back to 1904 in New York. The installation, which was inspired by the brand’s modern indulgence aesthetic, hung over a long table that displayed key milestones in the history of the brand.

Photo: Courtesy of Marriott

Attendees were encouraged to color in the book using a variety of colored pencils.

Photo: Courtesy of Marriott

N.B.A. sponsor American Express gave fans a chance to experience its digital video Pivot activity at the N.B.A. All-Star Game in February 2015. Displayed on a 103-inch screen, the experience immersed fans in the movements of some of the league’s star players.

Photo: Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for American Express

Salad

Salad—a summer staple—can be messy, with the risk of a dressing spill onto clothing or hands. Occasions Caterers in Washington created a wedge salad bite hors d’oeuvre, served on a fork, to keep serving clean.

Photo: Tony Brown/imijphoto.com for BizBash

S'mores Sans Campfire

For a camp-theme party, skip the fire and marshmallow-melting attempts and try KG Fare Catering & Events' version of the desert: dipped graham-crackers displayed on clothespins.

Photo: KG Fare Catering & Events

Fruit-Infused Ice Cubes

To keep guests' drinks cool without watering them down, Maria Zoitas of Maria’s Homemade recommends adding fruit-infused ice cubes to drinks at summer parties. Add berries, grapes, or pomegranate seeds to the water in ice cube trays to create the refreshing treat.

Photo: Courtesy of Westside Market NYC

The National Association for Catering and Events (NACE) had an enchanted forest theme for a fund-raising gala in Washington. A nod to the poisoned apple in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, escort cards were attached to bright red apples.

Photo: Evelyn Alas

Caesarstone Reveal Event

Kitchen and bathroom countertops brand Caesarstone celebrated the launch of its industrial-theme Metropolitan Collection with an event on May 29 at Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto. The event showcased imagery of a new slab model from the collection through staircase decals. Community produced the event.

Photo: Alec Donnell

Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic

The champagne brand’s 11th annual polo match took place June 2 at Liberty State Park in New York. The V.I.P. area incorporated orange and yellow florals, bottles of Veuve Clicquot, and an orange hashtag sign into the decor. The event was executed by Overland Entertainment.

Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Veuve Clicquot

Design Pavilion

Design Pavilion, a curated program of installations and exhibitions presented by the Times Square Alliance during the NYCxDesign celebration, took place May 12 to 20 in Times Square. Javier Zubiria of Zu-Studio created the “Re-lying” installation, which had anti-gravity seating designed to reduce pressure on lumbar discs, improve circulation, and improve back pain and sciatica. The pavilion attracted a record 3.7 million visitors.

Photo: Rune Stokmo

Absolut Truth “One Night Only” Party

Vodka brand Absolut hosted a Studio 54-inspired event for its Absolut Truth campaign, which celebrates the brand’s New York heritage and the golden era of the city’s nightlife scene. The event, which took place May 31 at the Box, featured a bar with campaign branding and two vodka bottle cutouts—one that showed an image of a disco ball and one that displayed an aerial view of Manhattan. Team Epiphany produced the event.

Photo: Dorothy Hong

American Express Canada Live Life Experience

American Express Canada celebrated a new campaign with a pop-up art exhibit that showcased a series of rooms designed by a group of local artists. For a culinary-inspired room, artists Troublesome Troy and SmugUgly designed a noodle-theme vignette inspired by their recent trip to Japan. Guests could pose in a life-size bowl of “ramen” with "noodles" that hung from oversize chopsticks.

Photo: Courtesy of American Express

American Express Canada Live Life Experience

Attendees could literally slide into the “Don’t Have Fun Without It” room, created by artist Duro the Third. Riffing off the popular ball pit trend, the room featured a foam cube pit. Wooden lighting bolts were installed in the ceiling.

Photo: Courtesy of American Express

C2 Montréal

The seventh edition of the business conference, which was created by Sid Lee and Cirque du Soleil, took place May 23 to 25 at the Arsenal art gallery and warehouse. The Primal lab, one of the numerous interactive experiences at the conference, invited attendees to wear festive, Dr. Seuss-style augmented-reality helmets to see a colorful house interior come to life as a surreal jungle.

Photo: Agnieszka Stalkoper

C2 Montréal

At a lab called Cookie, groups brainstormed ideas to make and market their own cookies in a pop-up kitchen. The cookies were displayed in jars in a circular wall showcase outside of the kitchen for other attendees to try. After trying a cookie, guests were encouraged to write a dream or idea on a Post-it, which would be used as inspiration for new cookie ideas throughout the conference.

Photo: Agnieszka Stalkoper

Museum of Modern Art’s Party in the Garden

MoMA honored philanthropist Agnes Gund at its annual Party in the Garden, which took place May 31 in the museum’s Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden. This year's on-theme step and repeat took on a more freestyle garden look as compared to the more manicured designs in years past. The event was designed by the museum’s in-house special events team, and decor and flowers were handled by Concept Event Group.

Photo: Taylor McIntyre/BizBash

Museum of Modern Art’s Party in the Garden

The linens, seat cushions, glassware, and floral arrangements matched the color palettes of the tables. Grey accents pop up throughout the decor.

Photo: Taylor McIntyre/BizBash

Inside, the venue featured massive projections of promotional images for the series.

Photo: Sean Smith

Staffers wore white jumpsuits that displayed a pink graffiti-style design of the series title.

Photo: Andrew Toth/Getty Images for FX Networks

Epic Games

After developing one of the most popular games of 2017 in Fortnite, Epic Games expanded their E3 footprint this year with an eye-catching booth designed by Orange County-based event firm FGPG. The 10,000-square-foot immersive space drew guests in with the Fortnite logo displayed in 12-foot letters. Below the sign was a custom-fabricated "battle bus," a nod to the game.

Photo: Courtesy of FGPG

Rosé Day L.A.

The inaugural Rosé Day L.A. was held on June 9 at Saddlerock Ranch in Malibu, California. Headlined by Moët & Chandon, the Instagram-friendly daylong picnic was designed and produced by Ben Biscotti of 1iota Productions, Tony Schubert of Event Eleven, and hospitality veterans Bobby Rossi, Sylvain Bitton, JT Torregiani, and David Jarret.

Iron Chef Marc Forgione selected gourmet food trucks for the day, and DJs including Zen Freeman and Caroline D’Amore entertained the crowd from a booth constructed of on-theme pink crates.

Photo: Line 8 Photography

Rosé Day L.A.

The team created several Instagram-friendly moments throughout the day to take advantage of the Malibu location. In one area, guests could pose inside of an oversize frame.

Photo: Line 8 Photography

The Skylark

The Midtown venue is also offering popsicles made with coconut sangria and Whispering Angel rosé.

Photo: Courtesy of the Skylark

A colorful, striped entrance hallway offered a popular backdrop for photos.

Photo: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for PopSugar Play/Ground

Grand Tasting

Patron created spiked tiki ice pops in different flavors to accompany the brand’s tequila tiki theme for the festival.

Photo: Marc Fiorito

The High Line’s Spring Benefit

At the annual benefit, which took place in May, guests first enjoyed cocktails on the High Line at the Diller-Von Furstenberg Sundeck and in the Chelsea Market Passage before heading to dinner at two separate locations: Highline Stages and 60 Tenth Ave. in New York. Van Wyck & Van Wyck handled design for both venues. The Highline Stages space featured two columns reimagined to look like dogwood trees with flickering candlelight. The 60 Tenth Ave. venue boasted the “Tree of Life” (pictured), a column that was transformed into a tree dripping with fiber optics that changed colors.

Photo: Liz Ligon/Courtesy of the High Line

Biblio Bash

The Toronto Public Library Foundation hosted its annual black tie fund-raiser in April at the Toronto Reference Library. Each table at the dinner portion of the event, which raised more than $692,000 for the library’s youth empowerment programs and services, featured a Canadian author host. The list of the 43 authors and their notable books were featured on circular placemats in text printed in concentric circles. Candice & Alison designed the event.

Photo: Ernesto DiStefano

Power Ball XX: Carousal

The 20th anniversary edition of Power Ball, the annual fund-raiser for the Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery in Toronto, which was held in May at the museum, featured a risqué circus theme with rides and stalls, including an onsite tattoo parlor and a fruit shooting range.

Photo: Courtesy of Phototerra

American Cancer Society’s Discovery Ball

For the American Cancer Society’s 12th annual Discovery Ball, which took place in April at the Swissȏtel Chicago and featured the theme of “Impact From Every Angle,” HMR Designs extended miles of ribbons from 125 points on the ceiling. As guests moved around the room, the angles intersected to create dynamic visuals.

Photo: Francis Son

My Friend’s Place’s Gala

Nonprofit homeless youth resource center My Friend’s Place hosted its 30th-anniversary gala in April at the Hollywood Palladium. Each of the six awards presented was a sculpted piece of art handmade by one of the organization’s youth artists.

Photo: Joshua Blanchard/Getty Images for My Friend's Place

The Robin Hood Foundation’s Benefit

The Robin Hood Foundation celebrated its 30th anniversary at its annual benefit in May at the Jacob K. Javits Center with a theme of the “Lights of New York." David Stark Design and Production evoked cityscape imagery throughout the space, including layers of Times Square-style signs—printed, constructed, and digital—that communicated the foundation's message.

Photo: Taylor McIntyre/BizBash

Governors Ball

This year’s Governors Ball music festival took place June 1 to 3 at Randall’s Island in New York. Giant trees built by Founders Entertainment with balloon arrangements supplied by Katie Balloons sprouted up throughout the festival grounds.

Photo: Taylor McIntyre/BizBash

Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Italian Zest Launch

Dolce & Gabbana hosted a launch event for its new fragrance May 17 at the NoMad Los Angeles rooftop. The event design, which was helmed by Agenc, was inspired by a summer night in Capri and incorporated lemons throughout the rooftop. The bar displayed the logo for the new fragrance, along with a painting of lemons and an arch of greenery and lemons.

Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Dolce & Gabbana Fragrance

The Great White North Gala, which was held in the Van Horne Ballroom on the final night, featured a white-and-metallic winter wonderland theme with illuminated laser-cut paper centerpieces and menus designed and produced by Vanessa Kreckel of TPD Design House. Calgary-based Modern Luxe Rentals provided the tabletop rentals and chairs and Flower Artistry handled the florals, which were sourced from the region.

Photo: Genevieve de Manio

TPD Design House also designed and produced 15,000 laser-cut paper fir leaves for an installation, which was installed by Firedog Creative over the dance floor.

Photo: Carla Ten Eyck

The laser-cut paper menus by TPD Design House featured mountain motifs.

Photo: Love Life Images

Grey Goose Marché

Grey Goose held a French Riviera-theme pop-up event series in four Canadian cities from June 21 to 30. Pop-up markets in Toronto (pictured) and Montreal featured step-and-repeats with name of the event in white letters, surrounded by an installation of hanging blue and white striped umbrellas. The installation was inspired by the brand's Riviera bottle series, in partnership with artist Quentin Monge. Pomp & Circumstance and Community Agency produced the events.

Photo: Ryan Emberley

MTV 'Cribs' Booth

The kitchen fridge led to a secret tunnel constructed from pool noodles, as well as a fish wall installation where the fish said phrases such as “Okkkkuurrrrr” and “It’s T-Shirt Time!”

Photo: Courtesy of MKG

HBO's "Sharp Objects" Screening Event

Brooklyn-based experiential design agency the Gathery partnered with floral design company Ellen Robin Creative to create an installation for HBO’s Sharp Objects screening event, which took place at the Bowery Hotel in New York in June. Inspired by the mystery drama series, a Ford Crown Victoria covered in floral green wallpaper vinyl was placed outside of the venue, with a backdrop of green branded caution tape.

“I wanted nice green as a base, so I chose Camellia branches for their color, lushness, and nice leaf shape, and smilax vine for that draping quality,” said Ellen Robin, founder of Ellen Robin Creative. “After that, I wanted to bring to life the peach, dusty rose, and cream color story, so I centered on roses of many colors, from quicksand to tiffany, and some really gorgeous beige and dust pink-toned carnations.”

Photo: Courtesy of HBO

Tables at the conference also adopted the theme, with comics-style lettering and masks for attendees to wear. Each table was named after a different superhero.

Photo: Courtesy of Vibe Agency

At last year’s Comic-Con International, held in San Diego in July 2017, BuzzFeed & the CW joined forces to host a superhero-theme party. Guests donned colorful capes branded with the CW logo, and a photo booth had superhero-theme props.

Photo: Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images for BuzzFeed/The CW

During the 118th U.S. Open Championship, which took place at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York, in June, U.S.G.A. partner American Express built its first-ever American Express Card Member Club on site. Located at the 10th hole green, the club offered card members and fans lounge seating, along with food and beverage items for purchase. The space was an extension of the brand’s marketing campaign called “Powerful Backing: Don’t Do Business / Don’t Live Life Without It;” some of the clubhouse's wall decor featured the messaging with the words “live life” spelled out in golf tees.

Photo: Michele Laufik/BizBash

The Pop Shop by Vita Coco

A yellow room, inspired by the flavor lemon ginger, had a hanging installation of balls on strings that offered popular Instagram fodder.

Photo: Courtesy of Vita Coco

The Pop Shop by Vita Coco

Additional photo ops included three different color “changing rooms” with mirrors that displayed on-theme tag lines such as “I’m full of flavor” and “I’m popping.”

Photo: Courtesy of Vita Coco

For a multi-day event at Resort at Paws Up in Montana in 2016, event designers EventWorks went for an upscale western theme. A decorative wall with hanging vases and greenery was used to mask the kitchen prep area.

Photo: Courtesy of EventWorks

Hair-product brand Creme of Nature hosted a launch event for four new products catering to women with natural hair last June in New York. The event featured a floral wall installation—conceived by Fluid Content and created by Summit Atlantic Productions—that was designed to look like a woman’s hair. The event was designed and managed by First and Last PR.

Photo: Tihany Luna

Pepsi Generations Concert

Pepsi celebrated its summer music campaign with a concert headlined by the Chainsmokers on July 24 at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles. The event featured a photo op installation of Pepsi cans that were arranged in the shape of a giant pair of headphones. The installation was produced by Live Nation.

Photo: Phillip Faraone

Panorama

The third edition of Panorama music and art festival took place July 27 to 29 at Randall’s Island Park in New York. American Express returned with its two-story cardmember club and hospitality space, which was produced by Momentum Worldwide. The island-theme space, which was inspired by the festival venue, had an installation of fabricated palm trees with streamers in multiple colors. Guests were invited to write their advice for living a happy life on the streamers.

Photo: Taylor McIntyre/BizBash

Absolut America

The event featured numerous Instagram-friendly moments, including a neon bottle-shape event entrance. For every photo posted using the hashtags #AbsolutAmerica and #Promotion, the brand donated to Keep America Beautiful, a community improvement nonprofit organization.

Photo: Chasi Annexy

Aperol Spritz Soiree

Italian aperitif Aperol hosted an event celebrating the first day of summer in June at Bocce restaurant at Union Square Pavilion in New York. Attendees could play bocce ball on an orange court. The event was produced by Swell.

Photo: Courtesy of Aperol

Maison St-Germain

Production designer Marla Weinhoff created a tattoo parlor where guests could get botanical-theme temporary tattoos.

Photo: Sansho Scott/BFA.com

Maison St-Germain

Weinhoff also created 1,000 LED “flowers,” meant to resemble the 1,000 elderflowers used in every bottle of St-Germain.

Photo: Sansho Scott/BFA.com

HMR Designs extended miles of ribbons from 125 points on the ceiling. As guests moved around the room, the angles intersected to create interesting, dynamic visuals.

Photo: Francis Son

Each table served as a base for the ribbons, which were chosen in cool color tones to complement Frost's intimate lighting design.

Photo: Francis Son

The angular theme also extended to a display that featured bios of the evening's honorees.

Photo: Francis Son

The Watermill Center's 25th-anniversary benefit, titled "Time Bomb," welcomed over 1,000 guests. This year's entrance was unmistakable with a large cloud of hazy smoke greeting those arriving on Water Mill Town Road.

Photo: Sunny Norton/BizBash

Guests arriving via the second pathway were greeted by a phalanx of Cleon Peterson's soldiers flanking the entrance into the main building, which featured Christopher Knowles' "Time Bomb" signage.

Photo: Sunny Norton/BizBash

Alice & Olivia’s Spring 2019 Presentation

On the Hudson River, a branded yacht was available to book through Booking.com for three days during Fashion Week. It was decked out in a kaleidoscope of colors, a signature aesthetic of Alice & Olivia.

Photo: Sean Zanni/Getty Images for Alice & Olivia

Facebook Messenger used a similar idea at the third Girlboss Rally, held in Los Angeles in April. On a wall dubbed "Messages That Matter,” attendees and speakers left hundreds of messages of encouragement for each other throughout the day, such as “Just write the draft,” “Be fkn nice,” and “Be a self-made dreamer.”

Photo: Chris Swoszowski

HBO held an interactive pop-up exhibit inspired by the network’s new late-night series, Random Acts of Flyness, in August in New York. The exhibit, which was produced by Team Epiphany, featured vignettes inspired by the themes and cultural idioms featured in the series, which explores patriarchy, white supremacy, and sensuality through a stream-of-conscience style. The “Black Women Won’t Save Us All?” room recognized black women who have made history by broadcasting names on a screen. Attendees were invited to write the name of a black woman who has inspired them on two walls that flanked the screen.

Photo: Dorothy Hong

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

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

Freeform's Good Trouble dining experience took place in an open-air space below the Hollywood sign. The iconic location was chosen to reflect the excitement the main characters feel after moving to Los Angeles.

Photo: Freeform/Troy Harvey

In the pilot episode of Good Trouble, the main characters have their U-Haul towed and all of their possessions stolen. To reflect that, organizers hosted the dinner in three moving trucks. Graphics from BOND adorned the outside.

Photo: Freeform/Troy Harvey

The back of the trucks opened to reveal three distinct spaces inspired by the series.

Photo: Freeform/Troy Harvey

In one truck, mismatched chairs, deep blue walls, framed pictures, and hanging plants created a cozy but trendy atmosphere. A floral wall at the back doubled as a photo backdrop.

Photo: Freeform/Troy Harvey

Another truck had exposed brick walls and plenty of greenery.

Photo: Freeform/Troy Harvey

The third truck reflected the show's theme of love with red balloons, framed pictures, and a stylish couch. A neon heart sign tied the space together.

Photo: Freeform/Troy Harvey

In all three trucks, chairs and tabletop items were eclectic and mismatched, designed to reflect how young people often amass an assortment of household items rather than matching sets.

Photo: Freeform/Troy Harvey

Food and beverage from Love Catering also reflected life as a young adult—with an elevated twist. Featuring items that young roommates might find in their shared kitchen, fun dishes included gold-covered hot dogs with bacon (pictured), tie-dye spaghetti alfredo, and chocolate sprinkle doughnuts with bacon, tomato, and ketchup.

Photo: Freeform/Valerie Durant

Desserts included a magnum chocolate ice cream bar with bacon, pistachio, raspberry, and white chocolate (pictured). Other desserts were a giant pink macaron and heart-shaped panna cotta.

Photo: Freeform/Valerie Durant

The entire dinner was designed to encourage social sharing, with a visually striking pineapple-infused "fountain of youth" cocktail made with liquid nitrogen.

Photo: Freeform/Troy Harvey

Cast members from the show were on hand for the experience, including, from left: Sherry Cola, Tommy Martinez, Zuri Adele, Josh Pence, Cierra Ramirez, Maia Mitchell, and Emma Hunton.

Photo: Freeform/Valerie Durant