The Nutella logo was splashed on games and activities, including a beanbag toss.
Photo: Brian Ach/AP Images for Nutella
In a new take on the traditional photo backdrop, guests bounced on a trampoline before having their photo taken. Side rails around the custom station kept guests safe.
Photo: Roderick Peña
A “fruit toss” game let guests pitch pineapples, lemons, and other produce into baskets attached to a colorful, branded wall.
Photo: Michael Simon/StarTraksPhoto.com
Warby Parker's Bocce Social
In July, suddenly ubiquitous eyewear brand Warby Parker hosted a pop-up "bocce social" in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood. Open to everyone 21 years old and over, the activation included a grassy bocce court, live performances from DJ Dan Maloney and the Record Low, and wheelbarrows filled with Goose Island Beer and picnic snacks. Servers circulated the area holding trays of the brands' sunglasses for locals to test out, and there was also a pop-up shop on-site.
Photo: Cory Dewald
At Variety's Power of Youth event, a larger-than-life game of Connect Four tested guests' strategy skills.
Photo: Rich Polk/Getty Images for Variety
As with all McCartney presentations, the models were encouraged to mingle and interact with guests. At the Monday event the models, clad in the resort 2013 collection, played games and chatted with guests. In terms of groupings, the gathering was more organic than seasons past, with models arranged together according to the patterns or colors of their garments.
Photo: David X. Prutting/BFAnyc.com
At lawn-bowling stations, guests could try to knock down prop bottles of the product. Bright, fruity images adorned the lanes.
Photo: Michael Simon/StarTraksPhoto.com
'Ocean Drive's Sun Covered Pool Party
Guests at Ocean Drive's Sun Covered pool party played oversize Jenga.
Photo: World Red Eye
One particularly popular and eye-catching piece was the cotton candy tree, which saw the wispy sweet treats clipped to a willow-tree-shaped metal frame.
Photo: Erik Valind
The contraption that held paper cones of truffle tater tots was a nod to trapeze acts.
Photo: Erik Valind
Even popcorn matched the design of the event: custom boxes were served from a small rolling cart in flavors like sea salt and vinegar as well as pancetta and maple.
Photo: Erik Valind
All elements of the event were designed to motivate attendees to snap pics and share them on Instagram, Twitter, and other social media channels. Additionally, caterer Creative Edge carefully crafted the catering trays to match the theme of the event—and the brand's campaign—with one tray of mac 'n' cheese bites styled after spinning plates.
Photo: Erik Valind
For a new twist, Riviera Catering also set up stations that resembled food truck exteriors with splashy chrome finishes at the WTC860 event. The mock trucks served iconic New York foods, including baos and mini pizzas, and were approximately 10 feet high and 8 feet long.
Photo: BFA.com
To serve fresh fruit, Chicago catering firm Limelight inserts skewers into a decorative wall featuring colorful wallpaper that can be customized for any event. Guests then dip the fruit into accompanying sauces.
Photo: Erika DuFour Photography
Wolfgang Puck Catering created a “chef shadowbox” station for an event at the Perot Museum of Science and Nature in Dallas. There, a chef prepared appetizers as guests viewed the behind-the-scenes action.
Photo: Courtesy of Wolfgang Puck Catering
For the HBO Emmy after-party in August 2010, event designer Billy Butchkavitz concocted a “summer safari” theme that featured animal-print tablecloths in preppy pink and banana and palm trees as high as 30 feet.
Photo: Gabor Ekecs
In late April 2015, the Brookfield Zoo outside of Chicago hosted its annual fund-raising gala. The event featured animal-theme decor from the Flower Firm, including a bar with leopard spots and eyes.
Photo: Kelly Tone
The arrivals backdrop—featuring the Cartier, which underwrote the event, and MoMA logos rendered in neon and marquee lights—echoed the dense arrangements of tropical greenery found inside the dinner space.
Photo: Nadia Chaudhury/BizBash
Limelight's "One Potato, Two Potato" Station
Instead of serving French fries at a stationary table, Limelight has used a wheelbarrow to deliver Belgian frites at events. The fries are served in cones, and assorted sauces are displayed on the side.
Photo: Artisan Events
Roar Events' Interactive Margarita Station
Roar Events produced a summertime event at Estancia La Jolla Hotel and Spa in Southern California. The dinner had a modern Mexican theme and featured an interactive margarita station. Guests chose the type and flavor of their tequila, as well as one of many specialty salts.
Photo: Courtesy of Roar Events
Tequila brand Patrón has two reduced-guilt cocktail ideas for January. The first is a cucumber-coconut margarita, made with Patrón Silver, coconut water, lime juice, simple syrup, and slices of cucumber.
Photo: Michael Haskins
New York-based catering company Abigail Kirsch offers three fruity mocktails for events. The first is the pom fizz mocktail, which has pomegranate, orange, and lemon juices mixed with sparkling cider.
Photo: Courtesy of Abigail Kirsch
Abigail Kirsch’s peach rosemary mocktail includes peach puree, rosemary infusion, and sparkling soda.
Photo: Courtesy of Abigail Kirsch
Civana, a wellness resort located just outside of Scottsdale, serves the Citrine. The cocktail features whiskey, simple syrup, 20 mint leaves, fresh carrot juice, and ginger beer.
Photo: Lisa Diederich Photography
Beauty & Essex’s also serves a mint lemonade mocktail, made with lemon simple syrup, lemon juice, six to eight shredded mint leaves (not strained), and club soda.
Photo: Courtesy of Beauty & Essex
Guests of the first Camp Groupon weekend stayed at the Swissôtel Chicago from July 6-8. Kehoe Designs spruced the venue up with thematic decor including lifesavers, boat paddles, and bundled logs.
Photo: Sheri Whitko Photography
The Parrish Art Museum's Midsummer Party
In the Hamptons, the Parrish Art Museum's Midsummer Party included dinner in an ornate tent. Overhead, a leafy projection and twinkling rope lights contrasted with a more high-tech lighting rack, which produced a dancing effect.
Photo: Patrick McMullan/PatrickMcMullan.com
Target Beauty partnered with MKG to design a swing set photo booth at Beautycon. Guests could sit in pink swings against a branded backdrop made of oversize paper flowers in shades of yellow, orange, and red.
Photo: Zack Whitford/BFA.com
