The very raison d'être of a press wall is to serve as a backdrop for photographers' shots. But an arrivals line works overtime when it also catches the eye of ordinary guests—likely influencers themselves—who become inspired to share snaps of it or with it on social media, proliferating the event's message even further. Event hosts have used plenty of inspired ideas, including balloons, pool toys, vertical walls of live plants, flowers, and even farm animal cutouts to get the job done.
At the Kohl's Launch of Juicy Couture, an elaborate press wall of roses was inset with a sparkling logo. The event took place at the John Lautner-designed Sheats-Goldstein residence in Los Angeles in September.
Photo: Angela Weiss/Getty Images for Kohl's
In January, Ross Mathews and the Happy Egg Company feted California's Proposition 2 (mandating that eggs sold in the state must come from hens with larger cages) with an event that included cutouts of chickens placed on the yellow arrivals carpet for 3-D effect. The event was at West Hollywood’s Palihouse.
Photo: Rich Polk/Getty Images for the Happy Egg Company
Pandora hosted its first "Hearts of Today” honoree luncheon at the Montage Beverly Hills in November, where a decorative press wall had logos framed in purple roses set against lush hedging.
Photo: Stefanie Keenan
In 2013, Chandon hosted its American Summer Soiree in New York with a step-and-repeat backdrop that included a dense collection of inflatable pool toys, including those in shapes of blue whales, pink flamingos, and flowers, alongside logo beach bags, balls, bottles, and chairs.
Photo: Will Ragozzino/BFAnyc.com
The Museum of Modern Art’s annual Party in the Garden in New York in 2013 had a modern, tropical motif. Accordingly, the arrivals backdrop included plenty of greenery, which was accented with logos from MoMA and sponsor Cartier.
Photo: Nadia Chaudhury/BizBash
Vogue Eyewear's Los Angeles launch party for its campaign with Eva Mendes in 2013 had a playful feel throughout. A step-and-repeat wall made up of logo balloons arranged in a rainbow grid set the sunny, colorful tone for the alfresco affair.
Photo: Alesandra Dubin/BizBash
For the New York premiere of Columbia Picture's Bad Teacher in 2011, a 130-foot step-and-repeat area got 3-D touches in the form of classroom-style elements, including school chairs, desks, and red apples.
Photo: Line 8 Photography. All rights reserved.
The Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic is known for its whimsical decor done in the brand's signature yellow-orange color. In 2013, the Los Angeles event included a vintage flower-stand-style step-and-repeat. In addition to flowers, bottles were potted like plants and logo plaques on wooden sticks were planted in moss.
Photo: Claire Barrett Photography
At Christie's “Green Auction: Bid to Save the Earth” in New York in 2012, the arrivals area was dominated by a wall of live plants. Many of the flowers used—including phalaenopsis, clovers, cabbage, ferns, and ivy—were replanted following the event.
Photo: Carolyn Curtis/BizBash
A 2013 event partnership between jewelry and accessories brand Stella & Dot and liquor company Midori resulted in a 3-D press wall enlivened by emerald green colored objects—accessories from the line like sunglasses and necklaces, alongside the brightly colored bottles.
Photo: Courtesy of Midori
One way to get an event's message out is to write it in a way that's too big to miss. The Angelina Jolie movie Salt premiered in Los Angeles in 2010 with 12-foot-tall letters that spelled out the film's name in eye-catching graphic form.
Photo: Line 8 Photography. All rights reserved.
