Weddings

Setting the Table

Local event and floral designers infuse reception tables with extraordinary arrangements and set designs

By Liz Donovan

DANCE PARTY

Some brides have all the luck — especially a recent client of Preston Bailey, who gave the New York–based event designer the challenge of decorating her wedding reception, which had to accommodate a live performance by Rod Stewart.

Aiming to channel a 1970s nightclub, Bailey set the stage with strings of cascading mirror balls that grazed above towering centerpieces, creating an sense of intimacy in the capacious ballroom. He selected the narrow glass vases so as not to obstruct the guests’ view of the performance. “I wanted the room to be festive and playful but still beautiful,” says Bailey.

His methods proved to be a runaway hit, as even Rod the Mod lauded the couple’s reception as “an amazing room and an amazing celeb sration.”

Image courtesy of Preston Bailey

RUSTIC ROMANCE

In creating a casual country tented affair, Westfield–based event planner Joan Glenn of 6 Degrees of Celebration envisioned a space where attendees could enjoy nature and celebrate camaraderie. The dinner menus were designed to double as maps of the tent, directing guests to mingle while sampling various food-and-drink presentations.

“Tabletop design demands that guests not only feel comfortable, but also inspired to strike up conversations,” says Glenn. “Including interesting graphics, poetry, or messages from the bride and groom are excellent ways to entertain guests and help them settle into a happy evening’s respite.”

Image courtesy of 6 Degrees of Celebration

COLOR ME MODERN

Kristin Rockhill of Details of I Do in Princeton created a space that was both modern and awe-inducing by using bursts of color against simplistic, clean lines. To add intrigue, Rockhill designed two sets of centerpieces. One featured statuesque pedestals with a glazed white finish, filled with a tight cluster of flowers, which were mostly white species mixed with a few colorful blooms. Alternating tables featured low pillar candles, gathered in a cluster around a sleek glass vase. “This compartmentalized style is a great way to get a clean and modern look,” says Rockhill. “Two different-sized centerpieces create drama and interest in a room and also to keep the eye moving throughout the space.”

Image courtesy of Details of I Do

WINTER WONDERLAND
For a December Manhattan wedding, Jerry Rose of Jerry Rose Flower and Event Design in Maplewood, was inspired by the vibrant romanticism of the city on a winter evening. To simulate sparking snow, Rose draped pale blue organza fabric over the tabletops accented by flowers and greenery for depth. “I like to incorporate nature – like a landscape or a reflection – into how I create a room,” says Rose.

Image courtesy of Jerry Rose Flower and Event Design

ETHEREAL ELEGANCE
Butterflies and light floral design elements brought this airy garden scene to life. Candice Benson of The Finishing Touch and Diana Gould of Somers Point Florist employed light-toned linens and Manzanita branches with pink, green, and yellow flowers to emulate butterfly wings. Orchids and roses collected at the base of the centerpieces to complete the light and natural look. “Incorporating unexpected elements in your centerpieces will spur conversation among your guests,” says Benson.

Image courtesy of The Finishing Touch and Somers Point Florist

TRADITIONAL

In the famous grand ballroom of the Plaza Hotel, Preston Bailey sought to complement the room’s Old World luxury with traditional design. “Instead of doing a typical floral arrangement, I used the vases as beautiful sculptures, like you would see in traditional decor,” says Bailey. He emphasized the vases’ sculptural quality by adorning the wall with silkscreen images of floral arrangements. The finishing touch was applied with simplicity in mind, using understated accents for a clean, sophisticated aesthetic.

Image courtesy of Preston Bailey