Week 10 - Event Design, Installations Chandeliers
Thinking About the Event as a Whole
As we discussed in lesson 8 it is vital to consider each section of your event as a singular design as well as the elements within that design. When I look at a ceremony, cocktail hour or reception I look at the room as on fluid design. So I apply the same elements and principles of design to that end. For example I know that the room needs a focal point, some sweeping space, design from the floor to the ceiling if the budget allows. It needs foreground and background for the photos.
I like to look at the room from two vantage points.
Entrance to Each Space
The first is the entry of the guests to that space. Technically their first impression. I want the view from the first look to wow the guests and to lure them into wanting to discover more. So I would want them:
A View of a Large Ceiling Floral or Installation
An Interactive Welcome Experience (i.e. champagne garden or photo wall)
Aisle Flowers, Table Arrangements or Lounges that Lure Them Into the Space
From The Primary Guest Perspective
The second vantage point is where the guests will be spending most of the time in the space. So if it is a ceremony it would be the seating, if the cocktail area it may be the food stations or in the reception it would be the dance floor.
I want the floral budget to create immersive experiences and or beautiful visuals from where they will spend the most time. So if I am creating centerpieces I will put most of the budget into the tables or area around the dance floor since that is where the guests will be most of the reception. I do not randomly place tall and low centerpieces throughout the room. The room should be balanced but also have rhythm. Within each floral there will be lots of movement and then the placement should carry the eye around the room. The same rules of transition apply as they would in an individual design. So for example if I have a large chandelier over the dance floor I may balance that with a pergola over a long table in the center of each section of seating. It is better to utilize the budget for larger impactful pieces than just fill the room with smaller florals that don't provide any wow factor.
Design Boards and Proposals
In lesson 8 we created a Design Board for a single table. This same concept can and should be applied to the overall event proposal. Let's go back to the Design Sanctuary Workshop. We had multiple spaces to consider and did not want to create the same experience over and over. We stayed within our palette for each space but chose colors from the palette to emphasize in each space culminating in the final dinner where all of the colors would be evident.
The Barn Space
Let's consider the Barn space. We decided to use all dried materials in the barn space in all neutral and stone tones. We knew that the floral would saturate the tent and tent entrance and wanted to save that guest experience for later. We also planned to transform the Barn from a "Painter's Lunch" to an "Equestrian Dinner". Although our Andrew Wyeth theme did not include the Equestrian theme we felt the vibe fit with the multiple horse farms in the Chadd's Ford area and reflected the color's of Wyeth's work. We knew that we would need to do a large installation as a centerpiece of the room and we also wanted to focus on doing something creative on the bar. Because both of these would have to remain in place we planned to make them fit both events. The existing chandeliers were dated and did not work with our updated plan so we foraged loads of local pampas grass and covered them completely adding basket lights for drama. We also draped the room to add gesture and movement to the ceiling and also to cover some areas that were unsightly.
The Painter's Luncheon
For the "painter's luncheon" we used paint splattered drop-cloths, frames and paint brushes to create a light whimsical feel but also to give the guests multiple places to enjoy and stir their creativity.
The Equestrian Dinner
In contrast, we needed to now transform this space into a cool and sophisticated cocktail party dinner. The main installations remained but we wanted to add tables, lounges and a photo-booth to create an immersive and interactive event.
The Design Board
We created an individual design board for each space and then for each event.
This is the design board for the Equestrian Dinner.
This design board was created from images and rentals that we knew we had access to. This would give us the ability to flip this room from the painter's lunch easily and these elements created the vibe we were trying to achieve.
This board is then shared with the paper company so they can do signage, escort cards and menus that will be further layer the event.
These images from the dinner show how this board was brought to life.