The trends defining events right now!
Impressing guests and seeing a vision come to life are two of the most satisfying things about throwing an event, whether it’s a celebration party, wedding, bridal shower or corporate luncheon. Proof of the Pudding Director of Event Sales and Development Chris Bazemore, and Bold Catering & Design’s Event Designer Melissa Parsons and Event Development Associate Linda Terrana weigh in on what’s trending for the upcoming event season.
Come On, Color
If there’s one trend that’s dominating the event space, it’s color. All three experts agree that color is back in a fun and compelling way, encompassing all aspects of an event’s design, from food and florals to lighting. “The colors we are seeing now are really bright and vibrant,” Bazemore says. “They’re bold and saturated, and we can incorporate them into food.” Parsons agrees, noting that while clean and white is always a classic, color is back. “It’s more adventurous now,” she says.
Immersive and Interactive
A focus on unique food experiences is now paramount for any social or corporate event. “There’s a push towards more interactive food stations where chefs are preparing the meals in front of guests, for example,” Parson says. Bazemore adds that a recent Proof of the Pudding mitzvah design had a “Dr. Doughnut” stall. Kids created their own donut experience, “injecting” them with chosen flavors. “There was even [an attendant] who looked like a bit of a mad scientist,” she says.
Bazemore says clients are looking for big, bold and memorable moments. She has a group next year that wants to create a pop-up food hall in one of their venues. They want the entire thing to look, feel, smell, taste and resemble a real food hall. “Clients want it to feel cohesive and unique,” she says. “People want to reinvent things. The whole experience is the wow factor.”
In with the Old
Bazemore says the trends of the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s are back. It might be surprising to hear that includes food trends, like bananas Foster and cherries jubilee, which can combine the current trendy flavor profiles with the immersive experience of a flambé station. “It’s all very old school,” she says. Add in neon signs, LED light-up dance floors and glitter for a modern party with a nod to the past.
Terrana adds this “old becomes new” trend also goes for color schemes. “We see a lot of salmon and green. We used to call it avocado; it’s now called sage. That burgundy your mom painted her dining room in the ’90s? It’s back,” she says.
Next Stop, Paris
While the glittering lights of Paris and Rome might be thousands of miles away, Parsons has clients who want to replicate a European experience stateside, relying heavily on curated and organic materials. “To achieve this look, the florals are textured with lots of organic greenery. There’s more of a wild feeling, as if the flowers just grew out of the table or grew up an arch,” she says. Vintage elements such as candle holders, china, glassware and lots of moody lighting help set the tone.
Advances in lighting have opened up the possibility across the board for event design. “We can put LED lamps on tables and you don’t need cords. We can take vintage chandeliers and put in modern bulbs. We can honor a traditional look while keeping it modern and letting you put your own spin on it,” Terrana says.
BOLD CATERING & DESIGN
bold-events.com • @boldeventsatl
PROOF OF THE PUDDING
proofpudding.com • @proofthepudding
