Silk linen showcasing a trio of glass vases housing submerged cherry blossom branches and white tulips and orchids.
Location: The Athenaeum at Caltech Pasadena, CA; Table Design: Chic Events Glendale, CA; Floral Design: Fiore Designs Studio City, CA; Linen: BBJ Linen Los Angeles, CA; Table Setting and Chairs: Town & Country Event Rentals Van Nuys, CA; Photography: Susan Bordelon Photography Agoura Hills, CA
Step into a wedding reception—that reflects the work of a talented designer interpreting the vision of a couple—and you will be amazed by the creatively orchestrated elements of décor. Tabletops in particular. “We are using a lot of interior design qualities and the possibilities are endless,” says Christopher Aldama, owner of Fiori Fresco Special Events in La Habra Heights, Calif.
“We pride ourselves that no two events look alike; instead they are tailored to meet the lifestyle of the client,” remarks Aldama. He refers to one tabletop creation—which captures the essence of the holiday season—where he uses a red lace tablecloth with a cream dupioni silk underlay. Texture is added by placing gold-leaf trimmed glass chargers at each place setting peppered with a selection of crystal and hand-blown stemware. Strategically placed spheres and scattered roses are the focal points of the centerpiece culminating in a mood of romance and contemporary chic.
“Shape is only one component that comes into play when pulling an event together,” explains John Hensel, Designer and Managing Partner of Heffernan Morgan in Chicago, Ill. He adds, “Lighting and color selection are also important tools.” Hensel goes beyond the tabletop and instructs his clients to transform a space from floor to ceiling for the ultimate affair. “I tell my clients to free themselves of what they see when they walk into a room and use a blank slate to develop a wedding. Think of it as a canvas.”
Hensel is a master at creating drama. For an Indian wedding accommodating 1,200 guests he opted for deep jewel tones. “The trend right now is for a much richer color palette as people are requesting it,” says Hensel. Inspired by the bride who wore several saris during her ceremony, he was able to reproduce one of the fabrics and craft a large ornamental light fixture fringed with Swarovski crystals. Custom-made linens piped in gold and infused with shades of merlot, burgundy and red gave way to well-dressed tabletops. Carrying on the color spectrum, centerpieces were comprised of an abundance of flower varieties: roses, Moroccan orchids, chocolate cosmos, lilies and podocarpus.
When talking tabletops, there are no hard-fast rules since they are personalized to reflect the tastes of the client. “What dictates the look is the customer who comes to me and says this is what has inspired me,” remarks Frank Rea of Forget Me Not Flowers in Ontario, Canada who has been creating such environments for 28 years. “We then discuss what elements they want to use at the location.”
Some couples opt for a more opulent look. One of Rea’s designs embraces a square table framed by two commanding pillars draped in a sienna silk—the same shade as the table runner. The elegant dining experience is enhanced by hurricane and pillar candles illuminating the places where each guest will be seated. Rea’s intent: “to have an atmosphere where the table design is not obstructive, lending itself to a good conversation.”
Designers agree that when it comes to superb tabletops, customization is at the heart of the matter. “People today are more creative since they are better educated,” says Hensel. “They tend to flip through the pages of magazines and realize there are a full range of options.”
Written by Maria DeCristoforo
