Hosting an event in a cavernous space presents its own set of challenges—including coming up with ideas to separate the venue into spaces suited for cocktails, dinner, dancing, and more. From trees to beaded curtains and oversize laps, here are ways event designers have stylishly divided large event spaces.
Robin Hood Foundation Benefit
For the massive gala's 2014 iteration, planners chose a "Bridge to Possibility" theme. Held at the cavernous Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, the event featured screens printed with the New York City skyline and bridges. The screens enclosed the entry hallway that led to the reception space. David Stark Design designed the event.
Photo: Keith Sirchio for BizBash
The Recording Academy's Grammy After-Party
Studio 54 inspired the look and feel of the Recording Academy's Grammy after-party at the Los Angeles Convention Center in 2011. Curtains made from reflective beads added a vintage touch, and lots of sparkle.
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's Breath of Life Gala
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation celebrated with its annual Breath of Life gala at the National Building Museum in Washington in 2011. Streamers divided the National Building Museum atrium into three spaces.
McGraw-Hill Harold W. McGraw Jr. Prize in Education Gala
For the 2008 event at the New York Public Library, trees provided a natural curtain to separate the cocktail area from the center of the forum, where the dinner and awards took place later in the evening. Bakula Design handled decor.
2010 McGraw-Hill Harold W. McGaw Jr. Prize in Education Gala
To separate the perimeter—where cocktails were held—from the dinner area for the event's 2010 iteration, the team hung large lampshades from the ceiling. The pieces measured about two feet high and 22 inches in diameter, and their black and white embellishments were replicated in a pattern projected on the floors. The event again took place at the New York Public Library, with Bakula Design overseeing decor.
Photo: Amy Coady
The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute Gala
In 2006, the gala had an English garden look that tied to the Met's "AngloMania" exhibit of Britain's posh and punk fashion. Event designer David Monn set up 70 tables in separate mini gardens that were hedged by 400 feet of apple trees. The floors were swathed in carpets of spring grass.
Photo: Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Friends of the High Line Spring Benefit
Held May 20 at New Yorks's Skylight at Moynihan Station, the event featured foliage in its entry gate. The plants included passion flower vine, plumosa fern, ming fern, steel grass, and sheet moss. Van Wyck & Van Wyck handled design.
Photo: Christian Oth Studio
"H&M Live From Central Park" Fashion Show
For the 2005 event in New York, Guests passed through Raul Avila's 16- by 12-foot curtain of hand-strung orchids before entering the cocktail reception area.
Photo: Jeff Thomas/ImageCapture
Canadian Cancer Society Daffodil Ball
The Daffodil Ball turned the historic Windsor Station in Montreal into an Alice in Wonderland-inspired gala in 2012. A topiary divided the cocktail reception and dining areas. Guests entered the dining room through keyhole-shaped entrances.
Photo: Alexandre Chéron
Children's Place Association Benefit
Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Starlight Express inspired the theme of the 2008 gala benefit for the Children's Place Association. To separate the reception from the dinner area, Joseph Leigh Designs hung fabric panels from the ceiling of Union Station.
Photo: Courtesy of the Children's Place Association
Human Rights Campaign's National Dinner
About 3,500 people attended the 18th annual dinner October 25 in Washington at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in 2014. The silent auction areas were defined by white cubes created from slats of Coroplast. The word "evolve" came into focus above the entry. Hargrove produced the event.
Photo: FotoBriceno/Hargrove
By Jenny Berg for BizBash
Robin Hood Foundation Benefit
For the massive gala's 2014 iteration, planners chose a "Bridge to Possibility" theme. Held at the cavernous Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, the event featured screens printed with the New York City skyline and bridges. The screens enclosed the entry hallway that led to the reception space. David Stark Design designed the event.
Photo: Keith Sirchio for BizBash
The Recording Academy's Grammy After-Party
Studio 54 inspired the look and feel of the Recording Academy's Grammy after-party at the Los Angeles Convention Center in 2011. Curtains made from reflective beads added a vintage touch, and lots of sparkle.
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's Breath of Life Gala
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation celebrated with its annual Breath of Life gala at the National Building Museum in Washington in 2011. Streamers divided the National Building Museum atrium into three spaces.
McGraw-Hill Harold W. McGraw Jr. Prize in Education Gala
For the 2008 event at the New York Public Library, trees provided a natural curtain to separate the cocktail area from the center of the forum, where the dinner and awards took place later in the evening. Bakula Design handled decor.
2010 McGraw-Hill Harold W. McGaw Jr. Prize in Education Gala
To separate the perimeter—where cocktails were held—from the dinner area for the event's 2010 iteration, the team hung large lampshades from the ceiling. The pieces measured about two feet high and 22 inches in diameter, and their black and white embellishments were replicated in a pattern projected on the floors. The event again took place at the New York Public Library, with Bakula Design overseeing decor.
Photo: Amy Coady
The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute Gala
In 2006, the gala had an English garden look that tied to the Met's "AngloMania" exhibit of Britain's posh and punk fashion. Event designer David Monn set up 70 tables in separate mini gardens that were hedged by 400 feet of apple trees. The floors were swathed in carpets of spring grass.
Photo: Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Friends of the High Line Spring Benefit
Held May 20 at New Yorks's Skylight at Moynihan Station, the event featured foliage in its entry gate. The plants included passion flower vine, plumosa fern, ming fern, steel grass, and sheet moss. Van Wyck & Van Wyck handled design.
Photo: Christian Oth Studio
"H&M Live From Central Park" Fashion Show
For the 2005 event in New York, Guests passed through Raul Avila's 16- by 12-foot curtain of hand-strung orchids before entering the cocktail reception area.
Photo: Jeff Thomas/ImageCapture
Canadian Cancer Society Daffodil Ball
The Daffodil Ball turned the historic Windsor Station in Montreal into an Alice in Wonderland-inspired gala in 2012. A topiary divided the cocktail reception and dining areas. Guests entered the dining room through keyhole-shaped entrances.
Photo: Alexandre Chéron
Children's Place Association Benefit
Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Starlight Express inspired the theme of the 2008 gala benefit for the Children's Place Association. To separate the reception from the dinner area, Joseph Leigh Designs hung fabric panels from the ceiling of Union Station.
Photo: Courtesy of the Children's Place Association
Human Rights Campaign's National Dinner
About 3,500 people attended the 18th annual dinner October 25 in Washington at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in 2014. The silent auction areas were defined by white cubes created from slats of Coroplast. The word "evolve" came into focus above the entry. Hargrove produced the event.
Photo: FotoBriceno/Hargrove
By Jenny Berg for BizBash
Fantastic article! I like all these ideas to Divide Large Event Spaces. I have been to a beautiful venue space nyc where they have used a very unique setup to divide Large Event Space. I think you should add that method too in this list.
ReplyDeleteThanks dear!! You really shared amazing ways to divide large venues in small spaces. The idea with curtains made from reflective beads is the loveliest idea. Well Now I am also thinking to hire a grand venues in San Francisco and then will divide it in small spaces with reflective beads as per need.
ReplyDelete