Overview
The Wine Enthusiast Awards is a nationally recognized gala honoring leaders across the global wine industry. Hosted in New York City, the 300+ guest evening brought together executives, media, and honorees for a formal dinner and awards presentation.
Our studio led full-scale floral production across three primary spaces, including dining, bar, stage, and entry environments — designing and executing a cohesive floral program that supported both atmosphere and function throughout the evening.
Scope of Work
40 dining centerpieces
14 bar arrangements
Bud vase styling across reception stations
10 hydrangea and candle installations along the entry corridor
Custom sculptural stage installation
Multi-room installation and structured strike
Design Direction
The design balanced refined garden structure with sculptural restraint. Elevated hydrangea masses introduced softness beneath dramatic chandelier lighting, while a restrained tonal palette ensured the florals complemented the formal tone of the evening.
In the entry corridor, a previously blank transitional space was transformed through a sequence of ten hydrangea and candle installations. The repetition introduced rhythm and visual continuity, creating a composed transition between rooms while maintaining the evening’s refined atmosphere.
Across dining and bar environments, florals were designed to feel layered yet intentional — offering depth without visual clutter and maintaining clarity within the architectural scale of the venue.
Stage Installation
The stage installation required particular precision. While the design called for a sculptural focal arrangement, it was critical that the florals frame — rather than obstruct — the awards presentation.
Following on-site review with event leadership, the arrangement was carefully adjusted to preserve clear sightlines for presenters and guests while maintaining presence under stage lighting. The final installation supported the program without competing with it, reinforcing both visual impact and functional clarity.
Production & Execution
Production spanned three distinct rooms, requiring coordinated load-in and structured placement across dining, bar, stage, and entry zones.
Installation coincided with a significant winter storm, necessitating strategic refrigerated transport and real-time scheduling adjustments to ensure all florals arrived in optimal condition. Despite severe weather conditions, the team executed installation seamlessly across all environments. Our studio managed full on-site production, styling, and breakdown.
Outcome
The final environment balanced sculptural presence with operational precision — elevating the guest experience while supporting the formal structure of the awards program.
