TABLESCAPE

Sparkle-Infused This Kate Spade-inspired vignette makes a colorful splash at ILEA and NACE Designer

Showcase. BY KENDALL VAN HORNE

What better inspiration for an event design concept than the work of a fellow designer? A fashion designer to be specific. In January, Colorado’s meeting and event professionals gathered at Radisson Hotel Denver-Aurora for the 14th Annual International Live Events Association (ILEA) Denver Designer Showcase to admire six vignettes inspired by famous fashion designers. The National Association for Catering & Events (NACE) Denver joined in hosting the showcase this year.

“Fashion designers are some of the most imaginative and industrious people, so the opportunity to interpret their vision was a dream,” says Kelly Wagner, team captain of The Spades team and wedding and event design specialist for Colorado Party Rentals.

This was the first year that Colorado Party Rentals, an event rental company based in Denver, participated as a designer, but that didn’t stop the team—made up of Kelly Wagner, Gabby Main and Stacey Barth—from sweeping the competition. Their vignette concept, The Spades (inspired by iconic fashion designer Kate Spade), won in all five categories: Favorite Vignette, President’s Choice Award, Best Technical Design, Best Culinary Experience and Most Creative.

On the day of the event, Wagner’s team transformed their 20-by24-foot space into a garden party that left every guest sparkling—literally. The vignette took the late Kate Spade’s famous quote, “She leaves a little sparkle wherever she goes,” to heart with Silx Global weaving sparkly hair extensions into guests’ hair.

“We very purposefully included details on details; we hoped to capture people’s attention with every glance,” Wagner says. “We wanted color and fun to be at the forefront of our design.”

The table sets looked straight out of a Kate Spade shop, with blackand-white striped tablecloths and pink, bow-shaped napkins, as well as gold flatware and gold-rimmed glassware that offered a sprinkle of playful sophistication. Florals were roses, a classic much like Kate Spade’s approach to fashion.

Kate Spade’s legacy also was reflected in the food options. Choices included mini beer cheese sliders and cake pops, inspired by her love of American food and sweets, as well as tacos because she first ideated her brand while eating in a Mexican restaurant. Guests also received chocolate bar handbags.

Other vignettes at the showcase reflected inspiration from Ralph Lauren, Coco Chanel, Christian Louboutin, Tom Ford and Karl Lagerfeld.

Vendor Partners

ASTONISHING CAKES | astonishingcakes.com COLORADO PARTY RENTALS | cpartyrentals.com GIGI’S CUPCAKES | gigiscupcakesusa.com THE PINES CATERING | thepinescatering.com QUINTESSENTIAL EVENTS | studioqevents.com ROBERTA’S CHOCOLATES | robertaschocolates.com SILX GLOBAL | silxglobal.com SOUTHERN CHARM WEDDING AND EVENTS | uniquesoutherncharm.com WALLFLOWER RENTALS & DÉCOR | wallflowerentals.com