The event team took the clients' requested theme--sports--but worked to give it a fresh approach for the 160 guests. Guests found their escort cards perched on foam fan hands in a bed of wheat grass, styled to resemble turf.
Specialty drinks on rolling cart
Instead of using a hotel ballroom, the event team chose a 15,000-square-foot warehouse space. Here, specialty drinks are offered on a rolling shelf unit.
Semi-circle bar
The warehouse space is divided into two areas thanks to a 60-foot drape line. Here, a semi-circle bar.
Tailgate bar
A 'tailgate bar.'
Gator ice scuplture
Four buffet stations, including sushi, treat guests. This ice sculpture salutes the bar mitzvah boy's favorite team--the Florida Gators.
Football centerpiece
A football-oriented centerpiece.
Cocktail buffet
Another buffet.
Sports lounge reveal
After an hour of 'tailgating' during cocktail hour came the big reveal. The entire wall of the cocktail space opened from the main bar to reveal a cool sports bar/lounge. The space was draped floor to ceiling in white with eight foot pictures of honoree suspended along the wall.
Circular bar
Pennants adorn the circular bar.
A closer look
A closer look.
Honoree reveal
In the center of the room were four video screens designed to represent a score board. The screens showed sports footage as well as a personal video montage of the mitzvah boy. A large sculpted tube came down from the center hiding him; the tube dropped to reveal him once the guests were in the room.
Sleek lounge
The sleek lounge.
Designing with tables
The main decor element was the tables themselves. The look was simple yet bold, colorful and dramatic.
Dramatic table
The rectangular tables feature custom-printed sports images.
A long view
A long view of the lounge.
Color-coordinated chairs
The chairs for each sports-image table were color-coordinated to the image.
Another view
Another view.
Liquid tables
The main dance floor was a liquid blue floor projecting various images as the guests danced. Liquid high cocktail tables in different colors flanked the dance floor area.
Square tables
In addition to the rectangular tables, the lounge offered square tables with illuminated cubes serving as centerpieces; the cubes were illuminated from the floor.
Square sports tables
Custom-created gunmetal dupioni silk linens became the 'frame' for each table allowing the images to pop. Each cube had five images of a single sport. Coordinating color spandex chair covers finished the modern look.
Another view
Another view.
Centerpiece cubes
Each centerpiece cube has five images of a single sport.
Parting gift
A parting gift.
Locker souvenir
The honoree receives a 'locker' signed by all his friends.
