The Veranda Orchid Dinner

If there is any annual event in history that I have “trolled” on social media it is The Veranda Orchid Dinner so you can’t imagine my excitement when I got an invitation to design a table at this year’s event!  Of course I said yes and I can’t wait to share more about my table design and the other tables that I adored!

The Veranda Orchid Dinner is an annual event that raises money for the New York Botanical Garden.  The Plaza Hotel Ballroom was filled with tables that were each decorated by a different designer. The variety of decorations and styles on the tables was so inspiring! I saw a lot of monogrammed napkins and rattan chargers – two of my favorite things!

The guests mingled and bid on an auction of rare orchids and then filed into the ballroom to dine and dance.  It was a very special night that was filled with fun and fundraising and I was thrilled to be a small part of it!

I found my inspiration for my table when looking through the fabric options from my table sponsor, Thibaut. 
When I stumbled on this beautiful blush bird and branches print called Giselle, I knew I had found my winner!  I paired it with the oversized Cyrus Cain print to pull out the happy coral color in the Giselle print.  When I found the Giselle print I immediately thought about the pagoda shaped bird cage that had been sitting in my garage for a few years.  I used it on a tablescape in Dallas a few years ago and since then it has been collecting dust in my garage!  It was driving my husband crazy and he had just told me that I really should find a use for it or give it away.  I don’t think he expected me to put it to use so quickly!!

For the centerpiece, Rana Kim of Rana Flora filled the bird cage with Quince and covered the outside of it in mocha orchids.  Our goal was to give the flowers movements and easy flow and she gracefully arranged the flowers by attaching them to the cage, looking like a ballerina the entire time!

Herend, another one of my wonderful sponsors, graciously loaned these beautiful Chinese Rust Bouquet Dinner Plates and Silk Ribbon Chargers in Pumpkin.  I topped them with monogrammed tassel napkins in rust from Halo Home by KSW. I’m not normally a big fan of napkin rings but I love the way these tassel napkins look when gathered and pulled through them so I selected Gold bird napkin rings from L’Objet.

Just as I expected, seeing the work of the other designers was even more fun than designing my own table!  Here are a few of my favorites: 

CeCe Barfield‘s table was sponsored by One King’s Lane.  She used Royal Copenhagan Blue Lace Dinner and Salad Plates on top of Soane’s Seaweed Lace.

Every detail was perfect and I was thrilled to sit at her table with her and her wonderful mother, Lisa Barfield Kopecky, who designs beautiful handbags!

I loved the details on Barrie Benson‘s table, sponsored by Style Library with flowers by MetFlora NYC.  I just loved the vintage glasses and monogrammed linens!

This fresh and pretty table by Cathy Kinkaid featured fabrics from my talented friend, Lisa Fine.   She also featured items from Fabricut Inc., Irving & Morrison, JAMES Showroom and John Rosselli and Assoc.

 

Wesley Moon‘s warm and inviting table was sponsored by Artemest, Fortuny, and L’Olivier.

Shelley Johnstone‘s table was one of my favorites.  The stunning green glasses were the perfect complement to her green and white tablescape.  It was so fresh and so pretty!  From the elegant rattan chargers to the dramatic white florals in caned rattan vases, I just loved everything about this fresh table arrangement.

The details on this pretty table by Beth Webb were so thoughtful.  I loved that she chose a blue and white scheme but added tiny pops of cheerful colors in the china and monogram.   

This exotic tablescape was designed by Patrick Mele with Jim Thompson, Deborah Sharpe Linens, Creel & Gow, Frances Palmer Pottery, Betsey Ruprecht, Decorative Antiques Ltd, and Greenwich Orchids.  I’m now officially on the hunt for those pink shell plates!

Brittany Bromley Interiors table was sponsored by Thibaut, Pierre Frey, Schumacher, Samuel & Sons, James Conrad Hanson, and La Maison Fete.  It was so much fun to set up next to her and her amazing team that included her elegant mother and very kind husband who even helped me when I needed it!

It was truly a night to remember and I’ll forever be saying thank you to Clinton Smith and his team as well as all of my table sponsors.  Thank you to everyone who helped make the event so special and contributed to the New York Botanical Garden!

Photos by Zach Hilty/BFA.com, Marlon Co and Jason Green provided by the New York Botanical Garden.