15 Unexpected Centerpieces We Can't Stop Thinking About

An April 2022 dinner for editors and influencers to celebrate the launch of Fairmont's new book, Grand by Nature, made for a glamorous evening at New York's Rockefeller Center. A highlight? This impressive tablescape with florals encased in ice. These striking centerpieces were made by Okamoto Studio with colorful blooms from The Mini Rose Co.

The Grand by Nature book itself was also encased in ice, with florals matching its cover to add an extra wow factor. Surrounding the ice sculptures were fruit, figs, and moss to lean into the nature-inspired evening, which was produced by Studio HS. See more: How Fairmont Hotels Brought the Brand's History to Life During Intimate Book Launch Event in NYC

To build buzz for a product collaboration with Feed Projects in 2013, Target invited Manhattan’s fashion-forward set to cross the river for a rustic-Americana-themed dinner party underneath the Brooklyn Bridge. On the wooden farm tables, Hatch Creative Studio punctuated wheatgrass flats with wheat stocks and red Mason jars holding candles. Custom red bandannas printed with event details served as napkins, and family-style bowls of pickled beet, wheat berry, and kale salads sat atop platforms made from tree trunks. See more: 18 All-American Decor Ideas From Feed U.S.A. for Target Launch

The 2022 Robin Hood Benefit, which took place at the Javits Center, raised a record-breaking $126 million in a design-forward setting inspired by the city of New York. The entrance, for example, was a Manhattan skyline configured from 5,200 pairs of Bombas socks that were donated to NYC homeless shelters the following day. In a fun touch, table centerpieces included replicas of NYC's most iconic buildings, including the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building. David Stark Design and Production handled creative, design, and decor for the fundraiser. See more: Robin Hood Benefit 2022: See How the Events Team Pulled Off the Annual Benefit, From Blueprints to Star-Studded Bash

David Stark also created unique centerpieces for the 2018 Robin Hood benefit, also held at the Javits Center. The event, which had a “Lights of New York” theme, featured three-sided mini marquee centerpieces that offered messages of gratitude and celebrated the organization's anniversary.

Here’s an idea appropriate for Super Bowl season: elegant floral centerpieces that incorporate footballs. The design came from a 2022 styled shoot from At Your Door Events, which aimed to reimagine the modern Super Bowl party with stylish twists on football-themed decor. See more: 11 Ideas for an Upscale Super Bowl Party

School and office supply company Bazic Products' 25th anniversary celebration had a “silver jubilee” theme, designed and produced by Sterling Engagements. The event incorporated Bazic Products items in a variety of clever ways, including in a centerpiece made by ENSO Creative that used pencils to create rolling hills, which were accented with greenery and candles.

Brooklyn venue National Sawdust hosted its third annual spring gala in May 2017 at New York's Gotham Hall to raise funds for its mission, which focuses on building new audiences for classical music by providing resources and programmatic support to established and emerging artists. The seated-dinner portion of the gala showcased rotating centerpieces dubbed "Lazy Susannaphones."

Mark Stewart, a composer, instrumentalist, and vocalist, designed the round centerpieces, which were 20 inches in diameter and offered a variety of instruments that guests could play. Instruments included a squeaker, a contra-done, a spring band, three prepared monochords, a pocket steel pan drum, a sump pump tube washboard as part of the rhythm kit, and a wee boing, which is a version of the African musical instrument mbira.

At the Chicago edition of DIFFA's Dining by Design, held in November 2016, The Ruder Group's table, designed by Nelson, reminded guests of the event's cause. On either side of the table, letters spelled out "Strength" and "Courage." A design in the shape of the red ribbon that symbolizes AIDS awareness ran down the center of the table. Guests could take a piece of red ribbon, write a message of hope, and affix it to the centerpiece. See more: 14 Inspiring Tabletops From Diffa's Dining by Design in Chicago

The 2013 edition of DIFFA's Dining by Design also featured a fun tablescape from Agati Furniture/Desks that was modeled after an artist's studio. A bucket of paintbrushes served as centerpieces, and sketchpads took the place of plates. See more: 24 Steal-Worthy Decor Ideas From Diffa's Dining by Design in Chicago

And at DIFFA's 2019 Dining by Design fundraiser, Novità Communications partnered with design studio Maiarelli Studio to create an installation that aimed to connect reading with the feeling of empathy. Instead of plates, open, overturned books, each covering the topic of AIDS, occupied the place settings, and stacks of books served as table legs. See more: 18 Dining and Tabletop Ideas From Diffa's 2019 Dining by Design

For the July 2018 launch of Farmacy Kitchen Cookbook, which focuses on plant-based eating and conscious living, The James Group designed an event in West Hollywood that was inspired by the book's focus on fresh, locally sourced vegetables. The team decided to incorporate vegetables as decor throughout the entire event, like in these centerpieces made from bunches of asparagus, artichokes, and carrots. See more: 4 Helpful Design Tips for Using Vegetables as Event Decor

For their son's first birthday, philanthropists Christine and Gabriel Chiu hosted an over-the-top, carnival-inspired bash at Santa Monica's Cayton Children's Museum in June 2019. Decor from Aliana Events was inspired by the Santa Monica Pier, with carnival games, an arcade, virtual reality stations, and puppets from the famous Bob Baker Marionette Theater. Floral-covered Ferris wheels from Butterfly Floral & Event Design served as centerpieces throughout the space. See more: This Toddler's Birthday Party Had a Gucci Claw Machine

In Chicago, the Museum of Science and Industry celebrated its 90th anniversary at its annual Columbian Ball in September 2023. In a venue-appropriate touch, centerpieces featured scientific props like glass beakers, which held flowers in pale blue, fuchsia, and purple hues. TM Production Services handled event and audiovisual design, and 1440 Event Design assisted with decor.

Luxury wedding business summit Engage! celebrated its 10-year anniversary in June 2018 at the Fairmont Banff Springs in Banff, Alberta. The three-day conference was produced by Engaging Concepts and included the Great White North Gala, which was held on the final night. The gathering featured a white and metallic winter wonderland theme with illuminated laser-cut paper centerpieces created by TPD Design House. See more: See How the Engage!18 Wedding Summit Captured the Canadian Spirit

Kehoe Designs produced and designed a fitness and networking event in June 2017 at The Geraghty in Chicago. The event, which provided a workout led by Barry’s trainers, featured kettlebell and orchid centerpieces as decor. See more: See a Workout That Turned Into a Networking Event