Inside, attendees danced to jazz music, while a DJ spun tunes in the outdoor tent.
Frost Lighting illuminated the outdoor dancing tent with gobos celebrating the anniversary, and David Stark’s design included printed flowers and a host of vases.
Use Your Illusion The Meridian Center celebrated its 50th anniversary with golden hues and trompe l’oeil touches.
The Meridian International Center celebrated its 50th anniversary on October 1 with its annual black-tie Meridian Ball at the center’s White-Meyer House. Benefiting the center’s international diplomacy programs, the evening is one of the most anticipated social events of the busy fall gala season, attracting members of Congress, White House staff, and private-sector executives. The center hired New York-based event producer David Stark, of David Stark Design and Production, who worked on last year’s ball for the first time. While the look and feel of the gala changes from year to year, the evening’s schedule retained its sense of tradition, as more than 400 of the 600 guests began their evening around 6:30 p.m. at one of 30 residences of ambassadors across The dessert table had town for dinner. The remainder of the guests black-and-white trompe dined in one of several rooms at the White-Meyer l’oeil-themed candelabras, House before everyone came together at 9:30 flowers, and desserts. p.m. for dessert and dancing. As with all the events he produces, Stark said he stuck with a simple goal— “Parties should be fun”—when Meridian International he began planning. “Last year, we Center’s Meridian Ball radically changed the event with Catering Design Cuisine the goal of creating a true afterCaterers Decor, Design, Flowers party that people look forward to David Stark Design and coming to after dinner, and we Production really wanted to build upon that,” DJ Patrick Mondjo he said. Last year’s changes came Entertainment Eric Felton Jazz Orchestra in the form of a large outdoor Event Management tent with a live DJ and a whimsiDufour & Company cal Alice in Wonderland design. For Gifts Keith Lipert Gallery, 2010, the tent remained and Stark Tiffany & Company Lighting Frost Lighting took inspiration from the 50th anLinens, Rentals DC Rental niversary, decking out the tables Print Design Omnivore with golden hues and the rest of Printing Masterpiece the historic space with a host of Printers, Mosaic Printing Sound RCI Sound black-and-white trompe l’oeilMore than 200 attendees dined at the Tenting HDO Productions themed chandeliers, candelabras, White-Meyer House, where Stark topped Valet Marc Parc Valet Inc. flowers, and printed backgrounds. gold-accented tables with centerpieces Venue Meridian House —T.J. Walter made from dried wheat.
The theme extended to the bars in the outdoor tent, which had intricately-designed prints attached to their mirrors and fronts. Stark’s team lined the garden walkways with red carpeting and swathed the trees in sparkling lights.
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PHOTOS: TONY BROWN/IMIJINATION PHOTOGRAPHY FOR BIZBASH
WASHINGTON