nybg orchid dinner 2025

My return the New York Botanical Garden Orchid Dinner!

I was truly honored when the team at the New York Botanical Garden invited me to return for a second year to design a table for their prestigious Orchid Dinner at the iconic Plaza Hotel. This year’s NYBG Orchid Show theme, Mexican Modernism, was a striking contrast to last year’s focus on ‘orchids in fashion,’ where I drew inspiration from Christian Dior. To capture the essence of the theme, I turned to the works of Mexican artists like Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. Their vivid artistry came to life with the help of the talented NYC florist, Ahna Han.

It was crucial for me to stay true to my design approach while also honoring the theme. In collaboration with Ahna, we chose rich, vibrant florals and incorporated organic elements such as fresh fruit and handcrafted Oaxacan candles made by Mexican artisans from LaCatres. This combination of tradition and modernity was important to me, as I tend to favor traditional elements over contemporary ones in my work. It was such an honor to be featured as one of Vernada’s 12 tables most stunning tables!

Take a look at last year’s table I designed for the NYBG Orchid Dinner, here and see what I wore to celebrate this year’s event, here.

NYBG Orchid Show Theme 2025: Mexican Modernism

From the NYBG: Nearly 40 designers took on the theme of this year’s Orchid Show, creating tablescapes in homage to Mexican Modernism that were playful, clever, complex, and bursting with color! This event is ALWAYS a good time, and between the cocktails, dinner, and the rhythm of the dance floor, our guests raised more money than EVER in support of NYBG’s programs in plant science, education, and horticulture.