You are cordially invited to our first ever P.O.S.H. Designer Series. We’re celebrating the beauty of gracious entertaining with the well-considered tabletop, from china and cutlery to personal touches from the names to know in event design. Visit digitally on our website to find a new designer featured every three weeks, or experience them all first-hand with a scheduled visit to our showroom now through the end of May.
Our moments around the table are always intimate, no matter the size of the party. Even if the only guests are family and friends who don’t need impressing, an elegantly composed tabletop nostalgically elevates the experience and allows everyone to relax–something we all need in the monotony of forced isolation. We are born china collectors, but the added beauty of rentals allows an opportunity to express every side of our personality or embrace a theme. To celebrate the transformative power of tabletops, we called in local event design experts (who also happen to be preeminent hosts themselves) to handpick their favorite rentals for a tablescape that lightheartedly speaks to this moment. Whatever the occasion, these tastemakers have perfected the art of mixing exceptionally styled tablescapes for clients from Dallas to Italy, and everywhere in between. We ADORE the designs–tablescapes that impress not just because they’re gorgeous, but because you feel the fun and passion in the selections. They will transform you into a place and time. Enjoy. P.S. A very special shoutout to Tamytha Cameron Photography, who always captures every layer to perfection.
NAME TO KNOW: VALDIVIA VENTURES
If luxury is emotion and desire, then true art is the way in which we live life. With that sentiment, the Medusa Versace Collection makes an emblematic statement in the next installment of our P.O.S.H. Designer Series with Jason Valdivia of Valdivia Ventures.
Anyone who has been to a Dallas event knows this is a city with big heart, and Jason’s “parties with a punch” meet those moments alongside industry icons like Todd Events and Avant Garden, among others. A muse to our industry in his own right, Jason brings an innate warmth and impeccable style to each event, along with that gorgeous smile and perfect hair (we had to say it!). He is both the person you want planning your party with his ability to refresh tradition and a true social architect with his genuine philosophy on generating new perspectives to cultures around the table. Perhaps that’s the very reason Jason has been able to float so well between the hot ticket social parties of the season and non-profit events so early in his career.
Jason’s credits include transforming Dallas Cowboy Hall of Famer’s driveways and garages into once in a lifetime experiences (where couples pay $15,000 a plate for charity and wonder what part of the home they’re in), six figure weddings on the side of a mountain in Beaver Creek or his client’s lake home Azle, Texas; producing the NCAA’s Final Four first ever media party on the set of TNT’s Dallas reboot, AND planning the likes of six-figure proms for Dallas’ elite offspring. Does it get any more wonderfully Dallas than that?
Not to mention, Jason has been the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas’ go to event designer for a myriad of events since 2016. Take the discipline and optimism necessary to tackle full-scale charitable event productions while leaving enough room for irreverence and fun, and you’ll know why Valdivia Ventures is the name on everyone’s dance card. In other words, Jason is definitely planning your coming out of quarantine Studio 54 inspired party AND making that moment an epic memory. Truly, he just makes these Southern gals proud.
Now, if we’re being honest, we have seen all of our communities, in every way possible, have a wildly rough year. Yet, we still subscribe to the allure of a future that is sexy and enticing. Living beautifully doesn't mean we fail to acknowledge the hardships and hard work that got us here. Rather, it means we set out the fine crystal with friends anyway if only to leave the world behind for a moment. Jason’s tabletop invites us to just that. So take a cinematic splash into what Jason deems “Donatella's Dream” with your well-earned seat at the table alongside Medusa. After all, her story is just as fitting as it is powerful: A woman so beautiful the gods were jealous and crushed her. But even after death, the power of her beauty and eyes remained. As Donatella Versace herself says, “That’s what Medusa represents to me: A refusal to be defeated.” Shouldn’t we all take that to heart? Dearest Jason, thank you for imagining with us. Now, let’s spill the wine.
TABLE TALK
First things first, tell us a bit about yourself for someone who may not be familiar.
My name is Jason Valdivia, and I’m a Mexican American event coordinator and designer. I’ve been event obsessed since Middle School and actually coordinated my first wedding the Fall after graduating high school. My motto is that I will get my clients from inception to installation.
How do you let a table tell a story?
My tablespaces tell the story of my event’s honoree or purpose. Whether it’s a milestone birthday or museum gala, the tabletop is an extension of their personality or messaging. However, regardless of the celebration, I always include an element of surprise that will make guests do a double-take.
How do you leave the world behind?
Hopefully lighter, open-minded, and more provocative. People want sexy parties with sexy people, and I think post-pandemic we’re leaving some of our prude ideologies behind. Everyone thought about their mortality last year, and the result is that people are going to host the type of party THEY want to attend and not a milk toast version to appease the masses.
Biggest lesson you learned in 2020?
Professionally: “Your business is your business.”
Personally: “Always follow your gut – even during a global pandemic.”
What inspired this design?
I secretly call this design, “Donatella’s Dream.” My favorite Donatella Versace quote is, “Fashion is about dreaming and making other people dream.” Events are so heavily influenced by fashion, and that quote emulates exactly what I hope guests feel at my events. I want to transport them and make them dream.
What is your favorite rental piece on this table and why?
Your Versace Medusa Gala Gold Charger is my favorite piece and the springboard for my entire design.
Who would you want to bring to this table?
I would first bring my parents who immigrated here in the 70s and continuously make sacrifices for me. Secondly, I would include five women who are my industry godmothers and mentors: Kit Sawers, Suzanne Droese, Jennifer Hilton Sampson, Carra Freeman, and Daniella Giglio. (Sounds like Donatella would be proud.)
What do you most look forward to this year?
Redemption. We had to lay to rest so many incredible designs and ideas due to canceled events – so fingers crossed we can get back to imagining.
READY FOR THE CLOSE UP
Tablescape Vibe: In a word: Fierce. A magnificent dive into living beautifully with just the right amount of opulence and culture for someone unafraid to show the world their worth.
Palette: An uplifting transition from the quarantine era with a cinematic splash of Gatsbyesque gold, crystal, and onyx. The purpose isn’t expensive; it’s expressive.
Conversation Piece: A normal menu card can be so… well… square. And as Jason says, “Life is too short to be boring.” Transformation must be a step away with Lane Love Paper Co’s serpent menu at hand. Now please talk amongst yourselves.
Table and Chair: Medusa no longer believes in curses or uncomfortable chairs, thanks. Reflect the beauty of those around you with the Mila Glass Table with plush velvet Mila Chairs. We promise no one will turn to stone.
Accents: Dallas Party Rentals help make the scene with tabletop accents. Trust us; once the candles are lit, the atmosphere vibrates to an alluring octave.
Dress Up: We’re all a bit thirsty for dressing up, no? Fortunately, this table demands it. Take a page from Jason’s sartorial influences: Think the confident look of Wes Gordon for Carolina Herrera that is at once sophisticated but by no means subdued. Or completely stand out from the crowd à la Fernando J. Garcia’s classic tailoring at Oscar de la Renta or his more deconstructed perspective at MONSE. All we’re saying is go ahead and turn those caftans into gowns.
THE HAUTE LIST
Table and Chairs: Mila Glass Table, Mila Black and Gold Velvet Chair
Tabletop: Rosenthal meets Versace Medusa Gala Service Plate, Arte Italica 24K Etched Vetro Dinner Plate, Barcelona Gold B&B, Lucca Matte Black and Gold Flatware, Elise Cut Crystal Stemware
From Jason: You can find me by emailing jason@valdiviaventures.com and view some of our past work on our Instagram, @valdiviaventures. Disclaimer: We stay too busy to always post on Instagram, but when we do I promise it's good stuff.
Additional credits:
Photography: @tamytha
Design: @ValdiviaVentures
Rentals: @PoshCoutureRentals
Paper: @LaneLovePaperCo
Accents: @PartyDallasRentals
Let’s play musical chairs. Take a seat with more names to know in our P.O.S.H. Designers Series.
Emily Clarke | Emily Clarke Events, The Detail Department
Robin Linek | The Meadows Museum
Shelby Rogers | Brigade Events
Macy Pullium | Social Llama Events
