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Crystal Ball

Winter Weddings

Crystal Ball

When modern bling meets old-world ballroom, romantic sparks are sure to fly

The main attraction: Manzanita branches—spray-painted silver, and dripping with crystal ropes—sit atop a special champagne bar (or escort card station). Tree by Geoff Howell, geoffhowellstudio.com. Crystals, from Swarovski crystal components. Site, Twenty Four Fifth Avenue, New York City, theglaziergroup.com.

Brilliant idea: Simple centerpieces succeed with a single eye-catching installation, such as this crystal-festooned tree, as the party's focal point.

Crystal chandelier components are the signature statement of this reception. Troll flea markets—real or virtual (such as eBay.com)—for strands of crystal garlands, or loose pendants and beads. Wrap garlands over tree branches or candelabra to create glam centerpieces; use jeweler's wire or heavy thread to attach loose crystals to serving trays, table skirts, or even chair backs.

Hundreds of tiny crystals sparkle under a clear acrylic bar top that's lit from within. We hired a lighting expert to illuminate the serving bars, and detail the dance floor with an ornate pattern of filigreed light created using gobos (stencils). If funds for a lighting engineer aren't in your budget, transform the room with the pure power of flickering candles. Quilted bars, Geoff Howell, geoffhowellstudio.com. Vases, Jamali Garden Supplies, jamaligarden.com. Lighting, Bentley Meeker Lighting & Staging, bentleymeeker.com.

Crystals may give this reception its splash and sparkle, but before introducing a single glittering facet, we started with the basics: comfort and atmosphere. Step one was picking the right space—a formal ballroom with a neutral color scheme (etched mirrors, creamy walls) that would adapt well to our simple and modern all-white treatment.

Each table boasts layers of budget-wise luxe. Synthetic quilted cloths create a rich-looking background for gold-edged china and silver-plate flatware, while crystal-cradled candles make inexpensive but elegant centerpieces. Tablecloths, Indigo Moon, 914-712-2690. Candles, from Creative Candles, ccandlestore.com. Water lily crystal candle holders, from Swarovski, www.swarovski.com. Chandelier crystals, from Swarovski crystal components. Chairs, china, and stemware from Twenty Four Fifth Avenue, theglaziergroup.com.

A white-on-white motif enhances the enchanting effects of crystal, but to prevent monotony, you'll need to infuse your party's design with texture and tone. White can embody every hue from clear-as-glass to creamy beige, while quilted fabrics, lace, or embroidery warm up pale shades. The effect is appealingly cool, never cold. Here, in addition to tables for eight, we created a lounge area where guests could kick back with a martini and listen to music. Faux-fur lounges and illuminated acrylic cube tables, from RentQuest, rentquestnyc.com. Cocktails, Cîroc grape vodka. Custom crystal-and-gold-accented tray, by Yona Levine, 212-777-5260.

Here is a case of less is more. Each chair shimmers with a single chandelier crystal, wired to its back. Your guests will gladly take their seats.

For a breezy partition between the lounge and reception spaces, we hung a rod with yards of white ribbon cut to sweep the floor. We rented the fur-padded divans, and had the oversize ottoman and lamp base custom made. The lamp base consisted of an acrylic tube draped with crystals. For the ottoman, a plywood round was upholstered with polyester quilting and fake fur. Curtain ribbons, at Offray, offray.com. Ottoman and lamp base, from Geoff Howell, geoffhowellstudio.com. Lampshade, from Pauline Yeats, 212-228-5353.

Nothing personalizes a celebration like a monogram. Apply it to table cards, menus, favors, and thank-you notes. Menu, from Continental Corporate Engravers, continentalengravers.com. Monogram design by Monogram Inc., monograminc.com. Calligraphy by Anna Pinto 201-656-7402. Plate (under menu), by Bernardaud, bernardaud.fr.

Standing screens can conceal unwanted backgrounds, and make space more intimate. For added drama, cut portholes and insert monogrammed acrylic windows. Quilted screens, from Geoff Howell Studio, geoffhowellstudio.com. Window monogram, from Monogram Inc., monograminc.com. Ultrasuede and faux-mink tablecloths, from Indigo Moon, 914-712-2690.

To cut costs, make your own showstopping flower arrangement. Start with a simple stem vase, and glue flat-back crystals in a circular pattern around its base. Create more sparkle by partially filling the vase with more crystals, then adding water and a bouquet of tulips.

Goat cheese hors d'ouevres, Christopher Siverson for Twenty Four Fifth Avenue, theglaziergroup.com. Acrylic tray with Swarovski crystal accents, by Yona Levine 212-777-5260.

White-glove service takes potato chips from ho-hum to haute.

Mini Sylk Cream Liqueur shakes, by Christopher Siverson for Twenty Four Fifth Avenue, theglaziergroup.com. Gold-and-pearl tray, by Yona Levine, 212-777-5260.

Marshmallow kisses, angel cakes, and coconut bonbons, by Christopher Siverson for Twenty Four Fifth Avenue, theglaziergroup.com. Gold-and-pearl tray, by Yona Levine, 212-777-5260.

Three-tier buttercream cake ornately detailed with silver sugar dragées, by Tomas Paulina and Lidiya Zdrok for Twenty Four Fifth Avenue, theglaziergroup.com. Crystal and silver cake topper, by Swarovski, swarovski.com.

A second fondant cake rests on elaborate crystal stands.

A beautiful buttercream cake, with a burst of flowers on top. By Sylvia Weinstock Cakes, sylviaweinstock.com.

Photographer: Jeff McNamara

: This content originally appeared in Brides magazine. Prices and other information in this story were accurate at press time, but are subject to change. Please confirm details with individual designers and vendors.

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