Today we are excited to welcome back Karine Bailly of Ovando , Merci New York’s Resident Floral Experts. Ovando has two tres-chic studios in both the West Village and Upper East Side, and is known to design some of the most stunning arrangements for the city’s fashion and design luminaries.
Last time Karine visited Merci, she shared some Belle Époque bridal shower inspiration with readers. This time, Ovando returns with another wedding-related fete, the engagement dinner.
Often overlooked from a decor perspective, an engagement party is your first opportunity to share your excitement, as well as your personal decor style. In the below story, Karine speaks about using your engagement party venue as design inspiration, as Ovando did at the legendary Lambs Club , below..
Upon setting foot in the Stanford White Room at the legendary Lamb’s Club , the establishment’s storied Broadway past immediately sprung to life: beautifully restored oak walls lined with immense bookcases, an alluring terrace overlooking Manhattan’s famed theatre district, the charming glow of the stately fireplace, and the floor to ceiling windows that finished the room off with indubitable debonair– we were entirely enamored. It was the perfect space for an intimate engagement dinner and we could not wait to bring our floral creations to life!
Inspired by the establishment’s old world charm, we instantly had visions of plush feathers, crisp colors, and, of course, glittered glitterati. And this is exactly what we aimed to recreate with our designs! Because we were working with a long rectangular table, we opted to design an end-to-end sweeping tablescape for all eighteen guests to enjoy.
We paired raised silver urns against opaque square vases to create contrasting heights and succinct color. The plush black ostrich feathers were beautifully distinguished against the lavish bundles of white roses and phalaenopsis orchids.
And no old world glamour tablescape would be complete without a generous scattering of crystals, delicately shimmering against the eager flow of Ovando’s tea light candles.
We owe tremendous thanks to Emily Anderson Photography for capturing the evening so handsomely. And yes, it was a truly enchanted evening. 
All photos courtesy of Emily Anderson Photography .
