Over the Moon: Transforming the Austin 40 Under 40 Gala at the JW Marriott

When you are tasked with designing the floral and decor for an event celebrating Austin's brightest young leaders, the vision has to be nothing short of stellar. This year’s 40 Under 40 Gala at the JW Marriott Austin gave us the perfect canvas to push the boundaries of traditional corporate event design. Guided by an upscale celestial theme, "Over the Moon in Austin," our team brought the galaxy indoors using a sophisticated, rich color palette of navy blue, deep purple, and shimmering gold accents.

From the second attendees walked in to the final awards presentation, the atmosphere felt exclusive, modern, and perfectly tailored for a high-profile celebration.

Making a Red Carpet Statement

First impressions set the tone for the entire evening, and for a crowd of top professionals, we wanted to create an unforgettable arrival. For the step-and-repeat banner, we designed custom flanking floral installations on each side. Instead of standard corporate arrangements, these were lush, textured designs featuring deep purples and dramatic navy tones, balanced by structural gold elements that caught the camera flashes perfectly. It provided a dramatic framing for the arrivals, turning a standard photo opp into a high-end red carpet moment.

The Main Event: Upscale Interstellar Tablescapes

Inside the grand ballroom of the JW Marriott, we executed a design concept that was both corporate-appropriate and deeply creative. To give the room visual depth and movement, we opted for a mixture of tall and low centerpieces.

The low centerpieces offered intimate, dense clusters of rich florals, while the towering arrangements drew the eye upward, mirroring the vastness of the night sky. Each table incorporated our custom moon and interstellar decor, seamlessly blending organic blooms with sleek, thematic elements. The navy and purple florals acted as a deep midnight backdrop, allowing the metallic gold accents to shine like stars across the room.

A Show-Stopping Stage Design

While the entire room was bathed in celestial elegance, our absolute favorite element of the night was the stage flowers framing the main podium. Stage design can easily feel stiff, but we approached this with a decidedly modern corporate design aesthetic.

We created a fluid, asymmetrical floral installation that grounded the podium, making it a focal point without distracting from the speakers. The combination of structural gold branches, deep jewel-toned flowers, and crisp, contemporary lines looked sharp both from the back of the ballroom and on the event's high-definition video screens. It was the perfect backdrop for celebrating the incredible achievements of Austin's 40 Under 40 honorees.

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What an absolute honor it was to be part of the Visit Austin Foundation’s incredible celebration. We had the distinct pleasure of stepping up as a sponsor for the Give Back Gig 2026, and honestly, we had the absolute best time supporting such an incredible cause.

Held on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at the stunning SKYBOX on 6th, the Give Back Gig 2026 celebrated Austin’s vibrant culinary scene through a one-of-a-kind tasting experience. This beautiful evening brought together some of the city’s most acclaimed chefs with rising talent from the Austin ISD Culinary and Hospitality Program. As a team that deeply values creativity and professional development, seeing the passion, dedication, and raw talent from these students was incredibly inspiring. As a trusted partner for luxury corporate event flowers and rental needs, we love playing a part in helping these aspiring professionals build their futures.

A Night of Exceptional Culinary Artistry and Community

The heart of this evening highlighted the power of food, mentorship, and community while showcasing the next generation of Austin’s culinary leaders. Guests enjoyed a spectacular collaborative tasting menu developed by participating chefs and students, specialty beverages, and live entertainment that reflected Austin’s signature culture of food, music, and hospitality.

The 2026 culinary lineup featured an incredible group of local culinary legends:

Chef Amanda Turner of Olamaie

Chef Mark Dayanandan of Hilton Austin

Chef Rick Lopez of La Condesa

Chef Ali Clem of la Barbecue

Chef Tavel Bristol-Joseph of Canje

Chef Kevin Cannon of Barley Swine

The evening was hosted by special guest and emcee Mando Rayo of United Tacos of America, who helped guide a program centered on culinary storytelling, mentorship, and Austin’s hospitality community. Guests were also treated to incredible live music from The Watters during the VIP experience, followed by an amazing main event performance by DJ Chorizo Funk.

All proceeds from the Give Back Gig directly supported the Visit Austin Foundation, Good Work Austin, and Urban Roots. These funds advance vital scholarships, mentorship, education, job training, workforce development, and community impact across Austin’s hospitality and culinary industries.

Designing Magic: The Mid-Air Floral Pour

When it came to bringing our own creative touch to SKYBOX on 6th, we wanted to design something that felt truly whimsical, textural, and grand. Our goal is always to demonstrate why we strive to be the best event florist in austin by pushing the boundaries of traditional event design.

Our favorite part of the evening’s setup was a massive floral installation that brought a touch of natural wonder indoors. We designed and suspended a mid-air flower tin installation, crafted to look as though it was magically pouring a vibrant waterfall of blossoms directly into the room.

Connecting this floating focal point was a lush, sweeping greenery garland that stretched over 500 feet long, weaving its way through the venue and bringing the entire environment to life. This type of large-scale flower and decor rental design requires precise execution, and our team handled the entire floral, decor, set up, breakdown, delivery seamlessly to ensure the venue looked flawless from start to finish.

From intimate high-profile gatherings to massive galas fundraiser events, creating unforgettable atmospheres through living art is our true passion. We love collaborating with local organizations to elevate the scenic landscape of our community.

A massive thank you to the incredible teams who captured the energy and beauty of this unforgettable evening so perfectly.

Photo Credits: Visit Austin Foundation, BoothEasy, and Capture Nation.

We are still riding the high from this beautiful night of community, gastronomy, and design. Working alongside such incredible industry partners reminds us why we love being recognized as a best austin florist. Thank you to everyone who made it possible, and to the students—keep shining, keep cooking, and keep growing!

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Vendors & Sponsors:

Visit Austin Foundation @visitaustintx

BoothEasy  (@bootheasy)

Capture Nation (@capturenationofficial)

The Elevated Bear TheElevatedBear

SkyBox (@skyboxon6th)

Party at The Moontower

Limitless Light & Sound

The Westin

The JW Mariott

Delta

Southwest

Dell

Tito's Vodka

What happens when high fashion meets a powerful cause in the heart of Austin? You get an unforgettable evening that truly makes fashion a force for good. The inaugural Fashion Statement x The Domain event was an absolute triumph, and we are still buzzing from the incredible energy, style, and community support that filled the night.

This spectacular evening, highlighted in a stunning event video by @tyleratx, brought together the city’s most stylish residents for a night of luxury, philanthropy, and breathtaking design. We want to extend a huge, heartfelt thank you to all of our incredible partners, participants, and patrons who helped us make this groundbreaking night a reality. Together, we raised vital support for Dress for Success Austin, proving that beautiful style can drive beautiful change.

A Star-Studded Austin Collaboration

The energy of the night was amplified by our media partner, Austin Way Magazine by Modern Luxury, ensuring the city's premier fashion celebration was the place to be. Guests mingled in a gorgeously transformed space, sipping expertly crafted cocktails from the team at Drink Slingers Bartending Services and enjoying the flawless ambiance created by Bright Events Rentals.

Adding an extra layer of charm and interactive luxury to the evening, Austin Cart Co. provided a gorgeous aesthetic experience that kept guests delighted between runway shows. Every detail was curated to perfection, transforming a classic corporate event and philanthropic gala into an immersive, sensory experience. From the sleek, minimalist architecture of the venue to our custom modern display pillars, the rental decor provided the perfect structural canvas for an unforgettable night.

Making Happiness Bloom: The Floral Design

As a premier Austin florist, Jordan Flowers and Events was honored to bring the visual landscape of this historic night to life. Our team set out to design a floral experience that matched the high-fashion energy of The Domain while embodying our core philosophy: Jordan Flowers and Events makes happiness bloom.

To complement the runway looks and sleek modern rental pillars, we designed striking, vibrant installations bursting with texture and color. Our custom arrangements featured a rich tapestry of blooms, blending deep crimson and soft peach chrysanthemums with lush clusters of pure white hydrangeas. To ground the high-fashion palette, we introduced striking pops of cobalt blue hydrangeas and delicate blue delphinium, all woven together with cascading eucalyptus and textured greenery that brought a sense of organic movement to the structured space.

Planning a high-profile fundraiser, a luxury brand launch, or a major corporate event requires a vendor who understands scale, branding, and sophisticated design. As an established event florist, we specialize in translating a brand’s vision into breathtaking botanical realities, ensuring our florals blend seamlessly with the architectural elements of the venue. Seeing our custom creations stand alongside luxury fashion lines for such an impactful cause was a true highlight for our team, reinforcing our reputation as an Austin best florist for upscale celebrations.

Relive the Magic

The inaugural Fashion Statement x The Domain raised the bar for Austin fashion and philanthropy alike. We are deeply grateful to everyone who attended, donated, and collaborated to make this night an overwhelming success.

Are you currently planning an upcoming gala, brand activation, or corporate event in the Austin area? Let us help you bring your vision to life with custom rental decor and floral installations that leave a lasting impression. Get in touch with Jordan Flowers and Events today, and let's make happiness bloom at your next celebration.

Event Vendor Credits

Floral Design and Custom Pillars: Jordan Flowers & Events (@jordanflowersevents)

Host Venue: The Domain (@thedomainatx)

Beneficiary: Dress for Success Austin (@dfssouthaustin)

Media Partner: Austin Way Magazine by Modern Luxury (@austinwaymag)

Photography: Tyleratx (@tyleratx)

Event Rentals: Bright Event Rentals (@brightrentals)

Bartending Services: Drink Slingers (@drinkslingersatx)

Guest Experience Cart: Austin Cart Co. (@austincartco)

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