On Nov 1, in Lexington KY, catering and events company The Apiary teamed up with event space The Liminal to host their Dias de los Muertos Event. The event was welcome to all to join, and all in all 85 guests were in attendance.
The Apiary called on us to supply some Day of the Dead decorations to make the event look truly authentic and oh so colourful. We obliged with 32 large Mexican Handmade Ceramic Skulls, 50 small Mexican Handmade Ceramic Skulls, 164 Marigold Garlands in short, long and loose varieties, 60 Day of the Dead Papel Picado Garlands with Large Flags, and 2 Metallic Skull Papel Picado Garlands with Large Flags. The garlands totalled 1,000 feet (over 300 metres), creating a glorious halo of color on the very high ceiling.
Guests arrived at 6:45pm as the sun was beginning to set to a candlelit garden, creating the perfect setting for a Dia de los Muertos event to take place. Local artist Anna Campamones, created a thematic entranceway between the trees using a combination of woven native grasses and marigolds.
Each guest stepped through this seasonal threshold, and were engulfed in the delicious aroma of burning copal incense, while being guided towards the event by candles lit on either side of a path scattered with marigold petals. If you’re curious to know more about the significance of marigolds as a Day of the Dead decoration, make sure to read up on our What is the Day of the Dead? page.
As guests made their way into the building on the way to the bar, they discovered an octagonal table adorned in more candles and marigolds. Installed above the bar was a 10 feet (3 metre) cow skull made of wood with flowers woven through it. Custom cocktails were created for the evening and served throughout the night, and appetizers made their rounds during cocktail hour. Servers were donned in calavera or sugar skull makeup, paying tribute to traditional Dia de los Muertos art.
Guests were free to roam around and experience the beauty of the space, and could also walk outside into our heated tent that held a satellite bar and live music by Deiter Hennings trio. Women made tortillas by hand in traditional Mexican dress and guests could enjoy tacos made to order on large planchas, while behind them a whole pig was roasting.
Later on, when the doors opened to the main dining room, decorated long wooden farm tables greeted the 85 guests. Our hand painted Mexican Handmade Ceramic Skulls joined a thoughtfully curated ensemble of handmade wool serapes, candles and marigolds. 
Every detail was thought through, down to the small sugar skull charms wrapped around the napkin rings. ARTMEXICO’s colourful Day of the Dead Papel Picado Flags and Metallic Skull Papel Picado Flags were hung from the ceiling of the dining room, and from the ceiling of the tent outside, to create a cohesive effect.
Multiple Mexican-inspired courses were passed around family style. And what a menu it was! Check out some of the deliciousness that these lucky guests got to experience.
