Erin Go Glam: An Enchanting Trip to the Irish Countryside
Each year, Helen Olivia teams up with some of our favorite industry partners for an over-the-top celebration of St. Patrick’s Day. We’ve written about the bash—titled Erin Go Glam, a play on “Erin Go Bragh”—before, and we couldn’t resist sharing some behind-the-scenes details of how it came to life in 2025.
Let me start by saying that doing anything new and innovative in the D.C. events industry is no small task. Although many may think of our hometown as stiff, rigid, and work-obsessed, the truth is that it’s one of the foremost cities for setting event trends. This is no doubt due to the sheer volume of events produced here each year, but D.C. is also home to some of the most talented planners, production companies, décor firms—you name it—in the country.
Erin Go Glam is the brainchild of Ridgewells Catering and Design Foundry, who—along with Helen Olivia and dozens of other event partners—bring to life a total transformation based on a new Irish theme each year. This year’s theme was The Veil of Ire, a blend of all things mystical, earthy, moody, and glam.
As a team, the most daunting task was transforming a well-known and beloved venue—the iconic Mellon Auditorium—into something entirely new. To achieve this, we leaned heavily on lighting—some of which was AI-generated, creating the effect of moving wallpaper and ivy growing up the walls—as well as soaring drapery panels and custom modern carpets designed to resemble lily pads beneath the lunch tables.
For the first time, the venue’s windows were completely blacked out, giving the space a dark, moody vibe. The before-and-after of the transformation shows just how impactful lighting can be.
The entire event was custom from a furniture perspective with custom fabricated dinner tables —some with living gardens growing up through them. A few lucky guests even dined inside gondola boat tables with plush bench seating under fabric canopies. My favorite fabrication was a step-up bar with green tiling and a giant suspended lantern to light the way for guests. Our event partner Design Foundry did a stunning job on all fronts.
One of the benchmarks for a great event is not just how the space looks and feels, but also how guests interact with the event. Immersive entertainment was a priority, and included talent from costumed entertainers greeting guests to, roving bartenders making incredible cocktails in the crowd. My personal favorite was an on-site poet creating poems on a typewriter for party goers.
For team Helen Olivia, the focus of our attention and love was of course the flowers. We pulled in flowers from every corner of the earth (literally!) to create a beautiful backdrop fit for Erin Go Glam. Some of our favorite floral moments included a tablescape of moss, mushrooms and elegant lamps for the gondola tables, and layers upon layers of candles and floral for other lunch tables.
The highlight of the event? Attending as a guest. I can't tell you how many events I've personally designed for or set up this year, but it has to be in the hundreds. What a treat to enjoy, along with all of my industry friends, an event of this caliber. Cheers to another successful Erin Go Glam!
Credits:
HOST & CATERING: @ridgewellsdc
CO-HOST & DECOR: @designfoundry
FLOWERS: @helenoliviaflowers
VENUE: @eventsatmellon
RENTALS: @smthingvintage @perfectsettingsllc @tablemannersdc
LINENS & RENTALS: @bbjlatavola
PHOTOGRAPHY: @ronaldfloresphotography
VIDEO: @kkinscreative
CAVIAR: @oystersxo
LIGHTING: @4wall
A/V: @avld_events
PHOTO SALON: @lovelifeimages
COCKTAILS: @cocktailcurations
MUSIC: @lucyblackent
ENTERTAINMENT: @skylarkcreativegrp
INVITATIONS: @odacreative
TYPEWRITER POETRY: @arspoetica.us
CALLIGRAPHY: @meanttobedc
BEAUTY: @bridalglowwithvictoriao
AR: @immerslabs
VALET: @mjvalet1
DRAPING: @fabeventsdc
TENT: @alliedeventsolutions
RESTROOMS: @theluxlavs
TREES: plantfarmrental.com
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