The Season of Hope Gala is Mel Trotter Ministries' annual celebration of new beginnings and the Grand Rapids community that makes them possible. While the stories shared from the stage were the heart of the evening, the environment needed to reflect that same level of care and intention.

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Hotel ballrooms are designed to be flexible, but they can often feel temporary and formal. The challenge was creating a stage with enough warmth and presence for an evening built on being seen, while working within a one-day installation and keeping the campaign banners, screen, and guest sightlines completely clear.

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• Walked the stage plan to understand banner placement, screen position, podium proportions, and camera lines
• Designed the plant layout in three layers rather than a single row of containers at the stage base
• Used standard-form trees upstage to give the riser height without drawing attention away from the campaign artwork
• Placed trailing greenery along the stage edge to soften the riser and bring the design within reach of the front tables
• Grounded the podium and music stand with low foliage so the stage read as finished in event photography
• Kept every container in a neutral palette so the Mel Trotter brand colors remained the focal point

Working from the event's stage plan, the plant design became part of the overall stage strategy rather than an added decorative element. Living greenery gave the riser vertical presence against the black drape, softened the hard line of the stage edge, and closed the gap between speaker and floor.

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