Keeping it Cool

There’s nothing quite as “cool” as walking into an event to see a large ice display.

“Simply put, [clear] ice sculptures are beautiful, eye catching, and add an element of elegance to any event, large or small,” says Dave Kustin with the Ice Butcher.

During the Opening Night Party guests could enjoy a “luge shot” where a margarita was poured into the top of a Day of the Dead themed ice sculpure before traveling down to a waiting shot glass | Catersource + The Special Event 2023. Photo courtesy WASIO Faces

Ice sculptures can be incorporated into events in a variety of ways: a welcome showpiece can be used as a seating chart/list, functional food displays, centerpieces, and ice can even be the star of the signature cocktail through the uses of molds and different colors.

“Functional ice carvings, like seafood displays, continue to be very popular for events,” says Kustin. “The trend we like seeing is the marriage of flowers and ice, which creates some of the most gorgeous ice products around. Further, cocktail ice with inclusions may be the most popular item we are getting requests for right now.”

An ice hors d’oeuvres display featuring individual “cubbies” for each bite | Catersource + The Special Event 2021. Photo courtesy WTA Photo via SpotMyPhotos

As beautiful as ice carvings can be, however, they can be a little tricky when it comes to logistics.

“While there are ways to ‘hold’ a sculpture at temperature prior to unveiling, you really can’t keep them cold or at temperature once they are in the environment,” Kustin says, “therefore the timing of the set-up is important. You want to maximize the amount of time guests will have to interact with the sculpture, but you also must consider the food displays, which add another element of timing as the staff will need time to display the food.”

Check out these examples of ice carvings to inspire you for your next event. 

A fairytale castle set the tone for the Detroit Athletic Club’s ACE-nominated “Back to the Club Weekend” (themed “Life is a Fairy Tale”) | Detroit Athletic Club. Photo courtesy DAC Photography

An ice cold ceviche station during an international sales meeting | AOO Events. Photo courtesy AOO Events

A seafood buffet display carved out of ice | Catersource + The Special Event 2022. Photo courtesy WASIO Faces

A raw bar and ice sculpture welcomed guests to an event in 2021 | Detroit Athletic Club. Photo courtesy DAC Photography

A very detailed carved fish accompanying a food display | Catersource + The Special Event 2021. Photo courtesy WTA Photo via SpotMyPhotos

Ice carvings during weddings can be customized with the couple’s initials | The Ice Butcher. Photo courtesy the Ice Butcher

Ice carvings can also serve as event furniture, like this large ice bar | The Ice Butcher. Photo courtesy the Ice Butcher

A welcome showpiece depicts an octopus | The Ice Butcher. Photo courtesy the Ice Butcher

The Norwegian Prima Gala-nominated event debuted Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship, and featured an onsite Icelandic ice sculptor (who carved a replica of the ship) to showcase the art of Iceland | Viva Creative. Photo courtesy Viva Creative

A massive ice carving during Rosemary Catering’s 2020 ACE-nominated “Under the Big Top - A 95th Birthday Spectacular” featured whole fish and lobsters embedded within it and served as a vessel for Tuna Poke Cones and Ceviche Shakers, as well as a colossal paella. Photo courtesy Rosemary’s Catering

A Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs themed raw bar (during ACE-nominated “Back to the Club Weekend”) featured a “poisoned apple” carved out of ice (in honor of the event’s theme, “Life is a Fairy Tale”) | Detroit Athletic Club. Photo courtesy DAC Photography

An ice bar with serve-yourself glasses of wine | Catersource + The Special Event 2021. Photo courtesy WTA Photo via SpotMyPhotos