This Elegant 'Real Housewives' Event Used Over 2,200 Apples as Decor

Bravo’s lavish pop-up event brought a glamorous apple orchard to life, offering fans immersive content capture moments, chic decor, and cocktails fit for the Housewives.

Claire Hoffman

October 8, 2024

The entire event was built for content capture, with specific areas designed to encourage social sharing. These included the "Big Apple Orchard Catwalk," a dramatic walk-through experience complete with glowing arches and a slow-motion video setup that turned every guest into a RHONY star.Photo: Dorothy Hong
NEW YORK—Just in time for the much-anticipated season 15 premiere, The Real Housewives of New York City took over Manhattan in true RHONY style—bold, glamorous, and totally extra. From Sept. 19-20, Bravo invited fans, influencers, and press to experience “The RHONY Orchard by Bravo,” a lavish pop-up that transformed Manhattan’s Chelsea Factory into a jaw-dropping apple orchard with a glamorous twist.

Produced by Cat/Alina Productions in collaboration with NBCUniversal, the immersive event celebrated the show’s return; the fall season; and, of course, New York City’s iconic status as the Big Apple. "The Bravo team came to us to ideate around creating a buzzworthy moment for the launch of The Real Housewives of NYC," said Alina Skonieczny, managing partner at Cat/Alina Productions. "So, we leaned into the 'big apple' in our creative."

Skonieczny and her team filled the venue with 15 massive apple trees, incorporating over 2,200 real and faux apples into everything from floral arrangements to towering topiaries. An oversize apple greeted guests at the entrance, while pops of deep red (a nod to the classic red apple) added a luxe, sophisticated vibe throughout the space. “The show launch on Oct. 1 allowed us to bring to life an immersive fall experience while still making it feel high-style and luxurious,” Skonieczny added.

Check out the vendors who brought the space to life, and keep scrolling for a look inside the event...

VENDORS

Creative Design and Event Management: Cat/Alina Productions
Venue: Chelsea Factory
Fabrication & Lighting: Unmatched Lighting
Catering: Pinch Food Design
Photo Activation: POPsocial
Florals: A&M Flowers
Rentals: Luxe Event Rentals
Photography: Dorothy Hong

An oversize apple greeted guests at the entrance of the event space. “The overall theme of the Big Apple Orchard really lent itself to some ripe experiences and creative design," said Skonieczny.

Photo: Dorothy Hong

The team aimed to merge the natural beauty of the orchard with the luxurious RHONY aesthetic, incorporating red velvet lounges, gold and mirrored tables, and glamorous bars. "Lots of people commented how they felt like they were walking into a real orchard and how beautiful the space looked," Skonieczny said. "I heard quite a few comments on how it was one of the most incredible transformations they have seen at the Chelsea Factory."

Photo: Dorothy Hong

Overall, the event used a mix of real and faux apples totaling over 2,200 apples. These were on trees and topiaries as well as mixed into the floral arrangements.

Photo: Dorothy Hong

The menu emphasized—you guessed it—apple flavors. Attendees enjoyed passed hors d'oeuvres like basil-crusted filet mignon, spicy tuna, and a "Caesar salad eruption." For dessert, options included apple tarts and cranberry caviar. The bar featured two specialty cocktails: The Big Martini, made with green apple, and a red mocktail dubbed the Red Hot RHONY.

Photo: Dorothy Hong

The entire event was built for content capture, with specific areas designed to encourage social sharing. These included the 'Big Apple Orchard Catwalk,' a dramatic walk-through experience complete with glowing arches and a slow-motion video setup that turned every guest into a RHONY star.

Photo: Dorothy Hong

In another space, guests stood in front of an illuminated city backdrop. They were captured in video and were able to select their favorite RHONY catchphrase that was shared via the overlay.

Photo: Dorothy Hong

A third content capture space featured a vibrant red, colorblocked backdrop and shimmering chandeliers, echoing the key art for the new season. “The three specific content capture areas, run by POPsocial, were specifically made to share," said Skonieczny. "Once the photo and/or video was taken, guests were prompted to provide their email or phone number. The digital piece was then sent directly to the guests, where they could immediately upload to social media." The team also stationed brand ambassadors throughout the venue to help snap even more shareable moments.

Photo: Dorothy Hong

There was also an installation showcasing outfits from the season 15 promo and the main title intro. "The Real Housewives of NYC always highlights high fashion, so we wanted to share some of the incredible looks with fans," said Skonieczny.

Photo: Dorothy Hong

Of course, the event wasn't without its challenges. "Our timeline was very short—we had six hours before the first client walk-through to build and place all the items," Skonieczny revealed. "One of the bigger challenges was sourcing incredible trees so that you really felt like you were in an orchard—despite being inside. All of us were thrilled at how it turned out!"

Photo: Dorothy Hong

The preview night, which doubled as a red carpet event, allowed cast members Brynn Whitfield, Jessel Taank, Racquel Chevremont, Rebecca Minkoff, and Ubah Hassan to mix and mingle with press and influencers.

Photo: Dorothy Hong