A Decade of Celebrating the Central Valley

The Luxury Awards is the Central Valley’s most luxurious night of the year, and while the 2023 party certainly lived up to those expectations, it also paid homage to yet another accomplishment. CVLUX Magazine commemorated “A Decade of Celebrating the Central Valley” in true LUX life style. Guests dressed in their best formal attire and were treated to a night that won’t be forgotten anytime soon. From the striking floral arrangements and stunning décor to the exquisite food and superb drinks, not to mention an awards show that kept the whole venue on its toes, it was an evening brimming with splendor and success. Yet for those who weren’t able to attend in person, fret not! Here comes a recap of the dazzling 2023 Luxury Awards.

For the second year in a row, the Luxury Awards was held in beautiful Downtown Fresno. This was the first time it was hosted at the Holy Trinity ballrooms, behind the Armenian Apostolic Church. Attendees entered the venue off of M Street. A tunnel with gorgeous draping ushered guests to the step-and-repeat room for photo ops, where two sponsorship backdrops were ready and waiting. Partygoers checked in upon entering the ballroom, where they were greeted with hand-passed champagne. In addition to the bubbly welcome, servers also distributed the event’s signature drink: chocolate martinis. The centrally located lounge area was accessible from both the ballroom and step-and-repeat areas.

Dark blues served as the color story baseline, which was complemented by magenta and shades of violet. Cobalt carpeting paved the way from the front door, into the step-and-repeat area, and throughout the lounge. The same white draping seen upon entry was unfurled around the entire venue and was uplit with saturated blue and pink, casting a seductive hue over the party scene. The pale nature of the draperies and linens imparted a vivid feel to the bold scheme with the use of mood lighting. The matching dark blue velvet chairs, sofa, and tufted DJ booth harmonized with the luxurious colorway. Mirror elements and touches of silver and gold throughout simply enhanced the luxe vibe.

In the ballroom, the stage commanded attention. A navy velvet backdrop donned the CVLUX logo in white light and was flanked by giant LED walls. The acrylic podium at the center allowed those on stage to be seen uninterrupted. Ghost chair seating and the towering clear glass flower vases outlining the room’s perimeter echoed the transparent effect. The round tables were swathed in snowy tablecloths and matching napkins. To them, a mix of ecru velvet, white satin, and satin stripe textiles added cohesive variation. Mirror tabletops and centerpiece rounds reiterated silvery flatware and drinkware rimmed with silver. This pale palette made the vibrant floral arrangements truly pop.

In the lounge, the bright white dancefloor took centerstage. At either end stood mirror-front half-circle bars outlined in gold. The golden accent tables were the perfect place to set a drink down for a moment, and each sported a compact floral arrangement that added a perfect dose of fuchsia to the room. Scattered lounge seating made the space feel like an exclusive club and drew people to all four corners. At the far end, stood a crowd-favorite—the 360-degree photo booth would catch glimpses of the party in the background as its arm swung around.

Florals are always an intricate part of any event, and these were no exception. Royal blue hydrangeas comprised the bulk of the arrangements. Each masterfully domed bouquet was then dotted with vibrant magenta roses and purple calla lilies. In addition to the lounge side tables, the dining and cocktail tables, as well as the bars, were adorned with small, various-sized vases. On those select dining tables with extra-tall centerpieces, fuchsia orchids seemingly appeared to drip out of the arrangements. Even the hand-passed hors d’oeuvres featured floral garnishes of the same varieties.

Catered by Pardini’s, the event’s menu was arguably the best culinary line-up yet and got going with a duo of small bites. Waiters carried Smoked Salmon Cucumber Rounds topped with fresh dill cream cheese and rustic Avocado Toast Canapés with crème fraîche and micro greens garnish. Once the attendees were seated and the show commenced, dinner service began with a Burrata & Arugula salad tossed in lemon and aged balsamic vinaigrette, layered with halved cherry tomatoes and prosciutto, and served with a parmesan crostini. After a hearty meal, dessert featured Bread Pudding topped with caramel sauce, whipped cream, and achocolate medallion.

For the main course, guests chose between three options. The Grilled New York Steak was topped with herb compound butter and served with gouda red mashed potatoes and roasted broccolini. A Casarecce Shrimp Scampi pasta was dressed in a creamy pesto sauce, tossed with roasted cherry tomatoes, and finished with shrimp sautéed in garlic and white wine. For the vegetarian option, a Mushroom Camembert Wellington consisted of puff pastry stuffed with a mushroom veggie medley and soft cheese, topped with a delicate cream sauce, served with broccolini.

Emcee Margot Kim of ABC30 hosted the 2023 Luxury Awards and was assisted by Miss Fresno County 2023 Elita Damron and Miss City of Fresno 2023 Bella Rodriguez, who escorted the winners to and from the stage. The 2023 Luxury Awards Winners were announced over the course of dinner and then immediately ushered to the Winner’s Circle to be photographed during the hype of the moment. But the party wasn’t over yet. DJ Diko had already done a tremendous job playing music for the show, but when the After Party in the Ultra Lounge got going, the newfound energy in the room was undeniable!

The Luxury Awards is only one night. However, it takes approximately a year to get to the most luxurious evening of the year. Nominations for the 2023 Luxury Awards were submitted in July 2022. The top five in each category made it to this year’s ballot. Voting began in September 2022 and went on until the end of January 2023. Each email address could vote only once, and all emails were authenticated at the end of the voting period.

Stay tuned for details about the 2024 Luxury Awards!

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Editorial Director Lauren Barisic
Photographer Ellie Koleen Photography

Ellie Koleen

Photographer

Ellie is a lifestyle, wedding, and brand photographer based in Fresno, California. An artist behind the lens, her trademark airy, light-filled style and masterful camera angles make her work easily recognizable. She uses her love for all things design related as inspiration for her work. The Fresno Bee named Ellie Best Photographer for the People’s Choice Awards in 2018 and 2019.