Celebrating a milestone birthday – not once but twice
Part of the beauty of getting older is knowing exactly what you want. And for one client that meant celebrating her 60th by throwing two incredible parties for 120 family and friends.
The Solution
We were asked to plan and organise this very special two-night event at our client’s home in the exclusive St George’s Hill estate in Weybridge, Surrey. Within this beautiful setting guests would be welcomed into the house for a drinks reception in the main drawing room before descending to the basement where the party would be held. Comprising two rooms, divided by a glass partition and indoor swimming pool, the space was fantastic but also presented a logistical challenge due to awkward external access for our crew and suppliers and restricted parking on the estate. However, we are highly adept at overcoming such issues and took it all in our stride – not to mention successfully working around a pool so that no guests or serving staff would accidentally fall in.
Our design theme focused on bringing the two rooms and pool area together to look like one large space. Lighting and decoration created a sense of unity. And far from avoiding the pool, we even utilised the poolside when planning the layout for dining. Simple changes from one night to the next meant we could create a fresh and different look and feel for both parties.
The first night was to be a formal and classy dinner party and we used a rich colour palette of deep reds and gold. Huge flower arrangements were placed either side of the front door and lanterns lined the approach. In the dining room, lighting enhanced the space and we installed poseur tables draped in gold cloth and topped with delicate votive candles and posey arrangements. As guests arrived, they were served welcome cocktails and serving staff circulated with a variety of delicious canapés. A saxophonist played in the background, creating a stylish and sophisticated ambience.
Downstairs, we had installed round dining tables dressed with red and burgundy tablecloths, red candles, gold damask napkins, stunning floral table centrepieces and complemented by gold chairs. With warm lighting and special moving lights and gobos, the space looked opulent and created a wow factor as guests entered.
Keen to celebrate her Nigerian heritage, our client had sourced a caterer who designed a stunning menu inspired by traditional Nigerian ingredients and dishes. We then supplied professional waiting staff to serve the three-course dinner. Adding to the celebrations we had installed three large screens downstairs on which we showed a documentary of our client’s life and her many achievements. The screens were also used to display a live stream of footage captured during the party itself. And throughout the evening a comedian played host and entertainer.
The next day was all about gearing up for party number two! In contrast to the first, the second party was all about guests letting down their hair and getting on the dance floor. The transformation of the space from fine dining environment to disco was effortlessly achieved with LED dancefloor, poseur tables, silver mirrored low-level tables, LED cube seating and a vibrant lighting scheme with moving gobos. Our colour palette was carried through to the second night, with yet more stunning floral arrangements. A bar was set up to serve a range of drinks, including Champagne and cocktails prepared by our super-cool flair bartender. And a fantastic DJ played a rocking set that got everyone dancing, encouraged by a special appearance of two disco ball head dancers. Reflecting the more relaxed atmosphere, the catering was barbecue, cleverly planned to bring a Nigerian flavour to the menu.
