Mark and Anthony wanted to host a summer party at their home in Kent. It was to be an informal, fun affair - a party at home that embraced all that was beautiful about their fabulous house and garden.
The Party
I pitched 3 ideas for their party and they settled on the 'Think Pink' theme based around the opening number from Funny Face.
Their garden is beautiful and the views out from there are stunning and I wanted to incorporate this rather than obscure them and put everyone in a marquee which could be anywhere. We decided on a marquee that had a clear dining area so that guests could enjoy the views out whilst dining. The other side of the marquee, reserved for dancing, would be lined and lit to create a nightclub feel.
Guests arrived down the candle lit driveway to be guided in by tall glass lanterns into the house. We had hung vivid pink saris from the frame of the French windows out into the garden, so guests had no inkling of what they were going into after the drinks reception.
Pink cocktails and champagne were served by waitresses in pink tops. The placement cards were taken around to guests by 3 'usherettes' carrying them in cinema ice cream trays. Dinner was announced and guests were led along the lantern lit pathway into the marquee.
The clear span marquee had a pink carpet with black edge. The table linen was pale pink with platinum charger plates, pink and green glassware and a menu that doubled as a placecard at each setting. The central floral arrangements were either trees growing through the centre of the tables and decorated with crystal birds, pink flock paper boxes full of flowers or mirror boxes overflowing with vibrant coloured flowers. Above the guests was a ceiling of p-lights hanging from a central multi mirror ball feature complete with Barbie waving from the top of the largest ball!
After a 3-course meal, guests were led outside by the candle lit pathway across the pond feature to enjoy a firework display ending with a pink themed finale!
The Brazilian band took to the stage and lured guests back into the marquee and onto the circular black and white dance floor framed by the 4 pyramid trees that stand in the garden. (The marquee floor had been cut around the trees to include them in the marquee). The bar had a pink acetate front that had been created to match the pattern on the menus and the Think Pink! cocktails flowed.
Down at the pool area we had erected pink Raj tents and decorated the area with fruit and spices to complete the chilled out Moroccan theme. Above the pool, a screen had been erected and we played a film I had had created of all things pink - Penelope Pitstop, the Pink Panther etc!
When the band finished a DJ played and at 1am bacon baps and cheese toasties were served to replenish guests. As the evening progressed and the light dimed, we showed the garden off to its full potential by colour washing and uplighting the trees that surround the property and form the orchard.
Guests left at 3am on coaches back to London claiming it was the best party they had ever been to!
Photography by 2exposures