We had the pleasure of producing this client’s 50th birthday party in 2016, and their daughter’s 16th the year after, those parties went down a storm, and it was a delight to be asked to produce their joint 60th birthday 10 years later! We knew we had to one up the 50th party, and luckily the client knew us well and trusted us to deliver something truly special for their joint celebration.
The Styling
We wanted to evoke the feeling of a classic English garden party, with a Mirage twist of course! The rustic trestle tables and table styling kept the dining feeling non-stuffy, and the seamless styling of the dance end of the tent kept the two parts of the night feeling natural and cohesive. The rustic wooden dancefloor was flanked by sage sofas and natural wooden tables. The whole tent was gently lit by festoon lighting and vintage table lamps, candles flickered in rustic iron candelabras. With gorgeous floaty florals hanging through the roof and creating a stunning entranceway as well as brightening up tables, this was one gorgeous party! Our in house artist sketched and designed all of the printed copy by hand, ensuring that initial invite, party website, menus and seating plans, even the bar menus, were all cohesive and super personalised.
The Experience
As guests entered they walked beneath a beautiful floral archway which really set the tone of the event. As they walked into the bar area, they were met with a glass of champagne and the sounds of our fabulous guitarist playing some family favourites and great crowd pleasers. The tent was filled with personalised touches such as a hand drawn menu and table plan featuring sketches of the delightful thatched home and the much loved dogs! As the chefs fired up the BBQs and guests got a glimpse into the delicious menu to come, it was clear this would be a party to remember.
Food was a huge focus for this party, and the menu featured some truly delicious dishes. Grilled seabass with pico de guallo and garlic and herb grilled chicken with chimichurri dressing, were served alongside piles of delicious salads and herby roasted potatoes. The family style sharing dishes created a buzz of conversation through the tent, broken only for heartfelt speeches from the birthday duo and their family. Once everyone had eaten their fill of desserts, a fantastic cheese grazing table was brought out for guests to nibble on throughout the rest of the night. Much needed energy as everyone danced the night away to the tunes of our fantastic DJ!
The Challenge
One of the challenges of planning a party at home is making the event work with the existing garden. This garden had an unusual shape, with low hedges and flower beds that could have made a traditional marquee layout difficult. Our solution was to create one large tent covered space that worked with the shape of the garden rather than against it. The hedges and flower beds were incorporated into the design, allowing the garden to remain part of the celebration while creating the perfect space for dining, drinks and dancing.
