Sixtieth Birthday Party
Social Event Design and Production
Photography by Elizabeth Messina
When our client called to ask us to plan his sixtieth birthday party, he had a few rules:
- Make it all about family and friends
- Keep low key and not ostentatious
- Have excellent music and sound all evening
- Hire a great caterer who will prepare healthy and delicious food
Other than those rules, the Merryl Brown Events team was entrusted to do the rest. We got to work producing a special, low key celebration that was all about creating a comfortable and cozy atmosphere of fun, friends, family and great food. We went for a decidedly masculine look and feel with the décor that complimented the tastes and interests of the host. As the host is friends with many world class musicians who attended the party, we set up an evening that had several great performances culminating in a jam session with many of the musicians coming to the stage and playing late into the night. The stage, surrounded by mossy wood, orchids and lush greenery, was set beneath a hundred year-old, magnificently lit oak tree that truly came alive as slow moving gobos were projected onto it; it was truly the piece de resistance of the event. Long tables of dark wood, alternating with deeply textured linen-clad tables, were set about the lawn for dining, along with charming living room vignettes for guests who preferred to sit on couches with soft pillows and chenille throws. Incredible arrangements of knotted wood, moss, orchids, and tropical plants abounded. The mahogany bar, replete with upholstered double-wide benches and fully merchandised with old books, leather framed photos, antique crystal decanters and vintage trophies was a hub throughout the evening with custom cocktails and later serving as a dessert bar laden with chocolates, cakes, cookies, and cupcakes. This was truly a birthday celebration to remember and was all that the host had hoped for.
"When I heard that you would be planning this party, I knew that it would be beautiful. But when I arrived and saw the magic that you created, I was simply awestruck. It exceeded my expectations in every way."
