Thursday, November 18, 2010

England Calling!

In September, 2010 Bluebell Events went International and created a 60th Birthday Party for Rod Bransgrove, the Chairman of Hampshire Cricket Club.  The theme of the party was "Friends, Family and Hero's" celebrating all the people that had influenced, guided and celebrated Rod's life.  The party was held at the famous Rose Bowl, a beautiful cricket stadium and home to the Hampshire Cricket Club.  We went in and turned the place upside down!



Cocktails took place in the custom made white lounge wine bar, where they had delicious appertizers served on clear trays personalized with an enlarged version of the invitation and an ecletic cheese bar.


After the Ultimate Beatles had performed, the birthday boy, as a surprise, took to the stage with his band, which included his daughter Charlie on vocals and his son Jack on guitar and bought the house down with a song he had written especially for the evening. A slide show went along with the song showing memories of family and friends past and present. There wasn't a dry eye in the house from laughter and tears.


Dinner took place upstairs overlooking the cricket pitch.  Stations from around the world featured Rod's favorite foods with American, Mexican, Asian and Indian influences.  Stations featured custom designed 3D backdrops and the Rose Bowl staff joined in the fun by being dressed in matching themed costumes. 

A stunning seafood raw bar amazed everyone with it's large selection and the fact that it was served from a custom, cricket themed ice bar.
 

As dinner concluded, the sounds of Pink Floyd rang out from the stadium pitch where everyone congregated to the balcony to view the most spectaclar fireworks extravaganza.  Choreographed in sync to Pink Floyd, we literally rocked the county of Hampshire!

  
The birthday boy loves Jelly Baby candies so we designed a Jelly Baby cupcake tower with sparklers which we rolled on to the dance floor to his complete suprise.  It's certainly the biggest cupcake tower we've ever seen.


Followed by late night nibbles such as Bangers & Mash with Baked Beans, Grilled Cheese sandwiches and mini Hot Dogs which fueled the guests for all the dancing to come. 


Continuing the rock theme, Britian's #1 event band, the Rick Parfitt Jr. Band, took the roof off the house and had the sparkling LED dance floor crammed until the wee hours of the morning. At 7am, party goers finally went home, and along with Rod, had the time of their lives.

 


Special thanks to Rod, his beautiful wife Mandy, along with Charlie, Lucy and Jack for trusting me to pull off this stellar event from across the pond.  I couldn't have done it without the incredible Mark Jordan from Blitz Communications. All the local vendors that worked so hard to help me make it all happen and OK! Magazine for covering the event.  Thank you!

credits:
Blitz Communications (Mark Jordan)
Jeff Faraday (photography)
Cloth Connection
Northfield Linen
Cordelia Weston
Rick Parfitt Jr. Band
The Ultimate Beatles Band
Mike Osman (comedian/M.C.)
DJ Mike Christie
The Rose Bowl, Hampshire, UK
Chef Alan & Team (Rose Bowl)
Tiger Lilly Flowers
Painsfireworks
Brooke Harwood (invitation)
Collette Timson
Rachel Hargreaves
Brian Shaw
Vinny Fruelon