Miami Chic Engagement Party for Jenni Romanow & Chris Harris

The client approached us about her engagement party and wanted us to bring a taste of Miami to Memphis. Automatically we recommended the rooftop of the Madison Hotel for our venue. We designed the event décor with only a hint of eggplant (the wedding color), and used all white lounge furniture for seating and a few cocktail tables. The client loved the idea and we began work immediately on our “Miami Chic” engagement party.

As event designers, obviously the event design was very important to the overall success of an unforgettable night.  We used an all white monochromatic color scheme with hints of purple flowers to make a statement that was very “Miami Chic!”  We used all white leather couches and day beds, white spandex covered cocktail tables and bistro tables and ghost chairs.  We used white sequin pillows on the couches and day beds.  Even the baby grand piano that entertained guests all evening was white. The bar was a white LED lit bar and had white shadowbox style shelving as a backdrop to house barware and flowers. We also used a white spandex screen behind the cigar roller’s station and lit it with eggplant lighting.

For flowers, Haute Horticulture used mostly all purple flowers:  phalenopsis orchids,

dendrobium orchids, cymbidum orchids and purple callas.  The bride chose an eggplant bridesmaid dress and asked that we that purple in the floral décor so as to bring in some of the wedding colors and to add pop to the white decor. The top of the baby grand piano had a heart shaped purple floral piece to accent it and bring in the bride’s purple color. The contemporary rotating centerpieces were a hit, very dramatic and modern. Most of the arrangements used clear and purple aqua-beads instead of water. The floral designer also used Accent vases with holes through the middle of the vases and did a bridge shape design with big magenta callas going through the middle of the vases. She adorned our white frame for the signature drink with orchids and put small vases of flowers on the bar shelves. 

In terms of lighting we used all 38-par cans with purple gels. Since we were limited on where we could put them because we were on a rooftop, we lit up the entrance and the sidewalls beside the entrance and the bar. We also used uplights on the white spandex behind the cigar roller. We used the existing lamppost on the rooftop for added lighting.

The rooftop of the Madison provides a clear view of the Mississippi River and the lighted Mississippi Bridge. It makes for a romantic setting and provided a great backdrop for our event. To add another visual element (which also served as entertainment) we baby grand piano enchanting our guests all evening. We did typical cocktail/dinner music to keep the guests entertained yet not so obnoxious that they couldn’t talk. The pianist plays for the Memphis Symphony Orchestra and is one of the most well known pianists in the city.

Last but not least, we decided since the guests would be enjoying the beautiful outside atmosphere, we would provide them with one more form of entertainment, a professional hand cigar roller (the only American English-Speaking Female Torcedor in the US . She came all the way from Nashville to provide us with her one of kind cigars and custom wrappers.

Since we wanted our guest to mix and mingle and not have to go wait in a buffet line we decided on all butlered passed appetizers.  The food was amazing: Fresh Seafood Ceviche; Mini Puff Pastry Encrusted; Sesame Infused Shrimp Spring Rolls; Hand Breaded Chicken Strips; Miniature Crab Cakes; Chunky Guacamole Dip inside of Avocado Shell with Tortilla Chips; Caprese Salad; Honey Chipolte Glazed Shrimp; Beef Tenderloin on Yeast Roll and Cheesecake Bites.  Obviously the Champagne Bellini Bar was a hit as well!

There is no doubt our goals were met and exceeded as the client wanted to extend the party for two additional hours!

Thank you to Annabella Charles Photography, Haute Horticulture, Mahaffey Tents & Party Rentals, Moonshine Lighting and Gerald Stephens for the successful event!