Knights on horseback from planning firm Relevents flanked the entrance to the tented reception area at Tosca Banquet Hall in Oshawa, about 50 minutes east of Toronto, as guests arrived for Durham College's and University of Ontario Institute of Technology's Legacy Gala fund-raiser. Inside, medieval greeters provided direction to the main event space and ladies-in-waiting passed hors d'oeuvres and showed guests to the silent auction space. Malabar provided the costumes. Donna McFarlane, UOIT's vice president of communications and marketing, was pleased with how the King Arthur's Court theme was received. "The knights on horseback, the costumed greeters—they had our guests clearly involved," she said. McFarlane worked with Stephanie Brooks, from event planning firm Relevents, to organize the annual philanthropic soiree.Drapes from Pandor Productions and Eventure, lighting from Custom Technical Services, and lush greenery from Downtown Forest combined to create a mysterious medieval forest atmosphere. Decor & More contributed with accent pieces such as suits of armour, Around the Table supplied gothic table linens, and Audrey's Flowers chipped in votive centerpieces. Other intriguing period touches included a harpist playing medieval music and a falconer, both from Relevents, with a two trained falcons.
From the reception tent, guests passed between a pair of faux brick pillars with a wrought iron gate into the large interior dining hall, dimly lit by candelabras filled with pastoral flowers and foliage from Designing Trendz. Chef Robert Marchand of Mondo Ristorante, a sister company of Tosca Banquet Hall, served a rustic menu that included duck-breast salad with orange and grapefruit segments and citrus dressing, pumpkin and butternut squash flan, stuffed Cornish hen, and finally, chocolate pecan ganache. After the meal, the knights on horseback who had stood guard over the reception entrance performed a jousting match.
From the reception tent, guests passed between a pair of faux brick pillars with a wrought iron gate into the large interior dining hall, dimly lit by candelabras filled with pastoral flowers and foliage from Designing Trendz. Chef Robert Marchand of Mondo Ristorante, a sister company of Tosca Banquet Hall, served a rustic menu that included duck-breast salad with orange and grapefruit segments and citrus dressing, pumpkin and butternut squash flan, stuffed Cornish hen, and finally, chocolate pecan ganache. After the meal, the knights on horseback who had stood guard over the reception entrance performed a jousting match.