In choosing a theme for the Jocelyn Foundation's inaugural Belle Ball, event chair Candice Best, of Best PR Boutique, wanted to create an evening that would instantly capture the imagination of her guests. "Casablanca is something everybody can relate to," she said of the classic film that inspired the decor for the fund-raiser at the Fifth Grill and Social Club Thursday.
"We wanted to integrate something that had a little bit of French influence with the elegance of black and white," said Best, who is a member of the foundation, which was created in November 2005 to raise awareness of domestic violence and to honour the memory of Jocelyn Juriansz, a young woman who was murdered by her boyfriend earlier that year.Best worked with the foundation's organizing committee and Designing Trendz to create the feel of Rick's Cafe in the iconic film. Micki's created a wall out of draped Velon, courtesy of Regal Tent Productions Ltd., between the main floor foyer—where guests sipped champagne before taking the freight elevator up to the fifth-floor dining room—and the site of the after-party.
Black-and-white decor dressed the dining room with tables topped in damask fabric and white-feather centrepieces. The adjoining terrace, where guests listened to a performance by singing duo RyanDan during the cocktail reception, featured tealights hanging from tall golden trees, tealights in orange glass candleholders, and Moroccan tapestries.
"We looked at many venues. We wanted a great chef, that was criteria number one, and a space that allowed us to do dinner and the party in one location," Best said. The 68 dinner guests dined on a meal of Moroccan salad, tagine of lamb with merguez, tomatoes, and a duo of Moroccan chocolate and lemon tarts before joining the party, attended by an additional 150 guests.
The Moroccan decor continued in the Social Club, with red fabric draping the furniture and tealights placed throughout the room. Framed images of female silhouettes reminded guests of the reason for the fund-raiser and paid tribute to those impacted by violence against women.
"We wanted to integrate something that had a little bit of French influence with the elegance of black and white," said Best, who is a member of the foundation, which was created in November 2005 to raise awareness of domestic violence and to honour the memory of Jocelyn Juriansz, a young woman who was murdered by her boyfriend earlier that year.Best worked with the foundation's organizing committee and Designing Trendz to create the feel of Rick's Cafe in the iconic film. Micki's created a wall out of draped Velon, courtesy of Regal Tent Productions Ltd., between the main floor foyer—where guests sipped champagne before taking the freight elevator up to the fifth-floor dining room—and the site of the after-party.
Black-and-white decor dressed the dining room with tables topped in damask fabric and white-feather centrepieces. The adjoining terrace, where guests listened to a performance by singing duo RyanDan during the cocktail reception, featured tealights hanging from tall golden trees, tealights in orange glass candleholders, and Moroccan tapestries.
"We looked at many venues. We wanted a great chef, that was criteria number one, and a space that allowed us to do dinner and the party in one location," Best said. The 68 dinner guests dined on a meal of Moroccan salad, tagine of lamb with merguez, tomatoes, and a duo of Moroccan chocolate and lemon tarts before joining the party, attended by an additional 150 guests.
The Moroccan decor continued in the Social Club, with red fabric draping the furniture and tealights placed throughout the room. Framed images of female silhouettes reminded guests of the reason for the fund-raiser and paid tribute to those impacted by violence against women.
Photo: Gary Beechey for BizBash
Photo: Gary Beechey for BizBash
Photo: Gary Beechey for BizBash
Photo: Gary Beechey for BizBash
Photo: Gary Beechey for BizBash
Photo: Gary Beechey for BizBash
Photo: Gary Beechey for BizBash