For a certain kind of adult—or event planner—the allure of fairy tales retains its grip well beyond childhood. The whimsical, enchanted settings described in the classic stories have popped up at countless events over the years, with planners building enchanted forests, offering poison apple escort cards, and dressing greeters as footmen. Whether you have a budget that allows for an indoor teacup ride or one that affords a vase filled with peas, here's a look at ways to create a fairy tale-theme event.
In 2011, the Paris event included a fashion show with models sporting looks inspired by classic fairy-tale dresses. Flanked by the stage and bar, a 246-foot-long reflective runway ran the entire length of the tent and served as the site for the show.
At last year's Boston gala, tables had woodsy decorations and names inspired by fairy tales. Some guests, for example, ate dinner at the Thumbelina table.
For the Toronto company's 2009 holiday party, chef Domenic Chiaromonte of Match Restaurant created a fairy tale-inspired menu. The chef, known for his scientific flair, used unexpected ingredients like edible paper adorned with the Capital C logo to create themed crackers (to accompany mini servings of butternut squash soup) and edible silver sparkle to top mini lobster burgers with double brie. For dessert, Chiaromonte served pink chocolate Cinderella shoes, jelly belly popcorn, flower pot mousse, and chocolate cheesecake orbs.
At the Aladdin-themed fund-raiser, held in Boston in 2010, servers wore fezzes as they passed hors d'oeuvres.
As a nod to the poisoned apple in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, escort cards at the fairy tale-themed gala were calligraphy-printed cards attached to red apples. The event was held in Washington in November.
The 2009 event in Toronto had a "Once Upon a Time" theme. The cocktail reception included a teacup ride.
Projections of moving bubbles lit up the opening-night party for the Broadway production of The Little Mermaid in 2008.
To play up the Cinderella theme at the opera's 2010 gala in Toronto, organizers placed a white carriage outside the entrance to the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.
In 2010, Chicago's ballet company hosted a Cinderella-themed luncheon. Dessert was a dark-chocolate pumpkin filled with mousse and garnished with raspberries, hot-pink sugar, and a chocolate "XO."
The 2008 event also had a Cinderella theme. Guests entered on a pink carpet, flanked by trumpeters and two 8-year-old boys dressed as footmen.
At the tabletop design competition in Washington in 2010, Gloria Rhodes and Capital Party Rentals took the Princess and the Pea theme literally by placing peas and pea pods on the utensils and the menu.
