The New England Chapter of the World President’s Organization held its annual gala, this year dubbed the "Soirée Parisienne," on February 12 at the Langham Hotel.
Typically held around the holidays, the event was rescheduled this year, and its proximity to Valentine's Day led W.P.O. member Georgette Boucai and Denis and Associaties' Jane Denis to choose the City of Love—that would be Paris—as the theme. They brought in local design firm Art of the Event to create a Parisian experience.
The evening for 105 guests kicked off with cocktails at the hotel’s Esplanade, where Art of the Event's Teal Sallen and Arthur Wood created a French street scene complete with wrought iron fencing, a turn-of-the-century market cart, and art displays. Cancan dancers and a French mime from local entertainment company Banter and Antics greeted guests and roamed the space while live accordion music played in the background.
After cocktails, the guests moved to the Wilson Ballroom for dinner and dancing, where Moulin Rouge was the inspiration and red was the color of the night. Crimson fabric draped the walls, ribbed taffeta linens from Peterson Party Center draped the tables, and scarlet feathers topped the centerpieces supplied by New Orleans-based Fancy Faces. A black-and-white French film played silently in the back of the room, while DJ Mario played a mix of French songs throughout the night.
Just before entrees, the cancan dancers and mime burst into the room, pulled guests onto the dance floor, and taught them the cancan. “It was very festive, to say the least,” said Boucai. “Everybody had a great time.”
