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Whether planning for a high-power political fundraiser or a star-studded
gala opening, Bronson van Wyck is the party planner celebrities and
newsmakers turn to make their event spectacular. With his old-
fashioned manners and iconoclastic dress sense, Bronson's trademark
flair for the dramatic creates parties that are elegant, polished and
occasionally theatrical. His party planning prowess comes from
combining big-name clients and his down-home roots. With his colorful
history as a protocol aide to American Ambassador Pamela Harriman in
Paris and set designer for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine in Los Angeles,
Bronson brings his unique artistic panache to his boutique event design
and production company, Van Wyck & Van Wyck in New York City.
Bronson has helmed notable events for clients such as Mercedes Benz,
Chanel, and Bulgari, as well as and the Heinz, Rockefeller, Ford, and
Bush families. |
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SETTING THE SCENE: With warm waters and pristine beaches, Cabo San Lucas on the tip of Baja California is the perfect combination of
Mexican hospitality and laid-back colonial style. Bring the beach to your
own backyard by suspending paper lanterns from trees wrapped tightly
in twinkling lights. To get your guests in the beach frame of mind, set up
beach-inspired cabanas poolside, on the lawn or along the sand. Create
the perfect table setting with turquoise raw silk tablecloths, terra cotta
plates, and amber glass goblets filled with your favorite St. Francis wine.
Reinforce the party's beach party atmosphere by clusters of clear glass
hurricanes with white pillar candles, seashells, sand and starfish on the
table runner, interspersed with a mix of exotic fruits such as guava, red
and green chiles, miniature plantains, jícama, mamey or papaya. Welcome friends with a glass of cool, crisp Chardonnay served on rattan trays and
get the party started!
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SETTING THE SCENE: The Hamptons for me conjures the
quintessential New England beach scene. To evoke the easy elegance of
the Hamptons, set-up large navy blue and white ticking striped
umbrellas on the beach complete with blankets and pillows. To entice
and welcome your guests to the beach, create a pathway with clear glass
hurricanes and pillar candles, tiki torches, or brown bag luminarias. At
the end of the pathway provide flip-flops and hats along with pitchers of
Chardonnay and let guests help themselves to a glass of wine as they
enter the party. I find that the more interactive the theme, the more
memorable the event becomes. Using locally inspired materials on the
table is one of the best ways to celebrate the party theme. For the
Hamptons inspired table, use natural burlap underneath white hemstitch
linen, cobalt blue glass goblets for wine, and centerpieces of miniature
sunflowers, mint, thyme, or rosemary. Make it easy for guests to linger
after dinner by setting up dark rattan outdoor furniture with white
cushions and blue and white woodcut print throw pillows to create
"lounges" for your guests to relax on the beach and watch the sun set. |
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SETTING THE SCENE: As the muse for Renoir, Van Gogh and Cezanne, Provence is a land of rugged mountains, sea cliffs and rolling valleys.
Invite your guests to Provence by handwriting the menu on an antique
mirror. Help imbue your event with Provence by draping a piece of
beautiful vintage striped ticking fabric over the guests' heads if outdoors
or use it as a table runner. Capture the soft hues of Renoir's paintings of
Provence through the table setting by seating guests at a rustic wooden
table with creamy stone colored plates, green leaf salad plates, and
emerald green wine goblets. Serve all the wine on the table and allow
guests to pour for themselves in the relaxed Provencal style. Flowers are
one of the best ways to evoke the party theme. Evoke Van Gogh's Still
Life: Vase with Twelve Sunflowers by creating overflowing centerpieces
containing a variety of golden flowers (black eyed Susan's, marigolds, and
sunflowers) in green glass bottles, and a mixture of zinc and ceramic pots
and vases. As a final touch, tie a nosegay of fresh or dried lavender to the
back of each chair and rub then place a single sprig on each napkin. |
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