It’s official! California is opening up again for in-person events and gatherings on June 15 and I couldn’t be more excited.
For some of us, this means the opportunity to finally gather with friends and family in the quiet of our homes. For others, well… It’s time to go all out.
Venues and vendors are ready for you and excited to welcome you back.
And, to help you with this, I’ve pulled together ideas from Shonda Rhimes breakout hit, Bridgerton.
Brace yourself, dear reader, as this show offers a feast for the senses.
Bridgerton-Inspired Elegant and Entertaining Event Ideas
Most event theme ideas offer guidance for designing one type of event. Bridgerton, the hit show produced by Shonda Rimes, offers a huge array of ideas for both casual and formal events… and just about everything in between. If you haven’t watched Bridgerton, it only takes about 15 minutes to get a feel for just how many ideas you can glean from the show to put into play for your event. Here, I’ll outline a few ways to use different elements from the show to provide inspiration for your event. In the linked blog post, I give you so much more about the events you can plan within these themes. So, Dear Reader, let’s get started.
Invitations, Place Cards & Menus
Look no further than Lady Whistledown’s Gossip sheet for inspiration here. Create tri-fold invitations or menus out of a stiff parchment and use a calligraphy font to keep your paper products in keeping with the style. You might also add a formal wax seal for a special touch.
Inspiration also comes from the feathers and flowers we see throughout the show. You can use fresh or dried flowers or tiny white feathers on place cards, menus or name tags.
Taking name tags a step further, think about adorning the name tags of employees or volunteers in their first year of service with a white feather at their first event. Dignitaries might have a red ribbon a la the invitation to take tea with the queen.
Music
The music from the show is absolutely divine and suitable for just about any occasion.
Imagine a string quartet playing the original score or the classical covers of modern songs. Songs like, Taylor Swift’s “Wildest Dreams,” Ariana Grande’s “thank u, next,” and Billie Eilish’s “bad guy” are a few of those covered on the show by the Vitamin String Quartet.
Whether you hire a string quartet or a DJ, the music from Bridgerton will provide the perfect atmosphere for your next picnic, gala, fundraiser, or cocktail party.
Clothing and Fabrics
The costumes! Oh my, the costumes. The beautiful fabrics used to make the clothing from the Regency Period in Bridgerton are luxurious and romantic. The great thing, is they can be adapted to almost any event. And, you can gain inspiration from these wonderful fabrics without hosting a costume party. Tablecloths, napkins, curtains, room dividers, throw pillows, area rugs, tents, stage drapes, and chair covers all turn into something special when made from or accented with the brocades, silks, satins, tulles, and organzas seen on the show. A simple picnic turns into a luxurious event when you replace the blue tarp canopy covers with organza or tulle, then weave wire lights through the fabric and add floral bouquets at the corners of the frame.
Entertainment
Bridgerton features one form of entertainment repeatedly throughout the show – opera. Yes, it’s music but as it is used as entertainment, I’ve included it here. Opera is powerful and intimate and makes a wonderful form of entertainment for the right event type. Of course, dancing is seen in almost every episode – if not every episode – and is a popular activity at any event. If you want to treat your guests to something special, surprise them with a quick ballroom dancing lesson or demonstration before opening the dance floor to all. While it only happens once, the contortionist entertaining Queen Charlotte is a memorable event and along with trapeze artists offer memorable entertainment for your guests as well.
