Originally Published by Spice News.
It was jukeboxes, Cadillacs and rockabilly everywhere when Opera Point Events and Event Planet teamed up to bring a 1950′s Happy Days themed event for a beverage company’s annual staff party for 270 people.
With a client this size of this one and the wide demographic of its employees, event organisers were put to the test developing a theme that would appeal to everyone.
“The 1950′s Happy Days theme combined fun and nostalgia, perfectly suited and appealing to staff members from different age groups and demographics, said Event Planet senior event producer, Tingan Emery.
Design highlights of the theme included a huge jukebox entrance, a custom black and white checkerboard floor, a bar straight out of the Happy Days diner complete with 1950′s memorabilia and classic movie star pictures, a hot pink Cadillac, a pink & silver streamer ceiling treatment and retro booth seating.
Cocktail specialists dressed as diner ‘bus boys’ served delicious cocktails such as the Soda Soda and the Shake Rattle & Roll in retro 50′s milkshake glasses.
Emery said attendees responded to the theme “with gusto” adding, “the scene was buzzing with Billy Holly, The Fonz, the T-Birds and whole bowling teams turning up for the party.”
The Opera Point Marquee was chosen both for its harbour front location and the ability the venue has to be completely transformed, said Emery. “That and our absolute confidence that head chef, Simon Sandall, would wield his creative magic to produce a top-line tailored menu that suited our theme.”
And what was on this tailored menu? Smoky BBQ pork ribs, hand breaded onion rings, jacket potatoes with creme fraiche, mushrooms & chives and mini doughnuts with a chocolate dipping sauce. Emery added that the made-to-order gourmet hot dog cart was also a huge hit for guests looking for a late night snack.
Guested were entertained by the very cool MC for the night, a hot pink sequin clad Big Bopper who kept the party moving and resident geek photographer wandered about snapping Polaroids of guests in the Cadillac.
“The roller-skating pink ladies were there to serve cocktails and encourage guests onto the dance floor,” said Emery, but no encouragement was needed, she added. “The guests were there to dance and dance they did, first to a sensational party band and then to the sounds of DJ Buddy, into the early hours of the night. “The evening was also filled with a rock’n roll dance competition and prize draws.
And as a souvenir of the evening, the last challenge for Event Planet was organising 270 pairs of hot pink and black Converse trainers, in the right sizes for each guest as a take home gift.