As a Winnipegger, hell as a Manitoban, we often dream of a getaway vacation to get a break from the harsh winter.  I don’t know, must be something about the minus forty-degree weather.  Unfortunately, I can’t say that concept was the actual inspiration behind this year’s theme, although it served as a spiffy one-liner throughout the night.  So, as I was saying, escaping to a tropical holiday destination during the winter is a common affiliation amongst most (my infliction seems to be year-round).  In prior years, we’ve visited Whoville, we stepped into a cabaret, we got shipwrecked on an island we questioned our morals at our saints and sinners event.  This year I wanted to be inspired by a place (a real place) I’ve never been before and take the guests there.  Upon looking at Cuba, there’s a lot of vibrant pictures and imagery to captivate your imagination.  None of them caught our attention as much as the Cuban landscape, in particular, the buildings.  That was the real inspiration behind our colour palette, the colour blocking and the menu (which was fabulous).  What’s compelling about picking a place as a theme that’s chock-full of culture is how many details you can manipulate.  We did everything short of cranking up the temperature.  With the fifth year wrapping up, feet sore, mind a little numb, I regained an appreciation for the process from concept to execution of event design.  But nothing soothes your aches like the feeling of pulling off a theme and closing the book on another event.

CUBA! A PASTEL EXPERIENCE

DESIGN STORY: 

FLOORPLAN: 

MENU:

TABLE DESIGN:

EMPANADA STATION:

FLORALS: 

BACKDROP:

Love you all, if you’ve reached here, I appreciate you more than you know… Talk soon