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Inside a Luxury Private Event At Hotham Hall

Client

Overview

Our client came to us with a simple yet ambitious vision: two days of unforgettable experiences for an exclusive guest list. They wanted a private celebration that balanced intimacy with spectacle — a black-tie dinner curated by a celebrity chef, followed by a chic garden party headlined by an iconic artist.

The venue? The stunning Hotham Hall Estate; a backdrop of elegance, scale, and character. From the beginning, we worked hand-in-hand with the estate’s team to transform its spaces into a canvas for luxury, style, and seamless guest experiences.

A brass band dressed in white shirts and beige pants marches outdoors at a strategic conference, playing drums, trumpets, and a sousaphone, with tents and greenery visible in the background. A group of musicians in formal attire perform on a round, candlelit outdoor stage at night, creating an ambiance as elegant as a strategic conference, with a pianist, singer, and string ensemble surrounded by glowing white candles. A male singer in a dark suit passionately performs on stage with a microphone, surrounded by band members and dramatic stage lighting, as if energizing the crowd at a strategic conference. A band of four men in matching pink suits performs outdoors at a strategic conference, each standing on a circular platform amid lavender bushes, playing upright bass, drums, guitar, and saxophone in a garden setting.

The Challenge

The brief was as clear:

  • Day 1: A private dinner for 48 VIP guests, designed to feel intimate yet extraordinary, with a Michelin-starred edge.

  • Day 2: A garden party for 200+ guests, culminating in a show-stopping performance from a legendary entertainer.

This wasn’t just an event. It was an experience that had to feel deeply personal, run with flawless precision, and leave memories that would last for years.

Our

Solution

We knew this called for a truly bespoke approach. Instead of a standard project process, we took a more collaborative, hands-on route, swapping digital decks for physical mood boards and hosting creative workshops with the client. Together, we shaped the event’s look, feel, and flow with luxury at its heart.

Design & Branding

  • Created a bespoke logo and event identity, weaving it through every touchpoint.
  • Elevated the atmosphere with fabric draping, large-scale screens, and lighting design, ensuring an immersive and cohesive aesthetic throughout.

Entertainment & Talent

  • Secured James Martin to craft and present a three-course dining experience for Day 1.
  • Booked Rick Astley to headline Day 2 with a private performance guests will never forget.
  • Coordinated a full day of non-stop live music in different locations throughout the venue.

The Magic in the Details

  • A week-long build involving production specialists, designers, and technicians.
  • Flawless coordination of AV, staging, catering, artist management, and guest experience.
  • Carefully timed surprise moments that elevated the experience at every turn.
A chef in a white shirt and black apron speaks to seated guests at an elegant, ornately decorated dining event with candles and floral arrangements, creating a refined atmosphere reminiscent of a strategic conference dinner. Four women in matching light blue dresses perform outdoors at a strategic conference, three playing violins and one on cello, standing before a building with large windows and decorative topiary bushes.

Why

It Worked

 

The client’s vision was brought to life exactly as imagined, with glowing feedback from guests who described the weekend as nothing short of unforgettable.

Day 1: Black-Tie Elegance

Guests stepped into the venue transformed with candlelight and live music. They enjoyed champagne and canapés to the strains of a pianist and string ensemble before being seated for James Martin’s bespoke dinner. Between courses, an opera duo delivered breathtaking performances, creating a perfect balance of intimacy and grandeur.

Day 2: A Garden Party to Remember

The afternoon came alive with a series of live bands, Mediterranean-inspired dining in a marquee, and surprise moments woven throughout. As the evening unfolded, a brass band parade guided guests to a purpose-built courtyard stage — where Rick Astley took the spotlight for a once-in-a-lifetime private concert.

Explore More

Want to see how we create an unmissable event? Explore our event services or get in touch with our expert event team.