SWAPS ball

the challenge

After 9 happy years at Old Billingsgate, The Swapsball committee decided to up sticks in 2008, to take the ball back to its original home, Grosvenor House. They have partied hard over the last few years, with themes including Traders of the Lost Ark in 2004 or the genius Deal Another Day of 2007. This year however the brief was specifically no film themes, they wanted to keep it ‘classic and simple', but they still wanted that always longed for WOW factor of previous years.

our thinking

The 20 strong SWAPS committee asked us to design the entire concept of the party for them and present it to them in the style of a complete walk through from start to finish. Our in-house designers got their thinking caps on fast and came up with some great styling ideas, that would enhance the original features in the Great Room of the Grosvenor, but also inject some life into it. Our starting point for the look was the entertainment during the reception. Our designer fell in love with the images of Roxy Velvet and her birdcage show which was suggested to us by our production team, Full Circle. This started in the theater-style draped tunnel we built for guests to enter the ball room through. We drew inspiration from the mirror columns already in the room and used mirror plinths for fantastic floral arrangements and installed a mirror fascia to the main bar. We had chaise lounge seating areas flanked by gold-sprayed statues and more birdcages, beautifully dressed with roses and glittery birds. The backdrop to the stage was originally designed with the infamous Amy Winehouse's stage set in mind as per the Grammys and we actually ended up using the drapes from the recent Sugarbabe's tour, which looked incredible. The two highly important screens either side of the stage were dressed with cinematic style screen surrounds and we built a set of enormous pea lit circular steps central to the stage. We managed to get the committee to agree to a mirror dance floor, which finished off the look perfectly.

our solution

The event was a resounding success and the client commented that it was the best they have ever seen The Swapsball look. Our ever-willing production team did us proud and after our in-house designer Ben Rakison had finished making final touches, we were all ready to go for the guests arrival ahead of schedule. Even in these uncertain times in the city, the 1000 city worker guests still managed to exceed their fundraising target for Capital Radio's Help a London Child in the auction which was great news for this crucial cause.