FRENCH FOLLIES

FRENCH FOLLIES

by | Apr 29, 2021 | R.S.V.P. SAN ANTONIO, 2021 May June, Parties

Can Can-Themed Party Honors Melanie Vaughan

 

By Jake Gaines      Photography by Jenna Beth Lyde, Parish Photography

THE SETTING: A Touch of Folly was the theme for An Evening in The Moulin Rouge recently, with pandemic protocol in place for honoree Melanie Vaughan, hosted by her parents, Karen and Curtis Vaughan. Guests arrived at The St. Anthony Hotel to discover massive red windmills in front welcoming them a la Moulin Rouge.

The party celebrated the Queen, Princess, and Duchesses named as part of the Court of Parisian Splendour, Fiesta 2021. The Fiesta celebration was cancelled last spring due to COVID-19, so the Vaughan family hosted a party in honor of the girls this April, post-vaccines.

THE STYLE: Everywhere guests looked, French flair was abundant. The event was produced by San Antonio-based Billinda Wilkinson of Wilkinson Rhodes Events, who designed and orchestrated the party with her team from Dallas, Las Vegas, and beyond. The balcony in the Anacacho Ballroom of the hotel was covered in red and black ostrich feather fans accented with black and white butterflies.

Rouge performers, brought in from Las Vegas, performed four choreographed dances throughout the evening worthy of the French theatrical landmark. The buffet stations were designed in the Art Nouveau style of the famous French architect, Guimard. The Peraux ballroom featured a stunning rotating red windmill bar while Roonie G, a video D.J., performed throughout the evening to keep the action going.

THE PURPOSE: Fiesta San Antonio, through the support of its participating member organizations, presents a safe, educational, annual celebration of the diverse heritage, culture, and spirit of San Antonio for its residents and visitors.

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EXOTIC FLAIR

EXOTIC FLAIR

by | Feb 28, 2020 | 2020 March April, Invite, San Antonio

Melanie Vaughan’s German Club Debutante Party In San Antonio

 

By Jake Gaines    Photography by Greg Harrison

 

A German Club debutante party, Evening of Chinese Splendor, honored Melanie Vaughan’s travels to different regions of China that have inspired her over the last two years. She traveled there as part of her operatic vocal training with voice instructor, Dr. Chai Wai Lee of Trinity University. She, with other vocal students, performed at Chinese universities in different cities and provinces in China.

As Melanie had immersed herself in Chinese culture, she was drawn to having a party theme that was very near and dear to her heart. During her travels to China, she grew as a person, and as a singer, and looks forward to returning in the future. Melanie wore a floor-length red dress based upon an authentic Chinese design with a modern, elegant flair. The gown, designed by Nicolas Vilalba, was wrapped with embroidered silk gold dragons imported from Hong Kong and had a traditional Chinese neckline embellished with red and gold crystals.

 

Melanie and her family’s vision for the occasion were brought to life by Billinda Wilkinson and India Rhodes of Wilkinson Rhodes, who created a Chinese ambiance  for the guests. Upon arrival at the Witte Museum, guests were greeted by a magnificent 12-foot long, hand-carved dragon, looming over the entrance guarded by two massive handmade gold Foo Dogs. Red Chinese lanterns dripped from the beams of the entrance as guests approached a 12-foot-high ice carving of a Chinese pagoda flanked on either side by Chinese Warriors, inspired by the Terracotta Army guarding Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum. Surrounding the ice Pagoda were holes drilled to hold shots of
Singapore Sling cocktails for the guests’ enjoyment, while the Lemon Grass Empress martinis were passed upon entry to the venue.

Inside, the venue was transformed to convey the feeling of a drawing-room in a Chinese Palace. Tables were draped with silk tablecloths and surrounded by ornate red chairs. Flowered fans framing red lacquer bars with Melanie’s name painted in Chinese lettering were among the carved dragons and perched atop custom-designed food stations that had curved gold tile roofs inspired by the palaces. Red and white Chinese dragons were also embossed onto the dance floor to add to the distinctive décor.

The honoree’s travels also inspired the food for the evening. Steamed lobster dumplings were served on bamboo trays, and poke bowls were filled with many culinary delights to choose from  such as Asian short ribs over noodles in a jar of smoke, sweet and sour baby back ribs, and spicy meatballs, with red chopsticks provided.  Chocolate and Mochi Xiao Long Bao were served for dessert with milkshakes of ginger, green tea and mango passed for the guests’ pleasure, all of which were created by Cassandra Fine Catering.

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