The Brief
An Immersive Gatsby Party
For this unforgettable 18th birthday party, our client wanted to create a truly immersive Gatsby party experience that would transport guests straight back to the glamour and excess of the Roaring Twenties. Hosted at the family’s beautiful home in Richmond, Surrey, the brief was all about creating a luxury house party that felt theatrical, high-energy and completely over the top in the very best way.
With a guest list made up of close family and friends, the celebration needed to balance elegant styling with the kind of atmosphere that encouraged everyone to fully embrace the theme, dress up and become part of the experience themselves. One of the things families often ask us when planning milestone birthday parties at home is how to make the event feel big enough and immersive enough without losing the intimacy of hosting at a private residence. For this event, we used both the house and garden to create multiple party spaces, including a clear roof marquee installed beside the pool to seamlessly extend the celebration outdoors.
Our clients also came to us with two standout requests that immediately elevated the brief from a luxury birthday party to something guests would talk about for years afterwards. They wanted a temporary pool built specially for the event and, in true Gatsby fashion, they wanted a grand piano positioned on the roof of the house as part of the entertainment experience. Exactly the kind of ambitious, creative challenge we love bringing to life.
The Solution
The guest experience for this immersive Gatsby party began long before anyone stepped inside the marquee. As guests arrived at our client’s Richmond home, they were greeted by a stunning vintage Beauford Open Tourer positioned at the entrance to the property, instantly setting the tone for the evening ahead. We wanted the event to feel transportive from the very first moment, so alongside champagne served from a hand-carved ice bar, guests were welcomed by a cast of professional 1920s performers, including a vintage-style photographer capturing sepia portraits for guests to take home as keepsakes from the evening.
Because the party was hosted at the family’s private home, it was important that the experience felt immersive and theatrical without ever losing the warmth and intimacy that makes entertaining at home so special. One of the biggest concerns clients often have when planning luxury parties at home is whether the event will truly feel high-end enough for such a milestone occasion. Our focus was on ensuring guests felt as though they had stepped into another world entirely, whilst still feeling relaxed, comfortable and genuinely looked after throughout the night.
We transformed both the house and garden using layered art deco styling, dramatic floral installations and carefully designed lighting that evolved throughout the evening. Our Creative team introduced rich Gatsby references across the décor and furniture styling, whilst our Production team used lighting to create warmth, depth and atmosphere across every space. Rather than overwhelming the property, we carefully designed the guest journey so that each area revealed itself naturally as the evening progressed, helping the celebration feel exciting, elegant and full of discovery.
Our clients had also challenged us to create genuine showstopping moments that guests would never expect to see at a private residence. The first was a fully bespoke temporary pool installation, complete with floating flowers, a secure walkway and a performance podium built directly across the water. As guests entered the garden, our live feather performer delivered spectacular performances above the pool, creating an unforgettable sense of theatre and anticipation before guests even reached the marquee.
The second challenge involved maximising every inch of the property, including the roof itself. Working with specialist crews, we craned a full-sized baby grand piano onto the rooftop, where musicians later performed against the backdrop of the illuminated house and gardens. It became one of those unforgettable moments that guests simply could not stop talking about long after the party had ended.
Naturally, no immersive Gatsby party would feel complete without live Charleston dancers, who roamed throughout the clearspan marquee delivering impromptu performances and encouraging guests onto the dancefloor as the atmosphere shifted from elegant drinks reception into full late-night celebration. One of the things we carefully considered throughout the evening was pacing. Rather than delivering every wow moment at once, we layered entertainment and surprise moments throughout the night to keep guests engaged and continually discovering something new.
Finally, tucked away behind the marquee, we transformed a hidden corner of the garden into a pop-up outdoor cinema screening The Great Gatsby beneath the evening sky. Designed as a quieter space for guests to relax and recharge before returning to the celebrations, it provided a completely different atmosphere to the energy of the main party and perfectly rounded off an evening built around immersive storytelling, luxury hospitality and unforgettable guest experience.
