A neon-infused Parisian street scene set in La Cappella and the Upper Mar Vista patio became the backdrop for a unique bat mitzvah celebration.
“Working with professional event planners, our team has carried out a host of party motifs,” said Amanda Reeve, the Resort’s director of meetings and special events. “Street festivals, masquerade balls, Kentucky Derby parties, silent discos, chef ’s dinners and re-creations of anniversary celebrations… When a client has a vision, we do whatever it takes to make it happen.”
The onsite events team has, over the years, explored every nook and cranny of the Resort’s vast acreage, with an eye to creating unique spaces for private social events. The golf pavilion, for example, offers a distinctive venue for groups in the “active” category. Private dining rooms hidden inside the restaurants are ideal for corporate dinners, graduation celebrations, birthday parties and baby or bridal showers. Multi-bedroom Villas offer intimate settings for such family events as showers, reunions and celebrations of life.
Many events begin out of doors and then move inside for an “afterglow” event. Recent themes include a lavish Persian teahouse, an ice luge for tequila shots and a Brazilian snack bar serving favorites like pão de queijo, or cheese bread.
“When a client has a vision, we do whatever it takes to make it happen.” — Amanda Reeve, The Resort at Pelican Hill
With up to 80 banquet staff members plus leadership, the Resort is staffed and trained to handle any type of gathering. “We have our own special events kitchen team as well as a dedicated pastry kitchen and garde manger, the refrigerated pantry where cold dishes are prepared and stored,” said Reeve. “Our event chefs have catered meals featuring virtually every type of cuisine, from halfway around the world to locally sourced specialties.”
The Resort also delivers on the many invisible elements that make an event look effortless, from lighting and audio-visual to flooring, linens, parking and check-in.
At a recent bat mitzvah, 150 guests entered a make-believe Parisian street café and gawked at a huge replica of the Eiffel Tower. The outdoor area was decked out in pink-and-white carpeting and chandeliers, and guests of all ages flocked to a crêpe station and browsed kiosks offering French macaroons, create-your-own bouquets, and fragrances. Teens hung out near the dance floor, plopping onto lounge furniture and interacting with the DJ to get the full “clubbing” effect.