The Thrill From Brazil

Posted January 24, 2024

From the desk of DreamGroup Planner Chrissie Vides: Regina’s 10×8 Birthday (aka 80^th Birthday) was one of those events that will forever stay with me. It was a beautiful reminder that aging is inspiring and something to be celebrated. Regina, or as many call her, “The Thrill From Brazil” handed all planning and party decisions over to her 3 children to bring this incredible occasion together. I had such a blast planning this party with them and can’t wait for the next one! Here is the story of how The Thrill From Brazil came to life…

Assembling the Vendor Team:

The mission was to create a super lively and fun atmosphere filled with color and vibrancy, one that honored the spunky woman that Regina is. Being from Brazil, it was a no-brainer that there needed to be a Latin flare and some serious party vibes. Don’t let the number behind the birthday fool you as this was going to be a CELEBRATION!!! Being entrusted with the honour of bringing all the important pieces together in a luxurious fashion was a TOTAL dream. Not only could I flex my creative muscles, but was also able to call on so many unique vendors to be a part of this momentous affair.

Décor/Floral:

I knew Evan from Koncept Event Désign and Flowerz Inc. was the one for this job and he totally hit it out of the park! Regina had no idea of what to expect or what anything would look like and it was so much fun to witness her reaction when she walked into the Emerald Ballroom at the Fairmont Pacific Rim. She absolutely LOVED it!

Entertainment:

A huge point of interest for this party was the music. I knew it needed to be spot-on and appropriate for the crowd. Having worked with Julio Montero from VanCuba a few times in the past, and having experienced his Cuban Salsa class firsthand, I knew he would have the right connections for this celebration! And he did! Julio introduced me to the Julio Avila Cuban Band (yes there are two Julio’s in this story).

From the first video I watched of the band I knew they would be a hit. They were the perfect fit and people remained on the dance floor all night long! Julio Montero was our hype man for the night and got the ladies (and gents) out on our festive floral wrapped dance floor for some mini Salsa dancing lessons to get everyone in the mood and feeling confident – the Julio x2 combo was pure magic!

During the Brazilian themed Churrasco Style dinner, served by the Pacific Rim, we surprised guests with a dazzling performance by the magnificent Samba Fusion. Guests jumped to their feet when the dancers entered the ballroom. Whether you could dance Samba or not it was impossible to stay seated during this performance! Following the show, the girls welcomed guests to the dance floor to continue the party. I have been blessed to work with Samba Fusion before and would highly recommend them for any event – Brazilian themed or otherwise as they are unforgettable in any capacity.

Photography:

Chris from Butter Studios was our photographer. He captured so many amazing moments and details throughout the night. We had an incredible floral backdrop which he used for guest portraits and before they left for the night, everyone was gifted a print out. Always great to work with Chris and team!

Signage:

Amari from Making Memories with Stationery killed as she always does with the signage for Regina’s party. Using acrylic pillars for our welcome signs and seating chart, she brought a unique elegance that was most definitely a statement all on its own!

Dessert:

During the planning process we were looking for wow factors at every corner – why have one wow factor when you can have several? One of those wow factors was the almost one meter high decadent cake created by one of my faves, Tanya from Le Gateau Bakeshop. We topped the cake with as many candles as we could fit! So glad we didn’t set off the fire alarm at the Pac Rim. That would have been a different kind of memorable! Tanya also created a luxurious desert table spread to die for! Finally, she created individual cakes that were miniature versions of Regina’s ginormous cake for guests to take home with them. It was an impressive way to send guests off!

As we wanted to end the night with one more jaw-dropping moment, I had suggested we work with Cary at Paintertainment to create a South American dessert themed moment for us and she exceeded expectations. We incorporated our Peacock Beauty — half Peacock half Lady — into the dessert service by stocking her skirt with chocolate waffle fruit cones. She was a delicious sensation!

The Thrill From Brazil was a night to remember and one for the books!

Regina, I aim to be as vibrant, energetic and stunningly beautiful as you are when I celebrate my 80^th birthday (I also hope to finally learn how to Samba dance like you by then lol). It was a privilege to be a part of this milestone occasion! I very much look forward to celebrating with you again at your 85^th! You are without a doubt the original “Thrill from Brazil”. Until we meet again!