A BARN- Mitzvah

As promised earlier this week....I wanted to feature my friend Mademoiselle D's fabulous Bar Mitzvah that she did recently for her son Devon.



She painstakingly worked for months on every last detail...for a truly special, fabulous, magnificent celebration...really there are no words...to describe how she transported us all for the evening!




You see my friend Dawn was raised on a farm in South Africa and she was able to celebrate her oldest son's bar mitzvah on the farm she was raised on there... someday I will have to share those pictures with you- simply incredible! This time, as co-owner of The Style Shack...she put her resources and creativity to work American style...

Here is the outside of the main barn for this occasion...

She wanted to recreate that " farm" aesthetic here in the States but she had to contend with the practicality of the locale (meaning close) for attending guests. She chose a lovely gentleman's farm that I featured in a blog post earlier this Summer. Click here to learn more about the farm.


As you entered the property from the parking lot....you were greeted by the cocktail area...




 and the bar....



Appetizers... Chicken Satay, Sesame Asparagus, and Mushroom Sushi Rolls were served...

The children partied in an adjacent barn called the Market Room which when not in use for private parties operates as an Organic Farmers Market...selling flowers and items grown on the farm.




Dawn thought of everything...a gourmet ice cream vendor delivered dessert, s'mores were made and tin treats of candy lined the tables in the Market Room for the children...the adults had a gourmet coffee vendor in attendance and a table of delicious South African candy, cakes and cookies...



I loved the use of succulents and antique elements and old wooden boxes available to set the scene! Mademoiselle D loves her succulents and has made me love them too!

I had an old seed bag in a grey weathered wooden frame that Dawn cleverly made into her seating chart for the evening....leaning against the Main Barn door as the adults entered for dinner...

Welcome to the decorated barn....




The flowers (designed by Dawn but put together by a local florist) were delivered and her creative table decor elements were stored in advance and while Dawn was busy entertaining her out of town guests at her home a few of us "barn mice" were busy setting the scene...

I loved all the attention to detail and how the colors all worked with the barn theme, the Fall Harvest, and yet had a subtle sophistication...not the usual orange, red, etc...Each guest had a moss framed place card. Dawn cleverly had brochures made that spoke of the flavor and colloquialisms of South Africa for a little "food for thought". We placed them on each place setting....

 

 

 

 

A view towards the West from the Market Room Barn...

 

 

Views as night fell...

 

Beyond the wonderful ambiance created by the setting itself and Dawn's careful planning of the decor....was all the warmth and love that filled the farm that night! We all laughed and got teary with the heartfelt speeches and watched the reunion of family members and friends who hadn't been all together in years....such a wonderful memory for everyone in attendance!