We are known for our outlandish parties. From glitzy galas to luxury brand events, festivals, engagements and of-course weddings – this is Hong Kong, and if you aren’t doing it glam, you aren’t doing it right. Welcome to a larger-than-life society scene where Gafencu meets the top men and women in the city, renowned for planning and producing truly opulent and buzzy soirées…
Styling Supremo
Bergé Studio, helmed by fashion designer-turned-event stylist Silvio Bergé, turns any and every fantasy into a reality. Bergé has planned and organised the biggest and plushest parties and fundraisers for the city’s elite. Recognised and recommended simply by word of mouth, the Swiss-born, Italian-educated event decorator has probably had more glamorous galas and extravagant celebrations credited to his name than anyone else in Hong Kong.
Although he parted from the fashion industry long ago, the flair of avant-garde designs has never left him, as evidenced by the artistic production values of any party under his direction – think tall, statuesque crystal candle holders, classic Baroque décor, lush foliage and sparkling details across the room. Bergé invariably spells big, bold and beautiful. “After three years of social unrest and distancing during the pandemic, our clients deserve to have their dreams come true – to have magic and a reason to be dressed to the nines,” he says.
Bergé recently added a new arm to the company; aptly named The Secret Room, it’s an exclusive and immersive thematic dining space that brings together luxury lifestyle, art and gastronomy. For this event stylist, money is never the focus of a plan, since “you can’t put a price on luxury experience”. He takes pride in delivering nothing short of the best on every occasion.
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Right Royal Occasions
A relatively new arrival to the scene is Jimmy Yu, founder and CEO of Royal Catering, a premium catering solutions company that teams personalised, innovative menus with lavishly decorated presentations. Offering a one-stop service, be it for a private dinner in a ballroom, a wedding on a remote island, or a large-scale corporate event for the likes of Cartier and Alexander McQueen, Yu and his team of experienced event coordinators take pride in conceptualising and then executing beautiful memories.
According to Yu, the party-planning business has flourished in recent years, driven by a desire for a unique experience for one’s guests and that ‘wow’ factor that transforms just another party into a memorable occasion. “This, alongside our passion for gourmet food and fine dining, really pushes us to think outside the box and get creative,” he says.
On average, a catered event complete with floor staff and a chef can start at HK$1,500 a head, while a more formal sit-down dinner will cost upwards of HK$8,000 per person. However, the work that Yu and his passionate staff offer behind the scenes cannot be quantified in monetary terms – for them, going above and beyond the norm is all part of an evening’s work. “I have a very supportive team who are excellent at dealing with any unexpected crises,” says a grateful Yu.
“On one occasion, the cross-harbour tunnel we were using to transport the equipment for an event was completely blocked after a sudden accident. With no other way through, the team offloaded everything from the vehicles and hand-carried it all by train and ferry, while liaising with strategic restaurant partners nearby the venue to help us deliver everything on time.”
Yu also connects with some of the most gorgeous and breathtakingly idyllic (and sometimes hidden away) venues the city has to offer. Even a celebration dinner on a private island without electricity or water supply is no barrier for Yu. Armed with a portable generator, Royal Catering pulled off a sumptuous beachside sit-down meal, cooking and serving four courses on the spot. “We measure our success by the smiles of the guests as they enjoy the party,” shares Yu – which speaks to the quality of service they produce.
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Gourmet Service
Butler is another event production company providing a bespoke service for all one’s party needs and desires. Novelty is their primary focus, as well as delivering every aspect of its service with finesse, but perhaps it is the food they whip up that is most outstanding. Distinguished by an exquisite balance of artistry and gourmet mastery, their custom-designed menus and Art Deco-style presentation results in gorgeous (and delicious) edible art.
Advancing from humbler beginnings, when they would provide canapés for parties of no more than 50 people, Butler can now expertly cater large-scale celebrations of 200-plus guests as well as branded events for leading luxury clients like Gucci, Loro Piana, Audemars Piguet and Salvatore Ferragamo, to name but a few. Costs can range from as little as HK$500 to HK$5,000 per head, which even at the higher end of the scale is a small price to pay when you are seeking perfection. While every occasion and client are different, calling for quirkiness or glitz, Butler oversees every step of the preparation and planning with the utmost care.
Beyond beautiful food, the company also provides services for every party-planning requirement imaginable. Researching and designing unique and innovative cocktails, decoration, packaging, labelling, table setting – even setting up a remote kitchen – this all falls neatly under Butler’s purview, ensuring that each festivity is one of a kind.
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(Feature image photo credit: NextWave Yachting)