California Crown 2024|Santa Anita Park
California Crown itself is witnessing greatness… the beautiful Thoroughbred horses, the adrenaline of the race, and all against a panorama of a sunny California setting. Now California Crown with the Delilah Trackside VIP experience is just that, an experience. It’s a day filled with heart-pounding Thoroughbred horse racing, lively music, an array of food choices and interactive activities, and so much more. Having grown up just 10 minutes from Santa Anita Park, I was honored when I received the phone call to help produce this top-notch event. They explained to me how they were trying to innovate the event to engage younger attendees and overall “set the stage for a new era in racing and entertainment.” I was in! Big time! And did they just say that Beyoncé will be a guest?!
The Wife of the Party handled design and production for the Delilah Trackside VIP experience, curating a design concept that included custom furniture to a one-of-a-kind extravagant entrance. Additionally, we curated the VIP décor for a speakeasy used by Beyonce and Sir David. It was a full week of load in, long 20-hour days, and constant creative pivoting, but it was all well worth it. The final look was astounding.
Mesmerizing emerald carpeting – even on the staircase – paired with draping fit for royalty, leading to a captivating walkway encompassed with grand hedges making guests feel as if they were escorted through their own private aisle. Blush-pink chairs and couches, gorgeous step-and-repeats lined with fresh blooms so that partygoers and celebrities could document the day, and thousands of florals in white and blush pink arranged in artistic creations that were heavily sprinkled throughout the space. Tropical-inspired trees and additional floral arrangements suspended overhead with complementary lanterns bedecked areas meant for mingling, such as the Casa Azul sponsor bar. Near that, there was an exhibit that showcased renderings and hand-drawn portraits of horses, jockeys, and the track, along with a collection of derby hats in a range of hues for a nice pop of color. It was perfect for a photo moment as a keepsake of the fun day.
We even used vinyl to line the interior of the elevator to market the motif of the California Crown in an impactful way that onlookers saw, but wasn’t in-your-face cheesy. (We recommend this idea to bride and grooms who might be hosting in a hotel – show off that custom monogram!) As guests were ushered to the alfresco space, they were introduced to even more spectacular elements, such as a pink-and-white flower wall that was nothing short of breathtaking. We brought in stylish furniture in muted shades for this space and paired the pieces with mirrored tables, creating the perfect effect of a sophisticated, but inviting and comfortable setting. It definitely made a lasting, lovely impression. Indoors, on this side of the park, there was incredible, large checkered flooring, so we were inspired by the tiles and also thought it would be nice to incorporate tangerine and red hues in the flower design. It was a breathtaking contrast and seeing it all come together was quite magical.
Revelers placed their racing bets at easy-to-use touchscreens, ate yummy bite-sized fare such as lobster salad in a mini cone, listened to the live band – who was dressed in dramatic fashion and set an energetic tone, watched the feathered dancers, and took in the breathtaking ambience of it all. It was a wonderfully memorable day at the track and we are so proud of the work we did at Santa Anita Park. Stay tuned for more in 2025!
