Venetian Masquerade

For a milestone anniversary, we took over a 16th-century Palazzo on Venice's Grand Canal and hosted a strictly black-tie masquerade ball. Guests arrived by vintage wooden speedboats to a candlelit entrance where acrobats performed from the balconies.

The decor centered around heavy brocades, hand-blown Murano glass, and custom-made masks for every attendee. The mystery and theatricality of the evening were enhanced by a 'performance menu' where each course was introduced by a different operatic aria, making for a night of pure Venetian fantasy.