Guests arrived by Magic Carpets and Camels ready to support Open Haven
The gorgeous banquet event team Sher, Sarah and Nive
I love the enthusiasm with which dinner hosts throw themselves into their My Giving Table dinners. They each add their own unique and personal style, drawing on their own form of generosity, joy and giving, to make their events simply magical. So when my long time friend and amazing creative behind @SFH Designs Sarah Hutson registered to host a dinner, I was beyond excited and knew it would be a special night to remember. Sarah joined forces with fellow designer Sher Lo from @anannasa and Nive Kundar to create a most special evening with a fabulous traditional Persian Banquet.
The table was set for impact on Sarah's balcony, during Brisbane's big night of nights, River Fire. As the fireworks lit up the skies across the city skyline, on this beautiful balmy evening, we laughed and enjoyed the colourful surrounds, that these talents had created and styled for us. There were bright cushions and vibrant feathers, lamps and candles, vivid pictures and plants all carefully orchestrated to create an exotic oasis vibe, there were even sparkling galaxies projected on the ceiling. The table was abundant with colour and spectacle with layers of coloured fabric setting the scene for conversations of joy and kindness.
One guest was an oil sheik who flew in on his private flying carpet and several guests arrived on camels. The additional entertainment of Nicole Beasley ,sharing a hidden talent of card readings and the fruity Hooka pipe to be experienced, simply added to the exotic mystique of the evening.
It is always with some reflection on the women who will benefit from our coming together and sharing this dinner "party with a purpose", it seems that hearts are warmer and conversation kinder, as a result.
This beautiful, exotic Persian Banquet was a fundraiser for Open Haven. Open Haven help women regain their confidence and lives after leaving domestic violence and coercive control relationships. The fellowship and support that Open Haven offer at such a grass roots and personal level is powerful and the generosity of our hosts and guests is so appreciated, as it makes a tangible difference in the lives of these women.
After being welcomed with rose petal cocktails and feasting on the colourful abundance in the room we enjoyed humous and beetroot dip, compared and complimented each other on the wonderful costumes and were just so grateful to be there.
The room was filled with laughter and smiles all round.
The banquet continued with an incredible chicken dish that had been marinated in yogurt and secret spices overnight, rich and flavoursome lamb shanks cooked with delicious kidney beans and special vegetables as well as distinctive dried lemons (I need these on my shopping list), rice with nuts and pomegranate and flava beans. There was also a wonderful salad with fetta and pomegranate. Such wonderful new flavours to enjoy together.
There were delicious deserts of baklava and special fairy floss biscuits. All in all such a magical and joyful night spent in a spirit of generosity and love.
Thankyou Nive for sharing your amazing cooking and to Sher for all your designing and kitchen support and a huge thankyou to the incredible Sarah, who always creates so much love and joy with all she does and wherever she goes. You were an amazing team and together raised close to $1000, simply by hosting this lovely dinner, for Open Haven.
We were all blessed to be guests at your lovely #partywithapurpose.
My Giving Table are always looking for new generous hosts to share their homes with friends and raise valuable funds for the charities that strengthen our community. If you would like to know more please drop me a message or visit our become a host page. I will be happy to discuss how easy it is to host your own event with a purpose and share a little love and kindness with friends, while paying it forward to those in need. According to Sarah "fundraising dinners are the "in" thing now"
What would your My Giving Table dinner party look like and which charity would you choose? Right now is a great time to consider registering a dinner and go in the special host prize draw of a weekend on board a luxury yacht in the Whitsundays.
You can read about our amazing host prize here - https://www.mygivingtable.com.au/post/let-my-giving-table-float-your-boat
As usual big heartfelt thanks to our wonderful hosts and generous hearted guests, it was wonderful to spend the evening with you.
