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THE FANTASIA EXPERIENCE WITH AMIE BONE FLOWERS

Step into a realm where Greek gods reign supreme, and imagination knows no bounds. Fantasia 3, an extraordinary event organized by visionary florist Amie Bone and Cranberry Blue Events, transported us all on a mesmerizing journey where floral installations, immersive entertainment and Greek mythology merged into one at The Dairy, Waddesdon.

Guests were welcomed into an enchanting underwater world, followed by a gala dinner in the ethereal splendour of heaven, and later revelled in the fiery depths of hell. Fantasia 3 left us all spellbound.

We were fortunate to relive the magic on a second night at the Butterfly Ball, the annual fundraising gala for the charity Caudwell Children.

As a live event artist, it was a real privilege to be part of this prestigious event and capture the splendour through my eyes with my paintbrush. Join me on a journey as I recount the magic of, sharing insights, anecdotes, and reflections on this unforgettable experience that blurred the lines between fantasy and reality.

Fantasia is the ultimate 3 day floral and event design masterclass experience, culminating in the most extravagant gala dinner for VIP guests and partners from around the globe. On 21 March 2024 guests gathered at the Dairy Waddesdon for an immersive gala dinner to celebrate the finale of Fantasia 3 and these are the different realms we travelled through:

A MYTHICAL UNDERWATER WORLD

A colourful underwater world with floral arches, candles and statues, all expertly lit by @luminaire_events.

Upon arrival, guests were transported into a magical underwater wonderland, where they enjoyed delicious canapés and cocktails. Following this colourful reception, they were guided through the garden to admire the seating plan, before settling into their seats for the gala dinner and more spectacular entertainment.

WE DIED AND WENT TO HEAVEN

The main gala dinner was held in a beautiful marquee, which had taken JB Marquees two weeks to build. A majestic Pegasus gracefully pranced at the marquee entrance, its wings spread wide, creating that perfect Instagram moment.

A huge team of exceptional suppliers had come together and through sheer devotion and craftsmanship created the unachievable, from a ten-tier cake to captivating performances, bespoke candles and giant Greek statues, it was a feast for the senses.

This impressive ten-tier cake was created by the talented @hallofcakes1 and the lovely stationery was designed by @print.smith

DANCING IN THE FIERY DEPTHS OF HELL

Michelle Gainey from @lemiga upon receiving her painting:

I will treasure this! – Michelle Gainey from Lemiga

No celebration is complete without an after-party that lasts into the early hours. We braced ourselves as we descended into the underworld, where cocktails flowed freely and the doomed danced as if their very existence depended on it!

DRESS CODE

Guests fully embraced the Greek mythology dress code and so did I. Sian from Shimmering Ivory embellished one of her beautiful couture gowns especially for me, adding gold embroidery and heavenly ‘shoulder pads’ to make me feel like a goddess. Lisa Griffiths styled my hair to perfection and with my golden tiara I felt like a princess ready for the ball.

My videographer @georgina.nix.media also wore a white @shimmering_ivory outfit and Melanie from Cranberry Blue looked radiant in her gold dress and halo crown.

There were so many fantastic costumes, and it was simply impossible to feel overdressed.

DRESS FITTING, FIT FOR A PRINCESS

The dress fitting at Sian’s design studio in Hertfordshire. My mum was a tailor and had a large studio, so I felt very much at home.

During my dress fitting with Sian Hughes-Cooke from Shimmering Ivory, we explored various ways to embellish this exquisite wedding gown. I was particularly drawn to the idea of incorporating gold, leaf-shaped embellishments to complement the Greek mythology theme.

Sian’s craftsmanship was exceptional, and it felt the dress was made just for me. Initially I was anxious about wearing such a large and exclusive gown. However, the moment I slipped it on, I felt a million dollars. The feedback on both nights was phenomenal and I can’t wait for the next opportunity to wear a beautiful couture dress again!

WHEN FANTASY MEETS PHILANTROPHY

This was the first time Fantasia collaborated with Caudwell Children’s Butterfly Ball – where fantasy met philanthropy. It was the charity’s most ambitious gala to date. The event raised a staggering £1,221,123 where every penny will go towards changing the lives of disabled and autistic children across the UK.

Caudwell Children aims to make life fair for disabled and autistic children, so that they have the choice, opportunity, dignity and understanding they deserve. It was founded in 2000 by billionaire businessman and philanthropist John Caudwell who made his fortune with Phones 4U.

I painted John Caudwell and his partner Modesta Vzesniauskaite

John Caudwell, Founder of Caudwell Children said: 

My quest is to help every child in the UK. That is my drive, to raise as much money as I can.

Lucy, thank you for your investment into the crazy world of Fantasia 3. I am humbled by your commitment and I am proud to partner with you. – Amie Bone

Shimmering Ivory – who designed my dress and my assistant’s outfit- donated a bespoke dress for the charity auction. It was part of the Luxury Ladies Package, which raised £30,000 for Caudwell Children.

I painted John’s children: Libby Morgan in red, Scarlett Caudwell-Burgess in white and Jacobi Caudwell.

Where do I even begin to say thank you for the labour of love that fantasia 3 has been 💗 – Amie Bone

LIVE PAINTING

I attended Fantasia 2 back in 2021 and I was absolutely spellbound by the entire experience. Upon returning to my studio, I was inspired to paint Amie Bone alongside planner Russel Bruce, as well as Amie with her husband, surrounded by thousands of red roses. Amie was delighted with her paintings.

When I learned that Amie and Cranberry Blue would be organising Fantasia 3, I was keen to capture the magic live this time, as opposed to painting in my studio. I was absolutely thrilled when they responded with the news that I would be an official partner. What an amazing team to work with!

On the first night, I focused on painting guest portraits for the American VIPs, who had enjoyed a week filled with English-themed events at Four Seasons London and Hampshire. I was inspired to incorporate as much of the floral beauty into each portrait as possible. While I had painted flowers many times before, I felt the spectacle of Fantasia 3 really elevated my work. It was so much fun!

I had this vision to portray each guest as a god or goddess, encouraging them to take on more extravagant poses when we were capturing the reference footage. It was a unique opportunity for me to take on a playful and creative approach, which I of course fully embraced.

BEHIND THE SCENES

Let me give you a little insight into some of the preparations to create all the wonderful detail and splendour.

I wanted to enhance my plain, gold tiara so I spray painted miniature animals gold, and with the help from my jeweller friend Nici Simon, we attached the creatures securely to the frame. I was very pleased with the result and importantly, it was comfortable to wear until 3am!

The after party was held in the fiery depths of hell, where the DJ played tunes in a custom-made three-headed booth. Isn’t the transformation fantastic and I particularly liked the red roses that were suspended upside down from the ceiling.

Each realm was meticulously planned and designed months in advance. I wanted to make sure that my wooden easel would blend seamlessly in the heaven setting. I opted to paint the legs of my easel white, and the talented florists working at the event adorned the top part of my easel with foliage and silk flowers. I couldn’t have been happier with the outcome, and I am glad I went the extra mile. The devil is in the detail.

HIGHLIGHTS

THE DAY I MET A MERMAID IN A BATHTUB

My personal highlight was meeting a real-life mermaid in the bathtub in the ladies’ toilets. She greeted every surprised guest as they entered the room as she handed out fortune bubbles. Our quiet chat was rudely interrupted by two loud pirates who had come from the gents to say hello and cause mischief. Of course, it was all part of Elan Artists immersive entertainment and for me, this is what Fantasia is all about. Expect the unexpected and be entertained.

The day I dressed up as a princess and met a mermaid in a bathtub.

WORLD CLASS MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT

Elan Artists provided the music for both evenings and it was truly exceptional. My easel was positioned right next to the stage, so I enjoyed a perfect view. Music and ambiance really help me to get into my flow and every single act was simply superb. What a treat.

Because there is so much to take in, Fantasia can almost overload the senses. I felt incredibly fortunate that we got to relive it on a second night, allowing more time to appreciate all the creativity and take in each magnificent detail.

Elan Artists provided incredible entertainment from start to finish, and I would like to relive it all again!

SHAKEN NOT STIRRED

Each night I had to drive back to the hotel, which sadly meant I missed out on sampling all the amazing cocktails the @thedrunkenjockeys were crafting.

REFLECTION

As an artist I always look for the next big opportunity to develop my creative skills and work with the best suppliers in the world. Fantasia 3 provided exactly that and more; it exceeded all expectations.

I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with such an amazing team and contribute to not one, but two unforgettable evenings. With over a year of meticulous planning and a dedicated team of over 100 individuals, we helped transform Amie’s vision into reality.

Life is all about dreaming big and this event was the ultimate escapism. I dressed up in a gown far bigger than my wedding dress, I had the chance to connect with so many wonderful people, while doing what I love. And let’s not forget the cherry on top: raising more than £1.2 million for charity and giving 500 lucky attendees a night to remember.

I appreciate that Amie needs time to recuperate after the Herculean effort of organising Fantasia 3, but when her exceptional, creative brain starts to conjure up ideas for Fantasia 4, I will be there in a heartbeat, ready to offer my services once more!