by Olive Pea
This year’s TVE Teen Formal took place in Rancho, San Ramon on a sunny Saturday. It started at 7:00, right at that time when sun began to set. The gentle sunlight filtered through the glass windows and onto the navy blue backdrop covered in a twinkling layer of lights that mimicked the night sky.
This year’s theme for the Teen Formal was “Enchanted Forest”. Guests were checked in at the registration table, and as soon as they walked through the entry, framed by balloons, they were instantly transported into an enchanted realm full of wonder and magic. From the ceiling hung strings of purple, green, gold, and black balloons. Dark blue curtains and strands of lights and ivy trailed down the walls. Woodland creatures, mushrooms, and butterflies could be found if you looked closely at the tables and walls. Lights danced all over the walls and ceiling as music played from the DJ booth. People had their pictures taken at the Photo Booth with a backdrop depicting a whimsical wisteria arch with hanging lanterns that faded into the distance. A wisteria tree stood in a pot next to it to add some dimensionality to the photos.
The snack tables were filled with trays stacked with cookies, chips, popcorn, crackers, salami, cheese, vibrant fruit punch and lemonade in glass dispensers. Sprinkled between the snacks were various woodland creatures, flower and plant cuttings, candelabras, and small trees with glowing flowers. Behind the snack tables rose a brown, silky backdrop with vines and dried purple flowers suspended across its length. Green up-lights added an atmospheric green glow.
The DJ booth was located at the back corner of the banquet room, off to the side of the dance floor. Over the black tablecloth on the booth there hung a curtain of white wisteria. In the center of the room, three large, round tables were surrounded by numerous chairs. Each table centerpiece gleamed with the light of the glowing water lilies which floated in a pool of water surrounded by mushroom-strewn moss.
On one side of the room, a table was situated with a variety of games such as Jenga, checkers, chess, Uno, and other card games. Serving as a backdrop for the table, there was a navy blue curtain with ivy weeping down in wavy strands. On the long wall backing the dance floor, a dramatic, deep blue curtain covered the entirety of the wall from floor to ceiling. Twinkling lights, bundles of flowers, and ivy trailed all the way down the curtains, adding a touch of magic to the dance floor. Disco lights cast streams of dancing color all over the walls and ceiling, and one could hear snippets of conversation and laughter over the music as you walked through the crowds of dancing people.
The whole night was filled with enchantment and dancing, music and magic. Sadly, as is the case with all parties, the night came to an end. Before the guests departed, a group photo was taken.
This event will forever remain a treasured memory to us all, and this event would not have been possible without the efforts of the hard-working TVE leaders, as well as the many honorable volunteers. We are so grateful that you put in the time and effort to make this event come to life!
The Lighthouse 