A whimsical and glam Wonderland garden, with subtle touches of golf inspiration, made for an over-the-top opening night at Fairmont Scottsdale Princess for this year’s Waste Management Phoenix Open.

Inspiration
The design inspiration began with the 2010 Tim Burton film, “Alice in Wonderland,” and evolved into a flirty and enchanting theme. The designer, Amy Helsing of Dream Studio Productions, worked closely with Kevin Schillig, chairman of the Phoenix Open party, to create entertainment that was interactive and stimulating to all the senses. Every few feet, a new vignette awaited guests and baited them to interact. Actors dressed as movie characters, including the Mad Hatter and Alice herself, engaged guests in real life, as well as through plasma TV’s hung from the ceiling.

Grand Entrance
Guests entered the space through a full-scale, three-dimensional oak tree that included the Phoenix Open logo embedded in the bark. Then, they’d take a trip down a Phoenix Open-inspired “rabbit hole,” which showcased video of past tournaments and golf memorabilia. Lovely Alice-costumed servers greeted guests with green cocktails which contained a pewter wine charm and a tag that read, “Drink Me.” Next, guests stepped through a 12-foot tall carved keyhole that served as the entrance to the main tent, where more magic awaited.