For Brooke’s Bat Mitzvah, she wanted to let loose and go wild- literally. When her family settled on the Bronx Zoo as the venue for the big day, The Event of a Lifetime’s Melisa Imberman knew it would be a huge undertaking to transform the zoo into a glamorous party space. So she, Brooke, and Brooke’s mom skipped the monkey business and got straight to work turning the Bronx Zoo into the Brooke Zoo, branding it “Wild About Brooke”.
Starting with the rustic open air Dancing Crane Pavilion, walls were created with piping and drapes. The final enclosed space was an unrecognizable and intimate area- even the concrete ground was laid with plush and cozy carpet, creating the perfect blank canvas for the Best time of My Life.
Before & after
Before the party began, Brooke and her family were escorted around the zoo on a cart to visit some of the animal residents, brandishing their on-theme purple umbrellas to stay dry from some passing showers.
As guests arrived, they were directed to the party space by branded signs, opting to either be carted to the party or enjoy a scenic walk through the sprawling zoo.
Entering the party, guests stepped into a whole new world adorned with lush greenery and Brooke’s signature purple and silver color scheme. The immaculately decorated dance floor was like a luxury jungle paradise, complete with wild peacocks roaming free around the space.
As adults enjoyed hors d’oeuvres overlooking the Flamingo Pond, kids settled into the VIP lounge to play pop-a-shot and choose from a variety of temporary tattoos. Adults and kids alike were delighted to get the party started by taking a spin on the iconic Bronx Zoo carousel.
After cocktail hour, the dance floor was officially opened, inviting guests in for a night of wild dancing and celebration. Signature drinks for both adults and the under-21s had party animals of all ages feeling fierce.
Brooke’s theme could be seen subtly placed throughout the party, from the beautiful floral bouquets to the animal print embossed tablecloths and pleather lounge furniture. With the swing photo booth, guests captured the magic of the night and took home unforgettable memories!
Towards the end of the night, black lights came on and the tamed party became a wild neon fantasy party, complete with glowsticks, glowing temporary tattoos, cotton candy, and more.
Kids collected their swag in the form of a super soft sweatshirt and sporty bag. As guests awaited the shuttle, they were surprised with a little something extra- a “Starbrookes” station and branded reusable cup to be filled with their favorite drink for the ride home. Everyone also got a brownie cookie, aptly named a Brookie, to enjoy on the way home.
After partying hard all night long, visitors to the Brooke Zoo couldn’t stop talking about the elephant in the room: how fantastic the celebration had been! For the Bat Mitzvah girl, it was truly the wildest night of her life, hands (or paws) down.
Photography by Chad David Kraus
