Swan Ball Auction Party attendees bet on a good time at event benefiting Cheekwood
As the sun set behind the elegant Belle Meade Country Club last week, the brightly dressed guests arriving for the Swan Ball Auction Party, which benefits Cheekwood Estate & Gardens, were amazed to see a huge Cirrus Aircraft on the front lawn. Potential bidders for a personal flight instruction experience were invited to get a close look at the plane, including the high tech cockpit.
Swan Ball Chairs Elizabeth Dingess and Ashley Rosen, along with the Auction Party Chairs Julie Haley and Barbara Burns, welcomed guests while overlooking a silver-toned swan nestled into a large hot pink, cream, white, and coral floral swag hanging from the entrance balcony.
Once inside, more beautiful florals, all designed by Jen Solesby, were on the formal mantle at the entrance and on tables draped in sage green textured cloths, creating the sense of freshly clipped flowers from the gardens of the Cheek family home, Cheekwood.
In addition to tasty hors d’oeuvres passed by the attentive staff, lovely food stations shared shrimp and grits, fried oysters, cheeseburger sliders and chicken pesto caprese sliders that had some going back for just one more taste of the secret sauce.
Visual arts: British artist Bruce Munro returns to Cheekwood with 'LIGHT'
At 7 sharp the crowd moved into the ballroom for the live auction. The magic of Gary Musick Productions showed in the two large backlit acrylic panels depicting this year’s Swan Ball logo.
After a welcome by Jane MacLeod, president and CEO of Cheekwood, auction chairs Natalie Clements, Delia Darst and Amy Keith thanked Swan Ball office staff, Ivy Chase and Suzanne Boozer, and the many volunteers.
Items up for bid in the silent auction included international trips to India, Jordan, London, Argentina and Rome; a stunning 14K gold and diamond monogram locket from Rare Gems of India; a private three-hour party for 75 people at the Ole Smoky Distillery including a moonshine tasting and food provided by White Duck Taco; and insider access for six people for two nights at private art clubs in NYC with artist Michael Shane Neal (who just returned from Paris, where his portrait of the late former Ambassador Joe M. Rodgers was revealed at the residence). A lucky bidder won the use of two luxury cars in which they and their guests can make their Swan Ball arrival, and Audi Downtown Nashville added two drivers for the night. It was all quite heady.
Look back: Swan Ball 2022, a benefit for Cheekwood, is a night to remember
For the fast paced live auction, 15-time Emmy Award-winning journalist and auctioneer Bill Menish was back for a repeat performance. Auction participants enjoyed his entertaining banter and precise knowledge of the live auction items presented during the event. At one point to get the bid up higher, he offered to go to Scotland with the highest bidder, and up the bid went. Next, he offered to not go and the bid went up again.
At one point, I was so wrapped up in the excitement of seeing everyone that a huge wave almost became the highest bid to New York City with Janice Elliott Morgan of Gus Mayer, who contributed a coveted trip during fashion week including two exclusive-to-the-trade fashion shows. Thankfully, a higher bidder swooped in with the winning bid on this rare opportunity.
The Swan Ball and the Auction Party raise money for Cheekwood Estate & Gardens.
The Swan Ball, Nashville's biggest society event of the year, is June 3, also at Cheekwood.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Society crowd prepares for Swan Ball with Auction Party benefiting Cheekwood
