Bridgerton Summer Ball
Book NowStandard price (includes costume to keep and light dinner) VIP /
Sat 11 March 2023 – 11:45am to 8:30pm
Book NowStep back in time to early 1800s Regency era England for the most sensational ball of the season.
Set in the beautiful grounds of English Cherry Tree Manor, home of the NZ Cherry Blossom Festival, come enjoy a relaxed day of performances, high tea, picnic, photo-opportunities, a carnival atmosphere and a ball the images of which will be like no other seen in this country.
From 12:30pm to 5:30pm be entertained with classical, opera, ethic music and dance by accomplished performers. In this time, join in with the dance classes in preparation for the grand ball from 6pm to 8pm.
Dance in the ball and to the many danceable tunes before and after the ball. There is classical and contemporary performed classically.
Regency attire is included in the ticket price and is yours to keep, but you can wear you own Regency costume if you prefer. Regency attire is mandatory. Make-up and hair sessions are bookable at local beauty schools in Auckland and Hamilton on the day of the event. Sessions for those who purchase VIP tickets are at the venue.
Attend classes to learn how to bow and courtesy. You don’t want to suffer the disapproval of the queen who will be in attendance and selecting the season’s diamond of the ball.
Watch scenes from Pride & Prejudice acted out by Elizabeth and Darcy. Try your hand at a game of croquet, a seemingly civil activity, but actually nothing of the sort. Do please restrain yourself else the queen may call for your head.
Gates open at 11:45pm and the day culminates in a rousing finale between 8 and 8:30pm with a collaboration of performers from earlier in the day. Bop along with everybody holding lights in unison for another image to remember.
A main performance area hosts most of the acts with a different performance each half hour, but various parts of the garden delight with more intimate performances.
For food and drink, a light pasta dinner is included in the ticket price, but for lunch you can bring your own picnic or purchase one of our picnic baskets, which includes blanket. Partake in High Tea or visit one of the food vendors for a variety of choice. Coffee, ice cream and non-alcoholic mocktails are available.
The garden has many shaded and lovely spots to set down a picnic blanket while beautiful and unusual sounds waft by and curious street performers wander around as if you were at Alice in Wonderland. Get some great photos with them. There are also a number of marquees with tables and chairs scattered around if a more upright posture is your preference.
All in all, it’s a unique fantasy experience to be cherished.
Book Now- We will direct you on arrival to the changing location where you pick up the costumes.
- We will take your clothes and give you a ticket to reclaim at the end of the day. You can also return during the day to pick up or drop off any items.
- Dress sizes are Small, Medium, Large and XL.
- The dresses are elasticated and, so, allow for varying sizes.
- There are nine colours as below.
- You are welcome to bring your own Regency costume and claim a $30 rebate (as long as the Queen is not displeased by your costume).
- Male shirt sizes are Small, Medium, Large, XL and XXL.
- The shirts are baggy and, so, allow for more sizes.
- You need to wear your own smart trousers and shoes. No jeans and sneakers.
- You are welcome to wear you own Regency costume if it meets the Queen’s approval and claim a $30 rebate.
The Regency Era
Strictly, the Regency era is from 1811 to 1820 when King George III (mad King George) was too ill to rule and his son Prince George acted as regent, that is, a person who rules in the absence of the monarch. More commonly the era is considered to span from 1795 to 1837 when Victoria became Queen.
It was a period of great change. The French Revolution (1789-1794), in which the elites were overthrown, unnerved the English aristocracy. As a result, English fashion, which followed the brightly-coloured and ornate French fashion despite being at war (Napoleonic Wars 1803-1815) with France, became much more subdued lest the masses rise up against them as well. White was especially popular.
The Industrial Revolution resulted in great upheaval and movement of people from the country to town. Society changed massively. The steam press, invented in 1811, allowed much cheaper and faster publication. Printed gossip abounded in newspapers and weekly scandal sheets. The poor were fascinated to read about the aristocracy who were so very rich. Now, there is a similar interest in the Royal Family and stars, but in those days the poor could never have imagined being able to enter that world as high society mingled and married within their own ranks.
Making the right connections between families was a serious business and the balls were where such allegiances formed. Family status was at stake. A bad match or, worse, no marriage could destroy a family and its future generations. Nerves rattled when two suitors paired to dance.
Young ladies would come out or debut into society. Being a debutante basically means being available for marriage. Queen Charlotte, the wife of mad King George, was the first to hold debutante balls, where young ladies from the upper echelons and of age around 17 or 18 were presented to the Queen. The Queen Charlotte’s Ball became an annual event and the key one of the season. The season referred to the period of the year (about 6 months) when the balls were held.
The practice of formal societal introductions spread to other countries such as the United States despite having no monarch. In England, the practice of royal presentations at debutante balls was ended by Queen Elizabeth in 1958.
However, new ones continue to arise; the International Debutante Ball in Shanghai, China, established in 2012, follows the Western tradition. The Bridgerton Summer Ball at English Cherry Tree Manor in New Zealand established in 2023 is another example, though it is not expected that Camilla, Queen Consort will be in attendance this year.
Debutante balls were exclusive, many of them invitation-only. In Regency England, the lord chamberlain would decide whether a young lady was, based on the social standing of her family, worthy of presentation to the Queen. Furthermore, there would need to be a sponsor from a debutante that had previously been presented to the Queen.
Manners and etiquette are of upmost importance. More about that in the next email and post. Sign up for our email letter at fantess.com to be sure you are kept informed, lest social disaster besets you.
The introduction in Regency times
An introduction in the Regency era was very different from one now. The introducer, a person of mutual acquaintance, was in fact giving a recommendation of the standing or respectability of both persons and that the relationship between both parties would be mutually beneficial. If the person who is asked to make the introduction doubts that, he or she should decline to make the introduction.
The higher ranked person can decline the introduction, nevertheless. The ranking rules for introductions are lady above gentleman, older person above younger, and if both are of the same gender and similar age, other standing takes precedence. Once exception to these rules is that royalty is above all. The royal ranking order is King/Queen, Queen consort, Prince/Princess of Wales (heir to throne), Prince/Princess, Duke/Duchess, Earl/Countess, Viscount/Viscountess, Baron/Baroness.
So, men can choose who they want to be introduced to, but females can decline introductions. Should a gentleman introduce himself to a lady, the lady should politely reply that she would be happy to accept his invitation if we would first arrange an introduction.
In accepting an introduction, a person becomes an acquaintance and should they meet again, they should acknowledge the other, which for a man is touch or tip of the hat and for a woman is a slight bow of the shoulders. A failure to do such would be considered a ‘cut’ and should only be done if absolutely necessary.
Also by accepting an introduction, the person is offering their good offices, which means providing assistance, particularly through influence, if needed. For an introduction between two men, it also means inviting the other into his circle of friends.
Having stated all of the above, the rules are a little different for invitations to dance at a ball. Introductions are still needed, but the introducer does not need to be a mutual acquaintance; the person can be the hostess, master of ceremonies or members of the lady’s family.
In accepting an introduction for a dance at a ball, that does not confer the status of acquaintance. Should the couple meet again, if the woman does not make a bow to the gentleman, he cannot continue to engage with her. It would be as if they didn’t know each other.
Regency Ball Etiquette
In the Regency era (1795-1837), an unmarried lady always appeared at a ball with a chaperon who was usually an older married lady and most often her mother. It was the chaperon’s duty to ensure the lady’s partners were eligible gentlemen.
A lady had to wait for a gentleman to ask her to dance. If she did not already have an acquaintance with the gentleman, then before he could ask her to dance, he had to request an introduction and her chaperon might prevent this if she saw fit. The previous article discussed introductions.
Once the introduction had been made, a lady could not refuse to dance with a gentleman unless she was already engaged for that dance. If this were not so, she could not accept an invitation to dance with anyone else at that ball.
However, ladies did from time to time break the etiquette rules. The Pocket Book of Etiquette of 1837 states:
Should a lady decline dancing with you, and afterwards dance with another person, you will not be offended, if you will suffer yourself to reflect on the many reasons which may have induced the apparent rudeness. Personal preference, and the various emotions which may agitate the female heart, will furnish abundant cause for her decision, without her considering you either a fool or a boor, both of which characters she would infallibly attach to you, if, by indecorous conduct on the occasion, you thwarted her wishes; whereas, by a judicious blindness, you will probably secure her respect and confer an obligation.
There were private and public balls. The etiquette required for each differed a little.
An unmarried gentleman attending a private ball was declaring he was looking for a wife and expected to dance. Etiquette decreed that he should dance with any lady who had no partner. If he danced with the same partner twice, he was considered to have shown a particular interest in the lady and his behaviour could give rise to expectations that he was courting her.
At a public ball, a single gentleman was not required to dance with just anyone, but should always be ready to partner any lady of his party who was not otherwise engaged, even if it meant dancing with her more than twice.
High Tea
Seven sittings each festival day at 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm, 5pm Book online.
Food is a mixture of savoury and sweet. Tea is a choice of Chinese or English Breakfast.
Picnic Basket
For two includes basket, blanket and the following food and drink items:
- Baguette
- Two different summer fruit
- Cheddar Cheese
- Carrot
- Celery
- Piccalilli
- Tzatziki
- Brie
- Oatcakes
- Salami
- Cake
- Sparkling water
- Cups
- Cutlery set
- Ham
- Hummus
$40 returned if basket and blanket returned in good condition else are yours to keep.
Other Food & Drink
Coffee, pasties, ice-cream and mocktails are among items available for purchase.
Photo Sessions
Have a professional photographer take some great shots of you in costume and perhaps riding in the horse and carriage. $25 for each photo.
Competitions
Queen Charlotte will award a debutante the title of the season’s Diamond. Such a prestigious award is sure to greatly increase the interest of eligible suitors.
Parking is on Yumelody Lane, which is a side road off Matangi Road, next to the venue, 125 Matangi Road, Hamilton 3284
The pedestrian entrance is 200m down the lane. Drive past that, park on the right on the berm and perpendicular to the road ensuring that the car does not jut out into the road. If your vehicle is long (>6m), please park parallel to the road.
Please cross the road and walk on the opposite berm to the entrance.
Please obey these rules in respect of the neighbours’ safety concerns.
Facilities
First aid kit First aid kit in the hall of the house.
There are changing tents on site For those coming with own costumes, there are change tents for male and female.
Toilets There are three toilets at the house and portaloo toilets around the property including one disabled access toilet at the entrance.
Chairs For your comfort, there are over 400 chairs placed around the property. It is often fun just to sit and watch the world go by while soaking in nature and gentle sounds.
Food and drink vendors There are several located in the car park near the house and in the orchard. High Tea can be booked in advance online for one-hour sessions at 10am, 12pm, 2pm and 4pm each day. High Tea is served outside under raincover and near the house.
Professional photographers See Dress-up photo sessions
Raincover For all days of all years of the festival so far, it has never rained. September is actually a low rainfall month. However, rain is always possible. The High Teas are served under raincover. The performers have raincover and there are several gazebos providing raincover to watch the performances from and/or eat while also observing the cherry blossoms.
Event Terms And Conditions
Entrance tickets are valid for the specific date and time booked only. No admission without a valid entrance ticket.
There are no refunds unless the event is cancelled
High Tea and Beauty Make-up is valid only at the date and time specified.
A High Tea or Beauty Make-up booking also requires the purchase of an entrance admission ticket.
You are not permitted to bring alcohol to the event
Intoxicated persons are not permitted to enter the venue.
All attendees must comply with the directives of staff of Fantess Ltd. Failure to do so may result in denial of entry, immediate ejection, or referral to New Zealand Police if deemed appropriate.
By attending this event, you are providing permission to be filmed, photographed, or used perpetually in any promotional material by Fantess Ltd.
Photography and filming for commercial purposes can only be undertaken with the prior written approval from the organiser.
Dress for the Bridgerton Summer Ball event must be Regency costume suitable for a ball. As part of the admission price, Fantess Ltd provides a suitable dress for women and a shirt for men. We provide a few sizes, which should fit the vast majority of people. However, there is no refund if you are not satisfied with what Fantess Ltd provides and you must wear Regency costume to remain at the event. Men must wear smart pants and shoes though they need not be from the Regency era. You may wear your own Regency costume if you prefer. We reserve the right to expel with no refund anyone who Fantess Ltd considers not to be in suitable attire.
