Looking for a little creative help

[Rob_Royale]

I'm in the middle of writing part two of The Suburban MILF's Club Ch. 01. Our characters are going out to a dance. Yes, a prom-like dance, but for adults. No weirdness, just a nice romantic dance. A wealthy couple does it a few times a year, for their friends and my MCs are invited. Fancy clothes, corsages, limos, the whole enchilada. I'm 56 and I think it's a really cool idea, and I'd love to take my wife to one. It would be romantic and fun.

The question is, where would be somewhere fun and unique to hold the gala?
A mansion - yawn. Too 'Eyes Wide Shut'.
A hotel - pretty obvious.
A seaside or lakeside restaurant. - patio lanterns, bright moon and stars, the surf, real romantic. I'm leaning toward this one.

But after that, I'm drawing a blank. Anyone got any other ideas? If I end up using one you suggest, I'll happily give you a shout-out in my author's notes and post the link in this thread.

Edit- this is about two people who know each other and are attracted to one another, on their first date.

 

[KimAwakened]

Romantic, perhaps.

Erotic..?

Or are you intending that the one should lead to the other?

 

[AlinaX]

An observatory.

 

[Rob_Royale]

Romantic, perhaps.

Erotic..?

Or are you intending that the one should lead to the other?

Yes, that. A lovely romantic time at the lakeside restaurant, then maybe a walk down the lakeshore and a stop to relax on the beach, on a blanket.

An observatory.

That's interesting. I've never been to one.

 

[Lucy_Lastic]

A church. I've been to a disused one that's now used as a venue for events.

 

[StillStunned]

An observatory.

Or a museum. I've been to events - dinners, receptions, networking events - in some very fine museums.

A park could work, if there's a large paved area or bandstand for dancing. Perhaps a public square even, if the town has one that's small and enclosed. Some trees, a fountain, a few statues.

 

[MiaBabe23]

Maybe somewhere relatively mundane that’s magical because it’s where they first met/ kissed/ danced?
A library, a bar, a museum, etc - everyone else might be grumbling at the lack of planning and incongruence, but they’ve always wanted to go back there?

 

[Series 6]

Where I live, it is fairly rural. There was a large property that used to be a summer horse riding camp for girls. The owners of the camp retired and they were trying to find ways to repurpose the property. It had a large pool, stream, various buildings like a shower house, and several small two-person cabins. There could be interesting possibilities for a property like that. Maybe the ideas of trying to repurpose the property for hosting events.

 

[TheWritingGroup]

A museum. Lots of museums actually do rent out their spaces.

How rich are the hosts? If they're in England, the British Library or an actual castle?

A park? They rent a green in your version of Central Park?

As a meta-joke, you could put them in a rented high school gym for an "All Grown Up Now Prom".

-Billie

 

[Lumiere_Amie]

I see a mention of Melbourne in the opening of your story. Check out the Polly Woodside.
https://www.flipsnack.com/nationalt...t-group-at-polly-woodside-2023/full-view.html

 

[georgerb]

How about a fancy resort/retreat? Individual cabins...plenty of areas for hidden get aways. A main building normally for weddings or receptions. Your hosting couple are wealthy, maybe they rented the whole place?? Or own it. Make it like over a 3/4 day weekend, plenty of time for various happenings to occur.

 

[Brandnewbuddy]

Since you’re going for romantic, resort sounds good.

Another possibility depending on the group size and affluence is a yacht (some of them have big enough decks you could host a dance on)

If you want to add a nostalgic feel, maybe have it at a carnival (not like an actively running one with barkers but one where the lights are on for theming, also allows lots of creative places for couples to sneak off to.

 

[Rob_Royale]

How about a fancy resort/retreat? Individual cabins...plenty of areas for hidden get aways. A main building normally for weddings or receptions. Your hosting couple are wealthy, maybe they rented the whole place?? Or own it. Make it like over a 3/4 day weekend, plenty of time for various happenings to occur.

It's a fine idea. But it's a little much for a first date. My bad, I should have mentioned that in the OP.

 

[R_Clairmont]

Love the museum idea. Lots of poorly lit places to steal a kiss…or more.

 

[Rob_Royale]

I see a mention of Melbourne in the opening of your story. Check out the Polly Woodside.
https://www.flipsnack.com/nationalt...t-group-at-polly-woodside-2023/full-view.html

Lol. Melbourne, Florida.
It's a fine idea though.

 

[Lumiere_Amie]

Lol. Melbourne, Florida.
It's a fine idea though.

Well then make up a wooden sailing ship a d have it docked at Part Canaveral.

 

[Rob_Royale]

Well then make up a wooden sailing ship a d have it docked at Part Canaveral.

Exactly right.

 

[CuttingEdge]

Romance has less to do with the ideal location as just realizing you are with the ideal person. It becomes more powerful if the realization stems from the surprise of not expecting the other person to like what you do.

Forget liking a Lady Gaga song, what if they are walking and hear Mozart's Marriage of Figaro and HE recognizes it and mentions this to her? Higher points if she plays the cello a loves classic music. What guy in 2024 knows classic music and can dance?

With men it is different because many are immature, but when a woman gets child-like silly, or revisits to a place of her childhood, it means she is comfortable with the person she is with, and likely in love.

For your situation I would have the couple go into an old vacant church, her reminiscing about having to go to church all the time as a child. Like snaky teenagers they go where they should not. From the party they are sneaking away from they can just hear the classical music that he recognizes as Mozart... barely hearing it, but there and in this dilapidated old vacant church the two start dancing. They avoid that hole in the floor there, bumping into a candle holder and getting dust on her dress there... it is not perfect and yet it is! This huge contrast of the perfect dance where it should never have been done... and who ca not see the symbolism of it all?

 

[OrdinaryPerson]

Aquarium. Dark and lit by glowing tanks. Colorful fish swimming around. Big fish or sharks casting moving shadows. I like a fun and moody setting.

 

[georgerb]

It's a fine idea. But it's a little much for a first date. My bad, I should have mentioned that in the OP.

Couldn't it be their first date but somewhat routine for the wealthy individual hosting?

 

[SteelPoint]

Forget liking a Lady Gaga song, what if they are walking and hear Mozart's Marriage of Figaro

Now that's a big, big cultural leap for most folks hereabouts...

 

[Euphony]

People of means have connections to use non traditional non commercial places for events.

We have a series of beqwethed parks (former big $ families residence) which have eye watering gardens, lawns, spaces, etc.

Why I like it as a setting is the cache further characterizes your hostess, it's non commerical so you've got in built privacy and no real public to speak of and, the draw of being somewhere few are allowed/part of something few get to experience let's the venue do some of the heavy lifting of getting couples interested (it's hard to get couples to agree to communal dinners. Dancing/public display of proficiency adds degree of difficulty.).

Think Biltmore before it became a commercial enterprise. Smaller scale if better fit. Stylistic gardens (Japanese/Italian were popular turn of the century) manor house if you want it. Essentially Lego facilities as your narrative needs.

 

[Rob_Royale]

People of means have connections to use non traditional non commercial places for events.

We have a series of beqwethed parks (former big $ families residence) which have eye watering gardens, lawns, spaces, etc.

Why I like it as a setting is the cache further characterizes your hostess, it's non commerical so you've got in built privacy and no real public to speak of and, the draw of being somewhere few are allowed/part of something few get to experience let's the venue do some of the heavy lifting of getting couples interested (it's hard to get couples to agree to communal dinners. Dancing/public display of proficiency adds degree of difficulty.).

Think Biltmore before it became a commercial enterprise. Smaller scale if better fit. Stylistic gardens (Japanese/Italian were popular turn of the century) manor house if you want it. Essentially Lego facilities as your narrative needs.

I think you've got it there. A botanical garden. Quiet, private after hours, lots of dark places to step into. That sounds like a winner.

 

[NegateGivity]

Well then make up a wooden sailing ship a d have it docked at Part Canaveral.

How about an Old time Riverboat? Like with the giant paddle wheel.

 

[Carnevil9]

A banquet Hall. The kind that rents out for weddings. Especially if it is attached to a hotel or motel. The man (or woman) of the couple is hoping for something to happen, so secretly books one of the rooms for the night, just in case things go right......