The Andrews University Student Association (AUSA) hosted its annual banquet on March 30 at North Lake Weddings and Events in Berrien Springs, MI. The theme for this year’s banquet was “Once Upon a Dream.”
The banquet began at 5 p.m., right as a severe thunderstorm hit Berrien Springs, leaving many people scrambling to reach the bus or their cars without drenching their banquet attire. Several students decided to wait out the storm—the worst of which quickly blew over—and arrive fashionably late. The storm knocked over a tree on the Google Maps route and people were directed another way to reach the venue.
Upon arrival, the banquet was mostly unaffected by the storm. The venue had cozy lighting and a portion of the seating area was in a section with large windows and lots of natural light. The venue overlooked a small lake and there were many spaces for photo opportunities.
“I thought that the venue was beautiful, even with the cloudy weather,” said Christen Li (senior, anthropology and global studies).
Although it was still raining at the beginning of the event, the downpour cleared up well before sunset, leaving plenty of time for attendees to capture memories through pictures.
Several picture-perfect opportunities were located indoors as well. For example, a couple of flower and ivy-laden arches with fairy lights were popular photo settings. There was even a 360-degree booth, run by PosePeeps Photo Booths, that captured videos. Friends stood back to back and struck a fun pose or waved as the camera passed by them. The videos were available for download via cellphone.
Aside from photo shoots, there were a few other entertainment activities to enjoy. A few tables had supplies for ceramic painting using paint markers. Guests were serenaded by live musical performances, starting with “Once Upon a Dream.” Another popular performance were jazz pieces sung by Lyra Lacson (freshman, music education). When the live performers were not at work, classic Disney songs played in the background. The activities were made more enjoyable by participating with friends, which several students shared was a highlight of the experience.
“There wasn’t a whole lot going on,” said Melani Dubon (senior, archeology), “but it was a fun opportunity to dress up and get together with friends.”
While attendees waited for dinner, students quenched their thirst with water, Shirley Temples and other beverages at the drink bar. AUSA members served dinner, catered by Olive Garden, which included pasta, salad, breadsticks and Andes chocolate mints. Cake followed as dessert.
As the evening progressed, people took advantage of the sunset to take more pictures outside. Most attendees were dressed in formal clothing, while some decided to dress up in costumes that fit the fairytale theme. Many were wearing crowns and other accessories. One student was even dressed like Aurora from Disney’s “Sleeping Beauty.” AUSA highlighted some of the best and most creatively dressed by announcing the superlative winners. Categories included cutest couple, who most matched the theme, and best princess and prince (best dressed). Finally, there were two line dances to close off the evening.
Said Li, “I really enjoyed going and spending time with friends.”
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.