Match Point, Perfect Party: How a Designer Turned a Tennis Court Into This Year’s Coolest Dinner Table

Gatherings

by Morgan Johnson

When Margot Laporte, the designer behind Tabloo Margot got the call, she had just two weeks to transform a humble tennis court into something that felt pulled straight from a Lacoste lookbook. Sun-drenched, sculptural, and impossibly cool in that crisp, collar-popped, effortlessly French kind of way. The kind of scene where pleated skirts meet Aperol spritzes, and every detail is equal parts sport and style, heritage-rich and made for golden hour gatherings.

What followed was a celebration for the books: a last-minute birthday-meets-anniversary party with vintage rackets doubling as serving trays, candlelit tables flanked by classic director’s chairs, and 200 tennis balls stacked into centerpieces that defied gravity and expectation.

It was sport meets style. Clay court meets Campari. And yes, it went viral, for all the right reasons.

The Chicest Tennis Party Ever Served

Imagine stepping onto a sun-drenched clay court, not for a match, but for the most effortlessly stylish dinner party of the season. This wasn’t just any dinner party, it was a nod to the golden age of tennis, but without the country club stuffiness. Guests in crisp tennis whites, seated in classic canvas director’s chairs, sipped cocktails as golden hour melted into twilight.

The air smelled like a dreamy mix of smoky backyard BBQ and nostalgia, while appetizers arrived—casually—on vintage tennis rackets (because of course they did). Overhead, twinkling string lights draped from two ladders, casting the whole scene in that perfect, just-got-back-from-a-summer-in-Europe glow. Even the DJ, sweatband and all, looked like he was moonlighting from an ‘80s tennis movie. It was the kind of party that felt like stepping into a Slim Aarons photo—sporty, stylish, and just the right amount of playful.

The whole scene was chef’s kiss—a perfect blend of elegance and playfulness, like if Wimbledon and your dream backyard BBQ had a très chic dinner baby. And the best part? It never veered into costume party territory. This wasn’t a gimmicky “themed” event—it was a masterclass in cool with a capital C. The energy was as electric as a championship tie-breaker, but instead of tension, there was laughter, clinking glasses, and the undeniable magic of a night done right with equal parts nostalgia, sport, and summer dinner party magic. No one was keeping score, but if they were? This party won in straight sets. #GameSetMatch

A Last-Minute Party That Aced the Assignment

Interview with Margot Laporte, Founder/CEO of Tabloo Margot:

Venue Report: This Game, Set, Match event is so lovely! Tell us more about the reason for the gathering.

Margot: It was a couple celebrating their birthdays and wedding anniversary all together. They contacted me two weeks in advance when I met them at a corporate event for his work. They talked about the tennis theme and I was immediately intrigued.

Venue Report: How did you decide to do a tennis theme? How did you select the tennis venue?

Margot: The couple already had it in mind. Their kids did summer camps at this tennis club, it's located in central Antwerp and is a very cute small club surrounded by trees, as if it's located in the middle of a forest.

Venue Report: How did the tennis court space influence your design? Were there any obstacles or things you had to do differently because it was on a tennis court?

Margot: I chose the chairs because they made me think of the chairs where the ref sits on during the match. Of course every other detail should be tennis inspired as well. We weren't allowed to put the chairs straight onto the gravel, so we put a carpet underneath. I didn't want you to see this carpet so we went looking for a colour matching the gravel. If we would have had more time, we could have made this carpet custom made, but there was no time so this one did the trick. Secondly, there was only very uncosy bright white light on the field, so we asked to not use the real tennis field lights and used string lights instead. I brought these lights, not yet knowing how I could place them over the table and on the spot found two old ref chairs, put bags of gravel on them so they didn't fall due to the force put on them when hanging these lights.

Match Point: BBQ + Tennis Balls = Event Design Gold

Venue Report: What were some of your favorite standout design features for the tables and surrounding event decor?

Margot: I had a very clear vision on how I wanted the candles to come out of the tennis balls and make little islands of tennis balls. I also liked the logo we made for the event, which we embroidered very last minute on the napkins and wristbands.

Venue Report: We noticed that some of the appetizers were served on tennis rackets. Brilliant! The open fire cooking was also a unique touch. What food was served and how did guests interact with the food stations?

Margot: The cocktails that were served were by Belgian's finest mixologist Hannes Desmedt, a New York Sour (the client's favourite), Golden Mule and Grapefruit Cooler were served. They didn't want anything too sophisticated and wanted something family style BBQ. Luckily my good friends from Tommer Catering were still available to come BBQ on the field. We had some nice salads to accompany the exquisite meat. I bought some vintage tennis rackets to serve tennis ball macarons on them after dinner.

Venue Report: Each place setting had a unique name on it - can you elaborate more on the place settings and tennis ball centerpieces?

Margot: The couple chose everyone's seat, we made the place cards with the same logo we made for the event. I bought chewing gum in the shape of small tennis balls to place on top. The centerpieces were very clear in my head, I bought 200 old tennis balls but it wasn't that easy to make these islands. I thought we would be able to stick them together somehow, but that didn't work. We cut out some of the balls for the candles, but basically put the islands together without anything holding them together. The balls were loose on the table and we stacked them until they just didn't fall apart!

A Surprise Venue, Disposable Cameras, and a DJ in a Sweatband: The Tennis Party Heard 'Round the World

Venue Report: Tell us more about the fabulous details and what type of music was played by the DJ? We love a good playlist :)

Margot: They had a friend who is a great DJ, playing all kinds of funky tunes (I was busy dismantling the event already right after dinner when guests were dancing inside the clubhouse, because the field needed to be empty again in the morning) This was probably the most challenging part, we could only start in the late afternoon setting everything up, as they had a big tournament on the club. I think we did everything in 2 hours, right before guests arrived.

Venue Report: How did guests feel upon walking into the event? Are there any standout stories to share that occurred during the gathering?

Margot: They were all so surprised the event took place ON the field. The dress code was vintage tennis so everyone really did a great effort. There was a field next to the table which they used for a game of tennis against a ball machine, playing with vintage rackets, it was very funny to see. The couple organised a prize giving at the end for the best player, best dressed, .. There was no photographer because they thought disposable cameras fit the theme better!

Never thought this event would go so viral, it was featured on so many international instagrams from South America to Eastern Europe to the US, .. so much fun to see our pictures shared all over the world.