They alighted at the Shangri-La as the darkness descended upon the magnificent grounds of Lucien Delano’s luxury playground for the mighty and the rich. For Bianca, it felt as though they had stepped into a carefully choreographed celebration which was at once elegant, warm, and just a little bit magical.

The reception was being held on an open-air terrace, set amid the sprawling lawns of Shangri-La, far enough away not to disturb the nocturnal activities of guests in the unique villas, mini-palaces, exotic tents and chalets spread over the spacious lawns, yet close enough to the main building.

The wide terrace seemed to glow under a canopy of fairy lights,...