The Butterfly Ball returns to the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo this 21st October, promising one of the most talked-about nights of the season—and a landmark moment for the charity it celebrates. This year marks the 10th edition of the gala in Monaco and the 25th anniversary of Caudwell Children, the UK-based foundation behind it.
At the creative helm for this milestone year is Billy Folchetti, the founder of luxury event firm Luxe x and a name well-known in international circles for designing high-end weddings and private gatherings for the ultra-wealthy. In his role as guest creative director, Folchetti is tasked not only with orchestrating the look and feel of the event, but also with making sure the night leaves a lasting emotional impression.
“I’ve never felt so anxious and so glitzy at the same time”
Folchetti has built a reputation on discretion, thoughtful design, and curating events that feel less like showcases and more like intimate, high-touch experiences. Yet even with more than 250 events under his belt, Monaco’s Butterfly Ball carries a different weight.
“My mum worked for years with mentally disabled children,” he says. “So in a way, this feels full circle—like I’m helping a child out there get someone like my mum in their life.”
The 2025 edition of the Butterfly Ball will include familiar elements—fine dining, live entertainment, and an auction to raise funds for Caudwell Children’s programmes—but also several new features designed to surprise even the gala’s most seasoned regulars.
“We’re planning an immersive entrance experience that’s going to highlight the charity’s impact in a visceral way,” Folchetti says, choosing his words carefully. “If it all comes together, I think people are going to feel that shift the moment they walk into the room.”
Discretion, design, and doing things differently
Folchetti is known for a phrase he often repeats to clients: “Discretion is the new luxury.” At first glance, it might seem at odds with Monaco’s reputation for visible wealth. But for the people behind these kinds of events—and the people attending them—it resonates.
“You don’t have to be covered in logos to signal luxury,” he says. “My clients, even the billionaires, aren’t looking to show off. They want something curated, something that feels like them.”
He describes this year’s Butterfly Ball design as “sculptural, minimal, and edited”, a deliberate shift from the over-the-top florals and maximalism that once defined the gala scene. “Would you rather spend €100,000 on flowers, or on something that actually moves people to give?” he asks. “We chose the latter.”
That restraint extends to the team. Folchetti has leaned heavily on long-standing relationships and pro bono creative partnerships to bring the event to life without inflating costs. “Some of the most talented people I’ve worked with are offering their time for free this year,” he says. “Because they care about what this charity does.”
“You’re not just planning an event. You’re managing expectations, emotions, sometimes breakdowns.”
Pulling off a gala of this scale in Monaco requires coordination across dozens of moving parts. Folchetti estimates that more than 100 people are involved behind the scenes, from lighting technicians and AV specialists to hosts, musicians and service staff.
He’s quick to remind guests that what they’ll see on the night is the result of months of planning—beginning long before the summer, after Caudwell Children’s flagship London ball. Since June, Folchetti has made multiple site visits to the Salle Empire at the Hôtel de Paris, working with vendors and finalising everything from seating charts to sensory details.
“There’s a romantic illusion that events like this happen effortlessly,” he says. “But believe me, they don’t.”
His role often extends far beyond logistics. “You’re a designer, but also a therapist, a mediator. You’re managing strong personalities and massive expectations.”
He recalls one wedding where a landslide occurred near the venue mid-ceremony, and another where the bride and groom nearly called it off—only to go through with it and then divorce shortly after. “It’s not all champagne and fireworks,” he says, laughing.
A changing definition of luxury
As someone who works across Europe’s most exclusive destinations—from Lake Como to Capri to the Côte d’Azur—Folchetti sees Monaco as unique.
“There’s a concentration of design, wealth, and culture here that you don’t find anywhere else,” he says. “But there’s also a growing shift—especially among younger generations—away from excess and toward meaning.”
It’s a shift that’s influencing everything from gala planning to wedding aesthetics. “People are no longer impressed by flash for flash’s sake,” he says. “They want to feel something. They want to walk away changed.”
That emotional currency is exactly what Folchetti is hoping to deliver at this year’s Butterfly Ball.
“My advice to guests is simple: leave everything else at the door. Be present. The charity we’re supporting is remarkable. For one night, focus on that.”
As for what guests can expect on the night, Folchetti remains tight-lipped. But he promises this year’s event will be “a celebration of hope, legacy, and genuine giving”.
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Photos source: Luxe x