LAZ AND LILY: A TALE OF TWO MIRACLES

A few years ago, I heard a story from a client that would stick to me up to this day:

For some time, my client and her husband found it hard to conceive a child. So they went to the Holy Land itself, Israel, and lo and behold, a child was conceived! Thus was their firstborn, Laz, dubbed the “miracle baby”. A year later, Party Magic helped the couple, Raul and Laurice, celebrate the miracle of life during Laz’s first birthday.

This was back in 2014.

Fast forward to present, and we’re now celebrating a second miracle, one that goes by the name of Lily:

Raul, Laurice, Laz, and Lily. Happiness begins in the family!

Photos courtesy of Life by Peach Frost

Much has been said by me about the importance of theme in any birthday party, but while I thoroughly enjoy creating parties with unique themes, I find that I’m absolutely thrilled when I get to work with both great themes and great people.

An unexpected stage format: a circular layout with no background walling.

A welcome entrance of flowers and pink fur carpeting greets guests as they enter.

An unexpected but welcome by-product of my profession as an event stylist is that I get to meet people of all flavors. But what struck me when I met Laurice and Raul was their unabashed devotion to their children. I guess as with anything in life, you appreciate something more when you had to work hard to get it in the first place.

I love how the black and white treatment accentuates the emotion of this scene. Great job, Life by Peach Frost!

Lily’s stage was a refreshing change. Instead of the usual rectangular, 8 feet x 20 feet backdrop, we opted for no backdrop at all. Just a circular platform that supports an elegant, white gazebo, framed by circus animals, of course!

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WELCOME TO BEDROCK (pop. 2,500, Stone Age)

Following off in the same vein as my previous post, Aerin: Meet Riverdale’s New Sweetheart, here’s another novel idea for a theme, this time coming from one of the greatest TV cartoons of all time: The Flintstones!

Meet the Flintstones. Can anybody say, “Yabba Dabba Doo!”

Margaux Rocks One in this Truly Unique Party

Part of the allure of designing children’s parties is the sheer breadth of the possible: one week I’m working on a pastel Gems party, and the next I’m designing a birthday centered on an Old Hong Kong theme!

While this is definitely taxing both physically and mentally, one thing’s for sure: it never gets boring in Party Magic.

Especially when you’re working on a theme as rich as The Flintstones! And all the credit goes to Mommy Andrea, for thinking up and suggesting this theme.

Leaves, bones, and beef tenderloin on the ceiling. Just another day in Bedrock!

I’m soo loving how this entrance turned out. The organic balloon arch was mixed with animal dots and stripes to create that “wildlife” / safari feel. Add to that these prehistoric birds and you’ve created a real Stone Age welcome!

THE THEME GENERATOR

If you are a mom planning your child’s birthday party, and you already have a nice venue and a capable stylist, then the only constraint is you imagining up a theme.

Here’s my own technique on how to brainstorm a theme. A theme can be: [Read more…]

A RIVERDALE PARTY

While my brother was busy collecting his Marvel and DC comic books, I was happily flipping the pages of my Archie Comics, getting updated on the life of America’s quintessential boy next-door, and the predicament he usually found himself in by being in the middle of Betty and Veronica.

But wouldn’t it be the bee’s knees if you could relive the life and times of Riverdale, but this time as your own character?

Meet Aerin, Riverdale High’s new transfer student, and all-around sweetheart!

I have to give props to Mommy Monette for this fantastic idea. She had her artist draw up Aerin’s own Riverdale avatar so the Party Magic team and I could incorporate her into the Riverdale universe. This caricature doesn’t match up to the real thing, though!

That’s Aerin, all cozied up in Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe, waiting for her strawberry milkshake. Ain’t she lovely!

Massive applause to the whole Dy family too, for getting all dressed up for the occasion. Take a look at toddler Jughead over there!

Aerin and little Jughead, just hanging around in the Chock-lit Shoppe!

THE IMPORTANCE OF PREP-WORK

Most people have the misconception that all the decoration work happens during the actual day of the party. This could not be more wrong. The reality is, styling is 70% prep-work, 30% on-the-day-work. And all prep-work begins with conceptualization, planning, and design.

Much like writing, I believe that in order to properly design a party, you need to know the subject (theme) very well.

Fortunately for me, I knew this subject so much that I didn’t even need to do a single piece of research work!

The stage happens in the corridors of Riverdale High School, where Aerin is campaigning for class president. Her opponent? Archie! I wonder who will win?

Off to stage left we find Betty and Veronica. Their cheerleader uniforms are hung on their lockers:

Jughead is busily handing out flyers to all the students: [Read more…]