Chandelier Event: Everything Roses 1st Birthday Party

 Planner: Chandelier Events; Florals: Anne Miller for Little Flower Shoppe; Photo: Stacey Ilyse Photography

Planner: Chandelier Events; Florals: Anne Miller for Little Flower Shoppe; Photo: Stacey Ilyse Photography

 Planner: Chandelier Events; Florals: Anne Miller for Little Flower Shoppe; Photo: Stacey Ilyse Photography

 Planner: Chandelier Events; Florals: Anne Miller for Little Flower Shoppe; Photo: Stacey Ilyse Photography

 Planner: Chandelier Events; Candy: Sweet City Candy; Photo: Stacey Ilyse Photography

 Planner: Chandelier Events; Cake: Cheryl Kleinman; Photo: Stacey Ilyse Photography

Planner: Chandelier Events; Venue: HoHoKus Inn & Tavern, NJ; Florals: Anne Miller for Little Flower Shoppe; Photo: Stacey Ilyse Photography

This little Chandelier shindig was an especially sweet one for me to plan because it was for my own little girl--and I got my favorite local gals on board to bring it to life. 


We whipped up a chic event for a very small group of friends to celebrate this special moment. We went with a "Pinkalicious" palette--well, because it's not only her favorite book, but I have to say she is definitely pinkalicious herself. 


Inspired by pink mercury glass vases that I fell in love with at first site, I consulted my friend, the amazingly-talented Anne Miller of Ridgewood, NJ's Little Flower Shoppe (my neighborhood gem) to pull together lush centerpieces of ranunculus, David Austen roses, red and blackberries, grey dusty miller, carnations (yes! carnations).  She brought my dream of a giant pink floral "M" for Meri to life on the mantel and embellished it with carnation fairy balls on crystal pedestals.


For dessert, we filled containers with all hues of blush, from strawberry m&m's to bubblegum rock candy from Sweet City Candy (which happens to be owned by my friend Lauren, who I've known since I was ONE myself)...and of course, popped a butterfly or two wherever the space needed a little extra fairy dust. 


HoHoKus Inn & Tavern did not disappoint with their lunch menu that featured a fresh strawberry and goat cheese salad, butternut squash ravioli served in mini cast iron skillets, and the most delicious death-by-chocolate mudslide cookies I've ever had. Meri got to feast on her very own cake created by our Brooklyn-based friend Cheryl Kleinman--the outside featuring pleated pink fondant, and inside, a Neopolitan-ice-cream-inspired confection with chocolate devil's food cake with vanilla bean and raspberry mousse filling. 


And all of this was preserved in beautiful photos of the very wonderful Stacey Ilyse!


Looking back on this one just reminds me of how sweet she makes my every single day.

And the Award for Birthday Party of the Year Goes To...

 Photo: Matthew Richmond

 Photo: Matthew Richmond

  Photo: Matthew Richmond

 Photo: Matthew Richmond

 

  Photo: Matthew Richmond

  Photo: Matthew Richmond

  Photo: Matthew Richmond

We have to admit we have some insanely-talented friends. This birthday-party-to-end-all-birthday-parties was planned and "produced" by Lori and Matthew Richmond, a Brooklyn-based mom-and-dad dynamic duo who spend their days as creative types, and moonlight as party planning ingenues for their two sons, Cooper and Holden.


It being Oscar Night, the cuteness and downright genius in the party they pulled off for Holden's first birthday deserves a standing ovation. No doubt, you will agree.


So, how did Lori & Matthew pull this altogether? Here's what she had to dish:  


THEIR INSPIRATION. . .


"Holden has always been a ladies man and super-flirty baby, the kind of kid that literally charms women wherever he goes. His Nonna (my mother) has also called him her 'Hollywood Hunk' from the day he was born! So naturally we thought of Hollywood leading men, and went with the movie star theme. Also, since his birthday is at Oscar time made perfect sense. . .Who else does this kind of thing besides crazy designer parents? Rather than sleeping at night when our kids were sleeping, we do stuff like this!!!"


HER CAST. . .
Cake: Betty Bakery in Brooklyn. She has done cakes for us in the past. We gave her the art we created for the Evite and discussed the design with her prior to them making it.

Decor: We got some stuff from Party City but Matthew and I created the movie posters ourselves. We photoshopped for a few nights, and used an online digital printer to do the actual printing - they were big - 24x36". 


Catering:  My mom provided all the food since the venue was her house :-)

. . .Want an movie-themed party for your next birthday, milestone, bar/bat mitzvah, corporate event?  Email Lori & Matthew at us@loriandmatthew.com with inquiries!


As for us, we're chilling watching Hollywood's biggest party of the year...oh, and we're wearing a Splendid Cardigan, tank and skinny jeans--thanks for asking, Ryan Seacrest!