Creative Director: Alexis Teasdale
Stylists: Alex Whiting and Sara McClean
Photographer: Heidi Boardman
I love kids parties. The colour! The fun! The tiny little smiling faces!
I was absolutely honoured to style beautiful Chloe’s first birthday party. Her gorgeous mum Jane explained to me that Korean first birthday parties are one of the biggest and most festive celebrations, with lots of beautiful traditions.
My favourite is the Doljabi ceremony, where items each representing different paths the child might take in life, are laid out on the main table. Then the little one is dressed up in a traditional Korean gown and held on the table so they can ‘pick’ their path by choosing an item (like a whisk for a chef, a paint set for creativity or money for a wealthy life etc) I love it!
This meant that the main table was the focus of the party and the place where lots of photos are taken, so I went all out with a hand-made pinwheel backdrop. On the table were five traditional Doljabi towers, which after some serious Googling of how to prepare, I made out of mini pinwheels and scalloped card to match the theme.
The table also featured a gorgeous birthday cake by the oh-so-talented Hello Naomi, and Chloe’s name in little jars of rice, for good luck.
As it’s bad luck to have fresh flowers on the main table, instead we created a ‘flower market’ off to the side with buckets of gorgeous blooms by Deborah Leah Flowers. Guests could then choose their favourite stems from the market stall, and The Festive Co team wrapped them up as a take-home gift.
To make sure the little ones were happy, there was a lolly bar as well as a drinks dispenser and handmade straws featuring Chloe’s adorbs face in her traditional Korean cap.
Heidi Boardman beautifully captured the day with all its colourful fun.
A big thank you to my ‘Festive Co Fam’ Alex Whiting and Sara McClean for styling on the day, and to Chloe’s mum Jane for letting us be a part of this special milestone in her life!
