Designing A Truly Fabulous 40th Birthday Party
Bright Jewel Tones for Fabulous 40th Birthday Party
Something we love about our job is that we get to be part of our clients’ celebrations year after year. From anniversaries to engagements, showers to graduations, we get to experience it all. One of our fabulous longtime clients was turning 40, and of course we had to be a part of it! Saima came to us with excited anticipation of this big milestone birthday, and with the most beautiful smile on her face told us that her wish was to create a beautiful night, not just for her, but to honor her amazing friendships. We knew we had to make this birthday party one to remember!
The Setting
Before we could get started on floral design, we had to talk tables– what was the best way to seat her friends? Knowing that her friendships were paramount, a giant feasting table to seat her 24+ guest list was a “must have”! This let her interact with all her guests at once, bringing an air of intimacy that separate tables just couldn’t achieve– something special for someone who valued their relationship with each and every one of her guests. So, the feasting table was brought in and layered in a gorgeous green tablecloth– the instant center of the party. But for this sassy lady, we knew we had to make it really sparkle. With rain in the forecast, we quickly got to work setting the scene: up went the tent and the draping and in went the twinkle lights, surrounding the tent from every possible vantage point in order to make guests feel like they were in a fairy tale garden. Then, it was time for the main focal piece, the breathtaking 5-foot francois chandelier in all its glory hung right in the middle of the tent.
The Flowers
Knowing Saima as we do, we knew that vibrant jewel toned florals had to be front and center for this tabletop. But, they couldn’t be just any florals, so we packed these special birch vases full of brightly colored hydrangea, lush dahlias, purple succulents and gorgeous roses. Those alone were stunning, and yet we just couldn’t resist sneaking in a Lilla Bello twist: a dramatic sculptural centerpiece of twisted driftwood branches with more flowers nestled in the nooks and crannies and surrounded by votive candles. The overall effect was an amazing play on color and shape, and a definite conversation starter (not that any of these good friends needed one of those!) Gold charger plates and simple white napkins were placed carefully around the table. As the final finishing touch, Saima had an homage to her special friendships. On each napkin lay a perfect handmade flower, created out of sheet music, atlas maps, or poetry pages, each one decorated with one of Saima’s favorite friendship quotes perfectly tied to each stem. A special and personalized touch, and one her guests could take home to remember the night for years to come. With that, the table top was done!
The Party![]()
Then came the food and drinks. Wanting to treat her treasured guests to a delicious dinner, Saima carefully picked her favorites from The Little Door Restaurant, a Parisian-style restaurant in the heart of Los Angeles. Her friends feasted on Moroccan crabcakes and Filet Mignon while sipping on savory Pinot Noir and fun specialty beers from Venice Beach Wines. As the evening continued on, each of her adoring friends came in and filled the tent with all of the warmth and laughter that Saima had imagined for her birthday.
Charged with capturing the beauty of the night, Ben Hoffman of Two Sparrow Photography was ready to snap away. Although he managed to blend into the background most of the time, Ben shot the gorgeous decor, the never-ending laughs, big smiles, and overall warmth of the night: everything Saima imagined her 40th birthday to be. Thank you, Ben, for these breathtaking photos!! Sigh…this one was fun! xo, Lilla Bello
Floral & Event Styling: Lilla Bello Studio
Photography: Two Sparrows Photography
Catering: The Little Door Restaurant
Rentals: Classic Party Rentals
Wines & Spirits: Venice Beach Wines
We would love to be a part of your birthday party! Just fill out our handy form to get started, and we’ll give you a call to set up a time to meet!
ABOUT AUTHOR
Toby Kassoy, was born and raised in Southern California. In her college years she went up to Eugene Oregon, where she first fell in love with floristry. Upon returning to Los Angeles, she spent 8 years working in the Entertainment industry, while all along, flowers were always tugging on her heartstrings. In 2004 she decided to leave her corporate job and open Lilla Bello, aptly named after the beautiful lilac bushes she remembers outside her kitchen window in Oregon.
