Friday, March 28, 2014

Private Estate Birthday Celebration


40th birthday celebration  | summer solstice 

Event Date:  August 17th, 2013 by Despina Craig Events

A Summer Solstice Themed event for 80 -100 guests at a beautiful Italian style estate. The perfectly manicured gardens was the ideal setting for a 40th Birthday Celebration in Calabasas California.  


The décor, rich color linens in burnt orange, gold’s and bronze. Cylinders filled with water and submerged with orchids, tulips, calla lilies and  floating candles. Floating flower arrangements in the pool, up-lights and pin spotting,  and mirrored displays with glass cylinders slightly filled with glass marbles and large candles through out the event, created a wonderful summer solstice themed event that was elegant romantic and magical.







Guests  were treated to signature cocktail drinks and appetizers and as they mingled through the party enjoying the celebration, while some guests enjoyed the ice luge.



A stunning structure designed in “X” shape draped in rich gold velvet fabric intertwined with cream shear,  created a  “WOW” factor transforming the back garden into a magical glamorous event for guests to dine under.




A wonderful Mediterranean style buffet was served and during dinner guests were entertained with a fire show put on by professional dancers from “Dancing with Fire”.      


During the event  guests enjoyed "Striking a Pose" at the open photo booth or lounging in the cigar bar enjoying a glass of brandy with a cigar, while some danced the night away to our DJ playing top 100 hits.




A breathtaking dessert table displayed an array of fresh fruit and mini desserts. To finish the evening off an espresso station offering latté’s, cappuccinos, or tea was a perfect way to end the night.


As guest departed they received favors, a photograph of them presented in a black slip cover and sealed with a “Thank You”.

Friday, March 21, 2014

Mismatched Bridesmaids

Mismatched bridesmaid dresses has been one of the hottest trends in weddings.  Gone are days when bridesmaids had to wear the same color and style of a dress whether it complimented them or not.  The fact is your bridesmaids may not be the same body type, or have the same skin tone, hair style or have the same fashion sense. We all have a unique personality and dress in a certain style that suits us.

I believe that allowing your bridesmaids to choose their style of gown that suits their body type and their style will make them feel comfortable, confident and is a smart idea.  The key secret to a successful mismatched bridesmaids look is to choose a dress style that incorporates your wedding color palette, and for a cohesive look select a uniform element that each bridesmaid can wear to tie it all together.


Some ideas:
  • Different style of dress with the same color allows the bridesmaids individuality of style and personality shine through.
  • Neutrals give mismatched dresses a more unified look than any other color.
  • Looking for a distinctive look, mix long and short dresses. 
  • Add a splash of color, pick the exact dress in different tones of your wedding color palette.
  • Who says you have to wear a dress, choose a skirt with a different color top. 
  • Choose different textures and or patterns in the same color.
  • Same color dress, different accessories

This trend is one great way to personalize your wedding and have the unique style of your bridesmaids reflected in a special way.




Thursday, November 7, 2013

Coco Chanel Theme

POSH KIDS PARTY  | COCO CHANEL
Event Date:  October 19th, 2013 by Despina Craig Events


Coco Chanel Theme Birthday Party for a 3 year old!
The inspiration for the Coco Chanel Birthday Theme came from this old sepia photo of a Chanel store I discovered online.  My vision was to create that same store front for the 100 guests to enter into a 7000 thousand square foot space at Film City Studios in Canoga Park, CA.
The colors scheme for the Coco Chanel Birthday event was pink, black and white, especially the pink since it was the birthday girls favorite color. The goal was to give it a chic contemporary look which was easy considering the studio was a blank canvas and the walls and floor were already white.

To create the Chanel entrance, 8ft translucent lighted towers anchored the entrance with a custom banner designed and hung from the ceiling bearing the the Chanel logo. The perimeter of the of the space was defined with pipe and draped in sheer  material with a black valence topping it off, in keeping with the tailored style of the boutique.


Guests walked along a 20ft pink carpet with stanchions on each side and stopped to take photos at the step and repeat banner that was custom designed with the Chanel logo and the birthday girls name. As the guests proceeded to enter the party they were treated to mimosas at the entrance of the Chanel boutique.

 



The event team hung re-usable latex white balloons filled with air in various sizes 7ft, 5ft and 3ft to suggest Chanel's Signature pearls and to visually reduce the height of the 18ft ceiling. 
Projected on the main wall was a Paris scene with the Eiffel Tower as the focal point to fill the space and provide a chic look We had up-lights projecting pink lights on the white walls around the room and added some palm trees for warmth in each corner of the room. Various Chanel quotes were custom designed on posters with the CC logo and the birthday girls name written over the logo adding a personalized feel to the displayed posters on easels'.



Children's tables were set-up for 24 guests with pint size white chiavari chairs, the tables were dressed in soft pink linen's with black chargers and pink napkins wrapped in rhinestones. Low centerpieces of white hydrangeas and white roses were embellished with pearls and and black twigs. The adult tables were dressed in pink pin tuck linen with black chiavari chairs and the centerpieces had the same fresh flowers as the children's tables.


Keeping with the contemporary look the translucent lighted bar station served mimosas and the translucent lighted buffet food station offered a variety of choices for adults and children.  A small refreshment table for the children was set-up with sparkling lemonade in a beverage dispenser and water bottles.




In the cabana the children dressed up in pearl necklaces, bracelets' and diamond rings, boas, sunglasses and hats and had elegant designs created on their faces by upscale face painter. An open photo booth was available for the parents and children, with a Paris scene in the background and a bistro table as a prop for the photo shoot. A craft jewelry making station and a bouncy house was set-up just outside of the Chanel boutique.




The dessert table was designed to incorporate the colors of the Chanel theme.  A custom designed canvas in pink black and white hung over the dessert table with the birthday girls name written across the Chanel logo. Chanel inspired cupcakes with little purses in black and pink, other cupcakes with Chanel logo, cookies in pink and white with CC logo. Other desserts included cake pops with the Chanel logo, and other candy that tied in with our color palette.  The cake is a prop, made of Styrofoam and covered in fondant and was custom designed to use as a centerpiece.


http://www.youtube.com/v/DK0sN59fi18?version=3&autohide=1&feature=share&autoplay=1&autohide=1&attribution_tag=wJrKwWf0ekUyh6b4IXN3DQ



Vendor Credits

Posters & Canvas: www.costco.com
Event Décor & Flowers: www.despinacraigevents.com
Location: Film City Studios, Canoga Park  CA