The inspiration for the Chanel birthday theme came from this old sepia photo of a Chanel store, says Despina Craig.
Filmcity Studios--a 7,000-square-foot space--was a blank canvas for the Coco Chanel theme birthday party for a three-year-old and her 100 guests.
The event team hung white balloons in various sizes--7 feet, 5 feet and 3 feet--to suggest Chanel's signature pearls and to visually reduce the height of the 18-foot ceiling.
The entrance had a 20-foot pink carpet with stanchions on each side. The perimeter of the space was defined with pipe and drape in sheer material with a black valance topping it off, in keeping with the tailored style of the boutique.
Eight-foot translucent, lighted towers anchored the entrance, with a custom banner hung from the ceiling bearing the Chanel logo.
The color scheme for the event was pink, black and white. The event team used pink uplights on the white walls and added palm trees in each corner to warm up the space.
A custom birthday sign with the birthday girl's name and birthday date was displayed on an easel at the entrance.
Costco supplied posters and canvas.
Guests are treated to mimosas served catering staff in black dresses and pearls.
Posters featuring quotes from Coco Chanel dotted the room.
A glowing bar for adult beverages.
Garnishes for the drinks were displayed in square glass containers decorated in black ribbon and finished off with Chanel logo.
In the cabana, the children dressed up in pearl necklaces, boas, sunglasses and hats, and had elegant designs created on their faces by an upscale face painter.
Pearl necklaces, diamond rings, bracelets and compact mirrors were available for dress-up.
Children's tables were dressed in pink linens and set with pint-sized white chiavaris and black chargers. Low centerpieces of white hydrangeas and white roses were embellished with pearls and black twigs. Rentals for the event were provided by
Town and Country Event Rentals.
Another view of the children's table.
Tables for grownups feature black chiavaris.
Centerpieces on the adult tables consisted of three different size black ceramic containers with fresh flower arrangements of white hydrangeas, white roses, pearl embellishments and black twigs.
The menu displayed on a food station.
The translucent lighted buffet food station had a projected backdrop of a Paris scene with the Eiffel Tower. The image created a focal point and provided a chic look.
At right, the dessert table.
The dessert array, which included Chanel-inspired cupcakes topped with little 'handbags' and shortbread cookies with the Chanel logo.
Chanel-themed cake pops with the Chanel logo in white and black.
It looks delicious, but this prop cake is made of Styrofoam covered in fondant.
The actual birthday cake.
Guest favors are candy boxes in black with a custom label combining the Chanel logo and the birthday girl's name.
The children's activity table. Along with jewelry making, the children could play in a bouncy house situated outside the 'boutique.'
Another poster with a Chanel quote and an image of the birthday girl.
Rentals:
