Asher’s 1st BIRTHDAY - Peter Rabbit & Mr McGregors Garden

On a private farm in the Southern Highlands we were asked to create a birthday celebration for a very special 1st Birthday. It would be the last 1st birthday in the family. Asher’s 1st Birthday, the youngest of 4 children. All the birthday parties had been special and this one was certainly no exception!! in fact, we wanted it to be epic and unique with little details that made it so truly special.

It started with the Peter Rabbit theme, inspired by the sweetest movie about a rabbit named Peter and his sisters; Flopsy, Mopsy and Cotton-tail, the garden of Mr McGregor and their human friend and resident artist Bea.

The farm had a little vege patch and a wooden fence with a vintage metal gate… this was the perfect setting to create the rest of the scene from the movie with a rustic, vintage twist.

To help frame the space a backdrop was needed and I sketched up and researched the houses from the movie. I chose to work with the talented Daniella from Eve and Co Designs and she sketched up the house and made the files ready for Jo from Jo’s Signs by Design to turn the vision into life… a 3D house. Most backdrops you see I think are usually used inside, where wind and natural elements are eliminated, but not me, this was out in the open and there was a tiny sprinkle of rain on the day. (my beautiful client is very brave when it comes to discussing weather options but she is also realistic and accepted what it would mean if the weather wasn’t on our side - thankfully it was!! as we didn’t have a marquee this time around.

Along with the backdrop I also requested other elements for the scene, sunflower cut outs and the rabbits themselves with the faces cut out so that the children had a fun-park style experience and could get their photo with their faces in place of the rabbits. The welcome sign was a cut-out vintage watering can styled next to a vintage wheelbarrow and hay bale.

Lots of flowers came into the design and were styled in flower pots and tin buckets. To add texture and further enhance the house the flowers at the front of the house were real and made to look as though they were climbing up the wall. The photos taken with the house in the background really set the scene for a truly special setting.

There was a petting farm with rabbits and guinea pigs, little piglets and ducks… the photos with the children feeding them are so super cute! We also had a ‘Peter Rabbit’ entertainer on board and from the feedback he was “incredible” (and has since been booked again). The Peter Rabbit costume had to come from another supplier. The thing about being an event planner is that we work logistics to make things happen that would sometimes be just too much effort… but it is this effort and this determination that makes the difference.

Our client spent time attending to the garden before the party and with freshly plated veges and flowers, the garden beds looked incredible. It was a living scene from the movie. We had a wooden stick in the garden amongst the veges and Peter Rabbits jacket hanging from it (just like the movie, when Peter Rabbit jacket was caught and Mr McGregor used it to scare away the birds… and the rabbits.. don’t worry, Peter Rabbit gets it back). The front gate had a hanging sign and beautiful florals “Mr McGregors Garden”. We had custom signage on drink bottles and on milk cartons that were filled with healthy treats for the children to enjoy. There was custom signage for the drinks and we always look after the catering for both the children and adults in regards to food and beverage selections. For this celebration we worked closely with the creative chef and owner of Art Kitchen, Fiona Pindar, to create a delicious and beautiful menu.

Guests were invited to enjoy their meal on low picnic style tables with neutral colour floor rugs and cushions. The tablescape was important to the overall look of the event. We used earthy coloured napkins, natural rattan plate chargers and hessian cutlery holders with beautiful glassware to add a touch of elegance to the rustic setting.

We had custom hand painted cookies. These were made by one of our former brides, Hannah who, since getting married has started a cookie business. There were adorable.! (Mrs C Bakes)

There was a kids painting station (inspired by Bea, who paints in the movie and loves the rabbits very much). The art easels was from IKEA (our client provided the paper and paints)

The cake was made by our client who always love taking on this role. I think this is a very special and beautiful thing that she does and something that her children can also share in. Being involved in a few select elements of the celebrations can bring in a personal touch and assists in creating and building memories.

When we create something like this there are sketches, lists, many emails, inspo images, colour charts, floor plans, time-lines, phone calls, mood-boards and triple checking… the nearest shop is half an hour away so we must have attention to detail and as every event planner a detailed checklist. The joy is in seeing it all come together on the day. It is like a magic transformation of a space and then when the children arrive, the joy on their faces the excitement - it is beautiful to see. So to have this captured and the memories preserved in time is so important and these images are a credit to the talent that is Joy Augustyn.

This party was delivered with so many talented people involved all who worked hard to turn my vision into reality, to collaborate to realise the dream… we had only 17 days to create, plan and coordinate everything…!