It seems Shannon from Sweet Pea Soirees is at it again! A few weeks ago we featured a fun fairytale first birthday party she styled and this week we’re bringing you a fun Indian jungle themed party. The sweet occasion was for her Daughter Kimsey’s 3rd birthday, and when a child asks for a red and purple party… a mother must deliver! Shannon went with a twist on the usual jungle themed party and instead of using animal prints she incorporated animal shapes, both big and small, and a jungle canopy made of tissue poms & vines. She used those shapes and colors where ever possible and the party turned out perfect! Check out all the cute details below.
I always like to encourage my own children and young clients to select their own party theme whenever possible. This time my daughter requested a purple and red jungle party to celebrate her third birthday. With so many great inspirations for African safari parties out there I wanted to design something a little different – playing off the purple and red color scheme I decided on an Indian jungle theme complete with Asian elephants, Bengal tigers, peacocks, crocodiles, and monkeys. I borrowed a gorgeous shamiana appliqued in bright colors and Asian elephants from our neighbors who spent several years living in India and used this piece as the jungle floor. I created a canopy of paper pom flowers in red, purple, hot pink, and aqua interspersed with green paper vines.
The real wow factor for the jungle room was the animals themselves! I collaborated with Jenna Butler from Little Bit Heart to design custom Indian jungle animals in fantasy colors that we enlarged on corrugated cardboard, embellished with flowers and jewels, and posed around the room. The same animals (in smaller versions) decorated the invitations, birthday banners, place cards, and favor tags intertwined with vines and lotus flowers. Brass elephants, handmade tapestries, and carved wooden animal figures – all from India – completed the décor.
My two daughters dressed as jungle princesses in Bohemian jewel dresses made of multicolored sari material and I adorned their hair with matching silk flower clips. I wanted the children attending the party to become a part of the jungle menagerie itself and found the most adorable felt masks from Mahalo on etsy who made an array of elephants, monkeys, peacocks, crocodiles, and white tigers to coordinate with our theme. Upon arrival the young guests created drums from gold plastic bowls, beans, and animal stickers. Sara Nelkin, an acting instructor and story teller, lead the children in a delightful story time, dancing, and drum jamming session involving their newly made drums and animal masks. Once the animals were all tuckered out it was time to refresh with some lunch and cake (of course!).
The menu was Indian inspired – I ordered samosas from a local Indian restaurant and made the rest of the food myself. Guests enjoyed mango lassis, curried chicken salad with grapes, minted cucumber dip with naan toasts, tropical fruit salad, and kid friendly finger sandwiches. I baked an orange scented coconut cake filled with a pineapple-mango buttercream filling. I decorated the cake with hand-painted cookies custom made to match the animal designs, fondant lotus flowers, and candy jewels. Each guest also received a cellophane wrapped animal cookie tied with ribbon as a favor at their place setting. The table was set with a purple sari table cloth, gold plates, forks, and swirled napkins, and purple, red, and aqua origami lotus flowers. The birthday girl was enthralled with her cake and after lunch the little animals returned to the jungle to burn off some sugar with a jungle boogie!
Photography: The Blonde Photographer | Event Design and Cake: Sweet Pea Soirées | Paper Goods (invitations, placecards, favor tags, large animals, birthday banners): Little Bit Heart | Storytime and Dancing: Sara Nelkin, Impulse City | Cookies: Bees Knees Creative | Dresses and hair flowers: Cheekyla (etsy shop) | Origami Lotus Flowers: maruthi75 | Animal Masks: Mahalo
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Just wanted to say thank you for the awesome feature! We’re always thrilled when we get to work on one of Shannon’s amazing parties (and when Jamie photographs!), this was so fun!
You are very welcome! Loved this party and so happy to share it with everyone!
I love this feature!! You did an amazing job! I was wondering how you made the vines?! They look so cool!