PRINT FEATURE: Harper's Bazaar Junior on Ewan's First Birthday
One year after his first birthday, Ewan's Birthday Party received a small feature in Bazaar Junior's 14th issue in 2014. We threw a Belle & Boo themed party for him at Halia, Raffles Hotel. I know Belle & Boo is somewhat skewed towards girls but I don't know if I'll ever have a daughter to materialise a Belle & Boo party. By hook or by crook, I had to do this. In this generation of ours, emphasis are in place to educate people to remove gender-coding in toys and colours. Blue aren't only for boys and dolls aren't only for girls. So my son is also entitled to a Belle & Boo party without getting judged.
We bought our Belle & Boo supplies from Celebrate Heaven. Napkins, cake toppers, cups, plates and party bags! I decided on the theme some six months before Ewan's birthday party and kept my supplies carefully in the storeroom, making sure they were in perfect condition. I wrote every single invitation card, stamped and snail-mailed them.
As we moved into Ewan's birthday month, I created a series of Belle & Boo Save The Date images that were used on Facebook and sent to individual guests with their table numbers indicated. We used words for the tables instead of numbers actually: Balloons, Celebrate, Belle, Surprise, Boo and Parade. Significant words related to the theme and befitting a birthday party. How can I do so much you may ask? I took it slow and planned his first birthday with a six months timeline. I did not want to rush myself into it and so a little bit of birthday planning work every month should do the trick.
The husband and I decided that there will only be two big birthdays for the kid - the First and the Twenty-First. The rest shall be simple affairs at home. With that, I was determined to find a venue that suit the charming world of innocence, warmth and adventure in Belle & Boo. I wanted a garden setting or at least one that is enchanted with natural daylight and greens. Halia at Raffles fits the bill! It is accessible for friends and family who do not drive, its address is extremely meaningful because it is where I used to work and it is decorated by planted foliage, a collection of wood-carved tables and an abundance of daylight that peeks through the restaurant's classic French windows. In fact, there is a tree in there which is surrounded by a main centrepiece table made from a 150-year old tree. I transformed it into a dessert table with Ewan's birthday cake displayed right at the door for everyone to admire.
We decorated the venue up on our own for Ewan's Sunday Brunch Party. Expecting a crowd of 80 family and closest friends, we catered for a beautiful communal feasting menu where guests have their meals in Asian sharing style whilst enjoying the modern European cuisine that Halia is renowned for. We also set up a play corner for the children at the back of the room. There were ball pits, tunnels, a craft table, games and a Belle & Boo story-telling session [with Belle & Boo Birthday Surprise book no less]. The children went home with walking pets balloons besides their personalised goody bag which was put together to each individual child. What a lot of work! I was very pleased with the events team at Halia who never ceased to follow through with my requirements. I trusted them to print the table menus and tent cards which turned out really pretty.
I remember I used to have durian cakes for birthdays as a little girl and I wanted to extend the same tradition to my first-born. I ordered a Mao Shan Wang birthday cake that I've requested to have it piped in green cream. My vision was to create a rectangular patch of green grass and top the cake up with a Belle & Friends marching parade. The usual "numero 1" was replaced with "O.N.E" just because I wanted to created something unique but keeping the significant year at the same time. However, the celebratory song and blowing out of candles had to wait because the birthday boy fell asleep halfway through brunch.
How can we miss a cake smash finale? I had to do it and everyone were equally excited to watch the mess Ewan was about to create. He was skeptical. Unconvinced that he was allowed to dig his hands into the cake before him. With 80 pair of eager eyes looking at him, I helped with his first smash. Thereafter, all was history. Ewan turned One.
First birthdays are especially special because it also meant I've been a mommy for a year. What a ride it had been. Special thanks to Ewan's grandparents who had been my pillar of support when I needed help at home. Without them, I wouldn't be able to have my three meals on time while struggling to fit into my new role. A big shout out to Aunty Sarah as well who helped with most of the decor work and making sure Ewan had the best baker in town for his Mao Shan Wang birthday cake!
The husband and I decided that there will only be two big birthdays for the kid - the First and the Twenty-First. The rest shall be simple affairs at home. With that, I was determined to find a venue that suit the charming world of innocence, warmth and adventure in Belle & Boo. I wanted a garden setting or at least one that is enchanted with natural daylight and greens. Halia at Raffles fits the bill! It is accessible for friends and family who do not drive, its address is extremely meaningful because it is where I used to work and it is decorated by planted foliage, a collection of wood-carved tables and an abundance of daylight that peeks through the restaurant's classic French windows. In fact, there is a tree in there which is surrounded by a main centrepiece table made from a 150-year old tree. I transformed it into a dessert table with Ewan's birthday cake displayed right at the door for everyone to admire.
We decorated the venue up on our own for Ewan's Sunday Brunch Party. Expecting a crowd of 80 family and closest friends, we catered for a beautiful communal feasting menu where guests have their meals in Asian sharing style whilst enjoying the modern European cuisine that Halia is renowned for. We also set up a play corner for the children at the back of the room. There were ball pits, tunnels, a craft table, games and a Belle & Boo story-telling session [with Belle & Boo Birthday Surprise book no less]. The children went home with walking pets balloons besides their personalised goody bag which was put together to each individual child. What a lot of work! I was very pleased with the events team at Halia who never ceased to follow through with my requirements. I trusted them to print the table menus and tent cards which turned out really pretty.
I remember I used to have durian cakes for birthdays as a little girl and I wanted to extend the same tradition to my first-born. I ordered a Mao Shan Wang birthday cake that I've requested to have it piped in green cream. My vision was to create a rectangular patch of green grass and top the cake up with a Belle & Friends marching parade. The usual "numero 1" was replaced with "O.N.E" just because I wanted to created something unique but keeping the significant year at the same time. However, the celebratory song and blowing out of candles had to wait because the birthday boy fell asleep halfway through brunch.
How can we miss a cake smash finale? I had to do it and everyone were equally excited to watch the mess Ewan was about to create. He was skeptical. Unconvinced that he was allowed to dig his hands into the cake before him. With 80 pair of eager eyes looking at him, I helped with his first smash. Thereafter, all was history. Ewan turned One.
First birthdays are especially special because it also meant I've been a mommy for a year. What a ride it had been. Special thanks to Ewan's grandparents who had been my pillar of support when I needed help at home. Without them, I wouldn't be able to have my three meals on time while struggling to fit into my new role. A big shout out to Aunty Sarah as well who helped with most of the decor work and making sure Ewan had the best baker in town for his Mao Shan Wang birthday cake!
Read the rest of our Bazaar print features here:
- 2015 June Harper's Bazaar
Read Ewan's other Birthday Celebrations:
- Second Birthday, 2014
- Third Birthday, 2015
- Fourth Birthday, 2016
- Fifth Birthday, 2016Read Ewan's other Birthday Celebrations:
- Second Birthday, 2014
- Third Birthday, 2015
- Fourth Birthday, 2016
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A stay at home mum, blogging to widen her social life.
We want to echo the sound of love through our lives to inspire other mothers alike.
We want to echo the sound of love through our lives to inspire other mothers alike.
First birthday is always very special. Your celebration was really grand. Great that it got featured too.
ReplyDeleteFirst birthdays are indeed very special. I'm glad I made it memorable for us all to look back on.
DeleteEwan is looking cutie as always and these milestones makes beautiful memories. Happening mom is featured everywhere and bless you little boy.
ReplyDeleteAww thank you
DeleteThat was a very nice party! That's so much effort put into the party. Ewan has grown to be a fine young man.
ReplyDeleteI was glad everything pulled it off as planned. We even booked a hotel opposite Raffles Hotel for the night so that I can set up the venue in the morning without a mad rush
DeleteHow blessed for Ewan to enjoy his first birthday celebrations at such a swanky place with his loved ones!
ReplyDeleteThe venue is extra special because I used to work at Raffles Hotel for a long time.
DeleteYou have a calling for being a party planner.. maybe you shouldn't let it go to waste and help plan for other parents!! ;)
ReplyDeleteAi @ Sakura Haruka
hahah Thank you Ai but I am motivated only to do it for my own kids. Parents have high expectations when they pay or hand the planning proper to someone else. I cannot take that stress! haha
DeleteYou're really a great planner! I agree with Ai, side line idea!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I need to outdo myself every year leh. That's two birthdays each year and too much for my head already. hahaha
DeleteI LOVE Belle and Boo! What a pretty party! Love it. Side note: You look different with longer hair! I like your current length better :)
ReplyDeleteYa? Current hair better? Good la! Means I'm getting better looking than worst! hahahhhaa
Delete