Leela’s Madeline in Paris Themed Party – 1st Birthday

Madeline Theme Party Ideas

In an old house in Paris that was covered with vines,
lived twelve little girls in two straight lines.
They left the house, at half past nine…
The smallest one was Madeline.

It was an afternoon of delight and fun, as darling Leela Madelen had just turned one!

As far as character birthdays would go, a children’s classic book will always be a hands-down winner; it never fails to make celebrations timeless. The perfect example? Leela’s Madeline-themed 1st birthday fête! By virtue of its stellar writing, fine characters and compelling stories, Madeline continues to resonate with audience decades after the first book was published. With the charmingly impetuous Madeline and her whirlwind adventures, it’s easy to see why this iconic schoolgirl would become a party favorite.

Thanks to the creative acumen of Dianne Khu Designs, the venue looked like it came straight out from a Ludwig Bemelman’s page. True to its theme, the main palette was set in amber, with pops of teal and red for added invigoration. Design elements alternated from cartoon-like sketches, to the Eiffel tower, and to Madeline’s yellow brimmed hat. As a whole, everything looked sophisticated, yet full of energy and details.

Thanks to these snapshots from Happy Folks Studio, we’ll have a quick look at Leela’s first dose of adventure.

Set in Madeline-themed colors, Leela’s invites are simple yet vibrant.

Oooh-La-La! Paris mon amour! Guests are given a teaser on what’s in store for them by the quintessential Eiffel Tower. The sketch-like fonts at the entrance set-up are reminiscent of Bemelmans’ artistic book illustrations.

For the ceiling touch-ups, Dianne Khu Designs opted for some balloon clouds, Japanese lanterns and ultra chic umbrellas.

The main area was set as a semi-panoramic shot of the boarding school. True to the author’s style, the background was designed with distorted shapes and prolific lines; which somehow reminds one of a child’s artworks. Spunky little Madeline is right at the center of the installment, with chock-full of hijinks and antics.

To amp-up the long tables, interesting and charming trinkets were curated to help exude Madeline’s youthful vibes. I absolutely love that instead of being framed, the table numbers were actually written on the yellow hats.

The kids’ tables were hyped with personalized bottle labels and fun activities, with most elements colored in Madeline’s vivid yellow tone.

When it comes to whipping up the perfect celebration cake without a cinch, Sugarplum Pastries is high up on our list. This 3-tiered cake mirrors the stage design, plus more. Madeline, her pet dog Genevieve, and some of her classmates graced Leela’s cake to lend in some exceptional charm. Topping off this sweet masterpiece is the Eiffel Tower, which seals in the feels for our Parisienne soiree.

To satisfy her guests’ sweet fix, a unique desserts ensemble was set-up. Known for their intrinsic attention to details, Sugarplum Pastries had re-created Bemelmans’ beloved characters wonderfully as cupcake toppers, cake pops, sugar cookies and French macarons. Who knew that children’s literature would look (and taste!) this good!

Leela prepared loads of activities for her darling little guests! Aspiring artisans decorated their own cookies and had painting sheets to work on. On the other hand, would-be athletes enjoyed jumping, bouncing and sliding in the giant inflatable castle.

Side-splitting games and some mind-blowing magic amused both kids and kids-at-heart.

Food carts were also stationed to ensure a steady supply of grub.

Apart from the exciting game prizes, Leela had also prepared some utterly delightful ‘Thank-You’ tokens. Kids took home some luggage snack packs and clear umbrellas with cute “Bonjour!” details. Très magnifique!

“We love our bread, we love our butter; but most of all we love each other”. Here’s little Leela Madelen with her doting parents.

Vendors who made it happen:
Full planning and coordination: Party Doll Manila Events // Stylist: Dianne Khu Designs // Photo: Happy Folks Studio // Cake and desserts: Sugarplum Pastries // Activities: The Party Project and Ada’s Wonderland // Food Carts: Potato Corner, Lemon Central, Flow Ice Cream and Mr. Churros // Venue: Discovery Primea