Zohe's Plans and Celebrates the Godfather of Birthdays

As an event planner and designer, the WORST event to ever plan is YOUR OWN!

Zohe looked to her Felici Events team and event professionals to help produced her BIG celebration for her birthday. Inspiration came easy for Zohe:

It had to be Italian, simple and relevant
It was to take place at the Santa Barbara Club

Naturally, we created a The Godfather theme celebration to accommodate both requirements above, and also because the movie turned 40 years old as well!

The Santa Barbara Club was were AMAZING to work with, and Zohe's favorite place on earth! From the planning to the execution, it was a first class experience. They created menu, keeping with the Italian theme and Zohe's desire to have a cocktail style reception for her and her guests.

Going back and forth on what to do, what not to do, who to invite, how much to spend, etc. Zohe finally decided to listen to her own event planning advice. "Be True To YOURSELF!" Don't try to please other people. It is something we naturally do as humans, and not what you should be doing for OUR day.

La Bella Musica, titilated the theme with sound of his accordion playing, setting the tone for this Italian Godfather Themed Felici Event.

NLC Productions and Bellavista Designs created a dramatic design to the already impressive Santa Barbara Club, each entity incorporating red. NLC using mercury glass and red roses of floral; and Bellavista Designs providing dramatic red uplights both inside the club and on the patio. Even the venue's moose head got a glam up, coining the name "Moose-olina"

Instead of a guest book Zohe created a madlibs for guests to fill out throughout the night, and turn in. The memories do continue, every once in a while Zohe takes out the madlibs to LOL at her guests' responses.

Gavin Roy threw down some tunes for guest to boogie down, integerating Italian songs from Zohe's childhood, Adriano Celentano.

The Godfather Birthday Theme stayed thru to the sweet ending, with a horse head cake - let's say, it was one of the talks of the night....

Floral and Linen Felici Events - NLC Production

Fireplace NLC Production Decor Roses and crystals

Cheese Platter the Santa Barbara club Felici Events

The Moose and Candles Firelpace Santa Barbar club NLC Production

Horse Head Cake Godfather Birthday Felici Events

Zohe, Sophie and Shelley eyes up blk and white

A HUGE thank you to the talented team to help Zohe along her way and on her special day!

Bellavista Designs - lighting and design expert enhancing the club into the theme with cohesion and detail

Bella Musica! Dick Prato - live accordion player, ambience creator and music maker

Gavin Roy Presents, Gavin Roy - DJ and music guru extraordinaire! He even played Blurred Lines more than once per guest request

Kiel Rucker Photography - capturing moments in time, unobtrusive, fun and knows what he's doing behind the camera

La Tavola Linen - gorgeousness and glamour delivered with a smile

NLC Production - floral and design, mindreader, and therapist to Zohe

The Santa Barbara Club - venue and celebration location as well as deliciousness food and drink and five star service

Your Cake Baker, Wayne Kjar horse head cake maker and everyone still raves about how delicious it was!

Felici Events, the team that helped Zohe produce her vision into a reality, relax on her big day and ensure a flawless experience for all

And a GINORMOUS Mille Grazie to all who came and made Zohe feel special!

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL ALBUM by Kiel Rucker Photography

Peacock Colors + a Garden in the Heart of Santa Barbara

It is no secret that the Santa Barbara Club is one of our favorite venue to produce weddings and special events in Santa Barbara. So much so that Zohe held her 40th Birthday Celebration - Godfather Theme - at this location. In fact, this client attended that event and also fell in love with the venue, thus booking it and having it be a perfect fit for her daughter's Garden Party themed Bat Mitzvah.

We were thrilled to be here working at the Santa Barbara Club, and the theme and colors - so much fun!

We love when guests leave notes and words of wisdom (rather than just a guest book). Leaving it out for guests to share at their leisure throughout the reception or event allows time for all to think about what to say and share a lovely note with the guest(s) of honor. In this occasion we purchased leaves and flowers to keep in theme w/ the event for guests to write on and hang on a manzanita branch.

Felici Events Bat Mitzvah Wishing Cards Write A Wish

A great entertainment for any age, is getting temporary tattoos, flash tattoos or in this case Henna. Here the guest of honor is getting some henna work done by the lovely Dee. When you have a lot of guests, keep the designs simple so that each guest takes up a 10 minute window.

Felici Events Bat Mitzvah Drinks Beverage Garden

A "mockail' bar is a great element to include for the kids. Here we have specialty drinks of Lily's Lemonade and Watermelon Crush. Fun straws add to the festivities.

Felici Events Bat Mitzvah Purple Nibbles

A scrumptious appetizer station for the adults include a charcuterie, cheeses and veggies, with the bread sticks doubling up as decor.

Felici Events Bat Mitzvah Floral Arrangement Table Decor

The adult tables, indoors, had an elegant feel with the gorgeous white, green and dark purple color palate to compliment the aesthetics of the teal and purple linens, and bring the garden theme indoors.

We chose 3 different colors of Dupionique linens within the palate which worked out nicely inside the main dining room.

Felici Events Bat Mitzvah Purple Blue Flowers Table

Felici Events Bat Mitzvah Garden Purple Seating

Outdoors, the kids tables consisted of seated tables with window box centerpieces of greenery and pinwheels and low to the ground wooden tables with cups of Tulips and Lillys (for our guest of honor, Lily). The iridescent dupionique La Tavola pillows matched the linen and tied the design together.

Another fun element was the outdoor furniture (to the left) where both adults and kids were able to lounge on. The seating arrangement by Elan Rentals was perfect for this setting.

Felici Events Bat Mitzvah Garden Purple Lights Balloon

How and why are the kids all seated and attentive?

Felici Events Bat Mitzvah Balloon Purple Pink Green Blue Table Seating Garden

…..Desserts, of course! These mini bundt cakes were a huge hit! We purchased paper decor shaped toppers tied in the garden party theme. We love incorporating the food and beverage into the theme. Most caterers can do this without a problem, rather than having the same ol' same ol' menu, and it does not cost much to bring in touches or a menu that tie in with the theme.

Felici Events Bat Mitzvah Cupcakes Purple Pink Colorful

One of our favorite design elements is how the 'wishing tree' (manzanita tree + floral stems + string lights) turned magical at night, and became a focal point as the sun set and it became dark.

Felici Events Bat Mitzvah Purple Pink Blue Lights Garden Seating

We thanked guests as they left and favors were there ready for them to pick up. Keeping with Lily's Garden Party theme, we had seed bombs (3 per pack) with a lovely thank you card to match the stationary as a moment for guests to remember this magical night. What a great Bat Mitzvah!