Who needs blooming rose bushes when you have Angela DiVincenti Babin? She and her Angela Marie Events team took notes from Alice in Wonderland for not just the design of Lyla Rutland’s first birthday party, but for the process. Call it method event planning, perhaps. Babin and her team painted the bushes pink by hand-placing pastel roses one by one in the boxwoods that surround the Rutlands’ back patio.

“It was a days-long process,” Babin says, noting that each individual stem had to be prepped with a small tube of water to keep the blooms alive for the duration of the party. “But it was so worth it.”

The party design was filled with details that went far beyond surface level—a glimpse through the looking glass, if you will. Utilizing a pastel color palette to keep the party true to a one-year-old girl, Babin’s design started with bright florals and delicate illustrations by Lydia’s Designer Collective pulled from the invitation suite by Petite Paper Company. From there, it was all about thoughtful layers that hint back to the popular book and movie at the heart of the theme.

“Think about things you can use afterward,” Babin says. Bunny lamps with soft pink shades, carpet tiles perfect for toddler playtime and even whimsical outdoor rugs were all details added with a future life in mind.

Perhaps most integral to the wonderland theme was the winding tea party setup at the center of the celebration. Mismatched tea sets, teacups filled with flowers, stacks of books, clocks, lamps and even on-theme tea bags pull together the table that would have the Mad Hatter fuming with jealousy. Stacked teacup towers were an extra special touch, as they were created for Lyla by her nanny, Bailey Sacco, who runs Instagram and Facebook décor shop, Made by Bailey.

“You want to think about the little things that are simple but really fun and impactful,” Babin notes. “One thing that the guests really got a kick out of was the teacups hanging from the lights in the cake area. It was so simple to create, but it was something people really took notice of.”

Beyond the design details, it was the team of local vendors that brought the party to life. Themed desserts by Sweet Stirrings provided a stunning finishing touch to a catering display by Gourmet Girls. Embellished bars were manned by Fleur de Fizz Bar Catering, with a team turning out themed cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages alike, giving guests of all ages something to indulge in. To remedy the heat, Le Doodle was tapped for organic, and oh-so-sweet, popsicles. Bubble Lady Linda from New Orleans was on hand for games with kids, and even more play was invited in with a bounce house from Jeaux Jumps and a soft play area from Once Upon a Throne.

“When it comes to kids’ parties, especially for really little ones, don’t stress over organized activities,” Babin says. “Let them bounce around—and let the adults do the same. Just enjoy.”

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PLANNER & FLORIST Angela Marie Events / CATERER Gourmet Girls / INVITATIONS Petite Paper Company/Lydia’s Designer Collective / CAKE Sweet Stirrings / COOKIES Brim and Butter / POPSICLES Le Doodle / BARTENDER Fleur de Fizz Bar Catering / BALLOONS Bleaux Up Balloons / RENTALS Once Upon a Throne/Element/Nuage Designs/C’est Bon Event Rentals/Jeaux Jumps / OTHER VENDORS Bubble Lady Linda/Elizabeth Layne Heirloom/Soiree Social/Made by Bailey