Gonzo's Carnival-Themed Party and What Makes A Grand Party Great Fun!

The jolly jester balancing on a ball - an awe-inspiring centerpiece for this carnival party.

Achieving a perfect party isn't always about how much money was spent. It's about how much fun hosts and guests have together.  There are grand parties that are spectacular in scale, with no expense spared - that don't necessarily mean great fun for guests... I've attended quite a few of these frenzied mega parties where buffet lines are of theme-park proportions, or seats are scarce, and hosts are too busy - that all you have is a short hello and good-bye, and the guests leave feeling tired.  On the opposite end of the spectrum, there are simple parties that are intimate, and comfortable, with familiar food and nothing too fancy, which end up giving guests a very relaxed and enjoyable time nonetheless, despite the lack of a wow factor, everyone leaves feeling good, but the party itself is nothing new, nor great.  On rare occasions, there are perfect parties that strike a delicate balance between being grand in scale, but still intimate in execution - a party that amazes and excites, as it relaxes and enables quality bonding time. A party that exposes one to new things, and awakens their little inner child, and turns a party space into one giant playground where parents and children alike, friends and family, in a magical moment, are all equally induced into a precious playful state. 

Yesterday, we attended one such party. It was one resounding success! I am going to enjoy recounting in several blog posts what made Oliver and Jennie Diaz's first birthday party for their son Gonzo one big, happy, afternoon at the carnival!  For now, I am going to talk about the fantastic decorations that really set the mood!

The whimsical carousel horse centerpiece.

From the moment we walked into Pavillion B at Wack-Wack Country Club, we knew we were in for a treat.  The towering centerpieces were whimsical carnival figures - a jester balancing on a ball, a carousel horse on its pinstripe pole, they were fun to look at, without being obstructive. Some voluminous centerpieces tend to inhibit conversation as they block the line of sight from one side of the table to the opposite end, I do recall several occasions at formal parties where guests literally moved tall vases of flowers out of the way - but not these centerpieces! They were fabulously guest-friendly in form and function, their placement was perfect: in full-view without being in-your-face.  The colorful balloons as well, hanging from the ceilings, and on the tables:  they were artfully positioned, to set the festive tone, without being too much.  They were within reach, but out of the way, suspended above our heads on invisible strings.  Hovering alongside the balloons, is a curious creature, a jester milling about precariously on stilts.  He strategically positioned himself in a corner of the room where he wouldn't trip on chairs and tables, and he functioned as a visual marker to announce to the guests the presence of two awesome features not to be missed in this quiet corner of the room: a baby carousel for little children, and a candy cart from Candy Corner.  For a moment, Narra looked like Alice in Wonderland, just right after she took a sip of magic potion and shrunk into a tiny thing next to the jester-on-stilts.  She was enthralled as she looked up at the man smiling down at her from the ceiling! She was thrilled with the ride-all-you-can carousel-for-kids, and of course, the candy! 

Narra and yaya Vanna next to the jester-on-stilts.

It was Guijo's first time to ride on a carousel on his own.  The little carousel is designed for babies, so his tiny feet could reach the foothold. We saw that his grip on the handle bars was tight, so after a few confidence-building practice rounds, we finally let him go. That was a milestone right there, for me. I thought this carousel was a nice touch, a thoughtful gesture to offer a fun activity for baby guests, and I am one appreciative mama. Finding ways to entertain various age groups is no small feat, and I am amazed that not one kid fussed at all during the party! There were no tantrums and tears, no fits and fights, and no sleeping kids either, even if the party was during nap time! That's a miracle in itself!  

Guijo's ride on his baby carousel horse.

Now, the jester-on-stilts wasn't just hovering around for display - he had an all important role to play for the climactic balloon burst towards the end of the party. His was the unenviable task of popping the giant balloon hanging from the chandelier in the center of the pavilion.  Various colored smaller balloons are inside, and kids (and their indefatigable parents and yayas) are invited to catch balloons which entitles them to claim a prize.  It was an exciting moment, as the jester gingerly approached his spot in the middle, carefully avoiding stepping on little children.  He had a pick in his hand, which didn't seem sharp enough coz it took several stabs before the giant balloon finally burst.  The suspense was palpable as we all watched his attempts, stab after stab, and when at last, he succeeded with his task, all hell broke loose - it was a melee of arms and legs, I saw my baby's head popping up and down, as his yaya Jen bent down to catch a red balloon, then a green one. 

The jester on stilts moments before the balloon burst.

I loved how the decorations were integral to the afternoon's activities. They weren't merely inert backgrounds that just "stood" there, but were functional elements that invited participation and interaction from guests.   This is likewise the case for the party's piece de resistance - the most outstanding decoration of all: the grandest birthday cake ever! (I plan to write a separate blog post just on that cake and how it made me feel!).  Gonzo's cake was a tower of fun, fun, fun!  And it begged to be admired, beckoning spectators to come close to better appreciate its details. And it wasn't the usual "off limits" cake that you can't touch. At this perfect party, one can have the cake and eat it too!  There were many elements available for easy access. One could harvest mini cupcakes, choco-lollipops, cookies on sticks, and edible sugar treats in the shapes of stars, discs, tents, and clowns - it offered a "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" moment for all of us. 

Excellent hosts: Oliver and Jennie Diaz, and their cause for celebration, Gonzo!

There's a kind of magic money can't buy. What made this party grand were the preparations, but what made it great fun was something beyond the stuff professional party planners provide. Yes, they provided the amazing decor, and the rides, the games and activities, the hosts and performers, etc. etc.,  but those things on their own cannot guarantee how the guests would feel.  There was something pure about that afternoon's celebration. It didn't feel like a show-off's bonanza where the guest is envisioned to be a spectator, and only a spectator.  This was the kind of party where everything was tastefully done, in appropriate proportion and gracious execution. It may look extravagant in pictures, but it didn't feel that way - nothing was wasteful or superfluous - everything felt just right, and suitable given the hosts' specific context.  We know how this couple invested in their education and trained for years to become doctors, and how they took business risks and and worked hard to build their enterprise - and we know how they waited for their bundle of joy to come, and when at last Gonzo arrived, and had a healthy and happy first year, we celebrate with them, truly, happily, honestly.  You know this great big party is an expression of love, and joy, and thankfulness for the awesome gift that having a child is. And it reminds one not to take things for granted - it reminds one to cherish the miracle of having children.  It's the kind of party that makes one feel grateful.

Oliver's barkada from Ateneo days, with wives and kids.

And we felt that all-too-important message pervading the air. Everywhere one looked, parents and children were all smiles, bonding with each other well.  I saw my husband's barkada from childhood, now with children too, there was something about their youthful demeanor that made me imagine them as playmates at Ateneo's grade school playground.  That's what makes a great moment - one that taps into a part of the brain where happiness dwells - and time periods are conflated - from a playground in 1982 to a children's party in 2012 - a thirty year gap collapses, and I catch a glimpse of a perpetual image, of little boys and their lifetime of friendship.   

And so it was. We went to a grand party, and it was great fun. And we were all happy, for Gonzo and his parents, or should I say, even more appropriately - we were happy WITH them, because they invited us to partake of their celebration. Thank you Oliver and Jennie - your party for Gonzo was something truly special. May God shower your lovely family with even more blessings, now and always :-D 

Related Posts:

The Towering Carnival Cake and Custom Crafted Candy for Gonzo's 1st Birthday

http://nikki-mama.blogspot.com/2012/07/carnival-themed-cake-and-custom-crafted.html