I have always believed that when you invite someone to share a day, you are inviting this person on an experiential journey with you, on which you take them by the hand and simply indulge their senses. Perhaps I have always believed that in this busy and sometimes self-centred world, people need to choose wisely how they spend their time, and that they have accepted your invitation mean they are offering you one of the most precious commodities, along with of course, the most important of all, friendship, that which no one should ever take for granted.
I also believe that an invitation should never be random, or convenient, and unless my hands were bound, it should also never be an act of obligation. That you receive an invitation means you are dear to me, that you are someone I’d love to spoil, and you are joy to be around. Being with you makes me happy. It isn’t that complicated, really. With so much noise, interference, pretentiousness, mean-heartedness, and betrayal – just moments before an end of what was a friendship, you begin to see with better clarity that time is too short to spend it with the wrong people…
Money buys absolutely everything, as the world has taught us, but the hands can only do what the heart feels. I have let my hands, not my wallet, take reign of my heart when preparing for my Kitchen Tea/Hen’s Party. My lovely bridesmaid, Sandra and her work associate surprised me with parcel deliveries from Sydney and Melbourne of a host of beauty products and girlie items (thank you!) for the goodie bags we promised the nine wonderful girls I had the most fabulous time with!
To my favourite chicks, thank you making my Kitchen Tea/Hen’s Party so much fun, and so memorable! You girls have been my inspiration through this creative process… Love you all!
The Invitation
Created on Adobe Illustrator & sent via email (click above)
The Program
Starting at 4.30pm, we arrive for pre-massage drinks. Individual private massages by Anna of Mango Massage commence from 4.45pm in the living room. Each of us return to the group, muscles unknotted and mind lagging behind after 15 minutes in la-la land, and the next girl has her turn. Meanwhile, in the dining room, we indulge in an afternoon tea dressed with risotto balls, thai green curry puffs, smoked trout pastries, frankfurts, cheese and smoked salmon platter, seasonal fruit dipped chocolate fondue, gluten free vanilla cupcakes and wine. From 7.15pm, we put on our evening frocks and it’s round the table make-over touch-ups before 7.40pm departure to waterfront Iku-Izakaya, South Melbourne for authentic izakaya fare of yakitori and sushi and sashimi platters, warm Otokoyama sake and wine. We have a private dining room, equipped with our very own ‘cute’ waiter. Concluding dinner at around 10.15pm, we adjourn to Rn’B night @ Khokolat Bar for loads more kampai-ing and dancing!
The Embellishments
From sheets of Christina Re’s Paris Chic Collection paper…
into paper bags for every girl…
Now we have the bags, how should we spoil the girls?
The table, the night before…
In line with the chicken-themed invitation, each chick was bestowed their ‘chicken name’ (click). (Hi Ee Ping…a.k.a Twinkletoes) Seek and you will find (on Google)- these were names given to actual pet chickens, proudly shared on forums by chicken owners 
Perhaps coincidental, perhaps random, or perhaps…aptly chosen. You decide.
In the morning of the day, the table is further transformed….
And no table can be complete without the embellishments and finer trimmings that I know my girls would appreciate! xxx
And this is us…missing a few gorgeous faces here, but there are plenty of group photos in Part 2 of the Hen’s Party! Coming soon!
Photos of Part 2 of Hen’s Party are here!! Link: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=75219&l=12969&id=697411179
