I sat down for coffee with Katie Burnett of Les Enfants Parties, one of the UK’s leading children’s party planners. Katie shares her insights into the world of Les Enfants Parties, from the philosophy that has guided the company for around 15 years to the art of creating beautifully styled celebrations that delight guests of all ages.
Known for spectacular, luxurious children’s parties, Les Enfants Parties has built a reputation for thoughtful styling, meticulous attention to detail, and truly memorable celebrations. I spoke to Katie about how it all began, what makes a Les Enfants party distinctive, and even how she would approach designing a children’s room.
Tell us about the philosophy behind Les Enfants Parties
Les Enfants Parties, like many things, grew organically. I had a background in corporate events and wanted to turn my passion for events into something different. I started by creating parties for friends and families, and Les Enfants expanded from there.
Throughout the course of Les Enfants, around 15 years now, I have always kept the same philosophy: excellence, making those extra-special little details count and, above all, creating a unique, one-of-a-kind party that excites guests of all ages.
What makes Les Enfants Parties unique?
Les Enfants Parties is unique because, not only were we the first to really create such luxurious parties for children, but we have retained our core philosophy.
While many children’s party companies create huge sets and massive props, we tend to focus on a very clean, very detail-oriented scheme and aesthetic. The little details and styling are something that we do very well, and making sure all those hundreds of little individual elements are perfect is what makes a party a Les Enfants Party.
Of course, we can incorporate large props and total room transformations, and we often do, but I would say we are more renowned for our styling and little touches than anything else.
What inspired you to become a party planner?
I’ve always had a love for organisation and creativity, and I think that I almost fell into party planning. As I mentioned previously, I had a background in running large-scale corporate events. I really wanted to do something different and focus on more intimate and fun parties, and created Les Enfants Parties with this in mind.
What tips can you offer for organising a party?
The secret to organising a party is... plan, plan and plan! Having good planning means that on the day of the party, everything can come together smoothly and, hopefully, stress-free.
The first step is to set the date for the party. I think around 2½ to 3 months can be a workable timeframe. From there, the first step is to choose your venue and theme. Remember to think about how you will use the space, and get those invitations out.
From there, work with the various elements that will bring the party together, such as entertainment, catering and styling if you have it, and send clear messages about how you want the party to be.
Work and bounce ideas off the different people you work with, as their knowledge and experience can prove invaluable. From there, make sure everything is on track and, when the big day happens, enjoy it!
If you were to style a children’s room, how would you do it?
Great question! I think that I would love to design a children’s room.
I would love to create a princess-themed room, starting with a wonderful castle bed. The furniture, of course, would have to match. In terms of colours, I think soft pinks, creams and greys would work well. I wouldn’t want it to be overly girly, so the pink would take a back seat, so to speak!
A special thank you to Katie
I would like to thank Katie for sitting down with me and sharing an insight into the world of luxury children’s parties.
With a philosophy rooted in excellence, meticulous styling and the importance of those extra-special details, it’s easy to see why Les Enfants Parties has become known for creating celebrations that are memorable for guests of all ages.
For more information, visit www.lesenfants.co.uk.