ELOISE AT THE PLAZA : A MAGICAL BIRTHDAY PARTY THEME YOUR LITTLE GIRL WILL ADORE

The iconic character from Kay Thompson's beloved children's books, Eloise is the precocious and mischievous six-year-old who calls New York's legendary Plaza Hotel her home. With her adventurous spirit and unique charm, Eloise has captivated generations of young readers, becoming a timeless inspiration for little girls and a perfect theme for unforgettable birthday celebrations.

Step into the whimsical world of Eloise through Louisa's enchanting sixth birthday party! From Eloise-inspired outfits and personalized invitations to elegant decorations and delightful sweet treats, Ashleigh will provide everything you need to plan the most adorable Eloise-themed celebration.

Join us as we explore creative ideas, practical tips, and special touches that will bring this classic children's character to life and create precious memories to cherish for a lifetime. Whether you're planning an intimate gathering or an elaborate soirée, this Eloise birthday party guide will help you design the perfect celebration for your own little Plaza resident!

Meet Ashleigh: The Creative Heart Behind This Extraordinary Celebration

Mother of three delightful little ladies ranging from 1 to 6 years old, Ashleigh and her family reside in the charming landscapes of Connecticut. Her favorite motto—"Life is a combination of magic and pasta"—perfectly encapsulates her essence. Fully embracing the motherhood journey with all its wonders and hurdles, she consistently infuses sophistication and grace into everyday moments. Ashleigh seizes every chance to weave wonder and fantasy into routine experiences, transforming ordinary days into spectacular occasions. Blessed with innate artistic flair, impeccable taste, and boundless creativity, she excels as both a gracious host and masterful event designer. Her natural talent for curating beautiful experiences makes each gathering she orchestrates truly unforgettable.

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Party Planning Insight : A Conversation with Ashleigh on Creating Eloise Magic

Why did you decide on an Eloise themed party ?

The dream of hosting an Eloise-themed celebration for Louisa was born before her very arrival into our world. I had envisioned this particular party, knowing that someday we would bring to life the adventures of Manhattan's most famous fictional resident. 

Since Eloise herself is eternally six years old in Kay Thompson's cherished stories, it felt destined to host this celebration for Louisa's sixth birthday milestone.  

Where did you host the party? 

There seemed no more perfect setting than the legendary Plaza Hotel in New York City itself —Eloise's own stomping grounds—to honor our little girl who shares so many of the character's spirited and imaginative qualities. It made for a small trip, adding excitement to the event.

How did you decorate? 

The Eloise suite replicates the book’s setting. From the pink striped wallpaper to the character’s favourite books and toys on the shelves, no detail goes unnoticed. It was thus easy and seamless to host a perfect soiree in the suite almost as it was. 

Serendipitously there happened to be a collaboration between the Daydream Society’s children lifestyle brand and Eloise right at the time of our own party. It provided the perfect additional party banners, themed decor, paper plates and goodies. The collection seems to be permanent, you can find all the props under their Eloise theme section. 

Given the date, December 29th, there was even a pink Christmas tree.

We also had a custom trunk embroidered with her name made by Petit Keep. It served as decor and will remain a cherished keepsake.

Can you describe the invitations?

The invitations were created by Emilemon Paper Studio. Printed front and back with matching envelopes, they featured the sweetest illustration of Eloise. I ordered them straight online and then had them hand delivered to each guest. 

 

Can you describe Louisa’s party outfit? 

For such a special occasion, the dress had to be up to the level and of course had to twirl. 

Wishing for something more original than the classic black and white pinafore, we designed an exclusive outfit with the Charlotte Sy Dimby team. Crafted in soft pink and white cotton echoing those of the bedroom’s wallpaper, the dress had a classic shape : Peter Pan collar, puffed sleeves and side belts.

The centerpiece was the hand embroidered bodice. After much pondering and experimentation we decided on three iconic symbols : 

• A traditional tea pot which was most fitting since we enjoyed a tea party

• A do not disturb door sign, immediately recognisable reference to the book

• And of course a pink bow which is part of Eloise’s legendary accessories

Underneath, in handwritten like pink lettering featured the sentence "I am Louisa, I'm 6."

Since the party took place in December, we paired it with the pink Eloise cardigan by Rachel Riley and pink La Coqueta tights. Her hair clips were from the Plaza Hotel shop which offers a great variety of choice. The shoes she chose on her own were by Atlanta Moccasins, her favorite pair.

We also had white cotton robes with pink trim monogrammed with each guest's initials from Hill House Home.

Can you talk about the party itself? 

Given the guests’ age, we thought that the girls were still a little young yet for an actual sleepover in the big city so we mimicked a sleepover. 

We started the party with The Eloise tea in the famous Palm Court which instantly set the tone. Replicating the Central park ambiance with lush green plants and palm trees, it has a very grand yet welcoming feeling. We invited the guests’ mums and close family members. We all enjoyed tiers of sandwiches, scones and cakes. The children had Eloise themed china whilst adults enjoyed the regular high tea. We made lots of toasts to Louisa and giggled from beginning to end. Louisa was thrilled to be so well surrounded and felt truly special.

We then made a trip over to Eloise's mailbox and her infamous portrait to take some group photos. The huge dusty pink bow shaped balloon from Miss Lemonade was a major success for pictures.

Next, it was up to the suite for more fun. The girls danced through the corridors and gasped as we opened the hotel room door. In an instant they were transported into Eloise's world.

Wearing their personalised dressing gowns on top of their party dresses, the children were overjoyed at jumping up and down the king size bed. Whilst the Eloise movie was playing on the TV, they played with Eloise's dog (Weenie) and tortoise (Skiperdee) and sang Happy Birthday. 

It was hard to say goodbye but the girls went home and Louisa, her auntie Dragana, her sister Evelyn, and her mom had a night of fun in the suite. We ordered room service, wore our Eloise inspired pink stripe pjs from Hill House Home and were served a special cart of delectable Eloise sweets. We watched both Eloise movies multiple times and wished the night would never end. 

In the morning mommy had coffee from her favorite pink spot, Sant Ambroeus. We ordered room service breakfast too as Eloise most definitely would have done! 

What about the cake?

The cake was from Empire Cake in Chelsea. The flavor Louisa chose was strawberry fields. It was covered with white fondant, with pink fondant stripes and featured fondant bows. The cake had an edible image of The Plaza as well as a 3D Eloise.

Do you have any tips or specific advice? 

It is good to know that the Eloise suite is suitable for 4 people but also offers the attached nanny suite. This is something to consider if you would like to have more people stay and make your party an actual sleepover. 

In our case, we decided on an intimate gathering. We invite four little girls joined by their mothers for tea along with close members of the family : aunt, cousin and a very dear friend. Given the fact we do not live in New York, the children's age and the busy festive season, it turned out to be the perfect number.

As with any party, planning well in advance is key and all the little details go a long way. We scoured the internet and Etsy for party supplies and found some really sweet inspiration. 

What party favors did you have for the guests? 

The custom made Eloise cookies by Elenis were both cute and tasty. 

The goody bags themselves were from Daydream Society and included Eloise stickers, tattoos, nail stickers and a puzzle for each girl. 

The monogram robe was also a special favor to take home. 

What was your favourite moment of the party? 

The absolute highlight for Louisa was that magical first moment when she stepped into the suite. Her eyes widened with pure wonder as she realized she would be staying in 'Eloise's room.' The expression of disbelief and delight that illuminated her face was priceless—a perfect blend of awe and excitement that made every hour spent planning and preparing instantly worthwhile. This sixth birthday celebration transcended being merely a party; it became a cherished milestone that our family will reminisce about for decades to come. Her custom-made Eloise dress has been carefully preserved as a keepsake—a tangible memento of that extraordinary day when storybook fantasy merged seamlessly with reality, creating memories that will remain vivid in our hearts forever!

For more photos and ideas, visit our Eloise Party pinterest board.

Find more inspiration with other Charlotte sy Dimby princess parties.

We also invite you to look at our full party dress collection and our Disney princess inspired dresses.

To plan your special party dress, please send us an email at info@charlottesydimby.com We shall do our best to make your wish come true.