A Storybook Korean Dohl Celebration

This sweet first birthday party combines traditional heritage with all things pretty! We can’t get enough of the personal details and color palette, and what a cool way to celebrate!

Charlotte’s 1st birthday party was just about as sweet as you can imagine. The celebration was a traditional Korean Dohl – the milestone celebration of a child’s first year of life.

The event included prayers for Charlotte and traditional Dohl elements including Korean rice cakes, gold jewelry and a Doljabi ceremony. The design for Charlotte’s Dohl started with her hanbok (the traditional Korean dress) that was brought back from Seoul by a family friend. Charlotte’s event designer mom used the colors of the hanbok as the jumping off point for the decor.

From the backdrop in the perfect shade of pale pink to the floral installations to the desserts, a color palette of pink, cream and touches of gold and green were carried throughout.

Charlotte spent most of her first year donning bows (hair will come later in her life) and with her favorite Cuddle and Kind doll so those two elements played another important role in the celebration. Naomi commissioned illustrations of Charlotte with her doll that graced the invites, signage and guest tables and bows made their way into the day on the cake, Charlotte’s party dress and the petit fors.

The celebration was rounded out with a fun guessing game of what Charlotte would choose during the Doljabi (a traditional Korean custom where it is believed that the object the child selects will represent the child’s future) and a showstopping 3-tiered birthday cake with bas-relief sugar flowers tied with Charlotte’s signature bow. The perfect day for a sweet girl to celebrate the rest of her life.

Vendors Instagrams:

Event Design and Planning:

@naomipak

Photography:

@bonniesenphotography

Florals:

@floralandbloom

Custom Illustrations and Signs:

@frmthebear

Calligraphy and Invitations:

@peachandpaperie

Cakes and Macarons:

@bttrcrmbakeshop

Cookies:

@paperlattes

Linens:

@latavolalinen

Custom Name Sign:

@letterstou

Photography: Bonnie Sen | Event Design and Planning: Naomi Pak | Florals: Floral & Bloom Designs | Calligraphy and Invitations: Peach + Paperie | Cakes and Macarons: Buttercream Bakeshop | Cookies: Paperlattes | Custom Illustrations and Signs: MLK Studio | Custom Name Sign: Letters To You | Linens: BBJ La Tavola