Raise your hand if you’re excited for the new Barbie movie in theaters later this month! What a cast, right? As you can imagine, any party with a modern Barbie theme is pretty much required to be over-the-top, and mama Kristen Dimond had no shortage of ideas when it came to her daughter Piper’s 8th birthday. We’re talking spa treatments, a dessert spread that could rival some of the weddings we’ve shared, a scent-mixing bar, “sleep under” teepees to give it a sleepover party vibe, and even an outdoor yoga sesh. And it all comes neatly packaged Mattel-style with an electric candy-colored palette and some seriously creative Barbie-themed details. Are you ready? Let’s go party!
How fun are these treats?! Sugar Crush Sweets absolutely killed it with the Barbie birthday cake and sweets, and Sheila Mae jazzed up the dessert bar even further with gorgeous on-theme cookies and cupcakes.
“Sleep Under” is the New Sleepover Party
If you caught the pretty moon and stars themed “sleep under” we shared a few weeks back, you may recognize this new trend in sleepover parties! They offer up all the fun of a traditional sleepover party (perhaps more even!) without having guests actually spend the night. Details like tipis and sleep masks and activities that run all afternoon ensure that everyone gets a chance to play and bond with one another like they would at a real slumber party.
Kristin says, Our birthday girl, Piper, had been asking for a sleep “under” with friends from school for the past year, so we knew we wanted to plan a “sleepunder camp” theme in some form for her 8th birthday. When we saw the trailer for the new Barbie movie coming out this summer, just like the tag line for the movie, Barbie became EVERYTHING at our house, and the “Camp Barbie” theme was born.
If you’re to pull off an authentic sleep under, you’ve gotta have a cozy space for the birthday girl and her pals to hang!
Barbie Party Decorations
OMG, how fun is this Barbie box for a photo booth situation? Too cute!
Piper really wanted the party to feel like a camp sleepover that Barbie herself would have planned, so lots of bright balloons and backdrops from The Pop Shop in shades of pink, teal, purple and gold were a must, as was a Malibu-esque Camp Barbie logo that Poppy Jack Shop created for us, consisting of palm trees and a sunshine-over-the-ocean horizon, which we included throughout the party. Our florals by MV Florals consisted of stunning, bright blooms that incorporated the palms, while having a 90’s Barbie feel to them, and a colorful palm leaf-covered dessert table. Each guest had her own personalized Barbie-themed tent with beauty products, a sleep mask, a “dream journal” to express herself creatively, and a “Besties” Barbie tee shirt by Pixie Lane.
As if that dessert bar wasn’t incredible enough, The Jolly Sheep provided a churro cart, popcorn, and cotton candy for guests to nosh on.
Can’t forget the Kens! Kristin says, After seeing the meticulously-styled Barbie boxes at the World of Barbie experience in Santa Monica, Piper and I styled ours with go-to pink items that every Barbie fan loves – shoes, purses, sunglasses, and sporty details like sports visors and tennis rackets.
8th Birthday Party Activities
The activities at this sleep under were truly endless! They chose a variety of Barbie-approved birthday activities, like making rainbow s’mores, floating through a balloon-filled bubble “dream house,” and practicing Barbie yoga from Camp Lila, where each guest had the chance to glitter paint her own yoga mat.
To add even more Barbie luxury to the day, they included facial, manicure, and glitter beauty stations, and a “mix-your-own-dream-scent” station by Burbank-based Phoebe Peacock’s Mobile Mixtress.
These gals truly knew how to dress the part!
This party really brought out the creativity in us, and consistent with the Barbie mantra, we wanted Piper and her friends to feel like they could be and do anything!
Best day ever? We think YES! If you’re in SoCal, be sure to bookmark these incredible event pros for any upcoming parties you might be planning. And don’t forget to use our new party planning resource, MatchBook, to quickly and easily source vendors for your next event or photo shoot.
Photography: Alison Bernier ǀ Design + Planning: Kristen Dimond ǀ Cake + Desserts: Sugar Crush Sweets ǀ Cookies + Cupcakes: Sheila Mae | Balloons, Backdrops, + Barbie Box: The Pop Shop ǀ Florals: MV Florals ǀ Acrylic Details: Creative Amme ǀ Logo + Paper Details: Poppy Jack Shop ǀ Tents: WonderTent Parties | Churro Cart, Cotton Candy, and Popcorn: The Jolly Sheep ǀ Perfume Bar: Phoebe Peacock | Rentals + Glitter Station: Teak and Lace ǀ Facials + Manicures: Spa Go’s | Yoga + Paint Activity: Camp Lila | Bounce House + Bubble House: In a Bubble Co. | Catering: Chef Nekia Allen | Barbie “Besties’ Tees: Pixie Lane
