If the holidays are best seen through the eyes of a child, it’s a wonder why Thanksgiving doesn’t typically get the same magical treatment as the year’s other celebrations. Sure, there are the balloons of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. But once the early-morning confetti settles and television screens switch from larger-than-life cartoon characters floating down New York City streets to hours of football, children largely take a backseat.

Case in point: the milestone of graduating from the kid to the adult table. The year that teens and even 20-somethings are finally promoted from paper plates and coloring pages to goblets and fine china is a memorable one, symbolizing a true emergence into maturity. A Thanksgiving presentation into society.

However, this year, we’re flipping the script and placing the kids’ table at the center of the celebration with the help of event designer Angela DiVincenti Babin of Angela Marie Events & Florals.

Rather than a formal Thanksgiving dinner set-up, Babin opted for a whimsical backyard picnic aimed at bringing families together by not only catering to the younger crowd but also encouraging adults to get in touch with their inner child.

“Parties are about everyone. You want to provide a moment and an experience that will be fun for every guest,” Babin says. “When it comes to Thanksgiving, we’re supposed to be giving thanks together but you forget that when the parents are together drinking and the kids are just off doing their own thing.”

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Marrying imaginative details like a rainbow of cakes, oversized flowers and bountiful balloons with sophisticated touches through layered table settings, textured tablecloths and floral centerpieces creates a balance that aims to please all ages. Rather than miniature tables and chairs, Babin opted for all the same height, eliminating the division between kid and adult and encouraging everyone to sit and talk together.

“Kids like to feel important, and when you start putting them at the adult table young, they will grow into those all-important manners sooner,” Babin says. “But I also know we have to be realistic.”

That’s why Babin chose to keep things “uncomplicated.” The outdoor scene embraces South Louisiana weather and encourages kids to run and play. Mismatched napkins and upscale paper plates further the more casual approach, allowing people to sit back, relax and soak in the fun.

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“Why does everything have to match?” Babin asks with a laugh. “I kept asking myself, ‘What is going to make this magical?’ And that came down to color—and plenty of it.”

Moving beyond the tabletops, Babin takes the event décor to the sky, giving guests the feeling of a true immersive experience. Balloons wind up brightly colored umbrellas and fairytale-esque mushroom lanterns hang from trees. To complete the look, strings of rainbow pennants and a sparkling star “chandelier” hang overhead.

“When it comes down to it, it’s the same formula with kids and adults,” Babin says. “People want to be entertained. They want experiences. And this delivers that for all ages.”

VENDORS

Design & Florals: Angela Marie Events & Florals

Venue & Macarons: The Crown Bistro

Rentals: Element

Cakes: Sweet Stirrings

Balloons: Balloonatics of Baton Rouge

Oversized Flowers: A.Peony

Paper Products: Meri Meri

Personalized Name Banners: Built by Nana on Etsy

Children’s capes: Olly Olly/Victoria’s Toy Station