Party, Party!

Big Bang
When my very glamourous friend Ali invited my husband Joe and me to her 40th birthday party, I knew it would be a glitzy affair. Ali organises parties for a living through her company Big Bang (www.bigbangevents.co.uk) and really knows how to do things in style.

I used to be one of Ali's clients. She helped me organise three fantastic balls, each for 800 people, and every one was a stunning success.

Ali and I clicked from our first meeting when we discovered a mutual love of all things Italian (Ali is half Italian), plus a passion for food, clothes, shopping, shoes and, most importantly, having fun!

We also share a passion for our families and love to talk about our children, although Ali's are much younger than mine.

The day I met Ali, she was heavily pregnant with her third child and I remember being struck by her energy, focus and enthusiasm, despite having a bump the size of a whale! That 'bump' is now a gorgeous little girl called Olivia.

30 Pavilion Road
This was the venue for Ali's party, set in very fashionable (and very exclusive) Knightsbridge. It's an elegant town house which is sumptuously decorated, yet still manages to maintain a very welcoming and friendly atmosphere. The service was outstanding.

Divine Decorations
From brightly coloured balloons with silver streamers, to breathtaking ice sculptures (including the bar!), the decorations were nothing short of divine.

You could see the attention to detail and care that had gone into making everything look just right. I especially loved the shoes which were liberally dotted about, providing a lovely quirky element to the whole look.

Karen and Ali
But it wasn't just Ali's 40th birthday party, it was also her best friend, Karen's, whom she's known since she was a baby. Friendships like that are priceless and Karen and Ali both gave emotional speeches about how much the evening meant to them.

The party was a truly fabulous affair and everyone had a good time, so congratulations Ali - you did it again!