We recently helped celebrate Ender’s 1st birthday with a beautifully styled Dohl (Korean first birthday) in Orange, California — and this one was all about bold color, smart design, and thoughtful hosting.
Elevated Backyard, Elevated Style
The event was held in a stylish backyard setup that blended function with design — perfectly suited for a summer party. Christina, Ender’s mom and a seasoned host, brought a refined vision to life with a modern, almost editorial feel.
She chose a deep turquoise and taupe color palette — a fresh take on boys’ birthday themes that felt mature, intentional, and on-trend. These colors appeared throughout the decor, especially in the balloon garland, signage, and soft details around the party space.
Our Setup: Modern + Covered
We brought in our 3-in-1 white bounce house with the built-in ball pit and slide, paired with a custom balloon install featuring two side garlands framing a center panel. The design was clean and symmetrical — made to feel modern but still playful.
One of the smartest moves Christina made was to cover the balloons with umbrellas — protecting the garland from the sun and helping maintain color and structure through the heat. It was over 90 degrees that day, but everything held up beautifully thanks to good planning and shade coverage.
Typography Matters: Custom Lettering
The graphic lettering on the central panel was another thoughtful detail: a classic serif font featuring the Korean characters for “First Dohl” next to Ender’s name. It tied the entire setup together — blending tradition with modern design in a subtle, impactful way.
It’s details like this that elevate an event from cute to timeless.
A Dohl Done Right
This celebration had all the right elements: meaningful tradition, smart design, modern colors, and practical decisions that made a hot summer day feel cool and collected. We were proud to be part of Ender’s milestone celebration, and even prouder to see how soft play and bounce house setups can complement elevated cultural events like this.
What Is a Korean Dohl?
A Dohl (also spelled Dol or Doljanchi) is a traditional Korean celebration that marks a child’s first birthday — an important milestone in Korean culture. It honors the child’s health, future, and the support of the community during the first year of life.
These events often include symbolic items, traditional attire like the hanbok, a decorated table called the Doljabi, and modern touches like balloon garlands and play areas for guests. While deeply rooted in tradition, many families now blend cultural elements with personal design choices, creating celebrations that are both meaningful and beautifully styled — like Ender’s Dohl.
See More From This Event
We captured photos and video from this celebration, and they’re worth a look. You can check them out over on our Instagram post here — a perfect example of how intentional design meets modern family celebration.
