This Playful Engagement Party Treated Guests to a Wonderland of Delights
Most people leave summer camp with unforgettable memories and a quirky T-shirt, but Zoe (31) and Dempsey (27) were lucky to have come home with much more: an enduring friendship that later bloomed into romance. The duo stayed in touch after meeting as teens and started dating in 2022.
Six months into their relationship, they bought engagement rings. Not long after, on a foggy and rainy day, Zoe and Dempsey went on a scenic walk through the rose garden at Washington Park in Portland, Oregon. They then ventured to Forest Park, where Zoe proposed to Dempsey below the towering trees, and the two started the rest of their lives together. The couple began planning their wedding but were eager to celebrate with loved ones in some way well before the main event. They settled on a “whimsical wonderland fever dream” of a destination engagement party with bold fantasy and Alice in Wonderland elements. To make this vision come to life, they needed a venue (with an out-of-the-box vibe) that could fit 110 guests. Zoe’s father had previously taken the couple to Petit Ermitage hotel in West Hollywood, California—a visit that left a lasting impression. The couple call the hotel “charming and wonderfully strange,” which made the space, specifically the rooftop, more than ideal for their otherworldly affair.
Zoe and Dempsey needed a professional planner who understood their vision of a maximalist party. “We hired Jessica Carrillo of Art & Soul Events, and we were on the same page immediately,” says the couple. With hues of dusty rose, emerald, electric blue and pale lilac —and the help of talented vendors—Carrillo transformed the rooftop into the site of a dreamy fairy-tale soiree.
On March 9, 2024, guests arrived to an enchanted engagement party full of oddities. With scabiosa, sweet peas, black dahlias and Moab roses, the lush floral installations adorned most of the space. Taxidermy from the couple’s personal collection and bespoke stationery further personalized the event. “A fox, a dik-dik, dried frogs, a wolf and a rodeo mouse were tucked into the floral scenes, creating moments of surprise throughout,” says Carrillo. To create a visual narrative, the couple commissioned a custom toile de Jouy print depicting motifs meaningful to them. Elements such as butterflies, modern tattoo designs, taxidermy, marijuana and Rococo accents creatively informed the quirky characters gracing the print (think: gentleman frogs and joint-rolling women with antlers). The artwork appeared on everything from napkins and menus to signage.
The entertainment and catering were as captivating as the decor. The couple’s pros made the most of every corner of the rooftop’s six distinct areas. As soon as guests stepped off the elevator, a character actor dressed as a gentleman frog greeted and handed them a custom map that outlined the venue’s uniquely named spaces and schedule of events. In “The Gardens” room: a Caesar salad bar, a favorite dish of Zoe and Dempsey’s, and a grazing table with a singing actor in the center. There was a custom old-fashioned Zoltar machine that looked like the couple’s dog in the “Butterfly Bar.” In the “Wiggle Room” a sultry surprise awaited: an immersive femme fatale musical cabaret. Those looking for even more food, drinks and novelties could head to the cabana area and find an “eat me, drink me” bar and interactive cabinet of curiosities. “The Firedeck” was home to the weed bar, and the European pool space had a DJ spinning upbeat tunes as well as performances by fire dancers and a contortionist.
No matter where guests turned, they were in for a treat, with custom flash tattoos for adventurous partygoers and a tintype photo booth for those who wanted a vintage keep- sake. But even though Zoe and Dempsey adored every part of their prewedding celebration, it was the time spent with loved ones that made it extra memorable. “We really loved the last after-party hour, when only our closest group of friends and family remained. It was the perfect end to such a special, once-in-a-lifetime night,” the couple says.