Dia de los Muertos is one of those iconic LA holidays where the coolest kids get to show off their elaborately painted faces and layers and layers of blingy accessories to get that perfect look.
But what’s even cooler is what Dia de los Muertos actually stands for – a way of honoring those who have passed by celebrating everything about life that they loved most. Why not celebrate the living in the same way?
For this Festively styled shoot, we wanted to showcase how to celebrate an October or November birthday with a Dia de los Muertos Birthday Drive By. And in true 2020 style, we wanted to make it safe and stylish.
We celebrate Dia de los Muertos on November 1st, for All Saints Day with “el Dia de los innnocentes” or the day of the children, and November 2nd, for All Souls Day or the “Day of the Dead.”
We caught up with Anais Catalina of Anais Catalina Designs, who was the event planner for our Dia de los Muertos drive-by birthday party styled scene, part of Festively’s Holiday Events and Gift Guide.
As an event planner, Anais specializes in weddings, day of coordination and stylist. She also owns Galagals curious where she makes custom headpieces. These crowns are so popular, they are all sold out on Etsy, but they will soon be featured on Festively! And she also runs a Photo Booth where she features lots of fun and unique props.
Anais was excited to plan Festively’s Dia de los Muertos scene because she knew exactly what she wanted to do. She was also thrilled to work with amazing vendors to bring the scene to life.
To set the scene:
- First, she imagined it was someone’s birthday, and whoever’s party it was needed to sit on a throne.
- Next, she also needed a place to display all the beautiful treats. She used a simple shelf and layered it with beautiful florals and trinkets alongside the food.
- Since it was Day of the Dead, she knew she needed some type of arch, because as tradition has it, that’s where the souls go through to the next life.
Anais explained that traditionally, you display certain foods like pan de muerto, sugar skulls, along with the dearly departed’s favorite foods. Also add trinkets that remind you of them.
Cotton candy by Twisted for Sugar.
The most important part of the Dia de los Muertos decor is the Ofrenda. Anais says that for Christmas, you have a Christmas tree for a month. For Day of the Dead, she puts out her offenda for the entire month.
To create an offenda, she recommends putting out vintage photos of loved ones who have passed, adding marigolds (real or fake) with tea lights all around. You can put this all on a single shelf or several layers of shelves.
Along with vintage photos, flowers, and candles, you will need an arch. You can either go big with balloons or use something smaller that bends, such as paper flowers or paper picado.
Be sure to add any mementos from your loved ones, such as their favorite hat, or their favorite foods like enchiladas, and drinks like a glass of wine, bottle of gin, or tequila,.
You can also get festive and create a community ofrenda at an event or at work. You can invite guests or co-workers to bring photos of their family members to share as well. In many communities in Mexico, offends are set up at churches, schools and in the community for everyone to celebrate together.
At the Festively styled shoot for the Holiday Guide, we had amazing music from Chasity Ashley, who brought Coachella to the streets! It was an honor for her to be there and her skull bone body suit was perfect.
For a traditional Dia de los Muertos, Anais says a nice remembrance of your loved ones is what matters most. It is a great way to honor those who have passed on.
Anais is now offering rentals and mini set design as part of her services. Check out her eclectic pieces on Festively soon!
