If you know all the words to “Smelly Cat,” if you have firm opinions about whether or not Ross + Rachel were in fact on a break, or if you hear “So no one told you life was gonna be this way…” and react with an instinctual *CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP* then you have found the right corner of the internet, my Friends-loving friend.
Friends – the beloved NBC sitcom following the NYC antics of buddies + neighbors Monica, Rachel, Phoebe, Chandler, Ross, and Joey – aired from 1994 to 2004 and captured the hearts of literally everyone who had a TV along the way. And, thanks to reruns + streaming it’s still a go-to fave for so many.
When party-creating genius Kelsey Klos – one of the founders of House of Fete – put together this fab Friends-themed birthday party for her daughter Brennan, she definitely didn’t skimp on details + references that any fan of the show will adore.
“As an avid Friends fan, it was so much fun to take our favorite parts of the series and translate them into a birthday party,” Kelsey says. “We had everything from Build your own Smelly Cat, to We Were on a Break Kit Kat bars in Central Perk. The birthday cake was a cheesecake (Obviously!), and pretty much every inch of decor related to the show. The birthday girl sat in an orange chair, in front of the purple door and indulged in all the party treats and birthday wishes.”
“Making a comfort show into a party really is the key to happiness,” Kelsey says. We’re so glad planning this birthday bash brought her joy, cause it definitely put a smile on our faces. We’ll try to be chill about all of her clever references, but no promises.
So grab a coffee from Gunther, tap into your inner unagi, and prepare to fall head over heels to this love letter to all things Friends.
We’ve gotta say it: Kelsey Klos has truly mastered playful maximalism. Everything she makes — from her unforgettably parties to her screenshot-worthy content — is like a joyful, colorful page from an I Spy book.
Diving into all of Kelsey’s episode-inspired touches is like a treasure hunt for the true Friends fan, and we are so excited to give you a peek with these photos from Dani Lacey. There’s something for every level of Friends lover: Monica’s classic purple door with its yellow peep hole picture frame for the casual viewer as well as a Sweet N’ Low chandelier and ATM vestibule gum for the real insiders.
These invites from Itsy Bitsy Parties immortalized Central Perk’s famous orange couch and included nods to the chick + the duck, Rachel’s 18-page letter to Ross in “The One With the Jellyfish” (season 4, episode 1) and her job at Ralph Lauren, and Monica + Chandler’s love story!
Grab a pack of classic sticky name tags to follow in birthday girl Brennan’s footsteps and pay tribute to Ross’s double name tag moment in episode 15 of season 5, “The One With the Girl Who Hits Joey.”
Primary color umbrellas! What a cute reference to the show’s famous opening credits!
“Paperie Off Park painted a gorgeous fountain from the opening scene of the show,” Kelsey says, “and I used that as the backdrop to the Smelly Cats the girls stuffed and took home as their party favor.”
“Smelly Cats” from The Happy Stuff made perfectly plush favors…
…and were such super-cute wink to Phoebe’s most famous song.
The Smelly Cats went home with their new owners in adorable canvas drawstring bags adorned with Friends-related pins + patches from Stoney Clover Lane and Kellschic.
Fans will recognize The Velveteen Rabbit and the pen as the gifts that Chandler + Joey get Cathy for her birthday in “The One With the Dirty Girl” (season 4, episode 6) and Love You Forever as the book that Joey reads for Emma’s 1st birthday present in “The One With the Cake” (season 10, episode 4).
These adorable cup party hats (and all of the party’s playful cup details!) are SUCH a fun tribute to Phoebe’s kooky contribution to Rachel’s birthday party in “The One Where Rachel Smokes” (season 5, episode 18).
“House Of Fete did a mini Friends photoshoot a few years ago,” Kelsey says, “so we already had THE purple door.”
“We added an orange chair that looked just like the famous couch. Behind the chair, hung a little gallery wall, I used some iconic friends things like a magna doodle, and a print from Joey and Chandler’s apartment.”
How could we forget the time a delicious cheesecake showed up to Monica’s apartment by mistake in “The One With All the Cheesecakes” (season7, episode 11)? Kelsey even included the bakery they mention in the show! And of course a fork — a super cute one from the polka dot silverware set by Pink Antlers — to commemorate Joey eating the infamous cheesecake off the floor.
This gorgeous cheesecake from Michi’s Cakes looks just as good as Mrs. Braverman’s cheesecake from “big cheesecake conglomerate” Mama’s Little Bakery, Chicago, Illinois!
“Even the table cloth on the cake table meant something,” Kelsey says. “I used a sheet on a wooden table and leaned into ‘The One with the Apothecary Table’ (season 6 Episode 11). Itsy Bitsy Parties created a reversible tag- one side reading Pottery Barn, and the other from the Antique Store.”
“I framed an old Friends illustration of the cast that I ripped out of a magazine when the show was still on prime time,” says Kelsey of this colorful addition to the photo-op corner.
This plush orange chair from The French Eclectic really was the perfect nod to the show’s Central Perk couch.
Even the fare was Friends-inspired, shares Kelsey: “We ate Joeys Special (aka two pizzas), Rachel’s Thanksgiving trifle + fried chicken ice cream from Life Raft Treats.”
The One With The Tablescape
“The table was packed full of iconic details,” Kelsey says of this inspired spread full of party goods from Daydream Society and Jollity & Co.
Those purple door napkins were a Suburban Soiree x Kelsey Klos creation, and the adorable felt garland came from Pearl & Jane.
“Above the table hung Sweet ‘N Low packets raining down onto the table,” says Kelsey, “which was such a fun detail from “The One where Nana Dies Twice” (season 1, episode 8)!”
“I started with a Shop Sweet Lulu plate and used a Cricut to write “Joey doesn’t share food” on each one,” says Kelsey of the place settings’ clever DIY nod to “The One With the Birth Mother” (season 10, episode 9).
Could we BE any more in love with that embroidered FRIENDS tee from Mojo Provo?!
“For the cups, I wanted to use them to add the primary colors from the dots of the logo,” Kelsey shares. “I did not want the primary colors to be too aggressive, so using red, yellow and blue cups added subtlety.”
“I found these incredible woven lobster napkin rings, so I added a white linen napkin and lobster on top,” explains Kelsey of who she chose to add a reference to the symbol for soulmates that Phoebe coins in “The One With the Prom Video” (season 2, episode 14).
How fun are these Friends-coded swizzles from Acrylic Sticks!
Feel like reveling in some more of Kelsey’s party planning magic? Check out a few more of her girls’ incredible parties like this coastal Italian backyard birthday party, this Taylor Swift inspired birthday party, and this breakfast-themed birthday party!
“The kids might not have know all about Friends going into the party,” says Kelsey of the party’s pint-sized guests, “but they were fans leaving.”
They even had a little Relaxi Taxis for snacks!
…or, if you asked Rachel, a Relaxi-Cab, like taxi-cab.
Birthday Treats at Central Perk
“I turned our bar into Central Perk,” Kelsey says. “This was my favorite part. I covered the back wall with brick wrapping paper to give it the vibe, and covered our wine cooler with a green stripe shower curtain.”
“This is where we went really custom with the details. Itsy Bitsy Parties created a custom sign to look like the coffee shop.”
Themed cookies from Royally Iced Sweets popped in the playful sweets display.
These custom packs of gum were such a fun reference to Chandler’s awkward interactions with supermodel Jill Goodacre in “The One With the Blackout” (season 1, episode 7).
Can we take a sec to talk about how amazing Kelsey’s purple + orange aura nails look!
“Itsy Bitsy Parties created Mockolate Chip Cookies (from “The One With the List” – season 2, episode 8, ATM Vestibule Gum (from “The One With the Blackout” – season 1, episode 7), We Were on a Break Kit Kat Bars, and Toblerone’s (from “The One Where Everybody Finds Out” – season 5, episode 14),” says Kelsey of the treats that Brennan’s buddies stuffed their goody bags with.
Speaking of goody bags! Kelsey shares the finishing touches of the party’s Central Perk setup: “I styled everything on cake stands and made “Crap Bags” (from “The One with Princess Consuela” – season 10 episode 14) for the kids to fill with all their candies!”
Displaying a print of the poster that hangs behind the TV in Monica’s apartment was such a fun + immersive detail!
What would a Friends-themed party be without a round of apartment-swapping trivia from “The One With the Embryos” (season 4, episode 12)!
Congrats on such a fabulous Friends-themed party, Kelsey! And happy birthday to Brennan! We’ll def be dreaming of this detail-filled celebration on our next rewatch!
Featured in This Wedding
Dani Lacey Photographs
Itsy Bitsy Parties
Interested in becoming a GWS Preferred Artist? Apply Here.
Other Vendors in This Wedding
Event Design: House Of Fete // Handmade Details: KELSEY KLOS // Cake: _michicakes // Desserts: Royally Iced Sweets // Furniture Rentals: The French Eclectic // watercolor artwork: Paperie Off Park // acrylics: Acrilic Sticks // party goods: Shop Sweet Lulu // party goods: Daydream Society // party goods: Jollity & Co. // napkins: Suburban Soiree x Kelsey Klos // Smelly Cats: The Happy Stuff // garlands: Pearl & Jane // FRIENDS tee: Mojo Provo // favor bag decor: Stony Clover Lane // favor bag decor: Kellschic // tag: Chalk Designs By Me // fried chicken ice cream: Life Raft Treats // cutlery: Pink Antlers
