Bonjour Fete

I’m a devoted lover of celebrations: birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and anything that gives me an excuse to restock my desk drawer with decorations, cards, and other trinkets. I am also all about clean, cohesive aesthetics, so when I walked through Bonjour Fête’s signature pink door, it was love at first sight. From the color-coordinated shelves to the tables full of gifts and décor, Bonjour Fête is the party planning boutique of my dreams.

I spoke with Rachel Huntington, owner and Chief Creative Officer of Bonjour Fête, to learn more about this business and the mother of two behind it all.

Bonjour Fête (“Hello Party” in English) has two stores in Los Angeles, but the French-inspired name and branding pay homage to the idea’s true birthplace: Rachel’s Montreal home. In 2014, while planning her own daughter’s birthday, she realized there was no single place to go to for party supplies. As any mother knows, there’s hardly enough time as it is to get everything ready for a kid’s special day, whether that be a first birthday or a get-together with all their classmates. Tacking on multiple trips to several stores didn’t make being a parent any easier, so Rachel created a solution: a one-stop-shop for any parents’ party planning needs. Rachel sourced products from all over and created a curated collection of party supplies in the basement of her own home.

What started as a solution to her own party planning needs grew into a business idea when she noticed how excited her friends were to see such a diverse assortment all in one place. They moved to LA in 2016 and, within just three months, Bonjour Fête’s first brick-and-mortar store in Studio City opened its doors. Transitioning from the “de-facto” party planner for her kids to creating a business around it was no easy feat, but Rachel’s endless passion coupled with the long hours she put in made it work.

By taking a big risk of starting out with a storefront, Rachel opened herself up to the possibility of big rewards, which is exactly what happened! Face-to-face interactions became one of the things her business thrived on and her favorite part of it all. Seeing the look on customers’ faces when they walk through the door for the first time never gets old, and they often leave overjoyed that Bonjour Fête’s passionate team helped them find their inspiration.

With any new business venture comes unexpected challenges, and, much like the rest of the world, Rachel and her team didn’t foresee the pandemic and the impact it would have on businesses everywhere, small and large. With canceled events, smaller get-togethers, and stay-at-home orders, Bonjour Fête’s business came to a standstill when the pandemic hit. Thankfully, her business is back in full force. Many people are still erring on the side of caution and hosting smaller celebrations at home, which is exactly what her business caters to.

Through Bonjour Fête, Rachel hopes that anyone can come in and feel inspired to create something special. She loves being a part of people’s milestones and holding this small, unique role in people’s lives. Whether that means being the first to know the sex of a baby, knowing about an upcoming engagement, or being honored to help with celebration of life parties, Rachel and her team value the moments that her store allows them to be a part of.

This year, Bonjour Fête is launching their long-awaited own line of products. And that’s not all for this small business - Rachel sees her Bonjour Fête continuing to grow, and hopes to expand to stores in cities around the country.

For your next DIY party, you can find Bonjour Fête at their Studio City and Pacific Palisades locations, and online here.

Written by Head Rascal (Ngoc Nguyen Lay), mother of two rascals, ages 8 and 10. Photos by Adrienne Gunde Photography.