Be Our Guest! Niki Lassiter's family threw a lavish, Disney-princess-themed ball at Hotel ZaZa to celebrate the beautiful handbag designer's 40th birthday (photo by Priscilla Dickson).
ONE OF HOUSTON'S most beautiful women, former Miss Texas USA Nicole “Niki” Lassiter, celebrated a milestone birthday with hundreds of friends at a Museum District bash fit for a storybook — literally.
Lassiter, whose international Creations By Niki Lassiter proffers high-fashion handbags of her own design, royally regressed to childhood with a black-tie, fairytale-princess-themed ball at Hotel ZaZa that would make Cinderella green with envy! Hubby James and Niki’s mom Denise O’Brian pulled out all the stops, presenting a lavish buffet-style dinner dance with singer-actors dressed as all the most regal of Disney characters, mingling with guests and occasionally belting out movie music.
“Maleficent greeted guests at the door, and Prince Charming performed a classic Disney playlist on the piano during the cocktail hour,” noted one mesmerized guest. “We were immersed into the Disney experience with familiar costumed, Disney characters throughout the party rooms and ballroom. The photo ops were endless!” Cinderella, Aladdin, Jasmine, Lumiere and Beauty and the Beast’s Belle were just some of the beloved characters making cameos and performing Broadway-style musical numbers. Talent was provided by the talent of J&D Entertainment.
The birthday girl … er, birthday princess … looked the part in an iris-hued Tony Ward gown with crystal detailing and dancing feathers on the cape hemline. Was there a fairy godmother in her closet? Event décor by Macy Lima Celebrations was also sparkling and fanciful, with numerous vignettes set up to maximize selfie-taking. Want a pic with the Little Mermaid in an azure-blue sea? No problem! The black-and-gold Italian cream cake by Good Gosh Ganache was shaped like a palace the size of a Prius.
Iraida Brown, Debbie Festari and Melissa Mithoff (photo by Quy Tran)
The Lassiters: Ashton, Hailey, Nicole, James and Grayson (photo by Priscilla Dickson)
Kim Weisz, Nancy Abramson, Elsa, Stephanie Wilcox and Shehla Rana (photo by Priscilla Dickson)
James and Jacquie Baly Craig (photo by Priscilla Dickson)
Annie Amante and Maleficent (photo by Quy Tran)
Cheers to Cinderella and Prince Charming!
Michael Mithoff and Rudy Festari (photo by Quy Tran)
Ruchi Mukerjee (photo by Quy Tran)
Edward Sanchez, Amanda Mills, Salvador Gil, Bubba McNeely (photo by Priscilla Dickson)
Jennifer Roosth and Maria Bassa (photo by Quy Tran)
Beth Muecke and Nicole Lassiter (photo by Priscilla Dickson)
William Westfall, Hannah Knight, Rea Golt and Grayson Lassiter (photo by Priscilla Dickson)
Cheryl Murphy Haseeb, Susan Mobley and Jamie Ferraro (photo by Priscilla Dickson)
Under the Sea with the Little Mermaid
Dinner included prime rib, lamb chops, roasted salmon and a sumptuous pasta station for those looking to carbo load in advance of the DJ dance party afterward. A dessert station — in case that castle cake wasn’t enough — offered bananas Foster, cherries jubilee and spicy peach compote a la mode.
“Before the clock struck midnight,” cooed the delighted guest, “Niki thanked all her friends and family for making her feel loved — and for sharing in the happiest, most magical night of her life.
