Nashville Parties: 60th Birthday Party {Part 1}

Party planning isn't always for kids, babies and brides. It's for 60th birthday's too! This fun and vivacious birthday party was for Mary Sue, aka: owner of B. Jackson's Bakery in Arrington, TN - check her out. Delicious stuff.

The vision of the party was built by Mary Sue's daughter and party host, Suzanne. She pulled pictures from the web and over a couple of coffees at Starbucks, we designed and planned the whole thing together. The party was held in a private room at Boxwood Bistro, located at the Factory in Franklin, TN. The idea of a warm spring Saturday and boxwood started the brainstorming. We incorporated coral pink, bright yellow and summery greens into all of the paper details.

Mary Sue showed up thinking that she was just having a quiet lunch with a couple of close friends. She had no idea that she was getting a custom made party with all these details and was completely surprised!

 
The back room at Boxwood Bistro, over looking the deck and courtyard, was the perfect room - lots of light and room for one big table and displays. The dining room was transformed! Linens were by Southern Events in Franklin - sage table cloth and pin point corn silk yellow napkins with large square white chargers. The runner was custom made - more on that later.

Every part of this party had touches of Mary Sue - a baker, and gardener and grandmother, a "Paula Deen", a mother and a friend. On top of the charger, we folded the napkin to show off the custom menus and (one of the many) party favors, an olive wood spatula. The place cards sat on top of hand folded paper boxes. The paper was chosen to specifically match the color palette and just happen to also have lilies too. The box was filled with green moss and another party favor - lily bulb for guests to plant at home. We even were able to find coral pink striped paper straws on Etsy from Dandy You. For all of these goodies, we had favor bags with a custom sticker. Mary Sue's seat was marked with a custom monogrammed sign.

One of my favorite favors was a little box of custom designed and baked chocolates from Schakolad Chocolate Factory in Cool Springs. They last thing you can give a person who bakes cakes everyday is more cake, so we gave her what every woman can never get enough of - chocolate. They created a special 3-piece chocolate box, with dark, champagne and cheesecake chocolates, with a custom 60 piped on the center treat. We matched the ribbon to the coral ribbon used in the rest of the party. This cheesecake chocolate was to die for - Schakolad is serious about chocolate. And you can get just about anything you want there.

This is just the beginning of the beautiful birthday party. Part II later this week!

Inspiration Shoot: Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo is just 1 week away! Next Thursday, Mexican's and American's alike will mix margarita's and eat south of the border fare to celebrate Mexico's heritage. Here is some bright, non-traditional inspiration for your Cinco de Mayo party. See something you like? Check out my Etsy store to purchase your Cinco de Mayo party invites or menus!

Loving the yellow, lime green, hot pink and purple pops of color. So cheery and bright!

menus and invitations match this brightly colored decor

 food labels, water bottle labels, fiesta banner and ticker tape garland

This ticker tape garland is SO easy to make. I cut 1" stripes of 12x12 scrapbook paper in half. Stacked them up next to the sewing machine and just sewed right through them. 

 esquites (corn) cup labels, salsa bar labels

Let's eat cards & table setting
 

A special mention to Nashville Wedding Photographer, Angela Disrud for taking these pictures. She is wonderful - check her out!

Lake of the Ozarks Wedding Details in Clover and Pink. Part 2.

Seeing a bride's vision come to fruition is totally awesome. What I do is usually just a smidgen of the work and details a family does to bring everything together. And the details really make a big difference. You can see other details of Brent and Michala's wedding here and here. Michala put so much work into this wedding and it paid off! Everything from the favors (cookies and coozies) to the decor, food and music.

2.5" circle favor/cookie labels

Favors: Coozies

The Parasol Room at Tan-Tar-A resort was (IMO) a perfect reception room. Large windows opened to mile-long views of the Lake of the Ozarks. The inside of this room is supposed to look like the mechanics of an umbrella - and that theme was carried out in the reception decor. I love the DIY a-la-Martha Stewart poms, lanterns and parasols hanging from the ceiling of this room.

Parasol Room - Tan-Tar-A Resort

Martha Stewart Poms and Lanterns

Each table had wine with custom labels and donation cards for the American Cancer Society as a respectful way to honor family members.

Donation Cards

Wedding Reception Wine Labels

Michala made the centerpieces - having family members save any glass jars. She wrapped them with wire and strung pink and green jewels from the neck of the jar, filled them with sand and used a battery operated candle. So cute! This guest book idea deserves its own post when it is finished. The couple had guests sign quilt squares as their guest book. The squares will be sewn together later for the couple to use in their home. Such a great idea.

Guest Book Card: Quilt Squares

Memorial Card and Flowers

And I just had to show this picture - from the gorgeous weather at the ceremony to this!

This is the same window - can you believe it? Outdoor weddings make me so nervous!

Tardy Valentine's: Table Decor

Things have gotten so busy, that I forgot to post the Valentine's table decor from this year. Oh the sham! I guess getting it posted before the end of February will have to do. This table was decorated for Valentine's with things that I already had at home, with the exception of the flowers. I also used a lot of the theme from my silver (white) Christmas table. Here's the table before (at Christmas):

And here is the after:

As you can see, they are very similar. My Christmas table was able to take us through the holiday, into the New Year and to Valentine's.

The table is without the silver trees, silver ornaments and Christmas china, but gained the red napkins, flowers and a touch of red stain ribbon around the vases to add even more color.


Plus, the flowers are carnations = inexpensive. All I did was bundle them up, put a clear (shot) glass inside the big vase for water and there you have it.



Old Time Pottery: Vase, Silver Branches & Spray, Mirrors, Candle Sticks and Candles, Silver mosaic candle holders, red napkins, Silver beaded napkin rings
Michael's: Silver pillar candles
Wal-Mart: White Vase Filler (a bargain!)
Target: Silver Christmas Trees, Square and Cylinder Vases
Hobby Lobby: Silver chargers

Wine Bottle Candle.

Thought this was pretty cool, plus we love wine. It's a wick, like what you would use in your grandmother's old oil lamps, except for wine bottles. I just scraped off the label of a clear wine bottle, poured in the oil fluid and dropped in the wick. It should soak for around 30 minutes before lighting and it works best if the oil is more than 3/4 of the way full.

Undo Your Christmas Table Setting.

What I loved about my all silver centerpiece was that it can go from Christmas to a winter theme with just a few changes. Here is the table before:


And After...

To make the change, I removed the silver trees and the Christmas plates and added black napkins with new silver beaded napkin rings. This will will take us all the way through spring.

New Year's Champagne Count Down.

Hosting a New Year's Soiree? Here's a simple idea for party favors and fun. All you need are a few things from your party store and to make a trip to the grocery to create a little baggy of fun.


What we have above is tissue paper, favor bags, noise makers and your favorite snacks. I went with a sweet and salty combo. All you do is fold up the tissue paper, put in your snacks and roll up the top with the noise makers. Simple and quick. I did one for each couple.



Add some silly 2010 glasses, snack plates and of course champange and you're ready to go!


Happy New Year everyone! I'm looking forward to 2010!

Holiday Entertaining. Table Design Tips.

Your dining room table is a great place to get glammed up for the holiday's. It's probably the largest place you can take advantage of for any seasonal decor. And if you don't have a mantel, then this is the place to set your focal point. A few basic tips:

1. Chose a theme. This one is simple. It's silver.
2. Chose a centerpiece. Usually the tallest piece of the collection.
3. Place items of varying height around it for balance.
4. Use odd numbers in your groupings but...
5. Symmetry is always your friend.


(Notice in #4, although I used even numbers of everything, there are 5 groups of items.)

Take your time looking in magazines or online to find what you feel fits your style personality.

This table isn't fully set for a dinner party, but it you need entertaining guidelines, Emily Post (heart her!) has a range of table setting guides from casual to formal here.

Tall Centerpiece: Vase: Old Time Pottery, Silver Branches: Old Time Pottery, Silver Spray: Old Time Pottery
Mirrors: Old Time pottery
Candle Sticks and Candles: Old Time Pottery
Silver pillar candles: Michael's
Square and Cylinder Vases: Target
White Vase Filler: Wal-Mart (a bargain!)
Silver Christmas Trees: Target
Silver mozaic candle holders: Old Time Pottery
Silver chargers: Hobby Lobby
Christmas China: Lenox
Silver balls: TJMaxx

Current Obsession: Feathers.

A few years ago, I remember that feathers were going to be all the rave in bridal fashion. (It usually takes a little while for it to trickle down to the South... and it is finally here!) Ostrich feathers are a popular choice, but I love peacock feathers for fall weddings...definitely goes with all the popular jewel tones this season. For your Spring 2010 brides...peony's and ostrich feathers...like above are stunning.

Feathers are elegant...used in many a Victorian affair. I tell many brides when they are planning their wedding, a theme can help. Feathers can be incorporated into many places...bouquets...hair pieces...place settings...your dress...even your invitations. Now you don't have to go all Carrie Bradshaw on us...feathers can be a great detail for the fashionista in all of us.

Brinkley-Kinslow Reception.

Danielle and Kris know how to throw a party! I tip my hat to the wonderful Laurie of Nashville Event Space who planned this shindig. The couple and bridal party were introduced and the partying began. I love the gobo...an easy way to punch up your space with little effort and incorporate a theme.

Picking a great space for your reception can save you a ton of money and effort. The Avenue made a great backdrop to add beautiful linens, lighting and centerpieces for a great atmosphere.

At the end of the evening, the couple ran out and hopped in a trolley to make their get away. When my husband and I were taking their goodies back to their house (remember they are our best couple friends!)...look who showed up...so we snapped a picture of these two making their first trip through the front door as a married couple.

Current Obsession: Pumpkins

Planning a fall wedding? Pumpkins are a everywhere! And they are not just for carving anymore. Spring brides...try this with bright green pears or apples.

Couples Shower Football Style

How fun is a tailgate? This couple wanted a laid back, no frills event. So, we set up a tailgate to watch the big game this past weekend. Little details can make a big difference! The theme was Kentucky blue and white. The invitation inspiration came from a vintage football ticket I found on a Google Image search. Carrying the theme throughout with labels and table settings set the mood.

We also set up a tent with BBQ outside - complete with lanterns, yard games and a fire pit to keep everyone warm - but I didn't get any pictures! Sham on me because it was so cute. Everyone had a great time and it was great to see the couple surrounded by good friends. Thanks to B.Jackson's for the lemon & fudge squares!