Leah’s Floral Flamingo 1st birthday

Today I am delighted to share with you my daughter Leah’s 1st birthday – a floral flamingo themed party! You may have already seen this on social media as it was from February however I have finally got around to blog about it now that the whirlwind of the Celebrate conference day is over (which by the way went really fabulous!).

I love a flamingo theme but rather than go tropical, I decided to go with something very floral and pretty as I wanted to create something unique and special for Leah’s first birthday!

 

Unlike with my first child where I probably planned everything over 9 months…Leah’s party was planned more in the last 2 months before her party!

However everything really came together on the day – from the table decal on the acrylic table…to those amazing balloons…and that flamingo cake! Leah just looked SO adorable (if I do say so myself!) in her cute dress and flamingo party hat!! She was so happy and enjoyed all the attention and balloons!

I chose all vendors from the Life’s Little Celebrations network for the party and Shelley from Paperface Party styled it all on the day so beautifully along with styling the florals!  The balloons by Party Splendour framed the whole setup beautifully. Vanessa Verchiani photography was amazing at capturing the setup AND  photos of family and friends and Leah which we valued so much. I absolutely loved the way the table decal designed by Eve and Co (printed and applied by Jo’s Signs by Design) looked on the acrylic table from Sweet Heavenly Events – and I wished I could have taken it home with me to put in her room!

At the end of this post you will find all the links to the vendors involved:

 

Do you think first birthday parties are a bit OTT these days? I know some people do….but my view?

It’s their first birthday! It IS special! No they won’t remember it…and no they won’t care! And no it doesn’t matter HOW you celebrate it…do a small bbq, do a big bash, do an afternoon tea, do a garden party….anything and everything is fine! Just make sure you do celebrate it because a first birthday is not only a celebration of your child…it is a celebration of all you as parents have enjoyed and learnt and overcome in the first 12 months with a new baby. Lets not underestimate the joys and the challenges you as parents have experienced in the first 12 months..adjusting to new sleep patterns, recovering from pregnancy etc. So take the time to celebrate your child AND what YOU as parents have achieved!

 

I absolutely love being creative in this way and it isn’t something I get to do often – so I really enjoyed being able to put this together! My other kids will have much simpler parties this year as Leah’s first birthday was the larger celebration. So I was certainly happy to indulge a little bit for Leah’s party. So my advice? Don’t feel guilty whether you’re doing something big OR small for your child’s party! You know your true intentions and heart and what is best for your family…so celebrate it how you want to!

Now…back to the party pics!

I love this shot of Leah in front of the setup. We ensured we got some photos before the party started and she got tired – which is a great tip for any first birthday party to ensure you get some photos of a happy birthday child!

This high chair was a last minute decision…and one I am SO glad I made! It really made such a sweet spot for photos of Leah!

 

The flamingo cake by Quincy Lane was something special! I wanted something unique and I love the brushstrokes and the flamingo head cake topper (by Eve and Co)

 

 

 

Desserts included flamingo cookies, flamingo macarons, lollipops and meringue kisses. The details were really incredible and full credit goes to the talented vendors:

 

 

 

 

 

All the florals on the day were also by Paper Face Party and the colours were just stunning! Yes they were all real but with spray painted copper leaves!

 

 

 

The kids table with the pink tiffany chairs from Tiny Tots Toy Hire and balloons from Party Splendour looked amazingly cute!:

 

 

I found the most perfect floral flamingo partyware at Ruby Rabbit Partyware which is where I sourced all the partyware for this party including the lovely tablecloths for the kids table (I always find it hard to find tablecloths which are disposable but still still cute…I know, first world problems!)

 

 

 

We just had to use this Flamingo prop also from Tiny Tots Toy Hire but of course dressed her up in a floral crown by Paperface Party!:

 

 

I chose to have a milestone board created for Leah and kept it small so I could also display it in her room after the party…and Eve & Co designed a gorgeous board with rose gold foil and such pretty details.

 

 

 

For favours I used these gorgeous rose gold favour bags from Ruby Rabbit Partyware finished off with favour tags by Eve and Co:

 

A few other details by Eve and Co which cannot go without sharing – starting with the invitation design which brought the theme of the floral flamingo to life!

 

It was carried through into all the details as seen above such as the table decal, cake topper and the party hat for Leah which is also now displayed in her room:

 

A few other flamingo touches at the party I couldn’t resist like this jumbo flamingo balloon from Party Splendour, and fun flamingo glasses for the kids from Ruby Rabbit partyware:

 

 

 

For entertainment at the party we had a ball pit from Tiny Tots Toy Hire and a puppet show which included a flamingo puppet! It was great fun!

 

 

 

We truly enjoyed celebrating Leah and this milestone! Being our 4th child we’ve been able to relax more as parents with a newborn and thanks to her being such a easy going baby…it truly was SUCH an enjoyable first 12 months with Leah.

 

 

Vendor Credits:

Click on any of the below links to find the vendors used for Leah’s Floral Flamingo party:

 

Life’s Little Celebrations:  Concept & Coordination

www.lifeslittlecelebrations.org

 

Styling & flowers: Paper Face Party

http://www.paperface.com.au/

 

Photography: Vanessa Verchiani Photography

https://www.facebook.com/vanessaverchianiphoto/

 

Stationery: Invitations, Table decal, Party Hat, Milestone print, Favour tags:  Eve&Co

https://www.eveandco.com.au/

 

Balloons: Party Splendour

http://partysplendour.com.au/

 

Partyware (tableware, favour bags, flamingo glasses, kids party hats, favour bags) : Ruby Rabbit Partyware

https://www.rubyrabbit.com.au/

 

Flamingo Cake & meringue kisses: Quincy Lane

https://www.instagram.com/quincy.lane/

 

Macarons: Arelio Sweetbox

https://www.areliosweetbox.com/

 

Cookies: SweetP Cakes and Cookies

https://www.facebook.com/SweetPCakesandCookies/

 

Lollipops: Delleicious.by.elle

https://www.facebook.com/delleiciousbyelle/

 

Props: Acrylic table, cake stands, high chair – Sweet Heavenly Events

http://www.sweetheavenlyeventshire.com.au/

 

Props: Kids tables/chairs, flamingo prop, ball pit – Tiny Tots Toy Hire

http://www.tinytotstoyhire.com.au/

 

Acrylic table decal – printed and applied: Jo’s Signs by Design

https://www.facebook.com/JosSignsbyDesign/

 

Puppet Show: The Party Puppets

http://www.thepartypuppets.com/

 

Thanks for taking the time to view my daughters first birthday party! I hope it inspires your own flamingo or first birthday party planning!

 

Baby Shower feature

A baby shower really does mark new beginnings…a new life celebrated and a new world ahead of experiences and adventures as a mother!

Thus this was the theme behind the Life’s Little Celebrations baby shower shoot for Kid Magazine – with the styling and concept by the talented Lopa of Pumpkin Carriage Events (Sydney)

Bringing together a team of talented vendors from the Life’s Little Celebrations directory, Lopa showcased a stunning floral setup where a mum to be could truly relax with her friends and celebrate the new beginnings to come….! It was beautifully photographed by Captured By Kirri

The gorgeous authentic chalkboards by Scripts with Style highlighted the meaning behind the event and introduced guests to the theme:

Guests could then enjoy the overall beautiful setting:

 

 

 

Lou Lou Pie Creative Boutique created custom paperie to suit the event in gorgeous colours and floral details:

A standout feature from this setup are the paper florals incorporated throughout the styling and here seen in the giant paper flowers which create a stunning backdrop – all created by Stylish Paper :

The theme of a new beginning was carried through to the cake via this beautiful cake topper by Chumblebee :

 

It sat atop this stunning and delicate cake by Sweet Treat By Jules:

Just perfection!:

 

 

The gorgeous desserts by Sweet Petite Creations continued the beautiful floral theme:

 

It all looks so so scrumptious!:

 

 

 

 

Just love the gorgeous paperie by Lou Lou Pie Creative Boutique!:

 

 

 

 

The gorgeous table setting came together using beautiful chairs, plates and napkin rings from Sweet Heavenly Events:

 

 

 

 

Cookie placecards by SweetP Cakes and Cookies were a stunning touch:

 

 

 

 

No guest would be disappointed with delicious fairy floss favours from Fluffy Crunch – set against another gorgeous hand drawn chalkboard by Scripts with Style:

Vendors

A huge thank you to the talented vendors from the Life’s Little Celebrations directory:

Concept & styling, props and florals: Pumpkin Carriage Events (www.pumpkincarriage.com.au)

Styling assisted by: Loulou Pie Creative Boutique

Photography by: Captured by Kirri (www.capturedbykirri.com.au)

Graphic design and event paperie by: Loulou Pie Creative Boutique (https://www.facebook.com/louloupiecreative/)

Paper Florist: Stylish Paper (www.etsy.com/shop/StylishPaperShop)

Chalkboard signs by: Scripts with Style (https://www.facebook.com/scriptswithstyle/)

Tiffany chairs, chargers and napkin rings by: Sweet Heavenly Events (www.sweetheavenlyeventshire.com.au)

Cookies by: SweetP Cakes and Cookies (https://www.facebook.com/SweetPCakesandCookies/)

Fairy floss favours by: Fluffy Crunch (fluffycrunch.com.au)

Cake by: Sweet Treats by Jules (www.sweettreatsbyjules.com)

Cake topper by: Chumblebee (www.ChumblebeeChumblebee.etsy.com)

Desserts by: Sweet Petite Creations (https://www.facebook.com/SweetPetiteCreations/)

 

 

Don’t forget you can see this feature as well as much more party inspiration in the special party issue of Kid Magazine, out now!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Celebrate Unwrapped: Floral tags

Celebrate attendees were already receiving delicious desserts and treats to take home in their swag bags – however I wanted to provide them with another type of buffet to enjoy as part of their experience at Celebrate. The flower bar did just that with each guest taking home their own hand picked posy of flowers in mini bottle vases dressed in stunning watercolour tags by ELK Prints:

 

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The tags had a simple reminder keepsake message for them to “flourish” their business using the tools from the day. So many commented on the beautiful handpainted design on each tag:

 

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It was a lovely area for guests to enjoy during the break to create their take-home floral gift:

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ELK prints – who created these tags – is an expert in beautiful bespoke creations for celebrations!

From stunning invites to handpainted decorations – each piece is  custom made and totally gorgeous! I personally love the watercolour effect and it is still a huge trend in art and print at the moment!

 

tropical-summer-toucan-party-invitation

 

 

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Beautiful hand painted signs for a room or for an event become a true keepsake!:

 

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Unique decorations can also be created such as these handpainted feather balloon tails!

 

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Contact Elizabeth at ELK Prints and discuss what she could create for your next celebration!

Follow her on facebook here and instagram here and also visit her website here.

Thank you ELK prints for your stunning work on the Celebrate flower bar tags!

 

tanya

 

 

Tips for a mag-worthy party

We’ve all seen those stunning party setups in glossy magazines or top entertaining blogs.

They’re stylish, perfectly constructed and seemingly out of reach when setting up our own table or lolly buffet. Today we’re chatting to the talented team behind online party boutique The Kit Source who share five top tips to get that editorial look for your next party.

 

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Choose bright, contrasting colours

Coming into summer, bright pinks, greens, golds and blues are the most effective and eye-catching way to create a striking spread.

Don’t be afraid to choose bold and mismatching patterns or shapes, just make sure the colours are of a similar tone – e.g. jewel tones, fluoro tones, or even all pastel tones – but the brighter the better.

The Kit Source’s Fluoro Floral Party Kit (below) is a perfect example of a stylish summer party)

 

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Be messy, but on purpose

If you’re not the most precise person, or simply don’t have the time to measure the gap between each plate and tasty treat, don’t stress.

Being purposefully messy with some of your pieces will deliver that perfectly ‘thrown together’ look without too much effort. We’re not saying to chuck piles of plates on a table and be done with it, think about how you can arrange some items perfectly, and then balance it out with some purposeful mess!

 

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Always get extra supplies

Think you’ll need ten balloons to line the back of the lolly buffet? Get twenty.

It’s no secret that abundance will create a more luxurious look, even if it’s just so you have a few extra balloons for background photos, or to attach to the letterbox, having more is better than not enough.

 

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Flowers are your friend

As you can see from these gorgeous shots, flowers are pretty much the only accompaniment required for this party setting! A few vases of bright flowers, even if they’re purchased from the supermarket, will lift your theme to the next level.

 

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Enlist some help

If you have a friend that’s great at baking or balloon-blowing, ask for help.

The more hands you have on deck on the day to set up, the more likely you are to check everything off your styling to-do list.

The most important person to get in this category though, especially if you want mag-worthy shots, is a photographer.

If you’re not that confident in taking your own pics, get a professional. There are a range of photographers available on the LLC directory and they’ll ensure they get gorgeous shots of every one of your party elements. And if you need a styled party setting in a few clicks, make sure you check out the themed Party Kits available from The Kit Source.

 

CREDITS:

Party Supplies and Decorations: The Kit Source

Flowers: Bloomology.com.au

Photographer: Jess Dunn @jessdunnthis

 

Happy Celebrating!

 

tanya

 

 

 

 

A high tea fit for a mini princess!

Today I am delighted to share with you a pretty 3rd birthday high tea party!

With a beautiful pink and gold colour scheme and floral and balloon decor – the setting created was truly fit for a little princess and her friends!

Styled by The Pumpkin Carriage who also created the delicious mini desserts – this birthday party is a delight for the eyes!

Everything from the gorgeous tableware and kids table to the stunning dessert table is inspiring and princess perfect!

All vendor credits are provided at the end of the post and many vendors from the Life’s Little Celebrations directory were involved!

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Vendor Credits:

 

Concept & styling along with mini desserts, floral styling, servingware, cake stands, some props, and a few canapes:  The Pumpkin Carriage.

Photography: Captured By Kirri,

Cake: Sugarpot

Tableware: Ruby Rabbit Partyware

Chocolate coated strawberry tower: Dom’s Strawberries Delight

Cookies: Miss Confetti

Tulle pom poms: Pom Pom Princess

Kids table and chairs, pink tablecloth and birdcage prop: Sweet Heavenly Events & Party Hire

Balloon decor: Balloon Elegance

 

Feeling inspired? Ready to plan a pretty high tea party or pink and gold party for your little princess? Head to the Directory and start party planning!

 

tanya