I’ve got to admit, one of the most fun parts of having a 3-year-old daughter is that I finally have an excuse to plan parties with incredibly girly themes like “Woodland Fairy.” And now that Phoebe is old enough to have strong opinions of her own, she gets to weigh in with a birthday party wish list that includes things like bubbles, balloon artist, and lots and lots of dessert. Last week I shared the inspiration behind her fête (including the Minted invitations that started it all), and she and I had a blast bringing it all to life on a summer afternoon surrounded by all her favorite girlies. Click through to see how her party came together, plus I’m sharing a few of my favorite kids’ party hacks that kept the planning and setup easy!
*photos by Jessica Attie
I turned a rustic dining table in the courtyard on the side of our house into a dessert buffet spilling with sweets.
source: melon cabana stripe tablecloth
Party hack #1: Pickup a small layer cake from a local bakery and simply pile fruit and flowers on top. It’s the easiest way to get the look of a custom cake, but for a fraction of the cost and effort. This lemon and blackberry cake from Whole Foods was so delish.
Party hack #2: Buy a few really oversized balloons in bright colors and get them filled with helium at a grocery or party store. It’s one of my favorite ways to add a pop of color to an outdoor space — no DIY-ing involved!
source: 3′ balloons
We invited the girls to wear their Woodland Fairy best, and boy did they bring it!
Party hack #3: Keep flowers really simple with a few big bunches of grocery store roses. Keeping everything in the same color palette (duh, pink) is my favorite way to get major bang for the buck!
A tiered stand gives an instant “tea party” vibe and makes just about anything look prettier. I filled ours with berries, peaches, and colorful cookies and treats that I picked up from a bakery.
Lillian checks out the sweets…
source: melon cabana stripe tablecloth
source: parlour cakestand, cake from whole foods bakery
Love these little “treats” and “sips” signs from Minted’s Porch Party Decor collection.
A few decked out fairies wait in line…
Phoebe surveys the face painting setup. She ultimately opted to get nothing painted on her face, but hey, whatever the birthday girl wants…
The other guests went for it, though.
Party hack #4: Incorporate one “wow” element to give the party its own identity. I found a local gal who could do awesome face painting and balloon art, and having her at the party really took it to the next level and made for some pretty unforgettable photos.
Party hack #5: Go with a pre-designed collection of party decor. I love the options that Minted offers — they make it easy on the host by pretty much providing an entire party in a box. This garland is an easy way to make a big impact and give the party a “custom” look. I’m holding onto it so we can get it out again next year.
sources: streamer garlands, the porch personalized bunting banner
I mixed up a fruity punch for the girlies with pink lemonade and pineapple juice, and served ginger-mint iced tea and champagne for the mamas.
Owen savors her sweets.
Make a wish!
*source: milk glass cake plate
This strawberry shortcake from Whole Foods was such a crowd-pleaser and makes a perfect birthday cake. I piled up lots of extra berries on top to make it look homemade (shhh…)
Couldn’t resist posting this shot because it reminded me of this one from her 1st birthday party!! Can’t believe how much my girl has grown up.
One of my besties Lauren with her sweet baby Greta.
Fairies for the win!
We setup a little table in front of Phoebe’s playhouse and threw a piece of pretty fabric over it — it made a perfect perch for cake eating.
Henry’s first party! I have a feeling it’ll be the first of many where he’s surrounded by girls…
We had such a blast celebrating our sweet Phoebe and these 3 years she’s been in the world. They’ve truly been the best!!
