REAL PARTIES: Chic & Colorful Birthday
categories: birthday party ideas, bridal shower ideas, real parties
This gorgeous party that Linda Roos created for her 35th birthday is so colorful, chic… and versatile! Her tiered centerpieces – and this overall look – would also be great for wedding showers and anniversary celebrations. And how great is this homemade birthday banner:
Read on for lots of photos and all the details, as told by Linda herself…
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“I pictured this party being colorful, cheery, and sassy…
Tabletop:
I totally lucked out in finding the striped fabric on the clearance table at a fabric store. It matched the colors of the invite perfectly. With the fabric having so many different colors, I decided to use it as a table runner along with white china. I alternated hot pink and white napkins at each setting.
I used big plates so that the guests could load up on different cakes and desserts from the buffet. I also put glasses and then altered espresso cups, larger coffee cups, and tea mugs on the table to give the guests a choice of what to drink.
Centerpieces:
I saw a post on HWTM a while back about a tablescape from Brides that I have been wanting to do for the longest time. It had a tiered cake stand full of flowers. So I got the stands from IKEA (which were ideal for flowers as the plates are deep enough to hold water), a bunch of fresh flowers and different colors of polka dot ribbon. I am so happy with how this turned out. Thanks for the tip Jen!
I also also hung pink glass ornaments from the chandelier over the table to add some bling (gotta have bling!), and spent three nights cutting and stringing scrapbook paper into flags that I hung across our dining area and over to the kitchen island where I had the buffet.
On the Menu:
The buffet was filled with different kinds of homemade cakes and desserts. I am so not a baker and it took me all night Friday, huge chunks of Saturday, and all morning Sunday to make everything. But thanks to delish recipes from one fabulous sweetheart – Swedish celebrity cook Leila Lindholm – it all turned out amazing! I made two times too much and had to send some of it home with the guests as they left. But it’s all good, LOL. I think it made them happy.
I served New York blueberry cheesecake, torta della nonna (which I think is my favorite cake ever!), chocolate chip walnut brownies, creme brulée, raspberry mousse, fruit salad, and a cupcake tower (inspired by Martha Stewart).
I also had glass jars with some sweets (marshmallows, M&Ms, and Toblerone chocolate) and made little labels for each item by using a digital scrapbooking label by Jessica Sprague (from her Thank Ya Kindly kit).
For drinks I served: espresso, freshly brewed coffee, blackcurrant juice, pineapple juice, and soda.
It was a lot of hard work but all worth it I think!”
*****
Thanks for all the great inspiration, Linda! We think your hard work was worth it too!
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I love how accessible and real this party is.
Oct 5, 2009 at 11:59 am -
Beautiful and festive, I love it!
Oct 5, 2009 at 12:05 pm -
I love all the colors and the fun way to display flowers on the tables. Food looks great too!
Oct 5, 2009 at 12:06 pm -
Love the vibrant colors!!
Oct 5, 2009 at 12:20 pm -
This is absolutely gorgeous! Good job and that blueberry cheesecake looks soooo good. I wish I had tasty-vision!
Oct 5, 2009 at 12:24 pm -
I just ADORE everything about this party!! Great job!
Oct 5, 2009 at 7:22 pm -
Wow…i love the colors and the effort that went into baking so many goodies…
Oct 5, 2009 at 11:56 pm -
I love the photos and the concept of the party! So casual yet stands out! Perfect!
Oct 6, 2009 at 1:03 am -
I love this! But ideally there would be someone setting it up for me…
Oct 6, 2009 at 5:39 am -
Oh my…. this is jsut wonderful… I can’t imagine how much you have to work to prepare everything, every detail is perfect… It’s lovely!!! And food look just… uhm yummy
Oct 6, 2009 at 6:04 am -
Beautiful party, I especially love the centerpieces.
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Oct 6, 2009 at 7:42 am -
I love the banner, and the desserts are perfection!
Oct 6, 2009 at 1:40 pm -
Absolutely beautiful, Linda! Well done!
Oct 6, 2009 at 4:48 pm -
This is awesomeness!
Oct 7, 2009 at 12:54 am -
really beautiful! where did you get the glass containers? (marshmellows and candy are in)
Oct 7, 2009 at 6:56 am -
@gillian, I bought the jars at a Swedish shop called Bolagret. I checked your blog quickly and I think you are in the US, so I think this will probably not help you much. I am sorry! Perhaps someone else reading here has a few tips?
Oct 7, 2009 at 10:27 am -
Linda…beautiful as always!
Oct 7, 2009 at 1:25 pm -
What a great looking party. The dessert buffet sounds amazing, yum!
Oct 9, 2009 at 4:22 am -
Wow very pretty
I have a question though! How did you make (or where did you buy?) the cupcake stand? Ive been wanting one for AGES!
Oct 9, 2009 at 9:12 am -
Hi Zahra –
Oct 9, 2009 at 9:36 am
Linda bought the cupcake stands at IKEA . I’ve actually seen similar versions at Target too! -
@Zahra, I made it by using cake boxes in two sizes that a bakery was kind enough to give me. I covered the sides of the boxes with scrapbook paper that I had cut to size with scalloped scissors. I then glued the boxes together. I had wanted a mini sized box on the top (the on that holds just a cupcake or two) but my bakery didn’t have any and so I had to find another way for the top cake. Five minutes before the guests arrived I wrapped a glass with paper and put it upside down in the center of the top box. So, not a permanent solution but it did the job.
Thanks everyone for the wonderful comments!
Oct 9, 2009 at 9:40 am -
Thanks, Linda! Just realized I totally spoke to soon – I was referring to the tiered centerpiece servers earlier. Sorry!
Oct 9, 2009 at 9:51 am
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WOW! This is gorgeous! I love seeing partys for adults, amazing job!
Oct 9, 2009 at 1:48 pm -
I love these centerpieces! Such a unique idea and the tablecloth really caught my eye! really gorgeous table decorations!
Oct 10, 2009 at 9:47 pm -
Wow…I love the colors! Centerpiece is very elegant!
Oct 29, 2009 at 5:46 am -
Nice job! I like the Dessert Buffet and how everything is labeled.
Oct 30, 2009 at 2:56 pm
