This party is magical like a mermaid and beautiful like the beach!  Kelly Lyden, of WH Hostess and The Party Dress, shared this client party with us.  Kelly’s creative graphic designs grace the paper products throughout and offer wonderful birthday party ideas for your own seaside soiree!  BE SURE TO READ ALL OF THE DETAILS FROM KELLY AS SHARED BELOW…

Birthday Girl Francesca had the most beautiful coral cake~ and the loveliest flowers and little cupcake shooters!

I love the layered colors of cupcakes and the gorgeous fondant starfish on top!

The lovely dessert table shimmered with a sequin tablecloth just like the fins of a mermaid would!

 

The adorable SEA TURTLE MACARONS are such a cute touch to the table!

I love how the invitation was delivered in a seafoam-colored box and tied with shimmery tulle topped with a starfish…and the inside included pearls for the girls and eye patches for the boys!

The children arrived to a crafting table waiting just for them!

How beautiful is the matching runner?  I love the colors and design!

The decorations were beach-coordinated and guests sipped on lemonade served in customized cups…

I love the boat that held the party favors!  What a beautiful way to display the goodie bags!

Each guest also joined in the fun of creating a bubbly sea feel with customized bubble juice containers!

One of my favorite little details…the “Cake Clings” designed by Kelly to add more glamorous charm to the dessert table!  Kelly has so many options for designs and these are definitely some favorites!

WH Hostess custom-designed a suite of stationery, fabric and cake plate clings that set the color palette and jumping off point for the party decorations.

The invitation from WH Hostess featured an elaborate border of sea shells, star fish and a gorgeous mermaid princess, accessorized with a shell crown and statement necklace.  The invitations were delivered in an aqua blue box, wrapped with ribbon and a starfish.  Within each box was also a strand of pearls (girls) or a pirate’s patch (boys) to wear to the party. 

Upon arrival, guests were greeted with an oversized-welcome sign featuring the mermaid princess, and walked thru a space full of bubbles as they were transported to an “underwater mermaid grotto”.  The little guests were transformed into a mermaid or pirate for the day. Little girls had their choice of pink or aqua tutus, mermaid starfish wands, white t-shirts, sea horse headbands and, of course, pearl necklaces.  The dress up area was staged with prop furniture and found items from the sea.  Large, pink balloons soared above the dress-up area, and the boys had their own sunken trunk of treasures filled with pirate hats, swords, pirate’s booty, mustaches, and pirate’s patches to wear.  

Guests spent the afternoon in an mermaid-themed bounce house, a sing-along with Ariel, searching for pirate booty with Captain Hook, and decorating their own seashell picture frames. They all loved blowing bubbles out of the special bubble tins from WH Hostess.

The kids’ tables were set with crisp, white linens and custom-made table runners made from WH Hostess’ under the sea patterned fabric.  Centerpieces included vases of shells, gorgeous florals, star fish and pieces of driftwood.

The children had their own buffet with fish and chips, fish-shaped sandwiches, crudités and hummus served in individual fish bowls, fruit salad and lemonade. The adults could choose from stations: a slider station with freshly-made french fries served in individual cones, a street taco station, shrimp and mango salad, and fresh spring green salad.  We used food tent cards to identify the food items, and they added a pop of the bubbles pattern to the decor.

A bar was set up on a table covered with a white tablecloth and an extra-wide table runner made with WH Hostess’s shell de lis patterned fabric.  Labeled drink dispensers full of lemonade and filtered water with berries sat atop the bar, along with wine and beer.  A large drinkmenu was framed on the table for easy viewing for guests.

Sweet & Saucy Shop baked the desserts and laid out the dessert table.  The table was covered in an aqua sequin tablecloth that made the desserts look like they were floating in the ocean!  The fabric backdrop from WH Hostess featured the elaborate shell and starfish border, along with the mermaid princess and Francesca’s name.  White cake stands floated atop the table, and each held a bubble cake plate cling to add a touch of pattern. A coordinating pennant banner that said “Under the Sea” was strung across the front of the table. Desserts included a gorgeous vanilla chiffon cake with lemon cream and raspberries, sea foam vanilla shooters, sea turtle macarons, sea pearl cake pops, and strawberry sea shell cupcakes. Wonderland Bakery made beautiful mermaid sugar cookies to match the invitations.

At the end of the party, the children grabbed party favors that were displayed in a vintage boat.  The favors consisted of beach pails filled with pirate’s booty snack, dried seaweed, mermaid or pirate water bottles, fish-shaped sidewalk chalk, stuffed fish, beach balls, and shark beach toys.  The pail had a “thank you for partying under the sea” sticker on them, and they were tied up with cellophane with a round gift tag and a bow.

Invitation, Paper Goods, Bubble Tins, Fabric & Cake Plate Clings – WH Hostess

Dessert Table – Sweet & Saucy Shop

Sugar Cookies – Wonderland Bakery

Props & Florals – Archive Rentals

Location – Balboa Bay Club

Photographer – Melanie Osorio Photography

Tutus – Monkey Moodle Bowtique