my birthday party

Friday was absolutely wonderful. 20 of my closest friends arrived at 8pm for a white, green, and gold themed birthday party. I could not have asked for a better celebration!

We rented tables, chairs, and white linens from Ace Party Rentals. I had originally planned to set the table with a kraft paper runner, but it got lost in the mail (grrrrr). Luckily Natalie found some green and white damask wrapping paper at Target for $1 that I used instead. This ended up being the perfect solution - the patterned paper added a pop to the table and emphasized the evening's color scheme.

Wrapping paper is my new favorite table runner. It's cheap, the perfect width, and once you place flowers and candles down, it looks just like fabric. I thoroughly recommend it.

We hung ovesized white paper lanterns and small/medium sized green lanterns from the piping of our ceiling. They would sway ever so gently whenever the air conditioning would turn on. Sigh. Tres romantic!

Early Thursday morning, I headed down to the Original Flower Market in Downtown LA. I picked up white hydrangea, snow on the mountains, white lithianthus, and 3 dozen white roses (for $7- um, nice!!). I discovered that if you ask really, really nicely the shop owners will grab their freshest flowers out of the back for you.

We arranged the flowers throughout the table within white ceramic and glass vases. I interspersed a few mini gold votive holders filled with succulents or single white roses. I adore the combination of succulents and roses. (Those were my wedding flowers!) We placed a few empty green wine bottles on the table, which we used as water carafes. And then capped it all off with dozens of votive candles.

Each place setting was set with a name card and menu. I bought dishtowels from Ikea that worked as napkins.

Natalie helped me make a draping "Happy Birthday" sign to hang over the appetizer table. That girl is so talented. We made this sign out of some green and white crepe paper, a cardboard box, and some glittery gold ribbon. And it only took about 20 minutes.

We sent our friends home with a a gift bag of chocolate chip cookies because cookies make the world a better place. (Stickers are from Natalie, as well, but I wish I could take credit for them!)

I'll post all about our menu and wine and cheese table tomorrow and Wednesday.