Mary Elle's Fifth Birthday Party

9 to FIVE

I love creative party themes and details to coordinate with that year’s birthday number. Mel’s first birthday was Wild One, with the theme Party Animals. For her second it was Tea for Two - an adorable afternoon tea party with tea sandwiches, macarons, and pink lemonade. Three was for Three-esta, a fabulous and fun fiesta themed birthday. Four was Four-ever Groovy - a roller skating, scooter racing, disco grooving themed affair.

Five

Five was tricky. I searched and searched for something new and clever for five. I spent a few days mulling over options and even had FIVE golden rings in the running. But according to the birthday girl, the theme must be very girly and very pink. Not just any old theme would do.

After a while of staring at too many phrases with the word “five”, Dolly Parton’s famous song “9 to 5” started to play in my head. I knew I had found the perfect theme for Mary Elle.

First Things First

After I decide on a theme and color scheme, the hardest part is over. Mel’s colors are pretty easy. They’re always different shades of pink with a few other colors thrown in for flair.

Celebrate Birmingham and Westhouse Events have been my go-to since I started planning birthday parties. As soon as I know my theme, they’re usually the first two businesses I contact. I love working with Celebrate for balloons, fun party decor, and clever decorating ideas. Their input with overall party organization is always so helpful. They have such an eye for design and turn the ordinary into extraordinary!

I have loved Westhouse since Mary Elle could first bounce in a bounce house. And thank goodness for a company that provides bounce houses, bubble tents, and ball pits in great colors. I’m a big fan of how dreamy they look in photos. They’re always adding something fun and new, too!

Another business I contact right away is Dogwood Hill. They have been my favorite for invitations, Christmas cards, moving announcements, baby announcements, etc. They also offer the option to create custom invitations. And with a theme like Dolly Parton, custom is the way to go. I’ve worked with artist Abby Jessup since Mel’s three-esta and she always brings my vision to life.

Party Dress

Something I never overlook is a birthday party dress. They become instant keepsakes. When I see them in Mary Elle’s closet, all the memories come flooding back. This year’s dress was extra special. Tutu du Monde is one of my favorite children’s clothing brands. It’s everything whimsical and playful, and oh so beautifully made! We ordered Mary Elle’s Halloween costume from Tutu du Monde, and from the minute she tried it on you could tell she felt so special.

I knew exactly where to turn when her birthday rolled around and she requested a hot pink dress for Dolly. Her dress was everything I dreamed of and more! She felt like a million bucks, and you can see it all over her face in the photos! Best of all, she can wear it to several other events this spring and summer.

Birthday Traditions

One tradition we’ve stayed true to since her very first birthday is birthday pictures in her room. I know birthdays can get a little hectic, but I promise you won’t regret taking the time for these photos. We usually plan these a few weeks before her birthday party, and it gives me a good chance to make sure I haven’t forgotten anything regarding her dress, bows, shoes, etc.

I don’t know why, but pictures in her room are always my favorites. I think there’s something special about capturing her in her childhood bedroom, and seeing both change throughout the years. Balloons help brighten the room and I always choose the big ones for big pops of color.

I’ve started a new birthday tradition for Mary Elle that has stuck! A new pair of cowboy boots as a present from mommy. There wasn’t really a reason for it in the beginning, other than there’s just something great about little kids in red cowboy boots. But now it’s something special and unique that she gets to look forward to every year! Plus, how cool is it going to be when she’s 16 and we can line up all the boots from previous birthdays. Same as with the birthday dress, the memories come flooding back.

Favors

I’ve started doing something new for party favors, too. Instead of the typical favors I’ve given out in the past, I started gifting favors that are a little more lasting. For Mel’s Four-ever Groovy party, I had cute iridescent bags that I thought would be fun for the pool or beach. They still contained candy and other small toys inside, but at least the bag might stick around for a little while.

This year I found an adorable children’s book about Dolly and I couldn’t resist. The story was cute, colorful, inspirational, and just all around a great story for kids. It shares valuable truths such as never giving up on your dreams, the importance of hard work, and staying true to yourself.

I’m not so sure the kids approved of this favor as much as the adults did, but hopefully they’ll forgive me when they get a little older. :) And maybe when they’re reading it next month, next year, or 5 years from now, they remember Mel’s party and the fun they had with friends.


Activities

Along the same vein as my favor idea, I like to send kids home with something that lasts a little while. For this party, rhinestone studded cowboy hats. The girls each got a pink cowboy hat and few sheets of adhesive rhinestones to decorate their hat however they liked! While they were decorating, they listened to a read-aloud of the Dolly book. Once a teacher, always a teacher, I guess! ;)

The slides and ball pit, bubble tent, and pony gave the girls plenty of things to do! It was so cute watching them run from one thing to the other.

Party Conductor

Another new idea I tried was something a little unheard of. I met Charlotte at a Frozen themed birthday party at my friend’s house, where she was Elsa for the day. She normally is booked for princess roles, but watching her with the kids and seeing how amazing she was at “conducting” things, I got the BEST idea. After the party I asked her if she had ever booked a party not as a princess, but as herself, helping to conduct and direct different activities. She laughed and said no, that’s never been requested before and this would be a first. Music to my ears!

It made a world of difference! As a mom you spend so much time planning, organizing, and decorating for the party. By the time the party gets here, you’re even busier helping kids get drinks, trying to say hello to everyone, handing out hats and rhinestones, and trying to get everyone together to start an activity. As soon as Charlotte arrived, I immediately felt all my stress melt away. We talked over the general game plan for the day and got to work. She helped with everything - Greeting guests, guiding kids to different activities, handing out hats, doing a read-aloud of our book, and even helped a few girls feel brave enough to ride on the pony. :)

I said this at the party and I’ll say it again - I will never throw another birthday party without a party conductor there, preferably Charlotte! For the first time I actually got to enjoy Mary Elle’s party and not be so busy running from one thing to the next, worrying about if I made everyone feel welcome. I had the time to actually look around and take it all in, take all the photos and videos, talk with friends, and just be myself. It may have been an odd request, but it was the biggest hit at the party with the parents.

Decor

This party was pretty easy to doll up! Lots of bows, sequins, and rhinestones, mixed with pink cowboy hats and cowboy boots. Flowers of course, and Dolly party trays, balloons, and napkins. The plates and cups were some of my favorites that I go to again and again. I love the shape of the plates and they’re perfect for kids. I’ve linked everything in one spot below so it will be easier to find.

Reagan Thompson’s cookies are legendary in the Birmingham area. They’re not just delicious, they are ART! I sent Reagan the party invitation to use as inspiration, and we chatted a little about icing colors and cookie shapes, but what she delivered was so much more. The icing designs, embellishments, and hand painted Dollys were remarkable. Every single cookie was so beautiful and so detailed. She’s definitely someone who makes you wonder, “How on Earth did you do that?!”




Alethea Cashia is another someone who makes you wonder, “How on Earth did you do that?!” I can’t remember how I found Alethea, but once I did, I’ve requested her cakes ever since. They are as beautiful, perfect, and unique as they are delicious. There aren’t many times that you have more parents than kids lining back up for birthday cake, but if it’s Alethea’s, you will! She offers so many cake flavors, icing flavors, and fillings - the combinations are endless. I have loved every single birthday cake she’s made for us. I’ll never forget the one she made for Mel’s Three-esta.

Say It In Lights are new friends, but true friends. They coordinated their busy schedule to align setup with Celebrate and Westhouse, so that everything could be set up smoothly and seamlessly. I couldn’t be more grateful. Their marquee letters are beautiful, and bonus - they use LED lights so you don’t have to worry about kids touching a hot light bulb. Don’t the balloons and marquee letters just look perfect together?

I have a long history with every one of these vendors and they have never let me down. In fact, they usually help resolve potential party snags before they ever happen.

Celebrate Birmingham - balloons, table and chairs, party coordination. I have worked with Celebrate since Mary Elle’s first ever birthday party! Highly recommend.

Westhouse Events - slides and ball pit, bubble tent and tent balloons, Westhouse Events has been a go-to since Mary Elle’s 3rd birthday when she was finally old enough for a bounce house. Highly recommend.

Say It In Lights - Marquee letters. The prettiest ones I’ve found!

The Enchanted Princesses - Charlotte Clare Norris @undertheseacc

Cookies - reabakes

Cake - Cakes by Aletha

Sliders and sides - Martin’s BBQ

PartiesJordan LawrenceComment