A French Toast Birthday Brunch

Carrie Rowe sent us this charming French Toast birthday brunch with so many mouthwatering details... can anyone say chocolate covered bacon?  Love all the options for french toast toppings and sauce, not to mention the oranges as place cards.  See below for more details...

photos © kelli trontel

From Carrie:  Since the whole party was based off of the birthday girl's love for French toast we obviously had that, BUT we didn't make traditional French toast. Sara made French toast dippers and homemade syrup! We also provided a toppings bar, bacon, mini doughnuts and chocolate covered bacon (don't knock it till you try). For beverages we offered coffee, water and orange juice.  The decor was very simple. We styled a beautiful table with light fabrics, individual place settings, cake stands, hand painted mustache cups and coffee pots with daffodils. Oranges were placed at each setting doubling as a place card and then used to make fresh squeeze OJ. We strung doilies from the ceiling and had a vintage window hanging on the wall.  Party Favors- I made French Toast Cupcakes and placed "bacon and eggs" on top. The "bacon and eggs" was made from two pretzel sticks, white chocolate and a yellow M&M. We made cupcake boxes from craft paper and wrapped them in twine.

Event Styling: Carrie Rowe & Sara Trammel
Photographs: Kelli Trontel
Bacon and Eggs idea: Cakie
Fabrics: Joann Fabrics

real parties: hydrangea dessert table

I'm a bit late to the party, but I couldn't help sharing this lovely & delicate hydrangea dessert table from Susana of Citrus & Orange.  Not only because it's pretty and makes me happy, but also because I finally ordered one of these jadeite cake stands for my very own and that makes me happy too.  Susana designed the table for her 40th birthday, based on her love of green & lilac. She used milk glass from her personal collection and incorporated hydrangeas, her favorite flower {and mine}, in shades of lilac and purple throughout this gorgeous display.  

 {images by jorge garcia pereira}

real parties: french inspired 40th

Chris of Celebrations at Home sent me this charming 40th birthday party she recently threw for her husband. She created a French themed Happy Hour, showering guests with wine, champagne and delicious appetizers like goat cheese toasts, tarts and french macaroons (but of course). A sense of destination was carried throughout the decorations too... my favorite touch is the vintage suitcase and Au Revoir blackboard to mark the favor bags. Her husband is a lucky guy indeed!

{images via celebrations at home}

real parties: a heavenly high tea

Tracey Lau combined her love of high tea and dessert tables into an incredible display for her 40th birthday. She selected a classic color palette of french blue, chocolate, vanilla and caramel and incorporated it into both the design and the food. Amazingly enough, she also made all the food herself... including the gorgeous ribbon adorned fondant cake! With the inclusion of velvet and lace textures, this party has an elegant vintage flair reminiscent of a European patisserie. One of my friends will be hosting a high tea for my baby shower this Saturday, and after seeing this loveliness I fear she has some rather big shoes to fill...

{images via tracy lau}

custom inspiration board: coastal mediterranean

I created this board for Katina's 40th birthday and housewarming party. She and her husband are moving into a new home by the sea in Perth Australia, where unfortunately it is winter season in June. As such, they decided to hold the party indoors, but I suggested she could still maintain a coastal feel by creating a mediterranean theme (which also celebrates her greek heritage). I truly love this blue & bronze look and think it's going to be the perfect way to celebrate & showcase their new home.

Theme: Coastal Mediterranean

Party Ideas

Colors: blues, bronze and whites
Setting: an evening of cocktails, food and music at private home by the sea
Decorations: create old world coastal charm using blue & white patterned linens on food tables, blue napkins, colorful china and toss pillows on the floor for extra seating. Flowers may include succulents and/or simple white flowers in glass vases adorned with stones or beach glass. Make liberal use of candles & lanterns as lighting.
Food: passed appetizers and small plate stations with a mediterranean flavor (ie: dolmas, falafel, hummus, lamb, filo wrapped chicken, tabbouleh and other salads, etc). Consider a traditional birthday cake for dessert iced in fondant with blue, bronze pattern detailing, and include a few traditional desserts like baklava or cheese & fruits such as pears, figs and grapes. drinks: cocktail service including a special champagne bar area (with bottles in blue glass ice buckets or other accents of blue).
Favors: jordan almonds are a traditional greek favor and can be wrapped up in delicate packaging with paper labels.
Other: a greek band for dancing and background music during cocktails & dinner.

Photo Credits
Row 1: table setting via weekend host; china via country living; invite via dauphine press; greek panorama via google
Row 2: pear place card via 100 layer cake; greek salad via real simple; mosaic table setting via sunday suppers
Row 3: succulents via ritzy bee; jordan almonds via lolliblog; paper fans via flickr
Row 4: tent and pillows via betsy white; menu via brooklyn bride; champagne via hotel club

custom inspiration board: unique new york

Toni and her husband are celebrating their 40th birthdays with a large dinner party in their yard. Toni's love for New York inspired the event and she gave me free reign on my interpretation, so I opted for 'big city chic meets backyard charm'. The colors lend themselves to the theme by suggesting sophistication with a bright fun pop of yellow...

Theme: A New York Inspired 40th Birthday

Party Ideas
Colors: black, white and yellow
Setting: cocktails & seated dinner outdoors for 50 people. sophisticated city style in a relaxed backyard atmosphere.
Decorations: black and white patterned table cloths with yellow napkins and simple china. sunny centerpieces of yellow flowers including parrot tulips, daises, ranunculus, garden roses etc. for seating assignments, have rows of red apples and attach a tag to each apple with guest’s name and table. name each table after a different landmark in New York (ie: empire state building, central park, statue of liberty) and have B/W photos framed on each table showcasing the corresponding location. string large lights across the pool and dinner tables, italian restaurant style. above the buffet tables, hang lanterns if possible or use votive candles for a romantic effect.
Food: traditional italian buffet with ceasar salad, bread sticks, pasta. offer chocolates and cigars with dessert. for drinks: in addition to beer and wine, consider a champagne bar for toasting to add a little extra new york flair.
Favors: if you go with the champagne bar, have champagne flutes engraved with the event name and date for each guest to take home. or play off the ‘big apple’ concept and offer caramel apples or another variety of apple treat to take home at the end of the evening.

Photo Credits
Row 1: Invitation via minted; flowers via rose now; hanging langerns via credit crunch bride
Row 2: flag table via mer mag; apples via papery and cakery; flowers via style me pretty
Row 3: desserts via amy atlas; champagne bar via todd events; antipasto via style me pretty; striped table via mer mag
Row 4: yellow table via jessica claire; flowers via ariella chezar; outdoor dining via snippet and ink

real parties: seaside birthday bash

This week I had the pleasure of discovering Paige of Bash Eco Events and her mad planning skills.  Last weekend she threw a seaside birthday bash for 350 kids & adults as a combined 100th birthday (50+40+6+4) for a family.  The details are outrageous... a true marriage of fun and sophistication.  The table centerpieces held live goldfish, the dessert table was a trove of seaside inspired treats, the beach was home to giant sand castles and inflatable bouncy houses, the pina coladas were flowing freely... what a magical event.  Check out her blog for this and much MUCH more delicious party inspiration. 

{images via bash eco events}

party inspiration board: jamaican me crazy

I created this board for Kelley of My Island Wedding, who is considering an all-inclusive, destination celebration with her family in Jamaica for her 40th. Since I'm not headed anywhere nearly as exotic this summer, how could I resist the chance to dream it up for her? A crystal blue ocean, tropical fruit & flowers, calypso music and a Red Stripe in hand... I can feel my troubles melting away.

Kelley is also going to post this over at her blog, and enter it as part of her upcoming wedding inspiration board contest. I may enter another board as well, so head over there to check out the entries and vote for me, beginning Saturday, June 27th.


Resources: flowers & feathers via betsy white; suitcases via martha stewart; beach via trip advisor; shrimp via flickr; stars via the knot; invitation by dauphine press; cakes by cheryl kleinman.