Backyard Party: My 31st Birthday

Another year has gone by and still fabulous!

Every year I like to do something fun for my birthday, it’s usually a little get together for tea and sandwiches. But this year, I thought it would be fun to switch things up and instead of a brunch party I wanted to do more of a dinner and enjoy the setting sun. I really wanted this party to have a glamorous 20’s garden style dinner party just like in Downton Abbey, and doing so I tried to make it as cozy by bringing the inside out!

 I also love rustic French style parties, so when I found these beautiful French country style chairs at Winners for our dining table, I knew they would also be perfect for my party. One of my favourite décor elements was adding the sheers in the back between the two trees with hanging lights in front it.  For greenery I cut weeping willow branches and added them to the backdrop and table. I love the leaves on weeping willow trees and how they drape so elegantly, I always say weeping willows are the waterfalls of trees the way the branches flow just remind me of waterfalls. One summer tradition Kevin and I enjoy going to is diner en blanc. it’s a dinner party where people dress up fancy and have a glamour picnic. So because we where not able to go this year I was also inspired to have my own but more diner en blush. Over all I love how everything turned out. An evening we were able to enjoy the party and the golden hour of the sun and the feel to this party was perfect to lounge around and enjoy the music!

    I recently picked up these chairs from Winners for our dining table, and instantly loved that French country feel they have. The table was a diy my dad and I worked on this summer, I found the legs at a local wood shop for $10 each and had them for almost a year. I was going to make a small play table for Emilia but then decided to create a large table for crafting and parties. The top was made from 6″ x 6′ pine boards I purchased from Home Depot. I then used white chalk paint watered down to create a white wash look… I love this style! The white wash on pine really makes it look rustic and chic, plus gives it such a light almost pink look.

    The table settings has to be one of my favourite parts when decorating for parties. This is a good time to use china you might not use every day. I love antique or decorative china and anytime I can use my Royal Albert set is a must for me. my parents received this set as a wedding gift and then gave it to us as a wedding gift, so it is nice to have it and be able to pass it down. Plus I know my mom gets so exited every time I have a party and I bring out the Royal Albert. The pink glasses are our every day glasses I picked up from Ikea, they are the perfect shade of pink and bring a little extra sparkle to the table. 

    The flowers are a combination of fresh roses I picked up at the grocery store and weeping willow branches I cut from trees. I love how simple yet so elegant they look, using flowers and greenery for a table runner is so fun and there are so many ways you can style it. I then added some of my candle holders and draped the flowers and branches around the bottom of them.