On Saturday we celebrated Arden’s 1st birthday with a vintage tea party. I had been picturing this day (and secretly planning) for almost a year…and I have to say, it was more perfect than I could’ve imagined.
At the end of the party I felt a lot like I did at the end of our wedding day. Ridiculous, right?! I know, but hear me out! While prepping for both events, I focused on the details…the invitations, the decor, the special little touches that would make them both unique. But at the end of the day, it wasn’t the details that mattered. Just like our wedding, the best part about Arden’s party was that she was surrounded by people that love and care about her. We were totally overwhelmed by all of the friends who showed up to celebrate our sweet girl–not to mention both sets of grandparents that travelled hundreds of miles to be here for the big day. I went to bed that night with a huge smile on my face…our little girl is so loved.
Now does that mean I wish my mom hadn’t scoured antique stores for the perfect tea cups and cake plates? Or that I hadn’t spent every nap time for the last month crafting with doilies or making banners? Heck no! I love the details with all of my heart, but I know that they were not what made the party perfect when it was all said and done.
I hope you enjoy Arden’s tea party as much as we did!
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| Invitations by Haute Chocolate |
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| Please note, these cupcakes were supposed to be vanilla with mint…not chocolate with Grinch. You win some, you lose some 😉 |
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| Time Capsule Inspiration: Strawberry Swings & Other Things |
Happy Weekend, Friends…and happy return of college football! GO CATS!!
I will be back in the Five on Friday swing of things next week, I promise!
How adorable!
You did a fantastic job with this and her dress is just perfect! We did the same thing with the mason jars, ribbon and straws for our gender reveal party last month and they were a hit!
OMG. The whole party is absolute perfection!! I love every detail right down to how much fun the birthday girl had. Seriously OBSESSED with the theme and all the amazing things you did… Lex's second birthday is six months away. You'd better use those nap times to start crafting for me becuse your totally my party planner now 😉
Love this!!
Hi! I found your blog through Dear Owen. New follower! :)This party is the most sweetest, precious thing I've ever seen! And your daughter, oh is she adorable! Have a great weekend!
Amy @ keepin' up with the Smiths
IT'S PERFECT! I love it all, every little detail. What an amazing party!
I'm a new reader and love that our girls are very close in age. 🙂 LOVE the theme of the party and all the decorations! Have a great weekend!
Love- such a sweet and beautiful party…especially the guest of honor!! 😉
Everything is absolutely adorable and looks perfect in every way…just as imagined it would:) Birthday girl looks cute as ever, and I just LOVE her b-day Crown!!! Have a great weekend relaxing now that the party is done, you will have lots of extra time on your hands (or have you already started planning for her 2nd Birthday:) ???)
OMG!!! amazing Vaness!!!! arden looks so precious!!
You really think of everything! Fave though is just the simple sparkler as the candle on the cake. 🙂
Oh my goodness, what a beautiful party! I just love every detail!!! Arden is one lucky little lady!
I don't think Miss Arden could be more adorable – what a perfect party for the birthday girl! And I absolutely love the idea of the capsule for her to open at 16. PS – I think you need to be a party planner in your next life! 🙂
SUCH AN ADORABLE BIRTHDAY THEME! 🙂 I love how girlie it is, without being over the top!
I am absolutely OBSESSED with all of it! You did such a great job of making it a memorable and adorable day, Vanessa! Arden is so lucky to have such a thoughtful Mommy 🙂
OH MY WORD!!! this might be the CUTEST little party i've ever seen!
What a perfectly girly and adorable party! I love it so much and love all the doilies and things you did with them. Definitely going to be pinning a bunch of your ideas. Arden's dress is adorable too! Where did you get that or have it made?
Omg! I don't think it could have turned out any cuter! What a great party, get this posted on Project Nursery ASAP! So glad you liked the time capsule to do it, too! I can't wait to re-read them, going to be a crack up!
What an incredible first birthday party!! You did an amazing job planning it-it was absolutely beautiful! I can't believe a year has already flown by!!
Wow! Gorgeous party and I love all the details 🙂
Such a precious party!! Could NOT have been cuter!! I absolutely love all the little details! 🙂 That was my favorite party about planning, too. I may or may not already be planning my 17 month old's 2nd birthday party! Ha!!
Great job, mama! Everything turned out perfect!
-Hannah
I mean REALLY friend, does it get any cuter?!?! I think not! I am seriously dying over all the details and of course how adorably sweet Arden looks! You did an AMAZING job, totally pinning for future inspiration!!
Love the Tea party!!!! What a cute idea
What a beautiful party! 🙂 She is one lucky little one year old!!
You did a wonderful job! I love your shirt too! Where is it from? I would love to see a day in the life post sometime 🙂
Hi Vanessa! Random comment, I know, but I saw that you know the Beckers from KC. I actually worked with Lindsey way back in the day when she was at PlattForm. Anyway, just excited to find another KC'er blogger momma and wanted to say hi. Love the nursery you did for Arden and her birthday looked fab. Anyway, I can't wait to follow along and hear more about the little one and hope you'll stop by and say hi. Have a great week!
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FRIEND!!!!!!!! Every last photo made my heart swoon…. such a perfect celebration for your angel girl!! Gahhh, cannot get over it! Loved ALL of the details – pretty sure you could be a professional party planner! I absolutely hate that we missed it, but clearly, it was a super special day that y'all will always remember!! I'm sharing this on my blog — the blog world needs to see this super special party! Hope you guys are having a great week. Let's get together when y'all are back home and settled!! XOXO!
Wow! What an adorable party for such a sweet little girl! You did such a great job!
love the time capsule idea! would you share what did you put in the poster for the guests? is a multiple option kind of thing or open question?
Happy belated 1st! Chocolate with grinch ha…too funny. They aren't glaringly out of place in your pictures though. And, those pearls and crown…perfection. I bet those will be something she likes to look back on later in life.
Oh my gosh!!! How adorable!! I love the time capsule idea as well!! I may have to steal your idea for my last baby's 1st bday 😉 Where did you get the little crown that she is wearing to eat cake?
You should! I think it will be such a neat thing to look back on! And the crown was from an Etsy shop called The Blue Spruce 🙂
Vanessa!! What size are the printstgram pictures? There are a few sizing options on the website! THANKS IN ADVANCE!! LOVE YOUR BLOG!!!
OMG this party is amazing!!!! You did such a fantastic job! And the crown on Arden's head, stop it! Wow, just beautiful!
Stopping by from the 5 on Friday link-up! What an adorable first birthday!! I have a little girl close in age to Arden (born May 2013) and had so much fun planning her first birthday! What a happy little family! Have a great weekend!
The most adorable little tea party – love all the party details! Love the bunting and photos and the time capsule idea is great… She looks too cute x