First let me apologize for being MIA the last few days, I was in CRAZY party planning mode. I’ve been pinning and planning Ava’s first birthday party for over a month and I was still running around like a mad woman up until the day of the party! I LOVE entertaining but it definitely can be exhausting! I know Ava probably won’t remember much about this birthday but lets face it, this party was really more for the adults! 😉 I just wanted to celebrate and share this special day with all of our closest friends!
It’s a children’s birthday party so needless to say cocktails were a MUST! 😉 I had a mimosa bar with orange juice, pomegranate juice and a peach Bellini mix. We also had a beer tub and I made a nice batch of mango margi’s as well!
I love these little vintage champagne glasses I found on Etsy! Don’t they just look like they’d be so fun to drink out of ?! 😉 I filled them with Barefoot Pink Moscato bubbly. It’s super inexpensive and taste really good!
I printed out some of my favorite pictures of Ava throughout her 1st year (using prinstagram…an awesome site that prints your instagram pics) and made a little photo banner to display. It was super easy to put together. I just used a small strand of twine and baby clothes pins from Michaels to hang them up.
I scored these little tea cups and tea pot from Home Goods for super cheap and bought some inexpensive spray roses from Trader Joes to filled them up for the dessert table.
We also wanted to create a small space for a photo op so we purchased some shiny balloon hearts and just taped them at different heights to create a little back drop. The polaroid camera was such a hit at my baby shower, we used it again for Ava’s party.
Our little birthday babe!
Some of my lovely lovely ladies XOXO
As for food we hired a company to do a taco bar (my girlfriend used them for another event and they were SO good) They hand make the tortillas right on the spot! Now tacos didn’t really go with my shabby chic theme but I have to say it was so nice not having to worry about food prepping, serving and cleaning up and who doesn’t like hot food?!! I wish I would have taken a picture of their set up!
Now the dessert table was my baby! I have been pinning tons of inspiration pics on Pinterest and was so excited to see it all come together. We had macaroons, mini tarts, pastries, pink flower sugar cookies, “A” and “1” lollipops and I made those ice cream cone cupcakes (I had previously posted on The Honeybee FB page). The burlap “sweets” banner and ribbon banner in the background are from Etsy and the burlap table runner is from Michaels. All the flowers were super inexpensive and were from good ol’ Trader Joes!
After pinning several different smash cake designs I finally decided on an adorable pink ombre ruffle cake. I printed out the inspiration picture and brought it to the baker. When I went to pick it up the morning of, it looked like an 8 year old had made it (no exaggeration). Thankfully there was an all white cake that was pre made that day and I just put these adorable shabby chic bunting flags from Little Kitten Homemade on it. She SERIOUSLY has the most adorable little pieces for every party occasion on her shop! It was no surprise that this child LOVED birthday cake!
Daddy showing her how its done!
How adorable is this shabby chic flag banner?! I found it on Etsy at
Paula Designs and it is perfect for any highchair!
Needless to say Ava was a huge fan of birthday cake! I will share that we were definitely first time birthday parents over here! I think we let Ava have a little to much birthday cake because my poor babe projectile vomited after 🙁 So new parents beware of just how much cake you let your little one have! Luckily she was back to her sassy self in no time! It was such a fun little party and we were so blessed to be able to share it our closest friends! Hope you ladies enjoy the pics and happy first birthday to my sweet sweet Ava Layne!
I love the party. Super cute! Wondering if you can ID that lovely dress you are wearing?
thank you its actually from Forever 21!
I love how pretty everything is, you did such a good job! You should get into party planning…ya know when Ava is all grown up 🙂
thanks girl! i told my girlfriend who does party planning she is crazy theres no way I could do this for a living lol
awe 🙂 Happy birthday little angel! Great job girl, the decor is super cute!!!!
thanks so much hun!
gorgeous party! love the mimosa bar! do you mind sharing the taco truck you used? I was thinking of doing this for my hubby's bday
Hi love thanks so much…it wasn't an actual truck but a company that came in and set up their grill etc and made them.
awww Andee everything turned out so wonderful! I gotta go re-pin some of your pins from now as my baby will be one in August!
Happy birthday lil Ava…you are so grown up already!!
re pin away 😉 I agree I just can't believe what a big girl she is already turning into!
Adorable party, love the look of the dessert table! Wishing Ava the Happiest First Birthday:)
thank you so much!
Love the pics strung on the fireplace. It turned out perfect!
this has to be the cutest birthday party i have ever seen! happy first birthday to your babe!!
thanks girlllll! 😉
Happy Birthday to your beautiful child! I love how effortless the party looked. Simple and classy.
Thank you Ashley!
so so cute, i LOVE the balloon backdrop for the photo area. ♥
addyspring.blogspot.com
This looks amazing! Poor baby projectile vomiting. Happy Birthday AVA!
xx
josie
http://www.straightnochase.com
I know ;(((( My poor pumpkin but thankfully she felt better after!
it looks like Ava's big day was absolutely perfect and all the details are GORGEOUS mama…great job as usual!!! i want that moscato NOW please 😉
Thanks so much mama! Definitely a lot of work but turned out so fun! I second that pink moscato 😉
Her birthday turned out beautiful!
Everything looks great!! Who is your dress by?
Thank you its from Forever21
beautiful party! so shabby chic- loved the color palette. and of course you look amazing 🙂
Thanks Megan <3
Such a sweet and classy 1st birthday party! Her dress and headband were adorable. Love that you share your family photos. I love her cake face! Good job mama, and daddy too 😉
Thanks hun! You know that headband didn't stay on for long 😉
These are so precious!! Happy Birthday Ava! Great job planning, it turned out so fab! XOXO
thank you Jessica!
Love it!! All the decor looks beautiful!
hi andee- I live in OC and do you have a referral for your taco guy? We wanted one for landons bday! xo
What a beautiful party! You are such a great mama! I am throwing my best friends baby shower soon, so thank you for all the wonderful ideas! And of course, love the dress. I saw someone above asked where it was from so I don't have to 😉 But I was curious what kind of polaroid camera you used?
My girlfriend loaned me ger Fuji Fil Instax 210 Polaroid Camera and my dress is actually from Forever21 (purchased a few years ago though ;(
Love to know where your dress is from!?
Its from Forever21
Looks amazing, great job! Can you please share the taco bar company info? I'm from the OC area, too, and would love to know for my birthday party. x
Fantastic, Andee. Everything looks so beautiful, Ava is a sweetie and your dress is to die for. Would you mind sharing where it's from?
XO!
Sarah
http://www.pilsnerstyle.com
Thanks Sarah its actually from Forever21 (from a couple years ago though ;(
beautiful party…Happy Birthday Ava!!
wish you could have been here to celebrate with us toooo!
You did such a great job putting everything together! The pictures will be a wonderful addition to her album. Something she'll be proud to look at when she is older. Fabulous!
http://www.ahzeenevents.com
thank you!
Andee-
Ava's birthday looked amazing!!! We are looking for a taco cart company for our soon be born daughters baptism. Can I get the Taco company info? You are looking fabulous as always!!
yes for sure ill send it to you via FB xo
Sooo cute. Great job on it all. What a special day!! Our little one's first birthday is this summer and you've got me excited to plan already!! 🙂
oh yeah! Don't worry it will be here for you know it lol
Awwww it's just perfect!! Love every single detail! You did an amazing job! And A is the sweetest!! Happy First Birthday!!
thanks Natasha!!
Such a beautiful party! I love the mimosa bar idea. That's going to be a must for Mila's first birthday! 🙂
Kari
http://ryanandkari.com/
You can't go wrong with a mimosa bar! 😉
Great job Andee! Everything looked amazing! Happy 1st birthday to precious Ava Layne! She's so cute and looks like the perfect mix of you and Steve! I love your white maxi dress. ^__^ Thanks for sharing these wonderful photos. You have the most wonderful family and life! xo
thank you so much xo
This was so much fun – you did so amazing, and the pics turned out so well! Now that it's over, you can breathe again ;).
xo
serrrrriously 😉
LOVE LOVE LOVE everything! you did such an amazing job! 🙂
Thanks girl! xoxo
My baby girl is turning 1 on Saturday and the cake has been impossible to find. Where did you find this all white cake from?
How exiting! happy early bday to her! It was from the bakery section at Bristol Farms
Perfect, Bristol it is. Thank you 🙂
Wow, everything looked gorgeous! A birthday fit for a princess 🙂 I love all of the details, especially the sweets banner. And barefoot pink moscato is the best!
Barefoot bubbly and wine is seriously my FAV! Cheap and tasty!
Wow! Love everything about this 1 birthday! You did an amazing job Andee. Wish you lived closer so I can hire you to plan all my parties lol bet you were so relieved when it was all over, even though it is worth all the stress. She's going to love the picture memories in the future. LOVE your dress too!!
what a beautiful party!! It looks like something right out of a children's magazine! Ava is too precious!!
Thanks jen so sweet of you ! xo
Happy Birthday to Miss Ava!!Looks like you threw a beautiful party!! BTW – LOVE your white maxi.
Thanks hun its actually a soft pink in person and its from F21!
It turned out fantastic! Ashlynn's party is less than a month away and I'm doing the same planning craziness, can't wait!
oh how fun! Its craziness leading up to it but so fun once it all comes together!
Wow — looks so wonderful!! Happy birthday to your little girl! So sweet!
Everything looks so pretty! Where did you get your patio table from? I've been looking for a good one that has that resoration hardware look without the pice!
I believe its Smith & Hawken
Oh my gosh, what a cute birthday party… I LOVE the sweets table!
Everything looked beautiful and I love your dessert table!
Thanks Schnelle..It was so fun to put together!
This is so cute…I love all everything goes without looking too matchy-matchy. Please consider doing a how you and your husband met post.
ava is such a cutie! looks like she and everyone else had a great time. love the balloon background.
— jackiejade.blogspot.com
thank you Jackie!
Wow, that is quite the setup- chic, and fit for a little princess!
xo Carlina
AllergicToVanilla.com
thanks girl! She definitely was so spoiled that day 😉
This looked like it was the perfect celebration for sweet Ava! So sad to have missed it, but love all of these pictures! xoxo
us tooooooo!
You gave her such an adorable first birthday! everything is to cute, love the idea of the balloon photo backdrop. xoxo
thanks so much hun!
I second doing the post about how you and your hubby met. And, by the way, you both are equally good looking, it is not like with some couples the girl is prettier, with others the guy is better looking. With you two, I would describe you as beautiful and him as very handsome, hahahha…also, love the party, you definitely are good at "styling" wherever it is clothes or party…
aww thank you that is very sweet xo
What a beautiful party! Love the polaroid picture idea with the balloon backdrop! What polaroid camera do you use or recommend?
Thanks
thank you its a FUJI film instax210
Love the set-up. Would you mind sharing the taco company information and where your dress was from?? Thanks!
AMAZING Andee! You did a phenomenal job!! Looks like it was the perfect 1st birthday! (minus the projectile vomit) thanks for the advice, I am sure it was so hard to cut her off! 😉
thanks so much! Yes she definitely loved the cake i should have opted for a mini cupcake instead 😉 Definitely lesson learned!
You are such a cute mommy, Ava is one lucky little girl! Love every little detail you put in especially the dessert table!! Happy birthday beautiful Ava <3
thanks love! She had so much fun ;)))
Your pictures were beautiful! Just a thought . . . had Ava tried all of the ingredients in the cake before (eggs, wheat, etc)? Are you sure the vomiting wasn't an allergic reaction? We found out my son had an egg allergy after a similar incident. He had no other "classic" symptoms (hives etc).
you know were asking ourselves the same thing.,. She has pretty much had everything except egg whites. I think it was that she has to much of it ;(
Happy birthday Ava! Love all the party details <3
Thanks Cara!
Such a beautiful party!! Do you happen to remember/know the Etsy store you found the champagne coupes?? They are perfect!!
Thank you for your fabulous blog:) XO
lovely lovely party!!!! and happy birthday (belated) to darling ava! she looks adorable 🙂
cheers!
kunj
kohllined.blogspot.com
Awww a late happy birthday to baby Ava she is simply adorable <3
and props for the amazing party decor and well.. everything. I wish my birthday would look like that 😛 😛
Anyways lots of love.. take care!
This is beautiful Andee!! Your family is picture perfect and Ava is a STAR!!! Happy Birthday Baby Girl!! <3
How annoying that the cake place screwed up the ruffle cake idea – I wouldve had a massive b**** fit lol. I know its not a big deal in the grand scheme of things but boy its a pet peeve of mine when I pay someone to do something and they dont deliver! Good job on being ever classy and composed and rolling with the punches!!
Happy belated birthday, Baby A!! Everything looks beautiful! Can you tell me what company you used for the food?
wow mama!! you did a great job!! love it all!
Can I ask where you got the cake stand? Please 🙂
You have the most beautiful taste in everything you picked out for your little Ava's birthday! I love love love your decorations..
Where did you get that adorable white dress your LO is wearing? and if you can tell me where the perfect pink balloons are located Id be so grateful;)