Throwing the Perfect Party-It's All in the Details

I wanted to share a few small details from Queen Bee's graduation party.  To me, it's always the little details that make a party special. Above, is the table we had sitting at the entry to our backyard.  I used my grandpa's old vintage suitcase and glammed it up a little for people to leave their cards. Instead of the traditional guest book we wanted to do something unique and meaningful for Queen Bee.  I decided to have guests each write their favorite memory of Queen Bee on a little square of paper and then place them in the glass jar.  It was so fun for us to read all of the memories of people she loves!  Some of our cute younger guests wrote many notes to her, it was so sweet!  They turned out to be a great keepsake from the party.  

I love thinking of things I already have around the house that I can repurpose for the party.  This red metal picnic basket was the perfect thing to corral all of the plates, napkins and silverware.  One of favorite party planning tips is to just look around your house for inspiration.  Base some of your party decor around things that you already have.  

On the inside lid of the picnic basket I taped one of Queen Bee's graduation pictures.  I used Queen Bee's graduation pictures to decorate throughout the party and added some fun travel and adventure themed quotes to some of them.  I love this one from Lady and the Tramp!  This was Queen Bee's very first Disney movie, she was obsessed with it!

Need and inexpensive, simple and meaningful graduation gift that is under $2.00?  Click below.

S'mores Bar

Summer time is in full swing and that means it's time to break out the s'mores.  We recently celebrated Queen Bee's graduation with a party for our family and friends and since her very favorite treat is a s'more, we knew a s'mores bar would be the perfect dessert for the party.  

For roasting the marshmallows, we had Sterno pots set along the table in aqua colored pails that we found at Target for $1.00.  In the middle of the pots, a larger pail held our roasting sticks, which were metal skewers embellished with ribbons.  

We had a sign posted with s'mores recipe suggestions based on the party theme of travel and adventure.

Want "s'more" details on our graduation party? (Sorry, I couldn't help myself.)  Click below for all of the little things that make a party special.

Graduation Party- Kids Buffet

Graduation Party-Kids Buffet

My favorite thing at the graduation party was that we had  an area in our yard designated as the kids zone with the kids tables, a teepee, crayons, paper, and a clothes line to hang the pictures they drew and best of all-A KIDS BUFFET!  What little kid would choose to have a pulled pork sandwich over dinosaur shaped chicken nuggets?  The kids buffet also had assorted juice boxes, veggie cups with ranch in the bottom, and of course any kids buffet wouldn't be complete without ketchup.  When decorating the kids buffet table I kept with our retro travel and adventure theme with a small globe, retro toy camera, and tiny wagon.  

Why are kids more likely to eat their veggies when they are displayed in a darling red wagon, in their own little yellow cup, with a spoonful of ranch?  I can't explain it, but it's a fact.

To see what the biggest hit of our graduation party was click on the link below.   Here's a hint...How can you go wrong when your guests can roast their very own marshmallows? 

Graduation Party

Graduation Party

I'm so excited to share the pictures of Queen Bee's graduation party.  It was a wonderful event, filled with people who love her and have been a support and inspiration to her.  It was a time for her dad and me to celebrate the amazing girl she is and all of her accomplishments.  Can you tell we are super proud of her?  The quote pictured above on her graduation announcement was the inspiration for the theme of the party.  Queen Bee has an adventurous spirit and a enormous heart.  She has already traveled quite a bit, including participating in a humanitarian program to build a kindergarten classroom last summer in Fiji.  And she plans on continuing to travel abroad and help those less fortunate while pursuing her college education.  I wanted her party to reflect her and the hopes and dreams she has for the future.  She also has her mother's love for anything vintage and retro, so I wanted to have a playful retro vibe to the decor.  

Here are all the details for where I found the things I used to create the party. For the items I found on Amazon, you can click on the link in the sidebar for more information.  On our buffet tables I used a retro globe from Dot and Bo.  I fell in love with these darling bright retro suitcases I found on Amazon.  I also used some vintage cameras and cake plates from my collections.  The globe and suitcases were the jumping off point for the color scheme of the party so I was thrilled to find  these darling Meri Meri Charms and Stripes Hanging Pinwheels that I mixed with these Meri Meri Toot Sweet Pinwheels, they were the perfect combo of colors. The tiered chip server was from Target and I lined it with gingham printed waxed paper from World Market.  Finally, throughout the party, I used scrabble letters to spell out words related to travel.

For more graduation party details, including the amazing kids buffet, click the link below.

Hive 5-Graduation Party Ideas

For those of you here to check out our favorite graduation party ideas, be sure to check out all the details of Queen Bee's graduation party.  Click on the link below.

I'm still in shock that I have a daughter who is graduating high school.  Where has the time gone?  I've been consumed this week in graduation preparations so I only thought it appropriate to share some of my favorite graduation party ideas.   Be sure to  click on the links below for more information.  Have a great weekend!

1.  This is an easy DIY tassel garland idea

2.  Balloons are a great way to display photos of your graduate.

3.  I absolutely love this letter from a mother to her graduating son.  It is so beautifully written and inspiring.  I can't think of a more meaningful gift for a graduate.  A must do!

4. These easy and super cute graduation pops look delicious!

5.  I love this memory jar idea.  Instead of a guest book, have everyone write down their favorite memory with your grad.