Hostess with the Mostess®
This is not your typical 3rd birthday party – in the best way possible! Amanda De Santis of Red Wagon Events created this super cool Modern Australian Animal Party for her son, Xavier. I love the bold black & white details combined with playful pops of primary hues, not to mention the fantastic paper designs by Pretty and Print…. how cute is that straw-sipping lion on the drink station backdrop?! This look is so appropriate for kids, but would translate really well to a grown up “party animal” or chic baby shower theme too!
PARTY HIGHLIGHTS to look out for:
– Painted animal figurines (right up our alley!) & mod party animal silhouettes
– Adorable koala bear macarons, party animal cookies, and a playful fondant cake
– Mod minimalist black & white tablescape with polka dot paper bowls and straws
– Talk bubble cookies that coordinate perfectly with the phrases on the paperie
– Animals of Oz brought in the real live animals for the kids to enjoy (check out those bat wings!)
*****
PARTY DETAILS as told by Amanda…
:
Birthday planning around our household usually starts a few days after the birthday child’s last birthday party. Never being able to quite switch off the party planning, my mind usually turns to the next event. With my son’s 3rd birthday months and months away my only focus at that stage was finding educational entertainment for 40 kids!! And that’s when I came across Animals of Oz who come to you with a highly educational and fun program displaying many different Australian Animal species. So the theme was set — a modern take on the Australian Animal. After all, who doesn’t love an animal party?!
DECOR:
The brief to graphic designer Nicole of Pretty and Print was a fun modern take on our Australian animals in black and white with a pop of colour here and there. She created a quirky invitation and mood board set and we went from there. The backdrop featured the same quirky animals and to the backdrop was the subtle but striking wording of the Australian animals on repeat.
Gail force winds on the day of Xavier’s birthday saw many changes to the grand plan! The dessert and drink stations were screwed to the fence while the plating and table settings were taped to the table with double sided tape to stop them from blowing away in the strong winds. Other simple elements on the table were party favour bags and mondo grass potted plants. Australian animals sprayed in black weaved their way in and around the potted centre pieces.
FOOD/DESSERTS:
Wanting to keep a minimalistic style, the dessert and drink stations, like the table settings, were kept quite clean and simple. I really wanted the cake to feature 3 tiers (for Xavier’s 3rd birthday) so cake artist Andrea of Cake-a-lishious used a spacer to create the three different levels. The cake was kept clean and sharp to compliment the rest of the minimalist styling on the table. The possum playing special tribute to our cheeky little night creature Xavier (who spent most of his first 3 years having many a party in the wee hours of the morning!) The cupcakes echoed the simple elements of the backdrop and paperie (the party hats, bow ties and gifts).
We also had cookies expertly hand piped by Noo of Dessert Menu, featuring cheeky Australian animals and quirky signage, like: ‘Come down from your tree’ and ‘Happy Birthday.’ Moorish Macarons baked by Macarahrah were in the shape of one of Australia’s most famous animals, the cuddly koala.
Cake pops made by Toni of Pop my Cake highlighted the little pops of colour used throughout and echoed the patterned icing used on the cake spacer. Finally clear (child friendly!!) jelly shots were placed around the bases on black platters.
ACTIVITIES:
The little guests feasted on fish and chips and desserts before being presented with a show from the brilliant educators at Animals of Oz. Frogs, lizards, sugar gliders, snakes, bats, kookaburras and even a smiley crocodile all made an appearance. Truly, a lovely way to finish the party.
*****
VENDOR CREDITS:
– Styling and Design: Red Wagon Events
– Photography: Oy Photography
– Event paperie: Pretty and Print
– Cake and cupcakes: Cake-a-lishious
– Cookies: Dessert Menu, Please
– Macarons: Macarahrah
– Entertainment: Animals of Oz
– Cakes stands and drink dispensers: Leo and Bella
Hostess with the Mostess®