I've been dying to share this party with you!
Last month, my one of my favorite clients threw her son an 8th birthday party. This year she decided on a football theme because Tate loves football. When I realized that he was turning 8 this year, I thought a "Tailg8" party was the PERFECT THEME!
My inspiration for the party was classic, vintage football, with a varsity feel. I didn't want to focus on a particular team or league. I thought it was way more kid-friendly to go retro and classic.
We started off with the invitations. Doodlez Designs on Etsy customized these lanyard invitations for us. What a cute, fun detail to send kids a lanyard to wear, so that they feel like they are getting invited to something really special!
Here is our cute-as-a-button birthday boy.
The dessert table was inspired by chenille letter jacket letters. I was obsessed with spelling out his name in chenille letters. Who didn't love their letter jacket? Confession: I wanted one of the fancy script names to go on mine.)
I found a fabulous vendor who custom made them for me! These are also something he can keep forever in his room.
Wendy always uses her pristine garage for Tate's parties. So, we made several stations. One for dessert, one for favors, one for food, and one for beverages.
The backdrop for the dessert table was simply a large piece of astroturf taped onto some foamboard. Of course everyone has seen this look on the actual table, but I wanted to take it up to the backdrop. The fun chenille letters are definitely the focal point. My friend Melissa cut out the numbers for me on her Cricut.
The adorable cake was made by Mad Lily Cakery, who is a new vendor for me. It turned out absolutely precious and was just perfect! So, if you are local in Memphis, check her out!
I got that "football" sign at Hobby Lobby. It was black, but that was nothing a little spray paint can't fix. I liked the idea of using those crates for a cake stand because they reminded me of old school bleachers. The vintage trophy cup is from an antique mall.
The dessert station included the cake, Penalty Flag Pie Pops, Coin Toss Chocolates, Coach's Cake Pops, and Sideline Sugar Cookies.
The huge cookies!
These football and pennant pie pops were absolutely delicious!
We also used one of my favorite vendors, Mom's Killer Cakes. Sarah knocked it out of the park (or scored a touchdown, I should say) with these helmet and football cake pops. They were absolutely perfect!
Everything was displayed on the cake table in grass mats. I covered styrofoam in grass printed scrapbook paper and then used my grass mats from Easter to provide some texture on top. The papers for these cones and the printables are from the wonderful Gwynn Wassons Designs, who did all the fabulous printables for me! Gywnn is a DREAM to work with and she bent over backwards to make my vision of a vintage tailgate party come true.
The pom pom garland is from PomFlair. I actually WON this as a prize on a Children's Party Network chat! So, ladies, next time we have a chat, you might get some good prizes!
Carmen, I love this garland, it was the perfect addition!
For the savory food, I once again had help from the wonderful Karen at Simple Done Catering. We focused on "football" food with a build-your-own Noseguard Nacho Bar, "Pigskins"-in-blanket, "Tate-r" Chips, Timeout Twice Baked Potatoes, Wide Receiver Wings, Shotgun Sausage and Cheese, Off Sides Sliders, Hail Mary Hot Bacon Dip, Quarterback Sack Sausage Dip, Chicken Con-Tenders, and a Field Goal Fruit Tray.
The adorable goal post was made by the Hip Hostesses, my Memphis girls! I wrapped it with yellow duct tape to complete the look. That banner is from Shindigz.
I reused the same letters from Tate's Mario party last year and painted them the colors to match this scheme.
For the favors, I wanted to do a "favor bar." I have seen this done at several parties and I think that is perfect for this theme. The kids could take home their own mix of football themed goodies like koozies, football Mardi Gras beads, pencils, suckers, hacky sacks, and noisemakers.
I handmade the backdrop using butcher paper. The letters are from the teacher department at Hobby Lobby. They are reusable and super convenient. For the numbers, I had to hand cut and measure out everything. It was time consuming, but totally worth it.
Most all the little favors are from Oriental Trading or Shindigz.
I had these little muslin bags hand-stamped by Jennifer's Cookies and Gwynn designed these adorable favor tags for me to use. I love the feel of the vintage football player that she used!
In the driveway, I set up the guest tables with runners of astroturf, cones, and penalty flags.
I punched a hole in the top of these cones from Target and stuck a dowel rod down into them to display these large printable party circles from Gwynn.
And since this was a real party for really cute little guys, here is a precious picture of Tate getting serenaded by his buddies!
Outside, Wendy rented some great games and activities for the kids.
There was even an ice cream truck!
Aren't they the cutest family?
Happy 8 Tate!
Big thank yous to all my vendors! I loved working with all of you!
Vendors:
Catering: Simple Done Catering and Cupcakes
Photography: J. Herndon Photography
Cake Pops: Mom's Killer Cakes
Pie Pops: Old Time Favorites
Sugar Cookies: All Things Exquisite
Cake: Mad Lily Cakery
Chenille Letters: Susie's Letter Jackets
Favors: Oriental Trading
Printables: Gwynn Wasson Designs
Small Favor Bags: Jennifer's Cookies
Larger Favor Bags and Helmets: Mini Me Crafts
Banner and Large Football Helmet: Shindigz
Pom Garland: Pom Flair
Vinyl Numbers for Field Backdrop: Rich Creations
Football Goalpost: The Hip Hostess
Rentals: Affordable Party Rentals
Invitation: Doodlez Designs
All styling and custom work: GreyGrey Designs
Linking up to:
http://www.blog.birdsparty.com/2012/01/link-party-link-up-your-party-and.html