Holly's Annual Birthday Soiree

Celebrating Holly's birthday has become a summer tradition. It's something I look forward to every summer. It's a time when all of Holly's closest friends get together, reminisce, laugh, eat and celebrate Holly. She invites friends from all different stages of her life; some are family, some she has known since junior high, others from college, some are colleagues. Many of us only see the others this one time a year at her party, but when we're all together, it feels like we're old friends.

Every year the theme is different. This year the theme was the south, and it indeed was a peach of a party. Holly is a party planner extraordinaire. She has an eye for detail and is super creative. She designed and hand made the {absolutely darling} invitations, designed the tablescapes {place settings, centerpieces, place cards}, hand crafted favors, baked {yummy} desserts and even made adorable take-home containers out of recycled aluminum cans, for guests to take a few desserts home with them. Every detail is always beautiful and well thought out, from the ribbon she uses to add a finishing touch, to the china place settings used for dinner. Her parties are amazing, fun, beautiful and inspiring.

I'll let these pictures tell the story of that June night.

The birthday girl.

How seriously cute is this invitation?
She sent out individual dresses as the invite with a long sheet of cardstock tucked inside each one bearing the party details.
Adorable.



This is my favorite picture of the bunch. I love that Holly has this natural, modelesque quality. The sunlight looks warm, and her yard is gorgeous. When we were looking at pictures together after the party, we decided this could be an add for Ann Taylor.

Don't you think?

Some of the party guests striking a southern belle pose with their umbrella. The umbrella was one of many party favors.

Sally
Holly's beautiful sister.

My lovely mom, Joyce

The ever-stunning Sara

Holly and Sarah
Friends since junior high.

Holly and me

As we were posing with our umbrellas I accidentally knocked Holly in the face with mine.

Oops!

Then we had a good laugh about it!

Rachel

I also love this picture; not only does she look beautiful, and she's also getting some serious air but capturing this moment was total luck. I looked at her across the yard and shouted "Rachel, 1-2-3" and she jumped and I clicked. Completely unplanned. Perfect!

Bill and Delcine

Holly's mom and dad. Aren't they adorable? I adore these two. They're truly such genuine, selfless and generous people. Patrick and Bill share the same birthday and are similar in lots of other ways, too. Delcine is ridiculously talented and creative. I only wish I could look at a bead (or an avocado, for that matter) and see something to create the way she does. She makes gorgeous jewelry and delicious, mouth-watering food (she designed and created the bracelet, necklace and earrings that she's wearing in this picture).

The decorated tables.



Each place setting was complete with a personalized lemon shaped sugar cookie as a place card. Each one was hand baked and iced by Holly. So darling!

Some party guests enjoying dessert.
This year, Holly hosted a dessert/coffee at her gorgeous condo. After dinner and gifts at her parent's lovely house, the party traveled to Holly's beautiful home for more delicious food and fun.


Melisa, Holly and Rachel

The guest's shoes.
Very pretty.
I wanted to sneak away with them all!

Chocolate dipped strawberries. Yum. Very pretty nails and jewelry, Sara!

Holly
Opening presents.

My wrapping matched Holly's dress.
A total coincidence!

Holly and her precious newborn niece, Allison, Sally's sweet new addition.

Sally and Allison.
She was such a good baby at the party. Not an unhappy squeak. She was very content and was happy to be held and passed around.
Don't you want to kiss those sweet cheeks?

What?
A boy at the party?
Who is this newcomer?

Oh wait,
it's Chris!


Some of the decor.
Umbrellas hung whimsically in the trees,

and on the house,

and in the bushes!

Delcine, who has the amazing gift of hospitality and is an amazing cook prepared dinner. The food she prepares is always fitting for the party's theme, and looks and tastes beautiful and delicious.

These tomato tarts were melt-in-your mouth good.





These earrings, the Southern Belle Collection, were another of the party favors. Each pair was designed and handmade by Delcine.

Holly created these tags for the umbrellas.

Such a cute way to identify each person's umbrella from the stands inside.

This super cute flower was another of the party favors.
In all, we left with a stylish and fully functional umbrella, a delicious sugar cookie, a flower in an adorable bud vase and a beautiful pair of handmade earrings!

We all had so much fun posing with our umbrellas.

And lots of fun posing without them too.
It took a few tries to get this one right!



Thank you, Holly for another year of friendship. Another year of fun. Another year of memories. I'm looking forward to many, many more. (parties, memories and fun, that is!)
Happy 27th Birthday!