Another year around the sun should always be celebrated, in my humble opinion. A milestone birthday, even more so! There are so many ways to make them special so here’s a glimpse of some of the parties I’ve thrown and the little touches I’ve added.
In this post I wanted to show how just working with what you have plus a few simple additions can give it a new and different twist to personalize it for the honoree. If I had an unlimited budget that would be one thing, but alas I do not. You’ll see some repetition, but as long as you make it special and fun, it’s perfectly fine. It’s also great to see various ways you can carry off the same theme if you use a little creativity and jeuge! (I’ve included some variations for you to see what I mean. The parties were in some cases years apart, but you’ll get the idea.)
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Birthday Theme: 40th w/butterflies (which had personal meaning to the birthday girl)
Color Theme: White, Pink, Rose Gold & Gold
Flowers: It always comes down to what Trader Joe’s has available, and this time it was a bit limited. But, I was able to use varying colors of chrysanthemums with eucalyptus greenery. (To see my easy peezy way to make beautiful flower arrangements at home, click here)
Linens: White tablecloth with rose gold sequined fabric used as a table runner with white linen napkins. (I made the table runner from a remnant at Fabric Barn and just jeuged it.) I’ve since found one on Amazon also inexpensive.
Table settings: Gold chargers with my china, crystal and silver (gotta bring out the good stuff for the special occasions—and even when it’s NOT a special occasion. My mom taught me not to pack things away and “save things for good”. Use them! Every day can be a special occasion.) China:Harrow by Mikasa, Crystal: Marquis Hanover Gold by Waterford, Silver: Francis I by Reed & Barton
Additional Decor items:
● Gold butterflies placed on each napkin and along the table. (Amazon)
● Votive candles – both plain glass holders and gold (Amazon)
● Paper lanterns, white blush gold leaf garland, tissue pom poms (Amazon) & ornaments (Target) were all used and hung from overhead using fishing line.
● Rose gold crown and sash for the birthday girl & Happy 40th Birthday Cake Topper(Amazon)
● Votive candles – both plain glass holders and gold (Amazon)
● Paper lanterns, white blush gold leaf garland, tissue pom poms (Amazon) & ornaments (Target) were all used and hung from overhead using fishing line.
● Rose gold crown and sash for the birthday girl & Happy 40th Birthday Cake Topper(Amazon)
Photo by Etsy
Special Gift:
Prior to the party, I asked the guests to text me with 3-5 reasons why they loved the birthday girl.I was able to put all their answers together and purchase the digital file: “40 Reasons We LoveYou” from PastelDesignStudio on (Etsy). I printed it at Kinko’s Fed Ex and framed it for the honoree. It was a beautiful way to tell her we loved her and was so personal. She LOVED it & yes, tears were involved.
VARIATION OF TABLESCAPE – 60th
Here’s a slight variation using the same color scheme for another celebratory dinner party. This event was for a friends’ 60th birthday. I used many of the same choices, but varied it to keep it fresh.
Flowers: I used blush roses & eucalyptus greenery with gold shimmery tulle tied around each vase.
Again I used framed birthday sayings, but this time I used gold frames (Dollar Tree) and of course, they were updated with 60th birthday funnies:
● 60…kind of like 59, only not
● I’m 60, sassy and all kinds of classy
● The first 60 years of childhood are always the hardest
● 21 with 39 years experience
● Cheers to 60 years!
Rose gold confetti was used around the table and a 60th rose gold crown & sash were purchased for our birthday girl.
● 60…kind of like 59, only not
● I’m 60, sassy and all kinds of classy
● The first 60 years of childhood are always the hardest
● 21 with 39 years experience
● Cheers to 60 years!
Rose gold confetti was used around the table and a 60th rose gold crown & sash were purchased for our birthday girl.
Special Gift:
Rose Gold framed 11” x 17” poster that each of the guests signed and shared birthday good wishes and love for our birthday girl. This was wrapped and given to the guest of honor as a special keepsake from the evening. (Amazon)
Photo by Amazon
VARIATION OF TABLESCAPE – 60th
SWITCHIN’ IT UP AGAIN! *** ANOTHER VARIATION OF TABLESCAPE – 80th
For my mom’s 80th, I hosted a small family dinner in her honor. I used the same color scheme and chose to use ivory linens for both the tablecloth and napkins. I did small favors , added gold “80” confetti (Etsy) and 80th birthday sayings in gold frames.
80th birthday sayings
● By the time you’re 80 years old you’ve learned everything, You only have to remember it. – George Burns
● Life would be infinitely happier if we could only be born at the age of 80 & gradually approach 18.
● How do you get a sweet little 80 year old lady to say the f-word? Get another sweet little 80 year old lady to yell BINGO!
● It takes a long time to grow young. – Pablo Picass
● Life would be infinitely happier if we could only be born at the age of 80 & gradually approach 18.
● How do you get a sweet little 80 year old lady to say the f-word? Get another sweet little 80 year old lady to yell BINGO!
● It takes a long time to grow young. – Pablo Picass
For flowers, I did small arrangements (again, Trader Joe’s) using roses, snapdragons, chrysanthemums, pink hypericum berries, calla lilies and eucalyptus greenery.
I also hung a gold banner (Etsy) along with some rose gold decor I found at Dollar Tree. My mom looked adorable in her crown and ‘80 & Fabulous’ sash. (I’m hoping I get her genes! Go Gigi!)
ONE MORE VARIATION FOR 80th
I had another little dinner party for my mom for friends while she was in town celebrating her 80th. It was only a couple nights after our family gathering, so I was able to use the same flowers. I washed and used the same table cloth and added pink linen napkins (similar to these) to change it up. I had a gold table runner I’ve had for years and added varying types of candles to the votives I previously used.
As it was more casual, I used my everyday silverware and dishes, added some of the leftover “80” confetti and voila! Good to go! It was even prettier when it was all candlelight as the lighting sparkled off all the gold and crystal touches.
Birthday Theme: 50th Birthday Dinner Party for 6
Color Theme: Black & Gold
Flowers: Trader Joe’s availability: White roses, blush roses, white hypericum berries, snapdragons and eucalyptus greenery with frawns cut from our yard for the base.
Linens: Black tablecloth (Amazon) and napkins (Amazon)
Table settings: Gold chargers with my china, crystal and silver. I love using my wedding registry goodies for special occasions. (BONUS: When you use your sterling, you typically don’t have to polish it nearly as often as it stays sparkling silver, ready to go!)
Flowers: Trader Joe’s availability: White roses, blush roses, white hypericum berries, snapdragons and eucalyptus greenery with frawns cut from our yard for the base.
Linens: Black tablecloth (Amazon) and napkins (Amazon)
Table settings: Gold chargers with my china, crystal and silver. I love using my wedding registry goodies for special occasions. (BONUS: When you use your sterling, you typically don’t have to polish it nearly as often as it stays sparkling silver, ready to go!)
Additional Tablescape Items:
- Votive candles a plenty (I buy candle refills in bulk at Smart & Final)
- Gold mesh ribbon (wide) used as a table runner
- Humorous “50th birthday” sayings in small black frames (Dollar Tree)
- You’re not old, you’re mid-century modern
- Fifty…the ultimate “F” word
- 50 is the …what was I saying?
- The best part of being over 50 is we did our stupid stuff before the internet
- 50 is not old, if you’re a tree
- Look who’s all grown up & ready for a colonoscopy
- Favors: cellophane gift bags with Ferrero Rocher gold wrapped hazelnut chocolates with gold tinsel tied with black satin bow
- Gold “Fifty & Fabulous” cake topper (Amazon)
Inside Decoration:
- Black, gold & clear balloons
- Happy Birthday pennant (black with gold lettering) (Amazon)
- 50 Years Signs (3) (What was happening on the year they were born and how long ago it was. They’re a kick for the birthday girl/guy to read and take a ride down memory lane. Inexpensive, personalized and fun.) (Amazon)
Birthday Theme: 70th Birthday Dinner for 4
Sometimes our celebrations are smaller, but no less important and can still be lovely without doing quite as much as much work. We threw a really nice intimate dinner for a dear friend who was having a big birthday, so this is what I did.
Color Theme: Navy & Silver
Table Settings: Silver Chargers (Dollar Tree) White Plates (Strawberry & Vine by Wedgwood, again from my wedding registry for everyday dishes), sterling (Francis I by Reed & Barton) and glassware (Arctic Lights by Mikasa).
Additional Tablescape Items:
- Votive candles (this is pretty much standard for all of my tablescapes)
- Silver mesh ribbon This ribbon wasn’t very wide so I just cut two strips and placed them down the table to make it appear wider and serve as a table runner. (It’s what I had on hand and used to improvise—and why having my stash of ribbons comes in so handy!)
- Humorous “70th Birthday” sayings in small black frames (Dollar Tree)
- The Big SEVEN-UH-OH!
- 70…Old enough to know better. Young enough to still do it
- Inside every 70 year old is a 30 yr old wondering what the hell happened
- 70…In dog years you’re dead
- I’m not saying your old, but if you were a whisky you’d be really expensive
- Silver “70” Confetti (Amazon)
- Happy 70th Birthday silver cake topper (Amazon)
- Menu: Steak, grilled shrimp, brussel sprouts, strawberry & feta salad with garlic bread.
MIXING IT UP! *** VARIATION OF TABLESCAPE
And here’s a variation on the tablescape using the same navy blue and silver color scheme for another celebratory dinner party. This event was catered for food and beverage, but it was basically taking the same color scheme and changing it up.
I used the same linens, but did purchase silver table runners on (Amazon).
Centerpieces are always what is available at Trader Joe’s, so this time there were hydrangeas, alyssum, brassica (it’s in the cabbage family), chrysanthemums and eucalyptus greenery. I used 2” thick satin ribbon in navy blue (Amazon) to wrap and tie around the clear vases. I printed menus as well as place cards on white card stock and added silver confetti, and of course, votive candles to complete the look.
Centerpieces are always what is available at Trader Joe’s, so this time there were hydrangeas, alyssum, brassica (it’s in the cabbage family), chrysanthemums and eucalyptus greenery. I used 2” thick satin ribbon in navy blue (Amazon) to wrap and tie around the clear vases. I printed menus as well as place cards on white card stock and added silver confetti, and of course, votive candles to complete the look.
MIX ‘N MATCH can completely change the vibe and make the honoree feel special. Hope you found some ideas that will prove useful in planning your next milestone bash. Share how you make it special for your distinguished guest-of-honor!
How are you THIS level of perfection?? I am so grateful that I was the recipient of one of these fabulous parties!
Nowhere NEAR perfect, but certainly having FUN celebrating with wonderful friends~
You know how to make someone feel special!
So sweet of you to say. Thank you!!