After much (loving) persuasion from John, Honey finally caved and we got the green light to throw a proper birthday par-tayyyy in his honor! Once we had his blessing, the party planning kicked off.
Now, if you know Honey, you know he’s a creature of habit. He lives by the motto, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” So when it came time to plan his milestone celebration, he didn’t hesitate for a second: he wanted the exact same setup, and the same amazing Mexican food truck, we used for John’s grad party. Right around the time I was in the thick of dreaming this up, I was awe struck to learn that the man loves tequila (after three decades of knowing him, lol). And just like that… easy peasy, fiesta style… Tacos and Tequila was the theme.
I purchased a template for the invitation on etsy and used it to send out a digital invite, but also print a few to tuck away in our memory boxes. His favorite color is green so the color scheme was a no-brainer.
The “main event” unfolded right in our courtyard, cabana, and pool area, and it was a night to remember! I rented a beautiful white tent that fit our courtyard like a glove. It was delivered the day before the party, which gave us time to decorate and prep without stress. While Honey was off at a golf tournament, Mother and I transformed the space into a full-on fiesta! The tent became a stunning centerpiece. It added peace of mind in case of unpredictable spring weather (though we had none!) and gave us flexibility to set everything up ahead of time.
Under the tent, we placed the bar and a few cocktail tables, and – no surprise – it became the most popular hangout of the evening. The food truck, which was a returning favorite from John’s grad party, also provided chips, salsas, and dips, which we served on a table just inside the courtyard.
While I kept the invitation and cake in crisp shades of green, I went all out with full fiesta colors for the décor. The flowers were an absolute joy to arrange and made the whole scene pop with vibrant cheer.
We hired our favorite bartender from the club who served up beer, wine, and fresh-squeezed margaritas. They were a hit from the very first pour! I also designed a custom banner featuring a lyric from one of Honey’s favorite country songs that was perfectly on-theme and gave our guests a chuckle.
Monogrammed cups and personalized koozies were festive little takeaways that guests loved.
On the fireplace wall, I created a bold and colorful fringe photo backdrop. It was originally planned for the end of the pool deck but, thanks to some serious wind tunnel action, we moved it last-minute and it still looked fabulous.
I also rented a photo kiosk, which was one of the best additions to the night! It captured so many joyful, silly, and sweet moments and was 100% worth it. I’ll share the camera roll from the night this week…. and the story behind this memorable shot!
Around the pool deck, we added more cocktail tables, festive balloons, and fun fiesta-themed floats bobbing in the water. You can even see the birthday boy cooling off with a quick dip after his golf tourney and the original idea for the photo wall.
The cake, from my favorite Atlanta baker, was showstopping. I asked for a design that felt fiesta-forward, masculine, and green. It goes without saying that she nailed it. It was also delicious: one layer of coconut cake with coconut cream (Honey’s fave) and one of almond cake with almond buttercream (mine… naturally). By some miracle, the 2024 marquee letters are still standing after a full year of festivities. I used the 0 and added a 5 for this soiree.
The food truck also had non-alcoholic margaritas in slushy machines in a variety of flavors. On the drink table, I set out spa water, soft drinks and liquors to zuhzh up the margaritas.
Out on the porch, we had additional seating for our 80+ guests. We also tucked the backup photo wall there after pivoting from our original wind-struck plan.
Sources:
- LED Table Lamps
- Fringe Wall Supplies: Gold Streamer & Tablecloths Green | Purple | Yellow | Red | Blue | Pink
- Balloons: 12″ along hot tub | 5″ around fringe wall | Gold 50
- Honeycomb Balls
- Mexican Serape Cake Plates
- 50 Candles
- Ribbon: Green | Orange | Purple |
- Mexican Serape Runners
- Mexican Serape Napkins
- Cocktail Table Table Cloths
- Pool Floats: Rings | Donkey
- Mexican Party Banners
- Marquee Number
- Vases: WalMart
Tutorials:
Atlanta Sources:
- Zama Mexican Food Truck
- Bohemian Robsidy Cake
- Perfect Event Party Rental
- The Booth Photos
Honey isn’t someone who loves being in the spotlight—but once he was surrounded by family and friends, his joy was undeniable. During John’s senior year I often said (and deeply felt): No regrets. That same sentiment rang true celebrating Honey’s milestone. I’m so glad we made this party happen.
No regrets…. only memories!
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Wow! You throw awesome parties!! Cheers to 50 more!