50th Birthday Party {The Night We Celebrated Big with all the Bows}

I went back and forth for a long time on whether or not I even wanted to have a party for my 50th.

Party planning is no small undertaking, and this one would be almost entirely on me. But then again… I celebrate everything. I love a good party. And I knew deep down I would be sad if this big milestone year came and went without marking it in a meaningful way.

With a little encouragement from Honey, it was a go.

Of course, in true fashion, I had absolutely no idea that I would be taken down by the flu the entire week leading up to the party. Thankfully I turned a corner by Wednesday and was back on my feet just in time to celebrate on Friday. I am beyond grateful to my parents, who came early and worked so hard alongside us to bring this whole vision to life. It truly would not have happened without them.

The Theme {It Started in the Wine Aisle}

I considered so many themes I lost count. And then, over Christmas break, I was in the Publix in Savannah with my parents and spotted a bottle of Chloe wine tied with a simple black bow. That was it.

Black bows had already been floating around in my idea pile, but seeing that bottle sealed the deal. So if anyone is wondering where the inspiration came from… it all started in the wine aisle at Publix. The wine came first. Ha!

I purchased some bow clip art on Etsy and got to work designing the invitation. Black and white is one of the easiest palettes to pull together, and I knew I would have no trouble finding beautiful pieces to coordinate.

The Setting {At Home, Of Course}

Honey gently encouraged me to consider hosting the party somewhere other than our home, but I just could not do it. I love having people here too much, and I knew that even with the extra work, this was exactly where I wanted to celebrate.

The party unfolded throughout our courtyard, cabana and pool area and the guests spilled over inside almost every room on the main floor It truly became the party of my dreams.

We rented a beautiful white tent that fit perfectly in the courtyard. It was delivered the day before, which gave us time to set everything up without feeling rushed. Mother, Daddy-O, Honey, my friend L and I spent the day transforming the space.

The tent ended up being the centerpiece of the entire evening. Not only was it beautiful, but it gave us peace of mind with the unpredictable spring weather. At one point it absolutely poured, and not a single guest got wet. A win.

Under the Tent

Under the tent, we set up the bar and a few cocktail tables, and it quickly became the most popular spot of the night.

I used my own white tablecloths, which at this point have more than paid for themselves over years of entertaining. We added black sequin runners, LED lamps and simple floral arrangements that Mother and I put together ourselves.

I also found the most inexpensive black metallic fringe bunting, and it ended up being one of my favorite details. It was breezy but warm, and the fringe caught the light in the most magical way. The entire tent shimmered all evening long. It was even prettier than I had imagined.

The Bar + Pool Deck

The bar quickly became the heartbeat of the party, and we leaned all the way in on the details here. Monogrammed cups and personalized koozies doubled as festive little takeaways, and guests loved them. It is always my favorite when something is both pretty and practical. The straws with bows were another Amazon find.

Around the pool deck, we added more cocktail tables, festive balloons and floats bobbing in the water, which made the whole space feel lively and layered without being overdone.

Flowers + All the Details

I usually grab flowers from Trader Joe’s or order hydrangeas from Dollar Hydrangea, but since this was my own party and I knew time would be tight (and didn’t yet know I’d be down with the flu), I ordered everything from Fifty Flowers. It was not the budget option, but it was easy and absolutely stunning. I will definitely share more details on that because it made such a difference. I used the same vases I bought for John’s graduation party, which were under $3 each from Walmart and have more than earned their keep at this point.

And in true Amanda fashion, I added black monogrammed bows to just about everything. I cut the monograms from vinyl and used a flat iron to adhere them to ribbon, and I have to say… it might be one of my favorite details of the entire party. Thankfully I had done all this over the course of a few weeks in January while binging Netflix.

Food Truck Fun

To keep things simple on my end, we brought in Lisa’s Creperie food truck, and it could not have been cuter. The truck itself was pink and darling, and the food was a huge hit. They served both savory and sweet crepes along with iced coffees and a unicorn lemonade mocktail. It was fun, different, and made hosting so much easier.

Porch Setup {Cake + Photo Booth}

With rain in the forecast, we set up the cake and photo booth on the porch, which ended up being the perfect call.

The cake, from my favorite Atlanta baker, was absolutely showstopping. I sent her the flowers I had ordered, and she created something that tied in beautifully with everything else. It was almond cake with almond buttercream and just as delicious as it was pretty.

A sweet friend monogrammed the ribbon for the cake, we used our original wedding cake stand, and I found the cutest plastic coupes with black bows on Amazon for a champagne toast.

Mother, Daddy-O, and I put together the photo wall the day before, and Honey rigged up a rod with command hooks so we could hang black sequin panels. We added white bow balloons and a simple garland, and it turned out so well. We brought in a local photo booth with an attendant, and it was such a hit. I loved going back through all the photos and seeing everyone having so much fun.

By some miracle, our 2024 marquee numbers are still standing after a full year of graduation festivities. The “5” was a holdover from Honey’s 50th, and after Whit’s 2027 graduation, I think they will finally retire.

A Few More Touches

Inside the house, I carried the theme everywhere I could.

The kitchen became a beverage station with soft drinks, sparkling water and infused waters, along with a large floral centerpiece in a silver bowl. I found the oversized black bow on Shein and secured it with painter’s tape for an easy, high-impact moment.

The balloons might be my favorite detail of all. I blew them up with air a full week in advance, tied long satin ribbons and used painter’s tape to attach them to the ceiling. They created such a fun, festive feel throughout the house.

In the den and living room, I created custom photo slides for the Frame TVs, which added such a personal touch. Honey surprised me with a photo slideshow which ran through the party. Such a sweet, sentimental act that meant the world to me.

And one of my favorite little moments… my sweet friend L asked if I had a birthday puzzle for the puzzle table. I didn’t, and she went out and found one and brought it over just before guests arrived. It was such a thoughtful gesture and so very “me.” I will think of her every birthday season from here on out.

Front Entry

While most guests came through the back, I still wanted the front door to feel special. I added a white floral wreath with monogrammed bows, a large satin bow over the door, monogrammed ribbons on the dog statues, and two lanterns to finish the look.

The foyer carried the theme right inside with more bows, balloons, and flowers.

The Party Itself

Since I knew this would be a lot to manage, I hired an attendant to help with everything, and that was one of the best decisions I made. Especially in my flu-recovery state, it allowed me to actually enjoy the night.

And enjoy it I did. It was truly spectacular.

Family, sorority sisters, college friends, neighbors and friends from all different seasons of life gathered together, and I felt such a deep sense of joy and contentment all evening long. It was one of those moments where you just want to pause and take it all in.

Guests arrived in black and white cocktail attire, and it was perfection. Everything from tuxedos to golf shirts, and it was so fun seeing everyone dressed for the occasion.

We ate, drank, laughed, and took more photos than I can count. There is something so special about watching your worlds collide… my parents chatting with neighbors, college friends reconnecting after years, and people realizing they had more in common than they ever knew.

Cake + Champagne + French Fries

When it was time for cake, everyone gathered on the porch as I made a wish and blew out the candles.

And then Honey surprised me.

He had secretly “trained” five guests, including John, on how to use a champagne sabre, and they opened the bottles with the most celebratory flair. He also gave the sweetest toast, and I have never felt more loved. John came in with his own toast which brought me to tears.

And in what might be the most “me” detail of the entire night… I had always dreamed of serving champagne and french fries at a party.

Earlier that day, I ordered McDonald’s fries for a 10:00 PM delivery and completely forgot about it. Imagine my delight when they arrived right on time. Our attendant served them in black and white cups on a silver tray, and they were an absolute hit.

Honestly, this party was everything I hoped it would be and more. I always say to throw the party, celebrate the things, and have no regrets. And this night was exactly why. I am so very grateful.

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