Time For Tea!

We couldn't let Emmeline's first birthday pass without a party. 
And considering this was my first ever girly- girl party, I could 
barely contain my excitement! I feel like I have been waiting 
my whole life to have a party filled with pink, so I pretty much 
couldn't hold back from going all out!

My original thought was to do a small tea party, and when I 

found these invitations on etsy, that sealed the deal. I fell in 

love with them, and what may have been a simple, low-key 

gathering turned into a full blown soirée! (Who am I kidding? 

I don't know how to do a simple party. It would have blown up 

with or without that invitation!) But, the invitation spurred my 

creative side, and Emme's Shabby Chic Tea Party was born.

We invited some of our mommy friends and their little girls 

and treated them to a delicious old fashioned afternoon tea, 

complete with various scones, meringues, petit fours, tea 

sandwiches, and other delectable treats that you might find 

at high tea. Ombre pink cupcakes and striped pink candy sticks 

also filled the table, offering a bonanza of sweet treats to choose

from.

Because hot beverages and little kids don't mix, I decided to 

serve iced tea and pink lemonade. I set up a beverage station 

on the buffet with non-breakable tea cups for lemonade and 

mason jars with paper straws for the iced tea.

A cute little tea table waited for the guests, decorated with 

individual place settings and a teapot filled with fresh flowers.

It was adorable to see it filled with little girls (and a boy named 

Leyton) enjoying themselves!

time for tea!
(kate, skylar, caroline, maisie, eloise, chloe, leyton)

I had quite the vision when it came to decorations and spent 

months sorting through my ideas and bringing them to fruition.

Going with the shabby chic theme, I used lots of burlap 

ribbon, lace paper doilies, and pink rick rack. Since the 

cupcakes and smash cake were frosted in the very popular 

ombre design, I decided to use the same idea with the 

decorations. Pink puffy tissue balls and honeycomb garland 

hung in the dining room. Over the tea table, I strung paper 

lanterns in various pink patterns. I also channeled my inner 

craftiness to make both a name bunting for the fireplace as 

well as a display of Emmeline's monthly pictures from one 

month to twelve on burlap paper with paper doilies and old 

fashioned gold diaper pins along a woven rope. Assorted 

teaware filled with fresh flowers were placed on the tables 

and buffet. My last project was to create an ombre tulle and 

ribbon high chair skirt. It was super easy to make and perfect 

to repurpose into a tutu for E's one year portraits. 

picture display












I always love to have a craft or activity at our parties, and 

I found the perfect one for our tea party as well. The guests

all made their own tea hats to wear, and they turned out so

cute! By gluing a paper plate and bowl together, we had

instant hats that were then decorated with flowers, feathers 

and beads. Strings of pearls completed the look. The kids 

loved decorating their hats and wearing them throughout the 

party.

emme, wendy, & chloe

Tea parties are so much fun! I'm guessing this was the first

of many for Miss E. We loved spending the afternoon with

our friends and being girly.

lana & kailey

emmie

alexa, geri, skylar, wendy & emmeline

When it was time for cake, Miss E knew the drill. I had 

originally planned to make her smash cake myself and had 

even practiced on her actual birthday. But when it came down 

to it, I decided to have it made. It was free and it was easy! 

Emme loved tasting the frosting and even sharing some with 

her brother!

chloe helps with the candle
happy girl




sharing with brother
good stuff!


happy birthday!

As the party came to an end, we sent the guests on their

merry way with mason jars filled with the ingredients for 

"Emmeline's Tea Cakes" to make at home. 

I just loved this party and enjoyed planning every detail.

I have to send a big shout out to my mom for helping me 

create all my "visions," basically taking over food prep, and 

helping me wrangle fishing line and command hooks on 

the ceiling to hang everything the way I wanted.I also want 

to say thank you to our neighbor and friend, Wendy, for 

taking many of these lovely photos! This was a wonderful 

celebration for our sweet little girl, and even though she 

won't remember any of it, it was pure fun to enjoy such a 

special day. You're only one once!