real parties: a whale & bubble bash

I have a few reasons to be crazy about this exclusive feature, designed and submitted by the talented Sarah of Lil Whoot Parties. She created this ocean inspired event for a 3rd birthday and it is beyond fab.  Reason number one why I love it: because it's an indoor party at it's best.  In a simple undecorated space, Sarah added pops of coordinating color and height like the streamers, whale decal and ballons to add dimension and life to the theme. Reason number two: I'm headed on a beach vacation at the end of the week and this party is perfect inspiration.  Reason number three: there's a bubbly bar for the grownups {and that deserves a 'big' whoot}.  Read on below for all the details as told by Sarah...

{images by meredith nelson photography}

Grady had his heart set on a whale party for his upcoming 3rd birthday. Given as two year olds change their minds quite frequently, Grady asked that we also have crabs at the party about 2 weeks before! Jayme Marie Designs was amazing about adding crabs to the mix of all of our custom food labels and paper products.

For decor, we simulated the ocean with bright blue streamers hanging behind the dessert table and around the perimeter of you & me studio, the bright exercise studio where the party was held. We also had a "bubbly bar" for the adult beverages. Mimosas, bellinis, and bloody marys were served in aqua champagne flutes {i was thrilled to stumble upon these plastic flutes at ikea - glass is just not practical at a toddler birthday party!}

We had an awesome custom whale pinata by etsy shoppe Whack.

We lined the giant center window with the mini-sand pail favors from oriental trading post, filled with bubbles and personalized beach passes. We incorporated the bright pink crabs on the girls pails with a favor tag that said "i'm not crabby because you came to my party! love, grady" and the boy guests tags read 'i hope you had a whale of a time! love, grady'

We used giant 3 ft. round balloons in blues and greens to decorate the space.

As a unique twist on the birthday photo banner, with used an x-large whale decal on the wall with age "bubbles". We used circular pictures of Grady and coordinating bubbles with the age on them.

Mini-ocean themed coloring and sticker books from amazon were at coloring stations but mostly the kids enjoyed the "whaley good cupcakes" and "crabby cookies" and danced around to "under the sea'.

We placed the cake pops in aqua bucket filled with brown sugar to simulate sand and labeled them "beach balls".

The dessert table had fondant whale and crab toppers and a matching whale topper for the baby cake created by Cakes and Kids.

Sugar on Top created the adorable crab and whale cookies and cake pops.

Candy jars were filled with "gummy sharks" and "goldfish" for snacks.

Meredith Nelson did an amazing job capturing the details and the spirit of the party!