Polka Dot Zoo Birthday with Vintage Details

I love the creativity behind this vintage zoo party from Annelise of Aesthetic Nest.  She took her daughter's 5th birthday inspiration from the zoos of a century ago, and incorporated polka dots and rick rack to add more of a lighthearted, vintage feel.  She also designed these charming printables herself... check them out in her etsy shop and read on below for more party details.

photos © aesthetic nest

From Annelise: I wanted to share with you my daughter’s fifth birthday party—a vintage polka dot zoo party in coral, yellow and grey with some rickrack thrown in. I wanted to evoke the awe and naiveté of the zoos of yesteryear: parks and wrought iron and nearly-domesticated, exotic wild animals! My children love the zoo, not just for the animals but the cotton candy and carousel too!  I hosted a luncheon in my backyard on tables set with tablecloths I made—grey and white polka dots and stripes trimmed in rickrack and used rickrack placemats and napkins too. I served kid friendly food: PB&J, jello cut in animal shapes, fruit, fiddle faddle, and of course, birthday cake. Favors were zoo pails filled with train whistles (for our zoo train ride), snacks and water bottles.  And after lunch was a trip to the zoo!  The fabrics are my favorite thing about this party—a darling Michael Miller “Kid Zoo” and polka dot. It was fun using them on outfits for my girl as well as table dressings. I also had fun with the printables including pennants for bunting, patterned papers, accordion invitations and cupcake toppers.