Another party in the books and I cannot believe my baby girl is about to be FIVE! We threw the party a little early this year because of lots of other holiday things, but I am so happy to have already kicked off the festivities. I started planning this party in August, I was so inspired by the embroidered Santa face by Thread Mama, you can see all my inspiration HERE.

 

From there the party became to come together, I wanted to incorporate bows and cotton candy among the Santa theme. I then incorporated the Naughty and Nice theme, because you know Santa always has his list. Bear with me and let’s dive into ALL the details. 

The Table

If you know, all my parties typically start with a table scape. My idea came from wanting to make the name plates into bows, I thought it would be really cool to make the plates look like presents. I called on my favorites over at Modern Birch to make acrylic bows and ribbon to lay a top my pink Ellie and Piper plates . The coolest part was they had me draw the bow, it made the set even more special. I added a printed Thread Mama tag to the plates, layered on tree napkins and finished with milk jugs. The milk of course had coordinating bow, santa and naughty and nice stir sticks!

The center of the table was FULL with an activity garlands and my favorite Bright Lab lights. They added fullness and tons of color to the runner.

The Food 

This was really where the Naughty and Nice theme took off. I wanted the Naughty side to be savory and, well, naughty and the Nice side to be sweet!

For the Naughty side we served hot crab dip, spicy jalapeno chips and oysters. The main event was a Naughty charcuterie board by the one and only Danville Cheese. It was spectacular with a mini brie cake, bacon encrusted goat cheese, spiced pistachios and chocolate covered figs. It was decadent and AMAZING. I also added a few sweets to the naughty side like Jeni’s Ice cream flavors of Cognac Gingerbread, Chocolate Campfire and Sparkling punch made with Champagne. THEN, my favorite part was the Coal macarons by Sioree Macarons. The coal was S’mores flavor filled with marshmallow. Coal never tasted so good. We also had cookies and cream hot cocoa bombs and booze to drink.

On the Nice side all the smiling santa mugs were there, along with pink peppermint hot chocolate bombs. Danville Cheese fashioned a candy board with lollipops, snowflake marshmallows, fruit and ribbon candy. Sugar Chic Designs created the most gorgeous sugar cookies with gilded 5, ornaments and even cotton candy shaped cookies. Even more macarons on the nice side of course. There were Presents– spiced persimmon filled with vanilla buttercream and persimmon jam, Santa Beards filled with cotton candy, Lollipops– Peppermint white chocolate with candy cane bits and Ornaments made of pistachio and filled with pomegranate. Of course there was bowls of cotton candy and marshmallows and a chocolate cake topped with peppermint bark. We had to have Jeni’s on this side too, White Chocolate Peppermint, Sugar Plum and Strawberry Buttermilk, requested by the birthday girl. 

I set two dressers on my kitchen wall and dedicated one to Naughty and one to Nice… 

Naughty Details

Let’s talk Naughty. On the taller dresser we had all the savory foods, alcohol for the adults and coal like treats. I added my “It’s Coal” and “Naughty List” Chalk Designs by Me tags for extra flair and a gold jingle bell bottle opener. I had a cup of naughty straws and stir sticks for your cocktails. On the wall behind I hung a Better Not Pout print, North Pole Pennant and the wooden signs I designed with Against the Grain. The red santa face was PERECT and the present was the best transition into the Nice side.  Modern Birch made acrylic Naughty and Nice signs and it was such a fun way to label the tables! Of course the table was sprinkled with black and gold confetti. 

Nice Details

ALL the pink happening over here. I layered all my pink and white cake stands, plus a new custom peppermint cake stand hand painted by the talented Lauren of Pollumination. I stacked my collection of santa mugs and sweets galore. Behind this dresser hung a santa print adorned with tiny garlands. The shelves featured the embroidered Santa, mini bottle brush trees and pink and red Christmas lights. Finished with loads of pink and red confetti, it was MAGIC.

The Installations 

AKA Show stoppers. Lindsi of The Creative Collective Co (a favorite of House Of Fete) came by to install all the balloons. She filled my half wall above the dresser with color blocked balloons of pink, red, peach, lavender and more. It looked amazing above that dressers and added the color I needed. My favorite part was the balloon bow she made. Inspired by Love Of Character, I knew this was the perfect addition to the party and Denver would love it! After she build it, I added gold yarn and acrylic gold stars. Last but not least, she build this amazing ribbon chandelier to hang over the table. Mixing velvets and silks of all the colors it hung down as if a million presents had been opened!

The Outfits 

I NEVER get a picture of the girls together so I have to talk about the details of their (and my) outfits. Let’s start with the birthday girl, she wore this stunning blush, tiered, long sleeve dress with velvet ribbons and sparkly stars. It was so gorgeous on her! I paired it with a Little Knot co Santa headband and Little Blue Olive custom bow party hat! She wore her sparkly combat boot and was the coolest person at the party! Ray and Brennan wore the cutest Joy to The Girls long sleeve tees from the Neu Company! They matched the theme perfectly! My outfit was a FAV. Last minute I bought a Mrs. Claus sweatshirt and paired it with an old pink pleated skirt. You can call this my holiday uniform.

The Activities 

I planned a little something at the table for the kids to do (but it never got done). I set up a garland making station. Cranberries, popcorn and oranges with needles and twine to make gorgeous holiday garlands. Even though no one actually did it, the kids were having too much fun running and playing, it was such a fun craft and I plan to do it with the kids later this season. 

That brings me to the main event. Y’all. SANTA came to Denver’s party (virtually of course). Santa’s Club reached out to me a few months back to do a virtual meet with Santa. I had to say yes, and it was just perfect that we were able to do it during her party! Denver got  a special letter in the mail a couple weeks early and at the party we set up the most magical zoom call of 2020. Santa knew all about Denver and what she loved, the kids piled in front of fireplace and talked to Santa about what they wanted for Christmas. It was such a hit and so special. 

The Favors 

Sugar Chic Designs came through for me and made cookie kits for the kids to take home. They came with two cookies, frosting and sprinkles! I wrapped half Nice and half Naughty with custom tags from Itsy Bitsy Parties. The tags were reversible which was really fun! 

They also went home with something really special. Each kid at the party got a letter from Santa. Santa’s Mailman writes beautiful, personalized letters to each child, wax sealed and sent from the North Pole. They kids were reading their letter and couldn’t believe it! Neither could I! It was MAGIC!

The Photos

How amazing are these images. The joy was captured and every detail looks flawless. My girl and other half of House of Fete, Marissa shot everything and I could not be happier! She is so incredibly talented and I am so grateful that she was there to capture everything.

More Photos for good measure

And I can’t forget the flat lay!

Planning + Photographer House Of Fete

Balloons + Ribbons The Collective Creative Co

Party ware Ellie and Piper

Acrylic Modern Birch Co

Wood signs Against The Grain 

Naughty + Nice food boards @danvillecheese

Macarons @soireemacarons

Cookies + Favors Sugar Chic Design

Chalk tags Chalk Designs By Me

Peppermint cake stand Pollumination

Cake topper + paper goods Itsy Bitsy Parties

Cocoa bombs Sweet Surprise CO

Printable + embroidery Thread Mama

Garlands Pearl and Jane

Cotton Candy garland Peach and Goldie

Lights Bright Lab Lights

Party hat Little Blue Olive

Pennant Kind Kids Club

Letters to Santa Santa’s Mailman

Virtual Santa Santa’s Club (use code Kelseyk12 for a coupon)

Confetti Studio Pep

Headbands Little Knot Co

Tshirts The Neu Company 

Denver’s Dress Stylin Sophie

Mrs. Claus Sweatshirt Sa Sea

XO 

Kelsey