At the end of last school year, Denver came home from school OBSESSED with The Sound Of Music. They had watched it in Music class and it was her movie of choice for months. I was over the moon. This was one of those movies that was the sound track to my youth. It is my mom’s favorite movie (probably of all time)- she used to sing me the songs as lullabies, etc, etc.

When my mom came to town later that summer, all of us girls watched it and it clicked, I have to do this party for Denver. Let the planning begin…

Take a look back at her other birthday parties

Nine | Eight | Seven | Six | Five | Four | Three

The Invitation

Itsy Bitsy Parties was the first vendor I went to, and her excitement for this theme guaranteed I was in good hands. It was her idea to make the invitation a telegram and it was just perfect! I styled the flatlay on a dark green backdrop with all the tiny trinkets. Some of my favorite moments were the raindrops on roses, the Favorite things card filled with raindrops, and brown paper packages and a star shaped tea bag. I incorporated a post card we picked up when we went to see The Sound of Music live in November, and Sia and Capri made me custom wax seals which brought in the custom fun I love!

The Table

I wanted the party to feel slightly holiday, but not overwhelming. I went with a cream velvet linen, and kept our usual dining room chairs as we were keeping the party small. Each chair had a real pinecone on it.

Down the center of the table I made a paper chain, these were REALLY trending this holiday season and I thought it would add the perfect color and texture to the table. I used floral paper and sheet music. I filled a giant copper kettle with florals for the centerpiece, and adorned the rest of the table with pretty bud vases and small ramekins of cookies by Royally Iced Sweets and treats.

The plates came from Bonjour Fete- I started with a light blue scalloped plate and topped with a gold stripe plate. My mama handmade cloth napkins with the curtain fabric from the movie and I finished each setting with Danny’s grandmother’s gold ware. Each pate was topped with a tiny brown paper package- these acted as a name card for each girl. They opened up to create bank list for each girl to write down all of their favorite things. This was actually such a fun activity!

For the cups, I grabbed these adorable rose cups from Shop Sweet Lulu and did a play on raindrops on roses with a custom Paperie Off Park x Atomic Kraftworks raindrop drink marker. I used tall glasses I’ve used in the past and adorned them with the CUTEST goat stir sticks also made by Atomic Kraftworks, hand painted by Hip Hooray Studios.

I had to incorporate our light fixture in some way, so I decided to drape blue satin sashes and silver sparkly stars. It was a simple addition but love how soft it made everything look.

The Food

I displayed all of the food and drinks on a new piece of furniture, a tall dark blue bar. I was really excited, because I had never used this before and it matched perfectly. For the backdrop, my sweet friend Reina hand drew a mountain scene with Maria, I split them in fours and individually framed them to look like a window. I then hung THE curtains (that my mama made) around the window, and it turned out SO DANG GOOD.

The table was layered with all kinds of fun details. I absolutely loved the tiny music stand I rented from The French Eclectic to display a quote on acrylic. I served ham and Swiss sandwiches in brown paper boxes with string, apple strudel’s, blue strawberry cookies and pink lemonade.

My favorite part was the Jam Jar-cuterie. Itsy bitsy designed custom jam labels (printed by Atomic Kraftworks) and I filled jam jars with bread sticks, meat, cheese, jam and treats for a little play on ti a drink with jam and bread. Each one was finished with a copper kettle food pick and they were just too cute.

For something special we let the girls have their “first champagne” aka sparkling apple cider, that of course, is Captain Approved. It is another favorite scene and we needed Captain at the party somewhere.

I finished the table with custom cocktail napkins I designed with Suburban Soiree, and more florals in copper kettles. In front of top the bar I used a vintage picnic basket and filled it to the brim with flowers, it turned out so gorgeous.

The Puppet Show

I turned our bar into the Lonely Goat Herd puppet show. Didn’t you love this scene growing up? The goats always cracked me up. I needed a good way to cover the bar and still make it useful. I used red velvet curtains, sparkle stars and gold tassels to make it look like a little theater.

Reina hand drew backdrops for the show to look just like the movie. I put the hand painted goats in sign form on one of the shelves and even gave them fake eyelashes and attached them with string.

On the counter I layered in all the movie theater candy you could want to watch the movie. Itsy Bitsy did custom packaging for all the candies to really tie them all in. We had Sour Patch VonTrapps, Alpine Snow Caps, Edelweiss Blossom popcorn by Lolli and Pops and Governess Tricks (aka gummy frogs). The candies were one of my favorite details and of course a huge hit with the kids.

The Cake Corner

I hung my giant snowflakes from D’s 6th birthday from the ceiling – that fell down into the cake. The gorgeous cake made by Michi Cakes sat on top of a picnic basket and was adorned with 10 cherries, beautiful cookies and a custom May you bloom and grow cake topper. This was hand painted by Paperie off Park and produces by Atomic Kraftworks.

We used the cake corner for gifts as well. Denver got a record player for her birthday with was the perfect thing to have on display and play The Sound of Music vinyl.

We also gifted her a trunk by Petit Keep. I worked with them to design this gorgeous keepsake. I chose the color, the blue bow print inside, and we embroidered it with “my favorite things” – a perfect nod to the party and for years to come. It was the place for guests to put their gifts and it really looked beautiful in the party!

The Favors

Over the summer I found these adorable mini baskets from Shop Sweet Lulu, they were just perfect as favor bags and the girls were so excited because they could put them on as a purse, backpack, or on their bike. I filled them with little cream colored ponies from Cuddle and Kind, a cookie, and the sweetest face mask by Nottingham Embroidery that was embroidered to say, the sun has gone to bed and so must I, everything the girls needed for the sleepover.

I wanted to mimic the goodbye scene by handing them with our cuckoo clock. Itsy Bitsy made each one a custom clock tag to pull everything together and they turned out too cute for words!

The Outfits

Was there anything other option, than girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes? I think not! I found a fabulous dress from Anthro that was giving Curtain Dress, so I leaned in. And yes, Denver’s American Girl was dressed for the occasion with a curtain dress as well!

This party was so much fun to plan, and none of it would have been possible without my amazing vendors and my MOTHER. She is a connoisseur of this movie so I leaned on her for quote, details and more.

Huge thank you to Dani Lacey for photographing and capturing all the magic!

XO,

Kelsey

Planning @house.of.fete
Photography @danilaceyphotographs
Host + Florals @kelseyklos
Design elements @itsybitsypartieskc
Goats @elisemareefehr
Artwork @reinarenshaw
Watercolor @paperieoffpark
Favor bags @shopsweetlulu
Cream colored ponies @cuddleandkind
Plates @bonjourfete
Linen @simplyelegantrental
Rentals @thefrencheclectic
Cake @_michicakes
Cookies @royallyiced
Acrylics @atomickraftworks
Custom trunk @petitekeep
Popcorn @lolliandpops
Embroidery @nottinghamembroidery
Curtains @barbswartz
Sparkle @laureglassdesigns
Custom napkins @suburban_soiree