40 and Fierce
Forty years old, I’m forty. I don’t feel forty. I feel 30 but alas, I’m forty and darn it I’m freaking fierce. I wasn’t really prepared to have a party but sometime in May I said: you know what Marissa this is a huge milestone, I needed to celebrate it. Of course the first thing I started with was the moodboard and if there was a time where I could have a rainbow party, this was it. So it was a no brainer. Rainbow, my signature color would be the over arching theme to the party.
The Lounge
Since I could remember Rainbows where my signature color. I don’t know why but I am obsessed with everything rainbow. So when it came to designing the layout of my party I knew I had to create a gradient rainbow backdrop. This backdrop would serve as the focal point where guests could sit and chat, relax, share memories and of course take pictures. I purchased shiplap from The Home Depot and along with different sample colors. Its best to purchase sample paint because you do not need a lot and a sample size will cover shiplap that is up to 8 feet long. Once the painting was completed my husband assembled it and boy was it perfect. Seriously everything I had envisioned. I went ahead commissioned another piece made where discos would hang and hold my birthday cake. Stockroom picks provided the sweetest lounge decor which included vintage couch and chairs which complemented the backdrops perfectly.
The Bar
Tipsy Little Dove was the bar we choose and boy was she perfect for this party. She was there to greet guest with a Rainbow Menu that matched the backdrop created by Inspired Engravings, and gifted Estelle Glassware for each attendee. Guest where encouraged to feely induge with Marissas favorite libations: Champange and Rose. Each paired back perfectly with Seasonal fruits and Chartcuterie provided by Fig and Honey Lavish Grazing.
The Table
I just had to have large white farm house tables and of course the perfect ones where available at stockroom picks. I mean they are stunners perfect fit with lets party prettier’s gold farmhouse chairs. Gold and Brass are my favorite metals, and for this particular party I had chosen gold flatware to match the chairs. I felt that this combination was a clean and chic and reflects really who I am. Now it came down to creating table settings, my favorite part and it had to be reflective of the rainbow theme. I went to Anthropologie where I had been eyeing for quite sometime plates that so happen to come in the colors that I needed for this party. I went ahead and purchased the plates in five colors; mauve, orange, chartreuse, mint and periwinkle. Each setting colored blocked. I paired it with a DIYed matching napkin that Marissa did and matching colored glasses from Stockroom Picks. Hand lettered iridescent acrylic menus by Handlettered By Tiffany, topped each table setting. Guests where greeted to their set by a matching watercolored name tag accomponyeed by a diso ball. A signature of ours. Julie from Emerald Grace, designed florals that matched the corresponding table settings, spaning the length of the table- it was stunning. The table was set and ready for the epic meal.
The Food
It was important to me that my guest be served the best meal. I hate going to a party and being underwhelmed by the food. Its a petpeeve of mine. So I turned to chef Aaron Neilson of Southern Hospitality. Together we designed an epic three course plated meal. It included some of my favorite foods, like chicken and waffles and short ribs yum. Soriee Macorrons provided the most amazing Parmesan and Truffle Mac- its an experience. ConBesos made the most amazing desserts topping it off with a gorgeous ruffled cake made to reflect Marissa’s favorite cake of all time, yellow cake with strawberries and vanilla filling, delish.
In all It was an epic 40th, filled with lots of laughter and love. It really did feel like this party is a reflection of me; full of color, yet classy. Here’s to the next 40 years.
