A Beatrix Potter First Birthday Party

When a fabulous client Marti {of a well-known bridal shop in Memphis} contacted me a couple months back to create a custom party design for her son Hudson's first birthday, I was ecstatic when she chose to go with a Beatrix Potter "Tale of Peter Rabbit" theme.

 I personally adore Beatrix Potter's work and was so excited to design a fall-inspired take on the theme.

Marti has a great sense of style, beautiful taste and wanted a very classic first birthday for her and her husband's darling son Hudson. Just check out the PRECIOUS overalls she had custom made for him, with hand embroidered vegetables!

And the matching peter pan collar onesie with the rabbits, I find this absolutely darling!

Since his birthday is in October, I suggested a color palette of soft orange, soft brown, cream, with hints of pale blue and pale celedon green. I absolutely adore this custom painted sign!

I also suggested using white pumpkins, squash, lots of kale, and she created the most stunning arrangements with it.

Check out this centerpiece, striking--that is none of my doing, she and her team of floral stylists and family were the masterminds behind this! Many lovely pieces were designed by Millstone Gardens in Germantown, Tennessee.

How about this one? I mentioned using a rustic basket filled with seasonal garden vegetables...but she went above and beyond, incorporating moss, kale, corn, a "carrot"--wow Marti!

Love the pumpkins...

For her cake, I had a VERY specific vision: two tiers, fondant, with a picket fence around the sides, turnips and carrots on the "ground" of each layer, a wheelbarrow on top with vegetables from the garden (heads of lettuce a must), terra cotta pots, a watering can and a sweet brown with his little light blue coat caught on the fence, just like in the story. Marti loved it too, and followed the detailed description PERFECTLY. I absolutely love the detail on the bunny's chest, don't you?

And the wheelbarrow on top of the cake...perfection. The entire cake is extraordinary. Cake designer Dee from Kake Deevas of Arlington, Tennessee did a spectacular job, absolutely stunning!!!

For the table with the food display, I suggested a burlap table covering (possibly gathered like in my mystical mermaid party), and hers is fabulous!!!!

I love the letters that spell out "Hudson" to personalize the table! 

For food, I suggested lettuce wrapped sandwiches, vegetables and dips, pumpkin soup served in mini pumpkins...and Marti incorporated many of these elements at the party. She also created the most DARLING names for each of the foods, named after different characters in the book. 

When trying to entertain a large group outdoors, serving flatware rolled in sets wrapped in napkins on display in a galvanized bucket is always an easy answer--and I love how she has custom labels made to wrap around her bundles. VERY cute!

For the table setting: sticking with our color-scheme, she did a fabulous job, and personalized classic paper cups with custom printed labels (another thing I love to do at many of my parties).

Another fun idea from Hudson's first birthday party: serve beverages in a wheelbarrow!

I am just smitten with the darling vegetable custom made labels, favor tags (oh, invitations too!)...

Marti was so sweet to share her secret source for these gorgeous printed products: Kathryn Miller of Original Ink. She can do anything custom and in watercolor or pen/ink.  All of Marti's was in original pen/ink.

Children often love balloons, and these large round ones are so in fashion at the moment, and a personal favorite!

While you can't see it here, Hudson's Smash Cake featured a darling watering can, and coordinated with the colors of the party. I love his monogrammed bib!

I take SO MUCH *JOY* in adoring this photo of the handsome and happy birthday boy. Marti wrote to tell me he really enjoyed the party--REALLY! A first birthday!!! I was thrilled to hear it.

I just had to share with you this sweet photo of gorgeous mom Marti and her adorable birthday boy Hudson!!!

A tremendous thank you to Marti, who took the photos along with her family and friends (beautiful work!!!), for sharing her party with us all. I just love seeing how my custom party designs turn out, especially when a gifted client like Marti executes it so beautifully, adding many of her own unique twists and creative ideas, making it better than I could imagine!