Help arrange a 50th birthday party

I was asked before Christmas if I would organise the decorations for the 50th birthday party for a friend and I agreed to do so.  She is very not “girly” so I threatened to do them all in pink!  In fact another friend had got her some tea-light holders with silhouettes of cats, which she thought would make good table centres and as they were turquoise  that became the main colour scheme.

The community worker prepared the invitations, which were given out before Christmas.

Invitation
Invitation

As usual, some people replied, some didn’t and nobody really noted who said yes, so we had to guess at about 50  people coming.  I went down to the local party shop and looked at everything and decided what to get and then about 4 days before the party I got the decorations and ordered the helium balloons.

On the Saturday of the party I went and collected the balloons and took everything to SP2 where the party was being held.  The community worker, her husband and I set up the tables, put the “silver” (I think it was grey) table roll over them, set the tables and put up the decorations.  Did I say that the entrance and stair decorations were pink?!  Well, it had to be done – and she did think I might have done all the decorations in pink as I had said I would!

The staircase
The staircase
Entrance door
Entrance door

People had been asked to bring food and soft drinks so we set up tables for those.

Food table and some of the decorations
Food table and some of the decorations

We then went home and returned a while before the party was due to start so we could sort out last minute details and make sure everything was ready.  The birthday girl arrived almost first (as planned) and others arrived and got drinks and chatted…….

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……after putting their food on the table.

Table with food people chatting
Table with food people chatting

The birthday girl had presents to open as well.

Presents to open
Presents to open

When we thought most people had arrived they were encouraged to collect food and find somewhere to sit and eat.

Food to eat...
Food to eat…
.....and chat when finished.
…..and chat when finished.

The band arrived……

.....and started to set up....
…..and started to set up….
.....and those arriving with them had their food.
…..and those arriving with them had their food.

It was then time for a speech from a friend and thanks…..

.....from the birthday girl.
…..from the birthday girl…….

……before the candles were blown out and the cake was cut.

The cake
The cake

The band provided music  – joined by John playing the spoons for one number – and conversations continued.

Band with spoons player!
Band with spoons player!

Eventually people started to leave and we cleared and tidied up – trying to persuade people to take home the excess food!  The birthday girl took home to turquoise and white balloons but refused the pink one for some reason!

So did it go well?  The birthday girl said that she enjoyed it and things did seem to go smoothly.  Even better there were enough contributions to pay for her “experience” at the Hawk Conservancy with some left over to provide some cash for any extras that she wants.

 

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