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.
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!
People had been asked to bring food and soft drinks so we set up tables for those.
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…….
……after putting their food on the table.
The birthday girl had presents to open as well.
When we thought most people had arrived they were encouraged to collect food and find somewhere to sit and eat.
The band arrived……
It was then time for a speech from a friend and thanks…..
……before the candles were blown out and the cake was cut.
The band provided music – joined by John playing the spoons for one number – and conversations continued.
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.