Jen Carver (Banner Events), here to share an incredibly unique vintage “A League of Her Own” party with you today, choc full of winning details styled by my talented friend, Vivian Kerr and captured by Andrea Pasion Photography.

You may remember the 1992 movie A League of Their Own, a comedy-drama that tells a fictionalized account of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) starring big names like Geena Davis, Madonna, Tom Hanks & Rosie O’Donnell.  After Vivian’s daughter, Katie, chose a baseball theme for her 8th birthday party, Vivian decided this movie would be the perfect inspiration for planning a memorable event that her daughter, friends and family would be talking about for years to come.

Vivian and Katie spent an afternoon together re-watching the classic movie.  They loved the retro/vintage look of the uniforms reminiscent of a simpler time and thought it was particularly fun that the star of the team & the movie (Geena Davis) happened to be #8.  Since Katie was celebrating a very special 8th birthday, this was perfect!

The color palette for the party was a no-brainer.  Using the uniform of the Rockford Peaches from the movie as inspiration (seen above), Vivian set out in search of the perfect fabric to recreate the uniforms and also coordinating fabric with pink, red & black accents for sewing a concession awning, party favor bags & tablerunners.

Anders Ruff is always up for a challenge and hit another homerun with their design work for this event!  They agreed to create an entire custom printable package & coordinating invitation from scratch.  They took sample swatches of Vivian’s actual fabric and recreated it for use throughout her printable collection.  You will notice it used on her invitation and throughout the printable party decor.  This was an extra special detail that tied the whole event together.

The invitations were darling, customized to look like a stadium ticket with creative wording recruiting each guest to be a member of the Puyallup Peaches All-American Girl Baseball team in honor of Katie’s 8th birthday.  Not only would girls be attending a pre-game celebration at “Kerr Stadium”, but they would also be transported to a real minor league game at a local stadium where they would be pre-game guests of honor on the field and in the dugout , and Katie would be recognized as the ‘fan of the game’ just prior to the 7th inning stretch.

 

The DIY details of this party were phenomenal.  No striking out for this talented mother of 3!  From uniforms to wooden scoreboard backdrops, to custom awnings and more, Vivian was swinging for the fence with all of her amazing DIY projects for this party.

Upon arrival at Kerr Stadium, players were ushered into the ‘locker room’ where they were outfitted in their handmade uniforms, coordinating red socks & backpacks.  Vivian’s father built the lockers according to her specifications.  They were the perfect backdrop for the uniforms and a fun gathering spot for the players!  The lockers were filled with vintage style trunks, metal wire baskets overflowing with balls, old cleats, bats, towels, handmade pennant flags & uniforms. Lockers were labeled with personalized Anders Ruff name labels so each girl knew where to find her uniform and stored gear.

The pre-game team celebration was so much fun!  Vivian scored big with two adorable dessert stations created to bring the vintage stadium feel into her home.  She achieved this with a handmade scoreboard she crafted with handcut lettering.  A Happy Birthday banner customized by Anders Ruff, was strung from wooden dowels and reminded guests of the pennant flags common in most baseball stadiums.  Astroturf was used to resemble the grass outfield.  Vintage style wire baskets were filled with mini wooden bats, customized with vinyl from A&E Designworks and hand created felt pennant flags. 

Another fabulous DIY detail was the candy jars (inspired by Anders Ruff’s Hop shoot).  I love the addition of the baseball jar knobs.  So cute! These jars were filled with miniature Baby Ruths, Hershey candy bars customized with colorful Anders Ruff candy bar wrappers and sour gummy cherries.

Did you spy the personalized trading cards, displayed on each side of the candy dispensers?  So cute, right?  Vivian seriously thought of everything!  A few weeks prior to party time, she had each little slugger photographed in her uniform.  Personalized trading cards were designed using some of Anders Ruff’s printable design elements.  Designed after traditional trading cards, the back side included individual player info.  Vivian created special trading card pouches for each girl and a keepsake album for Katie.  So much fun was had trading the cards and reading the player bios.  This was such a clever party activity and keepsake for each attendee.

‘Take me out to the ball game.  Take me out to the crowd.  Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jacks…’  Inspired by an awning seen on Pinterest, Vivian and her husband (with the help of their friend Ryan), constructed this fabulous awning which she filled with all of the scrumptious food you’d find at the ball park and also a few of Katie’s favorite desserts.

I love the use of vintage style crates, wooden handled baskets & galvanized pails that creatively displayed the delicious snacks and desserts.  Glass vessels were filled with peanuts to hold cordinating pennant flags.  And of course, Anders Ruff printables were used to dress up water bottles, kraft paper popcorn sacks, baskets & more.

‘Peanuts!  Popcorn!  Cracker Jacks!’ What’s a ball park without concessionaires?  Aren’t these the cutest ones you’ve ever seen?  Dressed in customized Puyallup Peaches uniforms and hats, Katie’s brothers TJ & Nathan, uncle Jadon & friend Jacob shared additional snacks & treats with all of the guests.  Notice the colorful Anders Ruff treat bag toppers for individual portion sizes of cotton candy and licorice ropes.  The little girls were excited to take samples of all of the treats in their backpacks to the game.  There were squeals of delight when they realized they got to keep them AND fill them with treats.

‘For it’s root…root…root for the home team’ — The highlight of the party was definitely attending the Tacoma Rainiers Baseball game at Cheney Stadium.  The girls loved cheering on the home team and had so much fun!

‘For it’s 1…2…3 strikes you’re out at the old ball game.’  It was definitely an 8th birthday not to be forgotten.

Vendor Credits:

Complete event styling:  Vivian Kerr**

(**Including custom sewing on uniforms, backpacks, aprons, fabric awning, tablerunner. DIY projects–scoreboard backdrop, pennant flags, gumball machines, concession trays, trading card scrapbook.)

Printable invitation & coordinating printable package:  Anders Ruff Custom Designs

Invitation here:

Printable package here:

Photography:  Andrea Pasion Photography

Vinyl:  A&E Designworks

Wood awning:  Jeremy Kerr/Ryan Gray

Locker cabinet:  Virgil Ibasco

Custom Trading Cards:  photography by Andrea Pasion Photography & Rochelle Pettingill

Supply Resources:

Wood mini bats:  Casey’s Wood Products, Inc.

Striped straws:  Hey Yo Yo

Red sports socks:  Big 5 Sporting Goods

Various materials for DIY projects:  JoAnns, Michaels, World Imports, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Fred Meyer, Us Toy