Beach Birthday 40th Surprise Party

I am so excited to show you today a recent 40th Beach Birthday Party I threw for a dear friend of mine. My girlfriend Holly’s favorite place is Sanibel Island and since we couldn’t go there for her birthday, we brought the beach to her! I designed sandy, beachy elegant graphics in seashore hues of blues and greys with accents of twine, burlap, fish netting and authentic beach findings. It was the perfect birthday getaway without traveling!

Some incredible styling elements to keep your eye out for:
– Real Sand Dollar Garland (Sand Dollars and twine)
– Coordinating Sand Dollar Cookies (on plates and on sticks)
– Sanibel Island Postcard Keepsakes
– Authentic beach driftwood and seashore decor
– Sand Dollar Mason Jars with sand, seashells and LED lights
– Hand crafted fondant seashell cupcakes

I started by lining the buffet table with natural burlap and hung fish netting along the existing mirror that hung abve the table. I lined each white plate and cake stand with brown sugar to look like sand from the beach. I used a net ribbon around the store bought cake and added graphic silhouettes for the cake toppers on wooden skewers. I collected drift wood, bamboo, seashells and other sea decor to bring in an authentic beach vibe.

Since I had several real sand dollars, I strung them with twine and used as garland. Then I baked sugar cookies with almonds to create coordinating sand dollar cookies. I put some cookies on sticks and also lined some on the plates.

Other fun Beach Inspired Parties:
Sea Breeze Baby Shower
Beachside Birthday Party
Nautical Style Mermaid Party
Bright Splish Splash Birthday Party
Crab Shack Birthday Party
Luau Surfing Birthday Party

I bought seashell candy molds and made blue melting chocolate to make seashell chocolates. I also dipped pretzels in white melting chocolate to look like mini ropes.

I found adorable polka dot mini buckets and filled them with donut holes for “beach balls” and wrapped mini chocolate bars to display as a plate of “sand bars”. I added little crabs to the plates for sea life accents as well.

A girlfriend of mine baked delicious cupcakes and topped them with hand-crafted fondant sea decor and mini pearls. I designed cupcake wraps and lined cupcake toppers with twine to match. How adorable are these cupcake toppings made by Casey???

Since Sanibel Island was Holly’s favorite beach, I designed post cards so that the guests could leave a note. Holly didn’t even realize I went around the party asking people to fill them out and leave special birthday messages for her during the party. She found them the next day while cleaning up, and saw that every guest had written her a birthday wish. She absolutely loved it!

See more party details below!

The birthday girl, Holly (left) and my other fabulous party helpers, Ali & Casey (right) ~ I couldn’t have pulled off this party if it weren’t for my AR helpers!!!

We had so much fun creating this beach birthday theme for Holly – it’s the perfect summer party as well as anytime of the year, if you are missing the warm beach atmostphere.