2.01.2011

Guest Post: Chic Anniversary Party on a Budget


Liz Banfield is one of the most amazing photographers and is as nice as she is talented. Love her! You can read about her HERE. She has a great eye and I am delighted that she shared the party details of the event she threw for her parents in honor of their 50th anniversary.

The space - the historic STUDIO 324 in Rochester, MN. 


The theme was gold (done tastefully) in honor of her parents' 50th Anniversary and to do it within a budget.

The mirror tiles add lots of sparkle and are from IKEA. Genius.


The garland adds pop and is from MICHAELS


With no budget for fancy linens, the fabric is also from Ikea and Liz trimmed it with pinking shears.


Liz made custom swivel sticks by gluing pom poms on bamboo skewers. 


A clever trick - line drink trays with festive paper like this paper from WEST ELM and double sided tape.


Flowers can be expensive and blow your budget, so Liz used branches from a local floral store.


A dedicated place for cards that is actually a magazine rack from the CONTAINER STORE.


Of course Liz has great family photos. She wanted a more modern way to display them that didn't feel like a shrine. She scanned them in black and white and printed them in a uniform size. To give them a vintage look she cut them with craft scissors and hung them with mini clothes pins. 


The photo below was also the custom stamp on the party invitations done through ZAZZLE.     Liz framed it herself (of course!) in an inexpensive frame that she decorated with flowers. It was hung by the exit door.


The pièce de résistance - the cake! It is from DAUBE'S BAKERY and Liz trimmed it with vintage ribbon and candied the kumquats for the top by brushing them in egg whites and dusting them in sanding sugar.


Liz - outstanding and thanks so much for sharing all of the details (and the sources)!

10 comments:

  1. Kath,
    Proof that someone with style can pull together a fab party with or without a large budget. The pom pom skewers are fun and unexpected!

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  2. Beauty on a budget - so creative and festive! Aren't those pompom stirrers genius? I guess Lisa and I are on the same page. You were in our thoughts last night and we hope you are well.
    xxoo
    Carolyn

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  3. This looks great! Taking notes....

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  4. Another beautiful awe inspriing post. Soooo pretty you would never guess that this is on a budget. Fantastic ideas!

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  5. Liz's parents must have been over the moon with his memorable party to celebrate this Golden milestone.

    So much genius here. It really shows your creative chops when you are working with a budget. The pom pom swizzlers are the cutest things ever.

    Thanks for sharing this with us, Kate!

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  6. Golden indeed! Thanks for sharing! Don't you just love what you can find in Ikea?!
    xo Cathy

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  7. Amazing...every detail is perfect.

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  8. Lovely party and great ideas. I'm taking notes!

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  9. She did a wonderful job... her parents must have been thrilled! xo

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  10. loved the total look, especially the photo display - using ikea items was a perfect budget keeper - everything looks so good!

    donna

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