Maverick’s 1st Birthday: A Preppy Whale Party

Description

Having already had two girls, this was my first "boy" party.  I have a love of all things nautical and striped, so I thought doing a "boy" preppy whale party would be so much fun!

Design Inspiration

East Coast prep meets West Coast sophistication!  I knew I wanted to use a singular whale icon, so I found one that I liked and reproduced it at all different sizes.  I also love the look of navy and white stripes, so I wanted to incorporate that in a big way.  Then, I mixed in some rustic wood and some hydrangeas to complete the coastal and nautical feel.

Project Details

Cakes - Plain cakes covered in fondant by Duff's Cake Mix, exterior decoration by Emily Klaparda

Whale cake topper and striped name plate: Mimi Cafe Union

Custom Whale cookie cutter for Cake: JB Cookie Cutters

Welcome sign, invitations, and all other party signage: Emily Klaparda

Flower arrangements: Emily Klaparda

Flower vases (wood boxes) Save on Crafts

Striped Table linens: Jessmy - Mylk and Honey

Green and Navy Paper lanterns: The TomKat Studio

Tassel ceiling decorations: Target

Custom Whale and Monogram Cookies: Flourish Cakes

Whale vinyl decals for walls: Emily Klaparda

Whale food toppers/food picks: Wild Bean Lore and Double Trouble Designs

Striped pennant banners with whales: Emily Klaparda

High chair banner and rosette: Emily Klaparda

Food placecards: Emily Klaparda

Striped plates (whale decal added separately), striped cups, napkins, and cookie bags The Tom Kat Studio

Invitations and all other party signage: Emily Klaparda

 

Favorite Items

I loved the navy and white striped cotton table linens!  I think they really set the mood for the for the whole party.

I also loved the whale print cake I made for Maverick.  I tried to make it look like those preppy animal print khaki pants from J.Crew and was happy with how it turned out - I had the whale cookie cutter custom made to match all the other whale shapes in the party.

Advice

Search high and low for authentic coastal decor - and sometimes shopping during summer can be easier than winter!  And first birthday parties are more for the adults than kids anyways, so you can have a little fun with the drinks ;)