Happy Birthday to the Party Shop!

One year ago today - as I was celebrating our first anniversary of the Party Shop - I was flooded with emotions. I was entering a season of uncertainty. We knew that we'd be moving from Charlotte, NC to New Orleans by this point, and while I was so excited at the possibilities ahead, it was also terrifying to think about uprooting both of my businesses to essentially start over.

But, so much can happen in 365 days!

• We moved and settled into our new home in Covington, Louisiana (just outside of New Orleans).

• I started to network and connect with our business community. I even participated in a pop-up shop event just 6 weeks after our move!

• I attended Alt Summit and had the chance to meet so many amazing creatives!

• Then a little global pandemic came into the picture … and we pivoted, hard!

• I blew up more balloons than I ever thought humanly possible!

• I added helium balloons to our service offerings and offered delivery services.

• I added new party supplies inventory to the Party Shop and created smaller party sets, perfect for quarantine birthdays at home.

• Created a brand new website to simplify the shopping experience online.

Before I share more about our new website, I just want to say thank you for your support of The Graceful Host, and for allowing me to live out this crazy dream of owning an event planning company. I’ve poured a lot of blood, sweat and tears (so many tears ) into building this brand. But, honestly TGH would not be where it is today without our amazing clients who trust us to execute their events and delivery high quality party supplies & decor. I truly think of each of you as friends. And I hope this little message feels like a big warm hug because that is how it’s intended! I have some big, scary dreams for this next year - and thanks to you and your support, I’m getting closer and closer ... and it doesn’t feel quite so scary.

Thank you for joining me in this journey, and for helping me celebrate

• another year of simplifying party planning

• another year of helping to create memories

• another year of making smiles happen

• another year of endless balloon garlands

• another year of the cutest party supplies ever created

• And another year of hard work and pure passion

So let’s talk about our big news! I am so excited about the launch of our brand new website! My goal with this redesign was to create a better shopping experience. You can now shop by item type - like plates, cups, napkins, etc. - or by party theme, or by color! And there is now an official balloon services menu and contact form via our website.

It’s been on my list for sometime now to redesign our website for an easier shopping experience. When this shop began two years ago, I launched with just 6 themed party kits. And now, we have 11 party kits, over 200 SKUs of party supplies, plus balloons! I never thought I’d have a helium tank in my office, but here we are!  Hope you enjoy our brand new online Party Shop, and thanks for being here! www.gracefulhostshop.com

Also, In honor of our 2nd birthday today, we are hosting a giveaway on Instagram! Enter to win a chance to win a $75 shop credit good for party supplies, or balloons (if you're local). The best part?! We are giving away not one, but TWO $75 shop credits! Visit this post to learn more and to enter.

Thank you for being here, and for helping us celebrate! Cheers to more years of balloons and confetti!

XOXO,
A.

An Easy DIY Piñata for Cinco De Mayo

I love a good DIY! And I love a good craft for a theme party! So, with Cinco De Mayo less than a week away, I thought I’d share this super easy DIY piñata craft!

Supplies:
- Cardboard box. Use your left over Amazon boxes, cereal boxes … any sort of cardboard box
- Scissors and a box cutter, for cutting and trimming the cardboard boxes
- Marker or pen
- Glue stick
- Tape or glue gun
- Tissue Paper
- Scissors or Fringe scissors for creating the fringe out of tissue paper

Step 1: Grab your cardboard and begin to trace your piñata shape. Don’t worry if you don’t get it perfect the first time … I didn’t! You’re creating an outline for the piñata that you’re going to cut out.

Step 2: Cut out your piñata shape using a box cutter, which I found easiest, or scissors. Then use that cut out to trace a second piñata side that you’ll cut out next.

Step 3: Cut strips of cardboard. I cut up 4 strips. You’re then going to cut them in pieces as you use tape or a glue gun to secure them to one side of your piñata.

Step 4: Complete your piñata by adding the second side and secure using tape or a glue gun. Before you complete step 4, fill your piñata with candy or confetti or whatever goodies you have on hand. I did not fill my piñata today because I’m going to use it as a decor for our Cinco De Mayo celebration, and my son is going to want to play with it. But be sure to fill it now before adding the cardboard strips all the way around, if it’s your intention to break it open at some point.

Step 5: Now that your piñata cardboard shape has been created, it’s time to add your tissue paper fringe! Cut your fringe to wrap around the piñata and secure using glue. I used a glue stick to attach the tissue paper fringe to the cardboard frame. It’s helpful to put down two layers of fringe in each strip to create more fullness. You will need to cut and paste to cover each inch of your cardboard piñata.

Step 6: Your piñata is complete! Hooray! Now if you’re using your piñata as table decor or as an accent piece, you don’t need to worry about adding a string to hang your piñata. If you wanted to use your piñata in the traditional way (i.e. hit it with a stick!), you would need to add the string to the top part of the piñata before you closed it up in step 4. If you decide to retroactively add a string to hang your piñata, no worries! Create a small hole with a tooth pick, then tie your string to the tooth pick and fish the tooth pick through the hole.

I hope you enjoy this craft as much as I enjoyed making it! Be sure to tag us on Instagram so that we can see how your piñata turned out!

Happy Cinco De Mayo, friends!

XO,
A

PS. If you’re hosting a fiesta, don’t forget to check out our Fiesta Party Kits and Party Sets!

Quarantine Activities: Fizzy Rainbow Science Experiment

I am all about trying to bring more fun into our home during this quarantine, and also sprinkle in some education. My toddler went crazy over this science experiment! Like most preschoolers, he just loves colors and rainbows - so this was right up his alley. My favorite part of this experiment was that the setup was very easy!

SUPPLIES NEEDED FOR YOUR EXPERIMENT

• Cups. Any size will do, but the smaller your cup, the less of the other materials you’ll need and the more fizz spill. I preferred to use clear disposable cups that I had left over from a party.

• Baking soda

• Vinegar

• Food coloring. Liquid is best. Avoid gel food colorings for this.

Step 1: Gather your materials

Before you officially begin, get all your materials out so you aren’t running back and forth to the kitchen. I recommend doing this experiment outside because it can get messy. If you’re doing this experiment inside, you might want to put your cups in a baking sheet and line it with parchment paper.

Step 2: Prepare your cups

Fill each cup with baking soda. Any amount will be good - but the more baking soda you add, the bigger the fizz! Don’t fill more than 3/4 of the way full because you'll want to have room for your vinegar.

Step 3: Add your colors

Now it’s time to add a few drops of food coloring into each cup. One color per cup to create a rainbow effect. Once the color is added in, mix up your baking soda until the color is well distributed throughout. I used a long toothpick to stir. A straw would also work well.

Step 4: Add the vinegar

This is where the magic happens … this is the fun part!! You’re going to pour vinegar into each cup and watch the colors explode. Okay, not really explode … more like erupt! The baking soda reacts to the vinegar as the meet and create a fizzy rainbow eruption! The fizzy eruption doesn’t last that long, so move quickly. Add more baking soda and vinegar to get a second and third fizzy reaction.

The science behind it …

They react with each other because they exchange atoms. In this scenario, the baking soda actas as a base and takes a proton from vinegar, which is an acid. The reaction between the two materials releases gas because when the baking soda receives the proton, it transforms into water and carbon dioxide.

My boys loved watching the colors come to life, and I hope your kids love it, too!

XO,
A.

Quarantine Activities: Free Coloring Pages For Kids

What better way to pass the time, and get those creative minds going, than with coloring! A perfect activity for a wide range of age groups, and it’s sure to keep little hands busy. I love getting my toddler involved with activities that spark creativity through self expression. Just like Billy Madison explained to Miss Lippy … he colored the duck blue because he’d never seen a blue duck! (Okay, that movie reference might be lost on some of y’all LOL)

But coloring is a perfect activity for:

- improving hand strength and pencil grip
- fine motor coordination
- helping to develop focus
- encouraging use of the imagination

So many artists and companies are releasing free coloring pages due to the Coronavirus Quarantine. I’m sharing a few with you, that I hope you and your littles will enjoy!

Daydream Society: Coloring pages inspired by their colorful party collections (many of which we carry in our shop … like these and these!)

Ashley Longshore Art: Inspirational women coloring pages

Lily Pulitzer: Coloring pages inspired by their famous prints

Crayola: Dozens and dozens of your favorite Disney characters ready to color

Brooklyn Berry Designs: Color and create your own space bookmark

Oh Yay Studio: Adorable doodle coloring pages

Canary Jane: A free nature scavenger hunt printable

Mighty And Kind Kids: A wonderful kids magazine for promoting kindness, offering a free bundle of resources for parents.

Love The Day: Lindi has opened her entire printable library, including these amazing coloring pages!

Courtney Khail: This talented watercolor artists has created a coloring page inspired by her floral work

Happy creating, friends!

XO,
A.

CREDITS
Links to the artists and companies websites listed above can be found here: Daydream Society | Ashley Longshore Art | Lily Pulitzer | Crayola | Brooklyn Berry Designs | Oh Yay Studio | Canary Jane | Mighty And Kind Kids | Love The Day | Courtney Khail

A Color Filled Garden-Inspired Wedding With Fun And Unique Details

Annie + John’s wedding will always hold a special place in my heart because it was the second time I had the pleasure of working with this sweet family! I had helped Annies older sister, Maggie, with her wedding back in 2017. So it was just a true joy to have the chance to work with this amazing family again!

And what a thrill to see Annie + John’s wedding featured on the front page of Style Me Pretty today!

Our couple wanted to have a wedding day that felt blissful, yet silly. "Our wedding style was to keep things simple and make things easy for our guests, since all but 2 guests were from out of town," says Annie. "We wanted to keep it fun and focused on what the day was about: celebrating our love." The wedding ceremony took place at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Uptown Charlotte, followed by a reception at the Mint Museum Uptown, a modern art museum with breathtaking views of the city.

The inspiration behind the design was to bring the outdoors indoors. Annie notes, “We would have loved to have an outside wedding, but didn't want to be dependent on weather, so hoped for a design that would bring the outside inside." With the talented of New Creations Flower Company, we installed a canopy of greenery, which followed twinkle lights, along the ceiling of the Mint Museum's Grand Room. The color palette was bright and cheerful, with tones of pink and lavender accented with greenery. We also included ivy into the floral recipe as a nod to the couple's former home of Chicago, and their mutual love of Wrigley Field and their favorite baseball team, the Cubs.

One of Annie's favorite details was a piece of lace from her mom's wedding dress, which was used as a wrap around the bridal bouquet. When asked about her favorite moment from her wedding day, Annie said, "My favorite moment was the first look!" She adds, "After getting ready all morning, I was just really excited to see John and get to give him a big hug. It was so nice to get to see him before the ceremony and connect." 

Fun was the name of the game! And our couple wanted to do something different than what their friends and family might have seen at past weddings. They decided to do a floor plan that was predominantly lounge furniture, to create an atmosphere that felt more casual and encouraged guests to mingle. Annie + John also decided to forego a traditional wedding cake, and decided to offer guests cookies as a sweet treat to cap off the night. We displayed the cookie varieties on two gold shelves, among candles and votives. Lastly, Annie + John choose to get married in June in Charlotte, when the weather can be quite warm. So, they decided to greet guests at the reception with strawberry margarita push-pops - another way to infuse fun into their celebration and offer guests something a bit different.

Annie + John were both very family oriented and come from large families. So of course we had to include the couple's black lab, Finny, in the wedding day. "My dress had pockets and the one item I had with me during the wedding was Finny's bowtie - he looked so handsome in the pictures wearing his bow tie!," said Annie.

Oh how I love this family and this couple! Everything about this wedding day was a dream come true, and I’m so excited to share their wedding day with you!

Many thanks to our talented vendor team:

Planning + Design: The Graceful Host
Photography: Rach Loves Troy
Flowers: New Creations Flower Company
Hair + Makeup: Be Pretty
Videography: Shamus Coneys Films
Ceremony Venue: St Peter’s Catholic Church
Reception Venue: Mint Museum Uptown
Catering: Something Classic
Bride’s Dress: J Majors
Paper Goods: Girl Tribe Creative
Lounge Rentals: Old South Vintage Rentals
Rentals: Party Reflections and Party Tables
Lighting: Wink Lighting
Cookies: SugarBomb Sweets
DJ: Split Second Sound

Thank you, Annie + John, for trusting us to be a part of your celebration!

XO,
A.

How To Host A Réveillon Dinner Party

Réveillon is a historic tradition in New Orleans, with ties to France. If you’re local to the area, you probably have heard of it, but you might not know it’s history.

The word réveillon derived from the French word meaning “awakening”. Réveillon started as a meal served after midnight mass on Christmas Eve. This tradition came to be when the city of New Orleans was almost entirely Catholic. Families would return home from midnight mass hungry, so they served a meal! These meals would be prepared in advance, waiting for families to return home from service. The menu is traditional made up of breakfast foods, such as egg dishes, pastries and breads, even puddings. But you could also find New Orleans staples like turtle soup, oysters, and grillades on the menu. The drink of choice was cordials, champagne, and wine. These dinners were an all-night affair and could last for many hours, even until dawn. But by the 1940s, Réveillon dinners could only be found in very traditional homes and was practically extinct due to the rise of other holiday traditions like, Christmas trees, purchasing gifts for children, and the craze of Christmas shopping.

Take a look at this video clip from my interview with Great Day Louisiana to learn more about Réveillon and see our table top inspiration that would be easy to recreate for your holiday celebrations!

Thanksgiving Hosting Tips With "Great Day Louisiana"

I had the honor of appearing on Great Day Louisiana to talk all about hosting and decorating your table this Thanksgiving holiday. Hosting is one of my favorite things to do - which I’m sure comes as no surprise! I’m excited to have the chance to share some party planning tips and tricks to make your Thanksgiving celebration less stressful. I hope you enjoy it!

I had such a blast filming this segment, and I’m grateful for the opportunity from Great Day Louisiana. Here’s a little announcement: I’m thrilled to have the chance to return monthly to film more segments about entertaining and share some of our goodies in the Party Shop! Be on the look out for my next interview, which will air on December 4th at 9am on WWL-TV.

A Blush and Pink, Boho-Inspired Wedding in North Carolina

I love a bride that isn’t afraid to be bold! When I met with McKenna to talk about her wedding - 3 months out from the date, mind you - she mentioned that she wanted to create something that was unique to her personal style. Which included her signature color - PINK! But she didn’t want the typical southern blush wedding. So, we turned up the color, and mixed in lots of layers and texture, all while staying true to our brides wishes for a chic, boho vibe.

I’ve done quite a few weddings on a shortened timeline. And each one always different, because each couple is different! I honestly love it. There is definitely something to be said about having a longer engagement, with plenty of time to plan and sort through ideas. But the challenge and thrill of getting 12+ months of work done within 3 months is quite thrilling for me! And trust me, shorter engagements don’t necessarily mean less work - we definitely fit in 12+ months of work into that timeframe. I honestly don’t think you can even tell for a second that we planned this wedding within 3 months.

True story: McKenna + Russ were originally planning to get married at a different venue when we first met. But after I did a venue tour of Board & Batten Events, and shared it on Instagram, she called me and asked if it would be crazy to switch venues. I didn’t think it was crazy at all - I thought it was a great idea, and we got to work immediately with a new venue in mind!

We had an all-start team that worked so hard to make sure McKenna + Russ had the best day ever. As a wedding planner + designer, your team is everything. Couples hire me to make sure that their day is as perfect as can be. So, it’s my job to make sure I assemble a killer team that can execute my couples vision and desires for their event. And trust me - this team of mine just knocked it out of the park!

McKenna + Russ were such a joy to work with. And seeing everything come together for them was so much fun! I’m excited to relive their special day and share some of my favorite photos, as well as a clip from their wedding video, below.

Oh, and we we’re published! Don’t miss our feature over on 100 Layer Cake!

Fun Fact: We flipped this room in 30 mintues from ceremony to reception!

Huge thank you to our talented team of vendors!

Planning + Design: The Graceful Host
Photography: Breathe J Photography
Flowers: New Creations Flower Company
Hair + Makeup: Lindsey Regan Thorne with Be Pretty Charlotte
VIdeography: Humming Meadow Productions
Specialty Paper: Elisabeth Rose
Cake: Abigail’s
Wedding Dress: Willow by Watters from BHLDN
Venue + Catering: Board & Batten Events

How awesome is this video from Humming Meadow Productions?! I love when our clients choose to hire a videographer. It gives couples a whole new perspective on a day that goes by way too quickly!

Thank you, McKenna + Russ, for allowing The Graceful Host to be a part of your special day! We sure do love y’all!

XO,
A.

Somewhere Over The Rainbow First Birthday Party

FIrst birthday parties are always so, so sweet! And this one was even sweeter because it was for my (not so baby) boy, Brooks.

Coming up with a party theme for a one year old isn’t super easy. First of all there’s so many options and ideas out there, and second, it’s not like the birthday boy could communicate which one he likes best! So, I thought about what we should do for a while. I made a list of all the things he likes and what makes him super happy. And I kept coming back to the song that he loves the most - Somewhere Over The Rainbow.

Anytime I’d sing this song, he’d just light up. We sing it every night before bed and whenever he needs a little pick me up. Even big brother, Ryan, loves the song and requests it all the time - only he calls it the “Blue Bird Song”, because of the line “Somewhere over the rainbow, blue birds fly, and the dreams that you meant to dream really do come true”. I just adore this song, and thought it would make for the perfect first birthday party theme!

So I got to planning. I knew I wanted to incorporate balloons into his birthday party because, well - I love doing balloon arches! I decided that I’d make a big, gigantic rainbow as the back drop for the cake. I think I was dreaming a bit large because before I knew it I created a 30’x40’ rainbow with 95’ worth of balloons! With the help of my very patient husband, we got it installed, despite some windy weather. I also created clusters of white and clear balloons that resembled clouds and hung them so that they’d look like they were floating over our food table. And of course, I added in 100 origami blue birds since my boys love the line about the blue birds.

I know sometimes rainbows can seem to skew a bit more feminine, so I wanted to make sure that this party didn’t feel girly. After all, the birthday celebrant was a boy - not a girl. For this reason, I choose to use blue gingham table cloths. I wanted to create a picnic, farmer market type atmosphere, and thought the gingham print would be perfect! I sourced mums from a local nursery for an easy centerpiece. Since we had kids of all ages in attendance, I wanted to have activities for everyone. So I created an interactive favor station, where our guests could choose their pot and plant a flower to take home. I also created these very easy garden-inspired sensory bins. Everything came from the Dollar Tree and Walmart - and they were a hit with all the kids.

It’s always hard to see another year go by and realize our kids are getting older. Creating these memories for our family means the world to me! Hope you enjoyed seeing a few of our favorite party photos!

PS. Our little party animal woke up not feeling to great for his party day. He fully embraced the whole “it’s my party and I can cry if I want to!” saying! LOL So we didn’t get the epic cake smash photos we were expecting …. but we’ll try again another day!

A Bold Color Palette That Will Blow You Away in Charlotte, NC

It’s not very often we meet a couple who really wants to step out of the box. But this couple was all about unique and bold details that were a reflection of their personal style.

This wedding was definitely one for the books, in more ways than one. First, we started working with Jennifer + John just 4 months prior to their wedding date. And second, their wedding was almost derailed by Hurricane Florence, who tried really hard to crash the party! The whole executing a wedding during a hurricane thing was quite a challenge. Oh, and did I mention that I was 37 weeks pregnant at the time?! Like I said, a challenge that was one for the books. But I LOVE a challenge, y’all!

Ok, so back to the details! The color palette just blows me away - I’m in love with these moody tones! Jennifer’s vision was very clear. She wanted to create a lounge-inspired setting for her guests, where conversation and good food can be enjoyed. Our floor plan was very lounge dominant, which I just loved! Working with color isn’t something I always get to do, so it was really fun designing this wedding with Jennifer + John.

Our vendor team was really amazing for this wedding. Everyone came together to make sure that Jennifer + John had the best day, despite the forecast putting us all to the test!
Planning + design: The Graceful Host
Photography: Morning Wild Photography
Flowers: New Creations Flower Company
Venue: Mint Museum Uptown
Paper Goods: Elisabeth Rose
Catering: Something Classic
Dress: Theia Couture
Dress Boutique: Ladies Of Lineage
Hair and Makeup: Makeup by Jenny Le
Cake: The Wow Factor Cakes
Furniture + Lounge Rentals: Crush Event Rentals
Chair Rentals + Draping: Carolinas Luxury Event Rentals
Lighting: Wink Lighting
Linens: Nuage Designs
Linens: Party Reflections

Enjoy some of my favorite photos from Jennifer + John’s wedding!

Turns out that a wedding during a hurricane can be pretty magical. I’m super grateful to the team of professionals that executed everything so beautifully for our couple. And a huge thanks to Jennifer + John for allowing The Graceful Host to be a part of your special day!

XOXO,
A.

Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler

It’s with bittersweet emotion that I announce a big change for The Graceful Host …

We’re MOVING to ….. Louisiana!

It’s hard to even type those words. How do I leave North Carolina? The city I call home. Where my husband and I have built a life. Where we created two beautiful boys. The place where I built a business. Where I’ve fostered sweet friendships. Where I’ve grown up. The home of countless memories and experiences. Just, how??

I’ve had some time to sit on this news. I joke that I never like to do anything fast. It’s just not my personality - I’m a very analytic person who likes to think things through. So I’ve had time to process my feelings before announcing it publicly. And that’s good for me - That means I can type this without being in a gigantic puddle of tears. There’s just a tiny puddle.

So, you might be asking … why are you moving?! Short answer: My husbands job is the reason for the move. He’s being transferred. It’s a gift that we’re able to move to the New Orleans area, really, because that’s where my entire family lives. I haven’t lived in Louisiana since I moved away for college 13 years ago. And truthfully, I never thought I’d be back. I came to North Carolina and attended Elon University, and just fell in love! At the time of my college graduation, my now husband and I were engaged, and even though I didn’t have a job (hello vocal performance major! haha!), I knew I wanted to be on my own. Since my husband, Todd, got a job in Charlotte right out of college, I decided to move to Charlotte so we could officially begin our lives together.

Not going to lie. When I first moved to Charlotte, I hated it. I mean, HATED it. But it was such a different place 9 years ago. And I felt very much alone, since Todd was traveling non-stop - I was basically living alone with no friends around and no job. Since I first moved to Charlotte as a young college grad, I’ve found my place and have created a business - and life! - that I just cannot imagine leaving behind. I opened my mind to what Charlotte had to offer, and she’s never stopped impressing me. I really thought we’d never leave this sweet Queen City. It truly feels like home to both of us.

It’s crazy to think about relocating, honestly. My anxiety is in overdrive, y’all! But as difficult as I’m sure this transition will be, I’m also looking forward to the change. It’s that feeling of living with paradoxical emotion, where I’m scared out of my mind about the unknown and yet, at the same time, eagerly excited for what’s to come. I will miss my friendships and vendor friends here in Charlotte deeply. I’ve had the chance to serve over 60 couples and dozens of families over the last 7 years! Not to mention work with so many talented vendors. And truly I cherish my team, who is just the best out there - Jenny, Brianna, Abby, Kasie, Chandler … I love y’all! I’m just so grateful for the opportunities I’ve experienced over the last several years being here in the Queen City.

But, there’s something to be said for starting fresh. For having the challenge of restarting in a new place, with so much experience under my belt. I do feel lucky to have a handful of vendor friends in the New Orleans area from past events. And of course, this does feel like a homecoming (for lack of a better term!) for me … because New Orleans was my first home. I truly can’t wait to reconnect with so many friends! Plus, we’ve never lived anywhere near family. So it’ll be a nice change to have family up the street, rather than a plane ride away. (Maybe Todd and I can squeeze a date night in more than just once a year! haha!)

So what’s going to happen to The Graceful Host, you might ask? I will absolutely be establishing both The Graceful Host weddings + events AND the Party Shop in New Orleans. And I cannot wait to serve brides + grooms and families in the Big Easy! If anything has come from this, it’s sparked a new fire in me. I’ve had some time to really map out future goals and make sure that I’m realigning my business with those goals. I have some big plans, y’all… I mean, HUGE! The news of the move may have rocked me in the beginning, but now … now, I’m taking this opportunity to dream bigger than ever! It’s been a difficult past few months having to turn away future business because we’re relocating, but I know in my heart that everything will work out and TGH will be better than ever in no time.

Make no mistake … this self proclaimed Carolina girl is terrified of starting over. Just terrified. But I love a challenge. And I cannot wait to have the chance to design and create in the city that gives me so much inspiration. The city taught me how to party - let’s be real. The city that molded me. And I’m very much looking forward to showing my family all that New Orleans has to offer, and to create a new home together.

So friends, my one wish is that you think of me and my family over the next few months as we make this huge life change and move hundreds of miles away from our beloved home of Charlotte.

And if you’re a bride in the New Orleans area …. I’m happily booking for 2020, and I cannot wait to get to know you better! Please give me a call!

And to Charlotte, the place I call home … Thank you for all the memories! I resisted you for so long. You were patient, though. And you welcomed me with open arms when I was ready to let you in. I’ll always think of you as my home. Leaving in the Fall will be difficult, and who knows - maybe we’ll be back?! And if we do have the chance to come back to the Queen City, I have no doubt you’ll welcome me back with open arms once again. Thank you, Charlotte … for everything!!!!

XO,
A.

PS. I am still booking events through October 2019 in Charlotte! Our move will be in November, following my last wedding at the end of October. And I’d just love to help you with your event!!

This Couples Blush And Ivory Wedding at the Ritz Carlton Urban Garden Will Make You Swoon

We kicked off 2019 with Molly + Adam’s beautiful wedding at the Ritz Carlton Urban Garden in Uptown Charlotte. I adore this couple so much! They are just as sweet as pie, and planning with them was such a joy.

We booked the Urban Garden at the Ritz Carlton for their reception because this unique space was a perfect fit for this outdoors loving couple’s February celebration. One reason I love the Urban Garden is because of all the beautiful light the comes pouring in from the windows, and the neutral look of the venue. It’s so easy to put your own personality on a space like this because there isn’t any competing decor. The color palette Molly chose was soft and romantic, with a delicate feminine touch, incorporating blush, ivory and champagne tones. Molly + Adam hosted just over 200 guests with a delicious plated meal for their reception style. Having a really fun party for all their loved ones was a priority for our bride + groom. So we booked a top-notch band for the reception entertainment, and included fun lounge furniture near the dance floor for a more intimate feel to the space. Our couple and their guests danced the night away!

I’m so excited that Molly + Adam’s wedding has been published in the Summer/Fall 2019 issue of The Carolinas Magazine!

Huge thanks to our talented team of vendors who helped make Molly + Adam’s day so perfect!
Photography: Cheyenne Schultz Photography
Planning + Design: The Graceful Host
Flowers: New Creations Flower Company
Paper Goods: Elisabeth Rose
Videography: Crown Alley Films
Church: Myers Park United Methodist Church
Venue: Ritz Carlton Urban Garden
Entertainment: Atlanta Groove Factory
Lounge Furniture: Old South Vintage Rentals
Hair + Makeup: Charisse with Be Pretty Charlotte
Brides Dress: Rivini Bridal from Hayden Olivia
Linens: Nuage Designs
Lighting: Wink Lighting
Draping + Rentals: Party Reflections
Ceremony Musicians: Queen City Ensemble

Molly + Adam, thank you so much for letting us be a part of your special day! We love y’all!

XO,
A.

Enchanted Sleepover Birthday Party

This pink + purple enchanted birthday, full of butterflies, fairy lights and woodland details, made for the perfect 7th birthday celebration for Hollins! It was so much fun bringing our birthday girls ideas to life. I mean, what girl wouldn’t want a fun sleepover party?! This birthday party was a custom party kit order. In addition to providing a design plan, we also created a fun balloon garland that was draped over the sleepover tents, for an extra whimsical touch.

Huge thanks to all the vendors who helped bring Hollins’ dream birthday party to life!
Photography: The Graceful Host
Party supplies, design, + styling: The Graceful Host
Cake + desserts: Baked Well
Sleepover tents: Sleepover Dreams
Cake topper: Etsy

And it is such a thrill to see our Enchanted Sleepover Party featured on one of our favorite websites - 100 Layer Cakelet! See the full feature here.

An Elegant Ballroom Wedding At The Ballantyne Hotel

I hate when I get behind on blogging - because keeping these gorgeous images to myself is so hard! But I’m back, and playing a bit of catch-up with some of our beautiful weddings!

Katie + Jack are two of the nicest, and most fun people I know. I absolutely LOVED being a part of their wedding planning! There was always an abundance of laughter at our meetings. An even though it’s been almost a year since we celebrated Katie + Jack, their wedding is still so fresh in my mind. It was an epic party, y’all!! I’m so excited to share some of my favorite photos from their gorgeous, perfect wedding day.

Our bride, Katie, choose the Ballantyne Ballroom at the Ballantyne Hotel for the reception. It was a classic ballroom, which is what she was looking for in a reception space. Katie’s style is elegant, feminine, and fun. With a color palette of blush, rose gold, ivory, and champagne, we transformed the Ballantyne Ballroom. I mean, just wait until you see the draping! (Thanks, Bob!) When we first started out planning, Katie mentioned that she wanted to host a great party. So we aimed to create an environment that would give our couple the epic party they wanted - that meant incredible food, a top notch bar, and hiring the best entertainment. Katie was all about the details, which is something I can very much appreciate. From custom welcome boxes to the delicious late night snack, every single detail guests experienced was a perfect reflection of Katie + Jack! And when the bride cries tears of joy saying “I’m just so happy” …. you know you did your job!

It was just the best day ever! I’m so grateful to have gotten the opportunity to be a part of Katie + Jack’s beautiful wedding day. And a huge thanks to our talented team of vendors who helped make this day so special and flawless!

Planning + Design: The Graceful Host
Photography: Caroline Lima Photography
Flowers: New Creations Flower Company
Reception Venue: Ballantyne Hotel
Ceremony Venue: St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church
Cake: Wow Factor Cakes
Rentals: Party Reflections
Draping: Carolinas Luxury Event Rentals
Paper Goods: Girl Tribe Creative
Hair + Makeup: Makeup by Jenny Le
Dress: Romona Keveza
Dress Boutique: Ladies Of Lineage Bridal
Ceremony Musicians: Queen City Ensemble

Can You Dig It? Construction 3rd Birthday Party

What little boy doesn’t go crazy over big trucks? Well, like most 3 years, my son Ryan is obsessed with big trucks. He's also obsessed with Home Depot. We don't know why or how the obsession came to be - we're not big fixer-uppers over here. But when we ask him what he wants to do or where he wants to go, 9 times out of 10 he'll say, "let's go to Home Depot". So for Ryan's 3rd birthday party, we knew it had to revolve around big trucks and Home Depot!

The color palette was inspired by his favorite place, utilizing the famous Home Depot orange. I paired the orange with yellow, blue and black for a more up to date spin on this theme. Rain was in the forecast unfortunately, so we had to bring the party indoors - including the sand pit with trucks we had planned for the kids! Sorry to trigger anyone with OCD haha! I also had a little table set-up with foam bricks along with with golf tees, which were the “nail” and a toy hammer for the kids to build with. Both were easy DIY activities that the kids loved and were in keeping with our construction theme - plus, they loved "doing work".

It’s not a party without cake, right?! The desserts included a 2-tiered chocolate frosted cake with Reeses peanut butter cups crumbling down the front to resemble mud and boulders. And homemade cupcakes with chocolate sprinkles to resemble dirt, with little yellow construction signs added to the top. The guest tables featured another easy DIY project - I used a black chalk runner and added strips of white masking tape to resemble a road, which went along the center of the table. The last detail was our party favors, which included a mini Home Depot apron, hard hat, and orange cone cups - staples for any construction crew!

I can’t believe my big boy is 3 years old! We loved celebrating him with our family and friends. Here are a few photos from the party.

And if you like this party and want to recreate it - you can using our Construction Crew Party Kit, which is available in the party shop.

New Party Kits Are Here!

I’m so over the moon to announce that the Spring 2019 party kits are now LIVE! The Party Shop is growing, and I couldn’t be more excited to add FOUR new party kits to the shop. So, without further adieu - Let me introduce you to the newest additions!

Construction Crew Party Kit
For the lover of big trucks that “do work”, as my 3 year old says … this party kit is the one for you! A modern take on a popular birthday party theme.

Happy Birthday Mini Party Kit
Our new line of kits called the mini party kit (which serves up to 14 to 16 guests) launches with this Happy Birthday party theme. Perfect for ANY birthday celebration, whether there’s 1 candle or 100 candles on your cake!

Tutti Fruitti Party Kit
A fun and colorful addition to the shop that is just too darn cute! I bet you can’t hold back a smile when you see these adorable pieces!

Blushing Bride Party Kit
Another new line making it’s debut during our spring launch is the new selection of wedding themed party kits! This bridal party kit is perfect for an engagement party or bachelorette celebration.

A percentage of Party Shop purchases made between April 30, 2019 and May 31, 2019 will go to support a cause and mission that I adore - The Birthday Party Project.

Who needs a party kit?
We all want to create unique celebrations that foster unforgettable family memories. But sadly, sometimes life gets in the way of our planning and procrastination gets the best of us.

(Am I right?!)

Enter the Party Kits! Your new handy tool to creating a fabulous party, minus the hassle and stress! Each kit comes complete with paper supplies, decor and a style guide, for extra party planning guidance and inspiration, as well as DIY project ideas that relate to your chosen party theme.

My goal in creating this product was to make it easier for you to celebrate all the fun moments and milestones of life! The Party Kits are a solution to the busyness we all experience. I've carefully sourced and designed each Party Kit so that you can create your own a well-styled, creative celebration! 

Perfect for the person who ...
... doesn't have any time to shop around.
... loves to throw parties.
... wants their event to look beautiful and Pinterest-worthy.
... likes to be hands-on, but maybe isn't super crafty.
... doesn't know where to find the best party supplies and decor.
... needs help party planning, but doesn't want to hire a planner.

And Party Kits can be repurposed for all sorts of occasions and theme parties - not just kids parties!

So how does this all work?
Check out our selection of TEN party kits now available in the shop, and make your selection. Each Party Kit was designed to take the stress out of party planning - so they are inclusive of everything you need to! Party Kits come complete with:

• Party supplies, including the plates, napkins, cups, & cutlery (serving approximately 32 guests for the party kits, and 16 guests for the mini kits)

• Stylish decor, like balloons, banners, etc., that relate to the box's theme

• Access to a style guide with helpful party planning tips and advice, as well as tutorials for DIY project ideas that relate to your party kit theme

Party Kits are shipped directly to you in 1 to 3 business days from Charlotte, North Carolina.

Head to the shop now to learn more about the Party Kits!

XO,
A.

PS. You can check out Ashley's interview from August 2018 during the initial launch of the Party Kits on Charlotte Today by following this link!