There’s something about outdoor summer parties that just makes me so happy… I think it’s their ability to drum up memories of being carefree kid again for at least a moment. Case in point: check out the warm & inviting, “breezy summer” vibe if this fabulous Southern-Style Picnic from Ebony of Sparkling Events & Design!

Ebony created this party for a newlywed couple that had just returned home from their destination wedding and wanted to celebrate with friends and family that were unable to attend the wedding. The bride was from the South and wanted the party to have a Southern-style charm, which was brought to life through the choice of fabrics, colors and sweet decorative elements like like mason jars, doilies, and pretty blue hydrangea displayed in gingham-embellished tin cans. I’m also especially loving the giant rose tissue and paper doily pomander balls hanging from the trees, and the ridiculously cute fondant animal cupcake toppers.

Read on for more fun, summery images + all the creative details…

PARTY DETAILS, as told by Ebony…

“The theme of the party was called Meet the Haglers – This couple had a destination wedding in Negril, Jamaica and wanted to come home and celebrate with all of their friends and family. The bride being from the South wanted to incorporate her ‘southern roots’, so we immediately we were drawn to lace, mason jars and doily’s.

The main inspiration for this event was the blue hydrangea flower. This symbolizes a fond childhood memory for the bride, of the flowers that grew outside her grandmother’s home.  As a special ‘sparkle’ we arranged to have some of the flowers transported from her grandmother’s trees to the event.

For the welcome sign, we found an old banged up ladder and made a sign with some blue hydrangea in mason jars to welcome the guest.

Guest were greeted with a lemonade stand with mason jars and homemade mango, strawberry and blueberry syrups.  This was quite refreshing for a hot 95 degree day.

The kids table featured a country pattern table runner with animal plates.  The snack were wrapped in different color bandanas and tied with twine.  On the table we place Boston Baked Beans and Chex Mix in galvanized containers.

For the guest tables we use alternating yellow and blue linens with a floral pattern runner.  We place the blue hydrangea in a can and wrapped the can with some lovely gingham fabric.  Easy!

The dessert table was quite the showstopper and included a beautiful picnic basket inspired cake made by Mimi’s Mocha Treats.  We hung a paper doily pomander ball, rose tissue paper pomander balls and lanterns from the trees.  On the table we stack a crate with jar cakes made by the bride of different flavors, cupcakes with animal fondant toppers.  We made a runner with doily’s and sprinkled paper hydrangea petals throughout the table.  We also placed paper hydrangea flower and real hydrangea throughout the table.  We used this tutorial on Pizzazzarie to make the paper hydrangea.

It was a fun time had by all!”