Lauren created a beautiful, outdoor Love Bug Party for her daughter’s 3rd birthday. And don’t let the word “bug” OR the menu of dishes like “cocoons” and “caterpillars” fool you for one second… this is one sweet and GIRLY party filled with fantastic ideas for spring and summer birthday parties… and baby showers too!

PARTY HIGHLIGHTS to look out for:

• Picnic baskets painted white & labeled with each guests name
• Food labels “planted” in mini terracotta pots
• Imagination games utilizing bug jars and the butterfly net party favors!
• Creative names for the food & drinks (wood chips, cocoons, snails, etc. – see details below)  

PARTY DETAILS, as told by Lauren…

I created this LOVEBUG party for my daughter, Jayne’s, 3rd birthday. Because we have always called her, “lovebug” and her birthday is in the spring, it seemed fitting to have a garden-themed affair. I wanted to incorporate bugs but I did not want it to be too scientific, scary or gross so I lightened the look with a fresh pink and green color scheme and a “cute” bug which was pink with white polka dots – another look I incorporated throughout the party.

Knowing my daughter’s interests right now, I also wanted to incorporate an element of dressing up and imaginative play. When each guest arrived, they received a “picnic packed for a little lovebug” at their seat as well as a pair of lovebug wings on the back of their chair. Each child dined on Jayne’s favorites – peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, pretzels (which I termed, “sticks”), green grapes and lovebug lemonade.

After lunch they were entertained by Queen Laura, creator and owner of Dramagination, an LA based company that entertains children through imaginative play. Queen Laura lead the children through an imaginary experience in an Enchanted Garden. She incorporated my party favors into her entertainment and it worked out great! Each child used their butterfly net to catch butterflies and their bug jars to catch fake bugs that she spread throughout my backyard.

While the kids were being entertained, the adults dined on butterflies (bow tie pasta), lady bugs (watermelon), caterpillars (apples in the shape of a caterpillar), cocoons (mini corn dogs), wood chips (chips and dip), and of course some “greens from the garden” (salad). They also sipped on beetle juice (pink lemonade). The centerpiece of the food table was made of faux grass and gerbera daisies which I spread some ladybugs all throughout. The kids thought they were real!

After lunch everyone treated themselves to the dessert table. The design of the dessert table was inspired by the invitation, incorporating the same font and stripes in the look of the table. While the biggest hit was the cake, they also enjoyed the “dandelions” (powdered sugar donuts) and “roly poly’s (sour watermelon balls) the most!