Crystal of Crystal Clear Memories celebrated (and photographed) her daughter’s adorable first birthday party – A Watermelon Extravaganza! Birthday girl Sadie Grace had one sweet and stylish party put together by EDesigns, pairing paper rosettes with creative watermelon inspired treats and fabulous party decor from more than a few notable vendors. ;)

PARTY HIGHLIGHTS to look out for:

• Watermelon Cupcakes, Cookies and Crispy Treat Slices
• Amazing Paper Rosette Backdrop, Pink Framed Welcome Sign & Party Punch
• Bubbles for the kids and a Polka Dot Backdrop Photo Booth
• DIY Watermelon Fans (made from paper plates and paint sticks!)

PARTY DETAILS, as told by Crystal…

I knew I wanted my daughter’s milestone first birthday to be extra special and packed with personal details and style. My best friend and event stylist, Elisabeth Poore of EDesigns in Amelia,VA  is a party genius so I enlisted her help and couldn’t have been happier with the results.

My daughter, Sadie Grace, is sweet, wild and wonderful so we decided a “Watermelon Extravaganza” theme would perfect for her and our summertime poolside celebration. Plus, we had the party on National Watermelon Day!

We hosted the event at the gorgeous Whispering Pine Plantation in Amelia, VA where we had access to an outdoor kitchen, plenty of lounge room for our 80 guests, and a refreshing swimming pool. It couldn’t have been more perfect for our special day.

Party Details

• To seamlessly set the tone, Elisabeth Poore with EDesigns used Chickabug’s fabulous watermelon stationary and printables set.
• From the invitations to party picks, banners, and food tags I loved how every labeled detail maintained the party’s theme with a customized touch.
• Complementing the printable décor were precious handmade details like Blue Moon Studio’s adorable fabric triangle bunting which hung at the entryway and chevron table runners by the Preppy Owl Boutique.
• Every party needs a focal point or what I like to call a “WOW Factor,” and I couldn’t have been happier with the personal banner and over-the-top pinwheel backdrop by Peckled.
• Also from Peckled we rented a vintage white dresser which stood directly in front of the pinwheel display! We had a large space to deck out and everything looked fabulous when put together!
• A fantastic oversized 36” balloon from One Stylish Party served watch over the pool area tied to the rail and a huge watermelon float from Urban Outfitters was a big hit for swimming guests and a fun way to incorporate the theme.

Dessert Display

It’s not a birthday party without plenty of cake, and baker Jessica Hudson certainly delivered with delicious pink frosted cupcakes, a sweetly designed watermelon inspired guest cake and matching smash cake. Sadie loved smearing her face with green icing and made a mess of her Daddy too!

Friend of EDesigns, Vanessa Gillis-Phelps, helped make adorable watermelon cake push pops which were perfect for little hands. Coastline Cookies made some delicious watermelon sugar cookies and guests could help themselves to a sweet candy buffet where they filled cute, watermelon themed-out mason jars to the brim.

Special Details & Diy

Attention to detail is one of the main reasons I hired EDesigns. Elisabeth thinks of everything! One entire table served guests’ pool needs including a watermelon bucket full of green and pink towels, sunscreen, bubbles for the kids, and my personal favorite – DIY fans made from watermelon plates and paint sticks!

Painted ornate frames backed with mesh ribbon served as signage around the party and showcased my daughter’s pictures throughout her first year. A sweet handmade wooden sign made by a friend hung on the entry gate. Another friend of mine, Lindsey Poore created special personalized necklaces for me, Sadie Grace, and older sister Skye.

As a photographer, I had to have a photo booth! We setup a space with DIY bunting backdrop and loveseat bench where guests could capture a party memory and I could have a face-filled guestbook. Lots of children wore festive watermelon attire and it was the perfect addition to the party.

This celebration was tons of fun, a lot of work, and every bit of an “Extravaganza!” I’m so grateful to family, friends, and fantastic vendors who helped pull off this unforgettable party for my sweet Sadie Grace. You only turn one once and I’m thrilled to have these memories!