Clusters of delicate petals and stately blossoms nestled among wild, lacy flora and arching vines were thoughtfully placed in arrangements around the light-filled bungalow in anticipation of little Addie’s first birthday celebration. Handmade touches, lovingly prepared by Addie’s mother, Ashley, recounted milestone moments in her baby girl’s first year.
“After talking with Carolyn [Chen, owner & lead florist of Wild Things] about the event and using the invitation as inspiration, I felt really great knowing that Wild Things would make gorgeous arrangements and I could now move on to other parts of the party planning,” says Ashley.
“I heard about Party Pickup from a friend and decided to use them for the gorgeous balloon garland, as well as an oversized hand-scripted balloon, and other smaller balloons accents.”
“I also decided to hire a photographer to commemorate the day,” says Ashley. “Mallory Melichar of Mallory Katherine Images came and photographed the event and all the details for us. She was so wonderful!
Flanked by her loving parents, Addie is ready to receive her guests!
“The overall style and look I was trying to create was a floral theme. I wanted it to be simple, girly, and sweet,” says Ashley. “So, when I was planning for the florals, I decided to use the floral-inspired invitation as a guide for the actual arrangements at the party.” Ashley turned to Wild Things to design the flowers.
“Working with Carolyn was super simple and helpful. She is clearly gifted and knowledgeable about how to make your vision come to life,” says Ashley. “I literally walked in with the invitation in hand; had a conversation with her about my vision, specific colors, and even flowers that I would like to be included in the arrangements; placed the order; set up delivery; and was done in about 20 to 25 minutes!” Ashley left, feeling confident that she could focus on the remaining party-planning details.
The day of the event began with Carolyn’s arrival. “I love that Wild Things has delivery too—Carolyn actually had the afternoon free and was able to do the delivery herself. She came in styled my cake with the floral topper and offered advice on floral placement around the party room,” says Ashley. “The florals were perfect! We did a combination of my own vessels and a couple of new ones from Wild Things. They turned out exactly as I had asked: sweet, girly, and very ‘garden-ish’.” Carolyn is a hands-on business owner and loves to be involved in every detail of each event she helps with, from planning to installation.
Roses, gerbera daisies, delphinium, hypericum, hydrangea, ranunculus, thistle, and greenery combine to create this lovely centerpiece.
Wild Things’ nuanced selection of dainty and elegant stems, expertly arranged, captured the airy, joyous feel that Ashley envisioned for the occasion, especially when seen alongside all of the other fabulous elements of the party. “In addition to Wild Things, I chose other local Homewood businesses to style Addie’s party,” says Ashley, who also enlisted the help of her friend and party-planning maven Mattye Woodcock for guidance. “Mattye is super talented in all things party planning,” says Ashley. “She helped me with all the small details as well as how and where to create focal points around the room. Her ideas really helped create that sweet ambiance I was hoping for!”
Carolyn topped the cake, made by Rebecca Osteen of Bec’s Cakes, with subtle yet stunning floral accents. “Arranging the catering from Ashley Mac’s was wonderfully easy as well,” says Ashley. “I looked online at the catering menu, chose my items, and placed the order over the phone. I decided to have the food delivered to keep things simple.”
The 25 close friends and family members were arriving at 11 a.m., so Ashley had Ashley Mac’s cater the adorable affair. The hostess chose light yet sumptuous fare for her loved ones: chicken salad on croissants, club sandwiches, greek pasta salad, artichoke bacon dip, and broccoli salad. She finished the savory offerings off with a white, 9-inch layered cake with lemon buttercream filling and rosemary buttercream icing. “It was perfect for a garden-style party,” says Ashley. “It tasted fantastic! The guests all raved about it!”
The party guests consisted of mostly family, along with a couple of close friends and their children.
“She smiles a lot, loves to interact with people, BUT is very strong-willed,” says Ashley of her young daughter’s budding personality. “She loves to explore, try new things, and is very independent.”
Addie’s mother guesses that her daughter enjoyed her first cupcake most of all, and judging by that look, we’d have to agree.
After refreshments, fellowship, and some fun music, the party guests watched Addie enjoy her first cupcake before ripping into gifts. “We let Addie smash a cupcake, and then had a free for all opening gifts. Addie is a very happy girl, and I think her favorite thing was her very first cupcake,” says Ashley. “My favorite party of Addie’s birthday was just being in one place with all of the people who love our family, and were so excited to celebrate her life. It was a very special day.”
To schedule a free consultation for your next event, call Wild Things at 205.703.8821 or email hello@wildthingsbhm.com. Carolyn and her team will make sure everything is perfect, down to the very last detail!
VENDORS:
Photography: Mallory Melichar of Mallory Katherine Images
Floral Design: Wild Things Flowers & Curiosities
Catering: Ashley Mac’s
Cake: Rebecca Osteen of Bec’s Cakes
Balloons: Party Pickup
Party Planning: Mattye Woodcock