Most of us can only dream about what our childhood birthday parties would have been like if we had a mom who was a professional party planner and event designer, but for six-year-old Ray, that dream is a reality!!
Kelsey Klos of House of Fete has a kiddo with a sophisticated palate—Ray’s fave food is oysters! So Kelsey went into party planner mode and super-mom mode to plan this summertime seafood soiree with a splash of Italian Amalfi Coast flair.
“As a party planner, I love to come up with unique themes for my girls’ birthday parties,” says Kelsey, “and oysters were just that. I put an Italian twist on the theme and filled our backyard with delicious food, ice cold Italian beverages, and a seafood favor market.”
Photographer Renee Shields snapped some excellent photos of the festivities, so we get to see every super-creative detail that Kelsey dreamed up to celebrate Ray. Wait till you see the cute + comfy low-table picnic setup, the countless oyster-inspired details, and tons of clever favors.
This Italian seafood celebration would have been a blast for guests of any age!! What a way to turn six!
Those round, watercolor pearl-inspired invitations from Paperie Off Park are beyond charming. And how cute is that Italian seafood envelope liner!?
Fauncee Piknik created this inviting pillow-filled low-table picnic setup in Kelsey’s backyard for all of Ray’s besties to sit at!
Explore our guide to luxury pop up picnic parties if an al fresco celebration like this one sounds just right for your next get together.
We absolutely cannot get enough of these brilliant custom cookies by The Sugar Bug!! Oysters. Pearls. Sardine tins. Caviar. Cute, custom sweet treats like these really transform a party into a truly special occasion.
Custom embroidered napkins by Madly Wish sported different adorable oyster puns!
And let’s take a moment to appreciate the whimiscal hand painted oyster napkin rings made by K Crook Design Studio.
Two-tone metallic gold and white flatware from Sophistiplate added some shine to the tabletop.
The precious pearly garlands that threaded through the table decor came from Pearl and Jane. And mom and party planning wizard Kelsey did all of the day’s summery flowers herself!! Don’t miss that fresh cut lemon accent! We love the way that including fruit in florals adds some opulent texture to an arrangement.
Oyster Time!
Thoughtful details like the personalized towels that Kelsey included made every moment of Ray’s party feel creatively curated.
This “PRESS FOR OYSTERS” button by House Of Golightly was the way guests summoned their salty seafood snacks!
“We indulged in as many oysters as we could eat,” says Kelsey, “paired with Ray’s favorite Italian treats like caprese salad and prosciutto with melon.”
This charcuterie board 😍 Check out our list of the 39 best charcuterie ideas that will totally wow to try and get your next spread on Kelsey’s level.
Stop By for a Sip!
Kelsey incorporated this mobile bike bar from Bubbles and Brews to make guests feel like they were strolling the streets of Italy. And the balloon installation by Your Balloon Dream Co added so much whimsy and fun to the setup!
Look through our list of the cutest mobile bars if you think a charming portable drink station moment would add to your next event.
Suburban Soiree was behind those custom gold accent “Stay Salty” cocktail napkins.
“Some of the favorite details were at the bar,” remembers Kelsey. “I designed caviar tin coasters and garnished each drink with shrimp and oyster stir sticks by Acrylic Sticks.”
Kiddos sipped on cans of San Pellegrino Limonata while grownups got to enjoy a summery Aperol Spritz.
How cute are these treats that Soiree Macarons created?! Kelsey says: “Muscle macarons atop cake stands made what is a very adult theme whimsical and fun for the kids.”
We can’t get over it. These The Sugar Bug cookies are works of art almost too pretty to eat!
Welcome to Ray’s Oyster Shack!
“The main attraction was Ray’s Oyster Shack,” Kelsey says, “a little market place for the kids to shop for their party favors.”
Wood Haus Co built this one-of-a-kind storefront structure that featured all kinds of take-home goodies including shopping bags that Kelsey hand embroidered for each of Ray’s friends!
There were lemon candies by Hammonds Candies, chocolate sardines, plush shrimp from Jellycat…
And we are absolutely in love with those squid lollipops by The Sweet Story Line!
You can find this super fun Pairings Table Runner at Pink Antlers!
This vibrant yellow lemon filled cake looks so lovely atop that classic white cake stand from Joyeux Company.
Ray and her best buddies ended the afternoon with a game of pin the pearl on the oyster!!
Happy birthday, Ray! Hope you felt totally spoiled and shellfish on your big day! And Kelsey, you blew us away with this Italian seafood birthday bash! Mom of the year award goes to you!!
photog: Renee Shields / / planning + event design: House of Fete / / host + florals: Kelsey Klos / / furniture rentals: Fauncee Piknik / / paper goods: Paperie Off Park / / balloons: Your Balloon Dream Co / / builds: Wood Haus Co / / bike bar: Bubbles and Brews / / cookies: The Sugar Bug / / macarons + meringues: Soiree Macarons / / linens: Madly Wish / / napkin rings: K Crook Design Studio / / acrylics: Acrylic Sticks / / oyster button: House Of Golightly / / art + embellishments: Skippy Cotton / / cocktail napkins: Suburban Soiree / / cutlery: Sophistiplate / / party hat: Winnie and Haze / / stamps: The Post Mistress / / wax seals: Abby Choi Designs, Strictly Rita / / lemon candies: Hammonds Candies / / lollipops: The Sweet Story Line / / table runner: Pink Antlers / / garlands: Pearl and Jane / / cake stand: Joyeux Company / / tags: Chalk Designs by Me / / confetti: Lauren Glass Designs
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