All professional photos – credit to @pinkwaffledc | This blog post features some services provided for creative collaboration and partnership.
Wow, I can’t believe it’s been a month already since my September 19th birthday brunch. To say this was my best birthday ever would be…the complete and honest truth! I’m still humbled and in awe that so many amazing people took the time to celebrate with me. Without getting too deep, I’ll just say that birthdays have always been weird for me. Trust me when I tell you that I never truly celebrated like I did this year…and it felt really, really good to do so!
The Venue
I had only decided to do a birthday brunch at the beginning of August which didn’t really leave me too much time to sort out the details. Per my friend Carly’s (@thecarlychic) suggestion, I reached out to Hummingbird Kitchen & Bar in Old Town, Alexandria, VA. The outdoor patio space fit the bill for my little get together, and I was so thrilled to have a great location to entertain in. I also can’t rave enough about Kenneth, Hummingbird‘s GM, who was fabulous to work with! He answered all my miscellaneous questions and worked with me regarding vendor deliveries and scheduling. He and his staff truly took great care of us, and helped make my event amazing.
The Flowers
The ONE thing I knew I needed to make the event beautiful were flowers. I had thought about trying to do some arrangements myself, but luckily I found Dana (@floretbydana) instead! She is AMAZING! She truly captured my vibe, and helped bring my theme to life. She went out of her way to deliver, set up, and spend HER own birthday at my event (yes, we share the same birthday!). She is such an sweet soul, and talented florist. Floret by Dana can provide all of your floral needs, from special occasion bouquets to events of all sizes, she also offers an amazing floral subscription service as well, so you can always be surrounded by her beautiful work! My friend Liz (@espressofied) sent me a bouquet from Dana recently, and it truly made my day. Again, her work is just stunning! I was able to actually shoot with her bouquet for a fun endeavor I have coming up, so I’m really happy her flowers will be cemented in photos for another celebration of mine as well!
The Decor
So, I knew that I definitely wanted to LUXE it up for my brunch, and I’m so glad I was able to work with Select Event Group to bring my pink party to life! They have an amazing selection of rental items, and will help you expertly achieve your vision! They also have a fun mood board feature where you can group items together and see how they work. The gold chargers, chairs, flatware, and pink table cloths and napkins were all from Select Event Group and I can’t wait to work with them again for future events!
The Balloons
I also wanted to fill out the space more, and add in some festive balloon garland. I was on the fence about a floral backdrop, but opted for the gold hoop to keep things open and airy. Jami (@lucy.blossoms) was great to work with. I originally thought she was already booked for my date, but she squeezed me in and I was ever so grateful. She was so helpful and friendly, and took the time to make sure all of the colors and details were what I wanted! Be sure to check out Lucy Blossoms for your next event!
The Cake
What’s a birthday without a cake? To be more specific, a cake from Lala (@cakesbylalae)! This is my second birthday cake from Lala, and she always knocks it out of the park! I love, her love for glam, and she just gets me! Not only is her work stunning, but her cakes are beyond delicious. So many people commented at the party that her cake was divine! She is so fun and just amazing to work with. I wish I had more events to celebrate so I could get more cakes from here lol. Until next year my dear!
The Photos
Photos or it didn’t happen right?! But more importantly, GOOD photos or you don’t post lol! I knew I’d be distracted during the brunch, and I wouldn’t be able to take a lot of photos to capture the day. So I was ecstatic that Roberta (@pinkwaffledc) was able to shoot my event! She is the sweetest! She has the best gear and such a great eye. She’s just so talented, and pretty much all of the photos in this post were taken by her! She really captured it all and I’m so happy to have such stunning photos that will last a lifetime. Can’t wait to shoot with her again!
The Video!!!
Last but certainly not least, I cannot thank Ernie (@outoftimeproductions) enough for truly getting all of the details on video and creating the most fabulous recap of my birthday brunch. I was so impressed and overjoyed at how well it was done. It’s so special to me, and to have those memories forever in this format is just the ultimate gift. Ernie is an amazing creative. His kindness puts you at ease immediately, and his professionalism and commitment are second to none. I cannot wait to work with him again.
If you want to get a feel for the whole event, check out the video below!
The Guests
This day would not have been as amazing without each and every single person there. I’m so grateful for such wonderful friends and the beautiful souls that blogging has brought into my life. Thank you ALL for making a girl feel so special!
@beckysafrit 
@yeux_de_amie 
@hbicguide 
@sharpandsoundstyle 
@trendyintartan 
@makeupbybrierenzi 
@sharpandsoundstyle, @trendyintartan, @kathleendarling_, @xolifeoflo, @dcfashionfool, @vitadi.nina, @makeupbybrierenzi, @teacherista_, @beckysafrit, @yeux_de_aime, @thecarlychic, @espressofied, @hbicguide, @acourageousbeauty
Leave a comment below and tell me about your best/favorite birthday!
