A magical unicorn and fairytale birthday party

It was all things pink and sparkly for this fairytale party. Jess Vermeulen shares her daughter's magical fifth birthday.

WHERE WAS THE LOCATION AND WHAT WAS THE THEME?

We chose to host the party at our home – winter birthdays can be so unpredictable weather-wise so we decided to play it safe. Amelie chose the theme herself (after much thinking). Like most girls her age she adores unicorns, magic and mermaids; this was the perfect theme to incorporate them all in little ways.

TELL US ABOUT THE PARTY...

We had a lot of fun during the prep for the party – baking and icing the cookies, and crafting the party hats. We laughed over making the cake which turned out to be one disaster after the next but somehow came together in the end. It rained the day of the party so we had the tables inside and a bouncy castle set up in the garage. Despite the wet day it was a lovely celebration with Amelie's close friends and family. Guests arrived at 2pm, we shared afternoon tea together, the children had their faces painted and burnt their energy on the bouncy castle. We played pass the parcel and then moved onto making mermaid bath salts. These were made from coloured epsom salts that the kids poured into bottles making a rainbow effect, they then scented them with natural soap fragrances. The party favours were mini unicorn and dragon cushions I designed and Amelie helped sew and stuff.

WERE THERE ANY SPECIALS MOMENTS THAT STOOD OUT?

We were so excited to host this party after previous ones had been cancelled due to lockdowns. It was a special moment when little sister Bonnie helped to blow out the birthday candle as her party hadn’t been able to go ahead earlier in the year. 

TIPS FOR PLANNING A FIFTH BIRTHDAY PARTY?

This is such a special age for children to share their ideas and really be involved with the party prep. It's magic to see their plans come to life! We have enjoyed having smaller and more intimate parties because it has enabled us to have more hands-on activities and party crafts.

MERMAID BATH SALTS

Ingredients

½ cup citric acid
½ cup baking soda
1 cup epsom salts
Food coloring
7-10 drops of essential oils of your choice (optional)
Spray bottle filled with water

1.  Mix epsom salts, baking soda, and citric acid in a large bowl. Divide into five small bowls to colour individually.

2.  Add 5-7 drops of colour per bowl.

3.  If the mixture is dull when the color is added, give each bowl a light spritz of water to activate the colour.

4.  Layer coloured salts in a clear jar.

Photography: Jess Vermeulen
Follow along @uponameadow on Instagram to see more of this party and their gorgeous family.

SHOUT-OUT to the PARTY PEOPLE

Napkins, cups and cookie cutters: Build a Birthday; Food colours and baking tools: Shore Cake; Unicorn balloon: Little Gatherer; White balloon garland: Styled by Florence; Fairy tutu and wings: Oh mee oh mai; Blouse: Jamie Kay.

Floral Essence Pretty in Pink dried flowers, $35, floralessence.nz; Jamie Kay Organic Cotton Muslin Olive Blouse in peach whip, $29.95, jamiekay.co.nz; Cookielicious Sugar Cookies and Royal Icing recipes, cookielicious.co.nz; Numero 74 Falling Star Garland in gold, $59.50, and Muskhane Mushrooms – small (6cm and 8cm), and medium in quartz pink, $11, and $15, from littlewhimsy.co.nz; Donna Hay Fairy Castle Cake recipe, donnahay.com.au; Kmart 16 Pack Rose Gold Dessert Paper Plates, $2, kmart.co.nz; Build a Birthday Meri Meri Fairy Mushroom Napkins, $15.50, buildabirthday.co.nz; French Touch French Hall Table – Romance, $875, frenchtouch.co.nz.