A magical fairy birthday party

Sailor's fifth birthday party was filled with sunshine, friends, and all kinds of fairy magic. Emily Harris shares her daughter's special day with us. 

WHERE WAS THE LOCATION AND WHAT WAS THE THEME?

We had Sailor’s fifth birthday party earlier this year in the front yard of our home in Oratia, Auckland. The theme was boho fairy – Sailor loves all things fairies and I’m a sucker for all things natural, so we paired the two together to create the look for the party. I had a few bits and pieces of cane furniture around our home which we used, alongside the furniture that we hired through The Event Finery.

TELL US ABOUT THE PARTY...

Turning five is such a big milestone, with starting school and graduating from daycare we thought we would throw a backyard party for Sailor! We had friends and family attend her party, and luckily being a summer birthday the sun always shines! Everyone brought their togs for the pool (which kept them entertained for a good part of the time) and we had a fairy potion-making station which was a huge hit with the kids. We also had a mini nail bar set up, which my sister so kindly attended to, a piñata which is always a crowd favourite, and a bouncy castle! The adults had a chance to relax while the kids were entertained which was lovely. We kept it very simple with the food - from past experience so much goes to waste. I made the trusty ol’ cheese and cracker platters for the mums and dads and ordered sushi from our favourite local, Soy and Ginger. For the kids, we just made fruit platters, hot dogs, sushi, and a few sweet treats.

DIY FAIRY POTION

Ingredients:

✨ Food colouring in water

✨ Glitter

✨ Sticks for mixing the potion

✨ Flowers (foraged)

✨ Dried camomile

✨ Coconut bowls

✨ Mixing bowls

✨ Potion jars

✨ Eye droppers 

Voila! Hours of entertainment for the kids, making their very own fairy potion to take home.

WERE THERE ANY SPECIAL MOMENTS THAT STOOD OUT?

We have a family tradition that on your birthday you get to have a monster bite from the cake, this is always really fun, the kids think it’s the best!

TIPS FOR PLANNING A FIFTH BIRTHDAY PARTY?

Get help from family or friends with the food prep if you don’t get a caterer for the party, no matter how much time you think you have before your guests arrive, the race against time to have everything presented as fresh as possible can be stressful. A little help goes a long way! Parties don’t have to be expensive – use what you can from around your home. I made a balloon garland which helped bring the price down, and having the party at home saved on venue hire. Lastly, don't forget to slow down and enjoy the day, your baby is five!

SHOUT-OUT TO THE PARTY PEOPLE

Bouncy castle: Lets Bounce NZ, letsbouncenz.com, @letsbouncenz; Furniture: The Event Refinery, eventrefinery.co.nz, @theeventrefinery; Cake: Bluebells Cakery, bluebellscakery.com, @bluebellscakery.

Bluebells Cakery Cloud Cake, from $74, bluebellscakery.com; Designer Kidz Bree Flower Crown in tea rose, $34.99, and Huxbaby Tiger Tiered Ballet Dress in peach, $69.99, kidrepublic.co.nz; Spotlight Be Yourself Multicoloured Pastel Wings, $12, spotlightstores.com/nz; Mocka Henley Teepee in natural, $89.95, and Kids Round Rattan Armchair, $89.95, mocka.co.nz; Kmart Fringe Ottoman in white, $37, and Rattan Look Side Table, $39, kmart.co.nz.