Time for Treasures: Diamonds and Pearls...

The party on Friday turned out so great! Everyone had a really good time and the rain let up enough all day and night, we only lost 1 luminaria to the rain and I had to keep relighting the candles outside, but other than that is was a perfect evening! Couldn't have asked for anything more, especially a very happy guest of honor (who had NO idea what we had been planning)!

The party was a collaboration between my friend's husband and myself. I threw some party "themes" out to him and he chose navy and white with pearl, diamond and ice accents. I ran with it from there! He did most of the shopping, took care of the rentals, etc. and I did the decorating.

Thought I would share with you a few of the very scary "before" pictures at about 11:00am!

And this was at 6:00pm...

The chocolate fountain I borrowed from a friend and we had biscotti, pretzels, pineapple, peanut butter rice krispie treats (which are really easy just add peanut butter at the end -- I cannot believe I have lived this long without them!), homemade marshmellows, again easy once you have made them a couple times, recipe from here

Centerpieces with hydrangeas, sweetheart roses, mums, lisianthis, tulips, orchids and curly willow. I used hanging crystals that I had to hang onto the curly willow...

I used some iceicle branches I had left over from Christmas in a niche in the entry along with ALOT of candles...loose ice and pearls were also with alot of the decor...

I wanted to set up the favor table right at the front door so I cleared off their entry table, made 2 boards with bulletin boards that I had, covered them in navy fabric, taped them to the mirror with a bow and pinned the favors on so they could be easily removed.

The favors were little bags of assorted chocolates from Trader Joes. I purchased little bags from Michaels and some pearl white cardstock for the tops of the bags. I strung 5 pearls on regular white thread, taped it onto the back of the cardstock and hot glued it to the top of the bags. I used regular sewing pins with the pearl tips to hang on the bulletin boards...

I used 3 cake stands that I had to add some height in between the 2 boards and it also gave me an opportunity to use up the leftover candy I had from filling up the bags. I printed out letters on my computer and cut them out on the pearl cardstock and taped them to the edge of the cake plates. I found this favor concept on Amy Atlas Events. She has some great party ideas, alot of the candy buffets!

The cake was from Cathy's Rum Cake and it was outstanding!

I brought all of my glass containers, silver trays, pearl necklaces, anything that was glass, pearl or silver! They added alot of sparkle, especially with the candles!

The centerpieces on the dining tables are what gave me high blood pressure. I had been making ice vases all week and I was so paranoid that they would not make it to the night of the party. All was good! If you would like to see how to make them, look here.